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Shop Like—Actress Olivia Wilde
Shop Like is a column in which Forbes Vetted asks some of the most stylish and notable personalities their favorite items to buy, gift and receive. Look no further for shopping advice and inspiration.
Last week in New York City, actress Olivia Wilde was shining bright at Through Her Lens: The Tribeca Chanel Women’s Filmmaker Program Cocktail celebration at the Greenwich Hotel. The evening was the culmination of a three-day workshop for emerging filmmakers in which Wilde was one of five jurors who selected the winning project.
“There’s no question in my mind that these are all very successful future directors,” said Wilde of the winning short film, Black Shore, noting that it was not an easy decision. “I always like to say in life, if you can’t decide between two things, then it means you like both choices, which means you can’t make a mistake.” Wilde has been inspired by the mission of the Tribeca Film Festival since it was founded, sharing she feels so honored to now be a juror on this program. “I truly believe that the progress we’re seeing in terms of opportunities for female filmmakers are because of programs like this; It’s combining financial support with lasting mentorship, and I’m very excited to offer my mentorship as these filmmakers go on. It’s so exciting to feel like we are going to witness these careers as they grow.”
As an actress, producer, activist and director, Wilde is always multi-tasking. We spoke to the star about all of the things that help fuel her success, from her essentials as a female director to the things that help fuel her confidence. Below, shop Olivia Wilde’s essentials.
Olivia Wilde’s Favorite Things
Her Director’s Chair Must-Have
“It’s really funny because I write everything down and I have one pen that I really love—I buy it in bulk because I need that pen to be able to do anything. It has a really nice wet roll to it and it’s very smooth. For me, writing by hand has been something that I’ve continued as an actress to directing with all my notes. I still print everything out—I need a pen and paper because I can’t really ingest scripts on a screen and I can’t make notes on a screen. I need a tactile, analog experience to connect my brain.”
Pilot G2 Premium Roller pen
$13.99
Her Everyday Sneaker
“I wear my Sambas, like, every single day,” says Wilde of her go-to footwear. “I own so many different pair of sneakers, and I’ve been a sneakerhead since I was really young. But I think my actual favorites are just my very basic black and white Sambas.”
Adidas Sambas
$99.99
One Item She Buys Again And Again
“I own so many different sunglasses that are incredibly cool and all different designers, but I wear black Ray-Ban Wayfarers every single day. They’re kind of my security blanket. I am nowhere without these sunglasses. And every time I’ve directed [a film], they’re up on my head then back down on my face, up and down again and again [as I direct]. So I’d say this is probably my most important thing that’s always in my bag.”
Ray-Ban Original Wayfarers
$180
Something She Won’t Leave Home Without
“I can’t be anywhere without a book because my fear is that the subway will get stuck and then I’ll be stuck without anything to read, or the plane wifi will go out and everything will stop working—the idea of being stuck without a book makes me very anxious. I’m finally reading All Fours by Miranda July. I love it so intensely. I love her originality of thought. I think she’s incredible. I hope she makes a film out of this book because I want to see her in that role, and I want to see that world that she’s created. It’s so specific and beautiful and funny and relatable. I don’t think anyone has told a story of that stage of womanhood in the way that she has.”
All Fours Hardcover Book By Miranda July
$22.49
Her Go-To Beauty Product
I guess the original product that I’m sure every actress was given by a makeup artist early on is YSL’s Touche Éclat concealer. I think that is the one [product] that I was like, ‘thank you, i’ll be taking this with me everywhere from now on.’
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Awakening Concealer Click Pen
$40
The Coolest Thing She Bought This Month
“I bought my dream camera. I bought the Leica M6, which is a camera that I’ve coveted since I was a teenager, and for some reason I never felt I had earned it. I don’t know why. But I finally got it—I went and bought it, and it was truly like a ceremonial experience. The photos I’ve been taking have been bringing me so much joy. It’s changed the way I see the world. I own many cameras, but that camera for me is my new best friend.”
Leica M6 Camera
$5,995
The Best Gift She Ever Received
“For me, the best gift I’ve ever received—besides my kids of course, which is the obvious answer—is the opportunity to make my first film. That is the greatest gift any filmmaker could ever be given.”