Amanda Quach, AKA @virghoe_xoxo, is the big sister we all need. At just 19 years old, Amanda seems to have already mastered the art of being unapologetically herself and looking absolutely fabulous while doing it. Miss Virghoe has expanded her following significantly, while making her own jewelry, thrifting, filming aesthetically pleasing TikToks and so much more. In Sheesh Mag’s interview with Amanda, she shares how she developed her own personal style by thrifting pieces both in and out of her comfort zone. She denies the existence of the “fashion no-no”, as she herself is not afraid to dabble in any print, color or aesthetic. Amanda’s badass energy is infectious and she is here to give us all her best tips and tricks.
Let’s hear about your love story with fashion! Have you always had a passion for fashion or is this a new love?
AMANDA QUACH: Freshman year of high school is when I started to find my style and participate in trends. I’ve always been that girl that likes to just do her thing. So it’s less about fashion itself and more just being able to wear what I want. During quarantine, I saw that people started making outfit videos and I was like, “the fuck?” I can do the same thing. So, that’s how I started. I didn’t imagine it becoming my job, but I’m really happy that I’m able to do something that I really enjoy while making money.
What does fashion mean to you? How do you use it as a creative outlet?
AMANDA QUACH: In high school, I honestly had a really rough time, especially towards the second half of high school. I started literally wearing the same exact thing. Every single day. I was depressed and I didn’t care about what I was wearing. After graduating, I started… to heal? I started to wear what I wanted to wear. Fast forward to today, I’ve gained quarantine weight, but I haven’t let that hold me back. Being able to dress the way I want to dress, and showcase a funky, vibrant, kind of persona makes me ten times more confident than if I were to wear a T-shirt and jeans. Fashion makes me feel confident and more myself.
Is there anything about fashion that frustrates you? Is there anything you wish you could change about the fashion industry?
AMANDA QUACH: When I first joined TikTok, the “indie kid” aesthetic was a huge trend. I kind of participated in it by titling some of my videos as “indie”, but I never really resonated with it. That was the start of me realizing that seeking a certain aesthetic is a waste of money and time. Why buy something for a particular aesthetic when you can be every aesthetic? Find your personal style and find what you actually want to wear instead of just buying what everyone else is buying. There’s this “crowd mentality,” where people buy one thing because everyone else is buying it. I think it creates an unhealthy habit for everyone at least.
How would you describe your style?
AMANDA QUACH: I would just say the biggest word to describe my style is funky. I like different textures and patterns. Some days I want to be retro, or other days I want to dress more 90s. It’s mainly just funky and vibrant.
Do you have any signature items or pieces you can’t leave the house without?
AMANDA QUACH: Yes. I would say my green Unif cardigans. I know green is super in right now, but even then, I love them so much. I’ve had my first Teddy Unif green cardigan for over two years now, and I don’t ever see myself letting it go. Those pieces are my absolute favorites, as well as my accessories like chunky jewelry.
Where do you pull inspiration from? Biggest style icons?
AMANDA QUACH: I know some YouTubers like Lohanthony did get me into thrifting. Enya also definitely played a part in my love for UNIF. However, for the most part I go thrifting because as a plus size person, I can’t participate in trends as easily as everyone else does. Thrifting is a little bit more accessible. I can find pieces I want to wear from a selection that fits me. Sometimes thrifting is not really trendy or in-style, but it still makes me feel good.
Is there such a thing as a “fashion no-no”?
AMANDA QUACH: Honestly, I don’t think there is. For instance, mixing patterns could be considered a “fashion no-no”, but I love to mix prints and colors. Mixing gold and silver is not that big of a deal as people make it out to be. I don’t think it ever looks flashy, but other people might think so. I guess “fashion no-no’s” aren’t really a thing for me. Why create barriers for yourself? I have had moments where I do feel like I need to follow all of these trends to stay relevant. Recently, I’ve realized that I don’t need to do that at all. I realized that not every trend is going to be for me. It’s a waste of money to completely revamp your wardrobe to follow a trend that you might not like in a couple months. There’s some trends I do like to participate in, like statement piece necklaces and chunky jewelry. As long as it’s stuff that I know will stay in my closet for a good amount of time, then I’m okay with participating in trends.
You radiate badass energy. Do you have any tips on how to be unapologetically yourself? How do you combat self-doubt?
AMANDA QUACH: I mean, the easiest thing that I would say is don’t give a fuck about everyone else. Recently, I went to my local movie theater and literally, I don’t know why, but everyone was looking at me. Maybe it’s because people knew me, maybe it’s because people thought I was fat, or didn’t like my outfit. But what I did is I turned that attention from possibly negative to positive. Everyone’s looking at me, not anyone else. If you have negative thoughts, you can give them a positive spin. Everyone says if you have haters, you’re doing something right. I totally agree with that. Regardless of the negative comments I might get, I just keep moving. I know that this makes me feel good, so I’m not going to let them make me feel any different or make me doubt myself. Some days I do have issues with confidence but it’s not because of comments like that. I still put on a cute outfit and know that I’m doing something right.
Any tips for becoming more confident with experimenting with your style?
AMANDA QUACH: If there’s a style or item that you’re not comfortable with, I would definitely pair it with something that you’re comfortable with. That way, at least some part of your outfit is something that you’re kind of familiar with. One by one, you can build that confidence and add more pieces out of your comfort zone over time. There are going to be styles that might not work for you, but by thrifting and trying on clothes, you find out what your style is.
What impact do you hope to have on your audience? How do you want your fashion to make your following feel?
AMANDA QUACH: Well it definitely all started with me doing my thing and my following expanded. I’ve grown close to my followers and I definitely feel like a big sister to them. I want them to be as confident as I can be. I hate when I get comments where people say “I want to wear what you wear” or “I live vicariously through you.” You can have this life ya know? You can go thrift a cute, funky outfit too. It’s not unattainable at all. People really underestimate themselves.
Favorite outfit of all time?
AMANDA QUACH: My favorite outfit would be any of my miniskirts, a baby T and a UNIF cardigan. It’s comfy, colorful, and it doesn’t make you look lazy. So, you know, just throw that on, get some crocs on. Platform Crocs. I love my platform Crocs. They’re my favorite.
You can put funky jibbitz on them and customize them how you like. I don’t know why they’re not a trend… but you know what, good because they are my thing!
Where do you hope your fashion takes you? Dream opportunity? Anything you’re working on?
AMANDA QUACH: I hope that I can still be active on social media and continue to expand my following. I’ve been thinking about starting a clothing or jewelry line. I’ve been making jewelry and I’m going to start making baby tees. However, I do want to eventually have a stable job and do social media marketing. But that’s kind of my ultimate goal. To make a sustainable clothing line. That’s just so far in the future but it’s very much a dream of mine.
Follow Amanda on Instagram @virghoe_xoxo and TikTok @virghoexoxo!
