Night Moves: Hunter Schafer on Being a Wired Headphones Girly and the Fragrance That Stays On ‘Til Sunrise

Describe your perfect night out.

My perfect night out is always here in New York City. It starts with dinner without a plan to go out. But you look good and are ready to go out if need be. Then, maybe after a couple of drinks at dinner, everyone’s like, ‘Yeah, we’re doing this.’ We send our texts; we find out what’s happening. By chance, we happen upon a rave with our favorite DJs playing. We stay there until sunrise, and every set is bonkers.

If you could get ready for a night with any famous person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

I feel like Nina Simone really knew how to party. I think we’d have a ball.

What are your top three getting-ready tracks?

Well, right now, the new Olivia Rodrigo album is really taking over my life. Obviously, I love “Vampire,” but I don’t think that’s quite the energy that I’d want for going out. So I would probably do “All-American Bitch.” And then “Everything Is Embarrassing” by Sky Ferreira, which has been on my list. And maybe something from Beyoncé’s album Renaissance. Always perfect.

What’s your process for choosing an outfit for the night?

There’s never really a plan, but I do love clothes. I love collecting clothes. So, I pick up pieces all the time that I don’t necessarily have a plan for, but I know will come into play at some point. I have these things ready in my closet, and when the night calls for it, it’s about working an outfit around one of these special pieces.

What’s your pre-going-out beauty routine?

I guess it’s the usual makeup stuff. Eyeliner is great if you’re feeling more creative. What’s also great is the Shiseido eyelash curler, which I know is already loved by many people. But it’s really fast and makes a big difference because, like the hair on my head, my eyelashes are really straight. I usually lean towards blush versus contouring. I already have a jaw and a cheekbone situation happening, and I try to soften it a little bit more than sculpt. So I usually lean more towards blush, on my nose and sometimes on my eyes, too. If I don’t have time to shower in the morning, I’ll throw [my hair] in a bun for sure. Maybe if it’s in good enough shape, I’ll leave a couple of strands out that look purposeful.

• Mugler Angel Elixir Eau de Parfum – $150SHOP NOW
• Shiseido Archliner Ink Eyeliner – $24SHOP NOW
• Shiseido Eyelash Curler – $24SHOP NOW
• Shiseido InnerGlow CheekPowder – $29SHOP NOW

What’s your signature night-out fragrance?

Obviously, fragrance is particularly important for going out. The Angel Elixir goes from day to night well. It has lighter notes — like the white floral and the vanilla — that are more daytime, and then these harder notes —like the pink pepper and the woodsy ones — [that] go into the night well.

What essentials do you tote around in your evening bag?

Q-tips because, if I’m wearing a lip, it’s going everywhere. Other stuff aside from the good old PKW (phone, keys, wallet)… I have a really cute mini Angel that looks like an icicle. It’s really cute; that comes with me! Maybe some hand cream. I have really dry hands. And headphones! I’m not an AirPods girly, though. I’m a string. I always lose one AirPod or something like that. And a phone charger! Important.

Before you walk out the door, what’s your technique for spritzing on Mugler’s Angel Elixir?

I just think the wrist thing is really cute. It’s like boom, boom, boom, boom. And then you can dot it. There’s something just really fab about your inner wrist. I will say, the Angel Elixir is really long-lasting. I’ve had nights out where, even after I’ve fallen asleep and woken up, we’re still there. [Laughs]