ON THE MAKING OF A MODEL
It was the summer of 1990 and my mother had put me in a finishing school because I was a tomboy. During the graduation ceremony, they made me look pretty and I was very grumpy about it. A lot of people from the modeling agencies were there and the next thing I knew, I was going to Paris.
I was only 16 and my parents let me go only if I could live in the house of the agent. I had never been away from my family before this. I was miserable. Long story short, I cried so much as I couldn’t understand the industry. They wanted me to wear short skirts and tights, and that wasn’t my thing. I hung out a lot at Les Halles, which was one of the roughest areas in Paris.
I wouldn’t say that fashion really set in for me until the early ’90s in New York. I was still trying to go to college then. I was intrigued by the grunge look of that era. It was how I dressed normally, and the music was what I was listening to, so the whole thing was really relatable.
I saw Kate Moss in New York and I thought, “Oh, she’s shorter than I am.” And this was after I had been told that I wasn’t tall enough. So I thought if I plucked off my eyebrows, I would look weird and could work more! That was my first memory of trying to get into fashion: plucking my eyebrows and dressing grungy.
ON BEING A CREATIVE FORCE
Mario Testino once said at a shoot that I looked like actress Romy Schneider, whom I had never heard of. I started to learn about fashion through him and other photographers that I started to work with from 1993 onwards.
Esta historia es de la edición February 2020 de Harper's BAZAAR Singapore.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición February 2020 de Harper's BAZAAR Singapore.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
BEYOND BEACHES
Escape Down Under for everything your heart desires a romantic intimate wedding, or a cruise along Sydney's picturesque harbour. The world is your oyster and the best thing is you can eat it too.
DOWN TO EARTH
In the spacious apartment of Geraldine Toh and Vincent Lim, art, design elements and an earthy sensibility commingle in perfect harmony.
DO YOU FASHION, BRO?
As the number of male fashion influencers swells, we look at what's driving this trend.
CRUISING ALTITUDE
With his idiosyncratic Thai movies, dashing movie star good looks and frequent Paris red carpet appearances, Apo Nattawin Wattanagitiphat is bringing the best of Thailand to the rest of the world.
PUT A RING ON IT
Complete your love story with a beautiful engagement ring and exquisite bridal jewellery from storied London jeweller, GRAFF.
PERFECTING TIME
With its unique Atelier d'Antoine programme and an assembly of artisans, Jaeger-LeCoultre shows how it takes watchcraft into the next level.
SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW
'The Shape of Colours', Hermès haute bijouterie collection, is a true technicolour dream.
HAUTE BIJOUX
The latest and most talked-about collections.
REPAIR REVOLUTION
Unlock your skin's potential.
LIKE SECOND SKIN
Arissa Ha speaks to Christine Nagel about Barénia, Hermès first ever chypre fragrance.