Beauty

7 Minutes with Karlie Kloss on her favourite Carolina Herrera scent and what it takes to be a model

05.11.2018

By Wei Yeen Loh

7 Minutes with Karlie Kloss on her favourite Carolina Herrera scent and what it takes to be a model

At only 26 years old, supermodel Karlie Kloss has accomplished more than most of her peers in the industry, and we’re not just talking about her extensive modelling portfolio. The social media influencer (who boasts more than 7 million followers on Instagram) also has a passion for coding, which has led her to launch the “Kode With Klossy” scholarships to encourage and inspire young women across America to embrace their tech-savvy side. A frequent collaborator of Carolina Herrera, Kloss is currently the face of the brand’s signature scent, Good Girl. In conjunction with the recent launch of the limited-edition Carolina Herrera Good Girl Velvet Fatale, we scored an exclusive interview with the supermodel on what it takes to become a “Good Girl”:

You are a Good Girl. How would you define it?

Being a “Good Girl” is all about confidence and owning who you are.

 

The Good Girls’ Territory is New York City. How do you relate to New York? What are your favorite things and places in New York?

New York is electric. There’s something intangible about the city that you can’t find anywhere else in the world. I love wandering around and discovering new, hidden gems that I hadn’t noticed before. There are always new amazing restaurants to try, exhibits to go to and people to meet. New York feels like home.

 

New York is as energetic as this scent. Which spots in the city inspire and thrill you?

New York is a constant source of inspiration. There is inspiration everywhere if you are open to it. There is always something happening and its energy is contagious. I love The Little Cupcake Shop, The Whitney and Central Park.

 

You said about the original perfume that it represented strength, beauty, and confidence and that everything about it was special. How does Good Girl Eau de Parfum Légère differ from the original perfume?

It is more about self-realization, about achieving what you want in life, and about dreams coming true. EDP Légère makes me think about the roles I want to embrace and gives me the confidence to embrace them.

 

You have worked with Carolina Herrera for a long time now and have become part of the Herrera family; you celebrated the 35 years of Carolina Herrera in 2016 with them for example. Could you describe Carolina Herrera and Carolina Herrera de Baez and what they mean for you?

I feel honoured to work with both the women and the brand. They are a huge inspiration. I admire Carolina Herrera’s design integrity and style. She has stayed true to the codes of her house and has managed to stay current. That is amazing. I also love her sense of humour. Carolina Herrera de Baez is very professional and hardworking, like her mother. She’s also incredibly gifted and cultivated.

 

The starting point of EDP Légère was the duo of Jasmine and Tonka, which are your first memories related to Jasmine? In perfumes, do you prefer flowers or sweet notes?

I like them all! Do we have to choose? I love flowers and sweet notes like Dulce de Leche. I was not very familiar with Jasmine before Good Girl, but now I love it. It is an amazing and a magical flower — its smell changes the way you feel in your own skin.

 

When you smell the notes, what do they evoke in you?

The perfume evokes in me strength, power, boldness but feminine and sexy, and sophistication. The Good Girl smell changes the way you feel in your own skin.

 

 

 

Do you think that Good Girl has the power to transform someone?

Perfume definitely has the power to capture people’s attention and captivate a room. It’s a fragrance that doesn’t leave you indifferent. It’s an invisible accessory as Carolina Herrera says.

 

When would you want to wear Good Girl?

It’s the perfect fragrance for a night out with friends. It’s the perfect fragrance to wear during intense moments.

 

Apart from modelling and your charity work you also went back to study at New York University. Why did you decide to go back to study computer science and software engineer?

After graduating from high school, I was fully focused on my modelling career. I was travelling so much, and after a certain point I felt like I wasn’t investing enough time in myself or in my education. I love fashion but I am totally a nerd at my core. I have always loved science and have always wanted to understand how things work. I met someone who teaches coding when I took my first coding class at the Flatiron School. I was looking for something new to learn, a new challenge to prove myself that I could. I didn’t necessarily go into this coding class with the intention of doing anything with it, but it opened my eyes to how powerful of a tool code actually is, which inspired me to launch Kode With Klossy one year later.

 

You were discovered very young, at 13, did you want to become a model when you were little? What did you want to become? Did you always wanted to be a supermodel?

I never thought I wanted to be a model, I never knew that job existed! I knew of Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer and Christy Turlington, but it seemed out of my realm. But I was hooked when I started. It was in 2008, and I was 15 when I was booked for New York Fashion Week. I thought: “There’s no way anyone is going to book me, but it’s good to go and see people.” I had my high heels and a little black dress that my mom had bought me, which later became my lucky charms that I continued to wear again and again at castings.

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Describe a day in the life of Karlie Kloss.

There really isn’t a typical day! Coffee and exercise are probably my two constants. Otherwise, my days consist of a lot of travelling, meetings, shoots and events. Not having a regular routine keeps things interesting and exciting.

 

What was your most indulgent pampering session?

A full spa day with massages, facials, manicures and pedicures.

 

What do you consider to be your most seductive physical trait and how do you take care of it or show it off?

A sense of humour and positive approach to life is what I find attractive in other people.

 

What is your favourite beauty product?

Anything from City-Pharma in Paris.

 

What are the lessons you have learned from fashion and modelling?

The last 10 years have been an amazing journey. I’ve learned a lot from travelling, from the teams I work with and the really creative industry I’ve been able to learn from. It has been an eye-opening experience that has taught me that having fun doing your job doesn’t mean you don’t take it seriously.

 

You recently ran the New York Marathon — how did you get ready? How did you feel running it?

Growing up I was really athletic and played every sport, but I hated running. Each year in school, we were timed for a mile run. It was the worst day of the year… but now I love it. When I am travelling during fashion weeks, I always bring my running shoes. I try to take a run outside or to exercise in the hotel gym. Running the New York Marathon was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I finished! Because, you know what? It’s just as much a mental exercise as it is physical.

 

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