EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
“Katie Fogarty: Simply Fabulous”
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| PH. Kai Z. Feng and styled by Naomi Smith for Vogue Australia |
KATIE FOGARTY
@ MOTHER MODEL MGMT @ NEXT MODELS
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| PH. Kai Z. Feng and styled by Naomi Smith for Vogue Australia |
PR: Katie, finally this interview is happening! Tell us about your start. What was your initial reaction when Jeff and Mary approached you?
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| Source: TFS |
KATIE FOGARTY: At first I thought they were mall security trying to accuse me of doing something wrong. I almost ran!
After they stopped my parents and me, told me I was beautiful and should model. At the time I had braces, bangs,and basketball shorts; apparently a stunning combination. 🙂 It was surreal.
After the meeting, I remember getting a smoothie with the family and my best friend staring into space, contemplating what just happened!
PR: The magic mall… what is it called?
KATIE FOGARTY: It was the West County Mall in Des Peres, MO.
PR: Is it true that your mother agents bought you basic wardrobe for your first castings for fashion week?
KATIE FOGARTY: I went to a Catholic all girls school with a uniform. The only clothes I had were gym shorts and tee shirts; not quite casting material.
So yes, they came to me with a huge bag of black and white basics from H&M.
PR: Do you remember your first castings?
KATIE FOGARTY: My first castings I remember being in awe of NYC. I’ll never forget my first castings with Michelle Lee, Russel Marsh, Douglas Perret, and the infamous Calvin casting: 8 hours, all white walls, no book.
PR: Where do you shop now and what do you look for?
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| Tesh for Elle Russia |
KATIE FOGARTY: I very rarely shop intentionally. Most retail stores stress me out, so I stick with thrift and vintage stores around my neighborhood. I’m always inspired by Grace Kelly, Audrey and Catherine Hepburn. Some days I love looking super lady-like and classic, and others I like to look like a real nerd.
PR: Who influenced your style?
KATIE FOGARTY: My amazingly stunning roommate, Marc Sebastian, has influenced my style quite a bit with his perfect use of jackets, cuffs, button downs, and tailoring.
PR: What brand of high heels that you own is your favorite but is also the most comfortable?
KATIE FOGARTY: To be completely frank with you, there is no such thing as a comfortable high heel.
There is a reason women don’t wear heels when going on hikes. No one WANTS to have there ankle at anything other than 180 degrees.
PR: Do you own Christian Louboutin shoes?
KATIE FOGARTY: I would never wear these shoes by choice. You can definitely tell they are made by a man!
PR: What was your most embarrassing runway or “working model” moment?
KATIE FOGARTY: I think this pretty much sums it up 🙂
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| Rex Features |
PR: LOL, Yes it does. (: .You are wearing reading glasses! What brand are they?
KATIE FOGARTY: Haha those are my glasses for distance actually. I bought them at MODO optical in Soho. They’re Philip Lim.
PR: Ok, we know you are a foodie…does that mean you love to eat more or cook?
KATIE FOGARTY: They kind of go together! How can you love to cook without loving to eat? There is nothing better than enjoying the fruits of my labor or sharing something I made with a loved one.
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| Benny Horne for Russh |
PR: Top Chef! Do you watch Top Chef masters? Who is your favorite?
KATIE FOGARTY: I do watch Top Chef masters and a bunch of cooking shows! However, I haven’t had a chance to get that into it because I’ve been finishing school on line and working loads (which is fantastic!).
PR: Which American chef do you admire?
KATIE FOGARTY: I really admire what Julia Child did for the American home cook. It is not an easy task to make Americans adopt another culture’s food. Before her, the average American chef saw French cuisine as foreign as people see Indian food today.
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| Max Von Gumppenberg & Patrick Bienert for 10 |
PR: Would you like to be classically trained?
KATIE FOGARTY: I would LOVE to be classically trained in both the USA and Paris!
At the moment, I’m too busy, but I’ve looked into some weekend classes at the French Culinary Institute in Soho. I think I would need to learn more French before I try to train in Paris.
PR: Since you are into food and you travel so much tell us about your favorite meals and where did you had them?
KATIE FOGARTY: My most memorable meal that really made me realize that there was more to food than what I grew up with was in Paris. At this restaurant Le 404 three years ago. It was a Moroccan tagine with tabouli, cucumber salad, and mint tea.
The best part of my recent visit to Brazil was the acai blended with banana with honey and granola on top.
Any fish in Italy is always beautifully done. Whenever we have time for an actual dinner during shows, my agency always haves a FEAST! Think tuna meatballs, grilled fish and meats, the freshest salads, risotto, pastas, octopus, and tiramisu. YUM
PR: Do you like discovering new restaurants?
KATIE FOGARTY: To be honest, I very rarely eat out because I like to cook! I just discovered a place called Westville on Avenue A that’s so cute.
It has a super long list of vegetable sides that you can choose from. I commend them for treating the veggies just as important as their meats and fishes. So many restaurants forget about the beauty of fresh, seasonal produce!
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| Fabio Chizzola for Vogue Spain |
PR: We always say that trip to Veneto, Italy changed our life food wise. We tried some of the most amazing dishes there. Rustic but delicious. Do you like more new modern approach to food or classic-rustic one?
KATIE FOGARTY: I definitely have a rustic approach to food. I have enough stress in my life. Cooking is boundless!
PR: Katie, French or Italian cuisine?
KATIE FOGARTY: Most of the time I stick with rustic Italian cuisine because it is what I grew up with, is fast, fresh, and simple. However, I love to use classic French techniques when I have a little more time.
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| Ph. Kai Z Feng |
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| Chloe F/W 2011 by Vogue.it |
PR: Do you own lots of cookbooks?
KATIE FOGARTY: I have probably 10 in my apartment.
PR: Really? So which one is your favorite?
KATIE FOGARTY: I think the most useful is Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child. Now that I’ve finished school I’m pumped to immerse myself into those recipes more frequently.
PR: What is by far the hardest dish that you know how to make?
KATIE FOGARTY: Hmm… I find that most dishes are not difficult, but time consuming.
A classic dish I make that takes a full day (partially because we make truck loads!) is my grandma’s Christmas potato gnocchi with a meat sauce. I also am working on perfecting my French macaroon recipe, but the humidity in NYC is not helping matters!
BODY TALK
PR: A runway model and a foodie. How do you stay in shape?!? Tell us your secrets.
KATIE FOGARTY: I think that being an epicurean actually helps me to be a healthy person. By cooking everything I eat, not only do I know exactly what is in the dish, but I learn to appreciate the value in a meal more.
I never feel like I need fast food, because I know I can go home and make something healthy, inexpensive, and delicious myself!
In terms of working out, I hate gyms. One of my favorite things of living in the city is the fact that I get to walk everywhere! Maybe that is why I never where heels 🙂
PR: Yes haha! But still how can you resist to all those delicious pastries in New York? ANd BTW which pastry place is your favorite?
KATIE FOGARTY: I really prefer to bake from scratch most of the time because it’s so fun! However, last year my agency got me the MOST DELICIOUS chocolate cake from a bakery called Ceci Cela. LINK: ( http://cecicelanyc.com/cakes-tarts.html )
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| Tesh for Elle Russia |
PR: Looks delicious! Katie, do you stay away from sodas? What do you like to drink?
KATIE FOGARTY: As you can probably tell, I have a lot of energy as it is. I try to stick with either caffeine or sugar, not mixed. I really like kombucha and occasionally I’ll have a Dr. Brown’s cream soda.
BEAUTY TALK
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| Sebastian Kim for Numero Tokyo |
PR: Obviously you have no weight issues, no skin issues, you are perfect! But you have to love some cosmetic products! How do you maintain your skin?
KATIE FOGARTY: I make sure to wash my face every morning and night with a foam cleanser.
Right now I’m using Neutrogena wash, sunscreen, and concealer pen because NOBODY is really perfect!
I just started moisturizing recently, but I only use it in the morning if my skin needs it. I think it’s important not to make your skin dependent on any one product. Some days it just needs to breathe!
PR: Do you have any” insider” beauty tip?
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| clmus.com |
KATIE FOGARTY: I always curl my lashes before applying mascara. It makes my straight-lashed eyes look wide awake!
PR: What do you have in your make up bag?
KATIE FOGARTY:
- Burts Bees chapstick
- Eyelash curler
- Concealer pen
- Nars mascara
- and a bright red lipstick for special occasions.
PR: What products do you use in the shower?
KATIE FOGARTY: I love Bumble and Bumble deep conditioners for my hair, Dove cream body wash, Neutrogena grapefruit facial scrub, and Venus razors.
SUMMER DINNER
PR: How are you planning to spend this summer?
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| Fabio Chizzola for Vogue Spain |
KATIE FOGARTY: I’m looking forward to having a great time in the city enjoying my apartment, cooking, picnics in the park, and trips to the beach.
I’m going back to St. Louis for my graduation party at the end of July, and then my family and I are off to spend my birthday week in Hawaii!
I’m so excited for my first vacation in three years lying in the sun, snorkeling, and possibly learning to surf!
PR: Perfect summer dinner in St. Louis for you is…
KATIE FOGARTY: Grilled, marinated chicken with grilled zucchini, tomatoes, and herbs all from my mom’s garden. Served with grilled, BBQ corn of course! (You can’t have summer dinner in the Midwest without corn!)
My huge grill is one of the things I miss most about my house back home!
For dessert, nothing says summer like watermelon, mint, and lime granita!