EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Patricia Schmid: “We often forget that we are all born without clothes… “
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| Michel Comte for Maurice Lacroix |
PATRICIA SCHMID
@ PREMIER LONDON @ MUSE NY
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| Mario Testino for Vogue France |
PR: Tell us more about how you started modeling!
PATRICIA SCHMID: I first toyed with the idea of modeling when I was 16 and my godmother sent in pictures of me for the Swiss Cover Girl competition. I won the competition and secured a local Swiss campaign. I decided to finish my education before leaving Switzerland and taking up modeling professionally.
I studied Economics, Languages and Accounting at university…..a very different world to fashion. When I finished my studies I was almost 20 years old and left for Milan where everything began…
PR: Has being part of models.com top 50 had any influence on your career?
PATRICIA SCHMID: I’m extremely honored to be one of the top 50 models on models.com. It certainly did not harm my career in anyway!
PR: What was the turning point in your career, what was your first big break?
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| by Olivier Marcillac for L’officiel |
PATRICIA SCHMID: My turning point came very early on in my career when I first worked with Mario Testino in my first year of modeling.
I did some great jobs and covers with Mario and Carine Roitfeld. The cover of French Vogue was a very special moment for me and definitely the turning point in my career.
I was also fortunate enough to work with some of the best photographers and prestigious luxury brands as well as discover the world and meet the most inspiring people. This was also the moment when I became financially independent.
PR: You are one of top editorial girls in the business. Have any specific editorials given your career a big push?
PATRICIA SCHMID: Yes for sure the French Vogue cover with Maria Carla Boscono gave my career a big push as well as all the other great magazine editorials after that, like i-D, Numero and all the other Vogues.
PR: At what time you did you decide you needed a small break and why?
PATRICIA SCHMID: It was after 3 years of modeling that I realized that I needed a little time for myself and had the desire to travel the world without the long days at the studio and the full hair and makeup.
So as not to do things in halves, I took a full year off as a sabbatical.
This period of my life was an amazing experience, it allowed me to learn things that I had previously not had time to do and also helped to drive my motivation and ambition. Also it was during that period that I met my fiancé Frederic.
I am now back to modeling fulltime and focusing on my career.
PR: Are you now around New York more or Europe?
PATRICIA SCHMID: I am spending my time between NYC and Paris. I’ve got a flat in the West Village and one in Switzerland.
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| Vogue Paris |
PR: Which market has proven to be best for you, most effective in terms of the quality and quantity of bookings?
PATRICIA SCHMID: Hmmmmm. That is a tricky question as the top high fashion markets like New York, Paris, London and Milan are all important and effective for a girl’s career. That being said, I personally find that I have ongoing success in the New York and Paris markets
PR: When you decide to buy expensive shoes, which brand is first on your list?
PATRICIA SCHMID: For shoes I usually shop at Chanel or YSL. Those are my two favorite brands for expensive shoes.
For me shoes are like jewels for the feet and help to lengthen my legs look and often complete an outfit
PR: How about handbags?
PATRICIA SCHMID: I love Lanvin handbags of course Chanel….there is something special about Parisian chic.
PR: You are one of the lucky girls who shoot cosmetics ads, the most lucrative booking in the industry! You have Shiseido campaigns under your belt! How does a model get chosen to do such a prestigious job? Do cosmetics campaigns involve regular castings?
PATRICIA SCHMID: Doing a campaign for a leading cosmetic brand is amazing in all the sense of the word. You both learn and earn a lot! I personally believe that models get booked on such campaigns for what they stand for and their ability to represent the brand.
In the case of Shiseido, I worked on the campaign with Mario Testino. The contract was for 3 years and it was a fantastic experience. I loved working with the Japanese client and working with Mario of course!
PR: Before doing the shoot for the cosmetics campaign, did you have a special beauty treatment for the skin and hair?
PATRICIA SCHMID: Honestly, this one will probably surprise you. I am very fortunate to have a good complexion. I also do take good care of my skin through eating well, exercising regularly and being selective as to what products I apply. I try to take a minimal approach, as my skin does not require much.
Pure water and a good moisturizer tends to do the trick! But I do only like to use the best products and pamper myself!
PR: So you use Shiseido?
PATRICIA SCHMID: I still continue to use a lot of their products. One of my favorites is their concealer, which is particularly useful for bad skin days (haha…yes even models have them too!)
PR: That’s hard to believe. (haha) . Patricia, you were also one of the first girls who had the bob hair cut! Who decided on your look?
PATRICIA SCHMID: Yes, I was the leader of the pack for the bob hairstyle. It did make famous and I was often compared to celebrities like Mireille Mathieu and Louise Brooks. It happened when I first arrived in Milan, I had very long hair and my agency decided to cut my hair into a bob style.
When I looked in the mirror for the first time I was shocked. I looked like a 12year old child! After a while though I fell in love with it and I started regularly working with Mario Testino. Since then I’ve been given variations of the bob, every hair stylist has had their own vision how my style should be.
PR: But you don’t have the same look anymore…
PATRICIA SCHMID: I kept it for three years and then changed my hairstyle when I took my break. I really loved my bob and in particular the effect it had. But I strongly believe that there is a time and place for everything.
Bobs were not good at attracting men, so I decided to do something about it!
PR: That’s a good reason! (haha) You recently started making jewelry! What materials do you like to work with?
PATRICIA SCHMID: I love crafting jewelry for myself. I decided to start making it for others based on the feedback my friends gave me, asking me where I bought it!!. I work with whatever I can get my hands on as long as it is elegant and simple to craft. As a result of this, I work with materials like suede and leather. I had my first shots at making silver jewelry too but I am still learning the craft.
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| source:listal.com |
PR: In which school did you take the course at?
PATRICIA SCHMID: I am a self-taught, I believe in trying first and then learning afterwards. I do intend to attend a few courses to improve my skills in the near future
PR: Jewelry designers usually take the back seat in the media. Where do you usually buy your jewelry and is there any designer that you particularly like?
PATRICIA SCHMID: I have always loved jewelry but hardly bought it for myself 🙂. Is it not men, who buy jewelry for women? I love looking at them…they fascinate me.
I have a weakness for Cartier, especially their line with wild animals.
PR: Is Cartier also your biggest influence?
PATRICIA SCHMID: My main influence does not come from one designer in particular but from my belief in beauty. I strongly believe that jewelry needs to underline the beauty of a woman, not to “steal the show”.
No woman wants to be remembered for having beautiful jeweler, every woman wants to be remembered for being beautiful! My creations respect this simple principle.
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| by Lee Broomfield for Vogue Latin America |
PR: So… that thing you said, that monks in Nepal can use the power of their mind to contort silver jewelry… is that true? You actually saw that?
PATRICIA SCHMID: I am very spiritual, so I believe that different elements have a power on us. I have not seen the Nepalese monks yet but have heard a lot about them. I will let you know when I’ve done it!
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| ID magazine by Richard Bush |
PR: Do you travel a lot just for your own soul, not solely for modeling purposes?
PATRICIA SCHMID: Being a fashion model requires a lot of travelling, so I do. Outside of it, I try to travel with my boyfriend to beautiful spots where there is just nature, good and healthy food and a lot of sun.
We love special hideaways and spending quality time together. I often need to recharge my batteries when I am over exposed to city life and work.
I love to do yoga and meditation so I need to find some quiet places.
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| Vogue Paris |
PR: What are some of your favorite traveling spots?
PATRICIA SCHMID: My favorite spots so far are Tulum, the South of France, the Seychelles and Tahiti.
PR: What about a favorite modeling trip?
PATRICIA SCHMID: My favorite modeling trip was in Buenos Aires and Tahiti.
PR: You did a very provocative shooting with Tiiu Kuik and Sydonie Herrera. Actually, it was not your only nude editorial.
PATRICIA SCHMID: This was my first nude shoot. It took a lot of courage to do but it was quite funny after the first session of shooting (we had like 3 or 4 sessions in total) when we arrived we all got naked almost straight away!
PR: Do you pay special attention to your body before shoot like that?
PATRICIA SCHMID: I take care of my body all year round and I’m a super healthy person.
PR: Would you consider doing a Playboy editorial? Do you think that there’s a difference in posing nude for a men’s magazine, compared to posing nude in a fashion or beauty spread?
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| by Tom Betterton & Jenny Cage/Gravure n°3 |
PATRICIA SCHMID: I believe there is a difference between Playboy and a fashion magazine but if the story would be done with style, grace and with a top photographer, then yes I would do Playboy.
I love nudity and the human form and think that as long it is tastefully done I have nothing against it. We often forget that we are all born without clothes…
PR: How do you stay in shape? Modeling criteria is not easy to fulfill. What exactly do you do?
PATRICIA SCHMID: In the beginning it was quite difficult as my body was in transformation from a girl into a young woman and to be honest I did not know what was going on.
I tried everything natural and now I found this amazing wellbeing doctor in the US who advises me about being healthy through balanced and personalized food diet and supplements.
It also took me a while to realize that I don’t need hardcore sports for my body, as it just puts more stress onto it.
So now I keep my body in shape with Gyrotonics, Gyrokinesis, Yoga, Pilates and Swimming.
PR: Curves or no curves? What is beautiful for you, on a personal level?
PATRICIA SCHMID: Good question. I honestly like myself slim. I feel stronger and healthier and the clothes hang better off me. I have the fortune to be slender with natural curves.
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| source:lexposure.net |
PR: How often do you visit spa? Which one is your favorite?
PATRICIA SCHMID: My favorite spa is in NYC and called Pratima. There, I always have the feeling that I’m not in the city anymore. It is amazing how you feel after one treatment, like you are in a whole new body!!
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| ID magazine by Richard Bush |
PR: What is your ultimate beauty indulgence?
PATRICIA SCHMID: Indian massages are at the top of the list! But it is difficult to tell whether they can top a nap in the sunshine at the beach…
PR: Do you visit a dermatologist?
PATRICIA SCHMID: No I have never had the need to visit a dermatologist. It is certainly important if you have problem skin though.
PR: What make-up do you always wear?
PATRICIA SCHMID: Being a product junkie I am forever trying new products.
I must say that I am currently very happy with both the L’Oreal and Chanel products.
I have a good mix of both brands that I use regularly when I need to wear make up.
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PHOTO SOURCE: TFS FORUM / WHY NOT MGMT / PREMIER LONDON