Interview with Super Model Greta Cavazzoni Carrano
From the Archive · Fashion · December 2011
Greta
Cavazzoni
Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italia ✦
A supermodel who walked for McQueen and Galliano, studied at Lee Strasberg, worked with Robert Altman, and then built something entirely her own.
Why this conversation
I have always been drawn to the people who treat a famous face as a starting point rather than a destination. When I first sat down with Greta Cavazzoni, she had just launched her first handbag collection, designed and produced by her, and I loved it immediately. Having been inside the fashion industry for so long, on its covers and its catwalks, it felt natural for her to move to the other side of the lens. The result is very cool: sophisticated, a little cheeky, and completely her.
About the model
Greta Cavazzoni was born and raised in Modena, a small city in northern Italy. At sixteen she was discovered at a modelling competition, though she finished school before modelling full time, staying in Italy until graduation. Since then she has graced the covers of Spanish, Italian, British and German Vogue, French and German Elle, Grazia, Amica, Russian GQ and many other international fashion magazines, and appeared in campaigns for Valentino, Versace, Les Copains, Christian Dior, Laura Biagiotti and Tommy Hilfiger.
In 2001 she landed the Martell Cognac campaign with photographer Matthew Rolston, a project that took her across Asia, Europe and the United States. On the runway she has walked in Paris, Milan, London, Tokyo and New York for Armani, John Galliano, Givenchy, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Bill Blass, Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta and many others.
While modelling, Greta discovered a second love: acting. She studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute in New York with Marilyn Fried, took classes with Tony Greco and worked with speech coach Sam Chwat. After appearing in Robert Altman's "Pret-a-Porter" and hosting MTV Italy's "House of Style" in 1999, she landed her first major role in the Italian romantic comedy "Ogni lasciato e perso" with Piero Chiambretti. She appeared on the Fox series "Two Guys and a Girl," was cast in a leading role on the NBC pilot "Life at 5 Feet" during her first visit to Los Angeles, and worked on Italian television and on HBO's "Sex and the City." In 2006 she completed the lead female role in "Oliviero Rising" opposite Vincent Gallo, Ernest Borgnine and Burt Young.
In 2008 she designed and produced her first handbag collection. That is where this conversation begins.
My biggest inspiration are old Italian films. I love the simple glamour and elegance of those characters.
Greta CavazzoniThe Conversation
What inspires you?
My biggest inspiration are old Italian films. I love the simple glamour and elegance of those characters, which are very different from the Hollywood glam.
What is your brand about?
My brand is about looking chic and finished with an accessory but also having a sense of humour about it. The girl I design for is sophisticated, sexy and not pretentious.
Favourite stores?
Harvey Nichols in London, Colette in Paris, La Rinascente in Milan. All these stores have fun, innovative labels but also keep a classic, traditional customer.
Favourite ad campaign you have done?
For Martell Cognac, because being their spokesperson took me all over Asia, which I really enjoyed visiting.
Plans for the future?
I am planning to open a store in L.A. with shoe label Andrea Carrano next year, who recently opened a store on the Upper East Side. And of course I will keep expanding distribution of my handbags all over the world.
Differences between the fashion industry in New York, L.A. and Italy?
New York and Milan are definitely fashion capitals. For me Milan is still the "fashion capital of style and production." New York is great for the commercial effect on fashion, as it can put a label on the map in a short amount of time. It is a great place to develop and promote, which I learned in my time as a model. I have recently moved to L.A. and I must say that in this day and age it has become a very interesting city for fashion because of the major impact of the entertainment industry on the fashion world.
Three things you can't live without?
- 01My handbag, of course
- 02My BlackBerry
- 03My "Everything Pencil", a great make-up trick from Judith August
Watch
Find Greta
- Instagram: @gretacavazzoniofficial
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