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Model friendships

How's life with a runway--ready BFF? Not bad. (Especially the free drinks.)

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Katarina Lindberg

18, model, Newburgh, NY

Charlene Macielag

17, student, Newburgh, NY
Friends for three years

Is there any rivalry between you two?

Charlene:

I think there has been. I can’t think of anything specific, but we’ve been neck and neck on things. It’s kind of a girl thing.

Any catfights?

Katarina:

Well, in high school, we hated each other before we met. We both thought the other person was a bitch.

Charlene:

But Katarina’s best friend started talking to me because she liked my guy friend, I think. So then the three of us started hanging out, and now we’re best friends.

Charlene, does your self-esteem suffer from having a model as your best friend?

Charlene:

It’s hard sometimes, because it’s not that she’s a model, it’s that she’s doing something that she loves. And I don’t know what I love yet. So I’m kind of more jealous of that fact…and that she’s lived in Italy, NYC, Miami.

Do you ever coordinate your outfits?

Katarina:

No, we try not to do that. I once bought a pair of Diesel jeans, and she used to work at Diesel. She called me when I was getting ready, and she asked what I was wearing. When I told her my black Diesels, she was like, “Dammit. Now I can’t wear them.”

Fashion credits


KATARINA: Karen Walker parachute jacket, $760, at karenwalker.com. Acne Jeans Ink bodysuit, $120, at matthewizzo.com. Converse by John Varvatos Chuck’s skinny Gold Mine jeans, $225, at Saks Fifth Avenue, 611 Fifth Ave at 50th St (212-644-1704). Wolford socks, $30, at Wolford, 619 Madison Ave between 58th and 59th Sts (212-688-4850). Aldo Esmeraldasa shoes, $250, at aldoshoes.com.

CHARLENE: Samantha Pleet leopard-print tank, $242, at satineboutique.com. Rebecca Beeson cardigan, $140, at Olive and Bette’s, 252 Columbus Ave at 72nd St (212-579-2178). Odyn Purple Rain Swan jeans, $173, at YLLI, 482 Driggs Ave at North 10th St, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-302-3555). Sigerson Morrison Mary Jane flats, $375, at Sigerson Morrison, 28 Prince St at Mott St (212-219-3893). Charlene’s own necklace.

Sharod “Slim” Simmons

21, artist, Harlem

Wendell Lissimore

21, model, Harlem

Nekasa Blanchard

20, designer, Harlem
Friends for six years

Fall fashion 2007, models and friends

Stylist: Kristina Dechter; Hair: Kozmo for Bryan Bantry; Makeup: Souhi for De Facto Inc.

Wendell, do people unfairly stereotype you because of your dashing good looks?

Wendell:

Oh sure, everybody gets stereotyped. Some people take the modeling industry the wrong way. Like, they think all male models are gay. I am not.

Do you ever feel like chopped liver when you’re out with Wendell?

Slim:

Nah, we all got our own thing going on. He does his modeling, I do my music. I get my radio spins, people are running around wearing Nekasa’s clothes.…

Nekasa:

No, because we’re part of the best people in Harlem. We’re just a group of guys trying to better ourselves. So when we go out, we don’t hate on each other.

These outfits could be described as “utilitarian.” Where would you wear them?

Slim:

I see this as, like, Meatpacking District streetwear. It ain’t too metrosexual, but it’s got a nice fit. I’d wear it to a club where the dance floor is mostly a bed.

Wendell:

It’s a new twist on farm wear, but I’d wear it in Soho, Harlem, wherever.

Nekasa:

I could wear it to a fashion show or the slums. It’s something that makes you stand out.

Fashion credits


SLIM: Diesel Jomoto jacket, $240, at Diesel, 1 Union Sq West at 14th St (646-336-8552). Surface to Air hoodie, $145, at BBlessing, 181 Orchard St at Stanton St (212-378-8005). Zooey thermal henley, $75, at zooeytees.com. Levi’s 520 skinny jeans, $68, at levisstore.com. Converse Chuck Taylor All Star shoes, $67, at converse.com.

WENDELL: agnès b. homme T-shirt, $150, and jeans, $310; both at agnès b., 103 Greene St between Prince and Spring Sts (212-925-4649). Converse by John Varvatos Chuck Taylor All Star Specialty Leather combat boots, $225, at converse.com.

NEKASA: Robert Geller Canadienne coat, $475, at Odin, 199 Lafayette St between Broome and Kenmare Sts (212-966-0026). Hanes Tagless Ultimate tank, $12, at hanes.com. Diesel Darron jeans, $210, at Diesel. Nekasa’s own Nike sneakers.

Lindsey Thornburg

22, model, Chinatown

Crystal Moselle

27, film director, LES
Friends for five years

Fall fashion 2007, models and friends

Stylist: Kristina Dechter; Hair: Kozmo for Bryan Bantry; Makeup: Souhi for De Facto Inc.

So how did you become friends?

Crystal:

Her ex-boyfriend is my friend. We met through him.

Lindsey:

I think there was a mutual attraction, which developed into a friendship and an appreciation for each other. Now we’re all friends.

Crystal, be honest. Do you ever wish Lindsey were an ugly troll so you’d get all the attention?

Crystal:

No, never. I use her beauty. She’s been in, like, three out of five of my commercials.

What looks are you rocking today?

Lindsey:

My look was developed out of my clothing line, Lindsey Thornburg. My whole aesthetic is based on an urban warrior—living in New York, you need to protect yourself from your surroundings, elements and social situations. These jeans are awesome! They make me feel like I should be backstage at a Ratt concert.

Crystal:

My look is playing off her look, but more toned down, I guess. I don’t usually dress down, but I don’t dress up, either. I don’t wear pants, ever. I only wear dresses. And I’m really into the early-’90s California surf-neon-OP look.

Fashion credits


LINDSEY: Lindsey Thornburg cloak, $590, at the Good the Bad and the Ugly, 85 Kenmare St at Mulberry St (212-473-3769). Gap Favorite tank, $20, at gap.com. Odyn Fitz acid-washed jeans, $173, at YLLI, 482 Driggs Ave at North 10th St, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-302-3555).

CRYSTAL: Vince Sophie sweater, $340, at Barneys New York, 660 Madison Ave between 60th and 61st Sts (212-826-8900). Vena Cava Tangier dress, $450, at Opening Ceremony, 35 Howard St between Broadway and Crosby St (212-219-2688).

Soni Singh

29, self-employed, Hell’s Kitchen

Shakara Singh

(no relation), 27, model, LES
Friends for five years

Fall fashion 2007, models and friends

Stylist: Kristina Dechter; Hair: Kozmo for Bryan Bantry; Makeup: Souhi for De Facto Inc.

You’re sporting British menswear-inspired clothes today. Do you often blur the gender lines when it comes to fashion?

Shakara:

I’m a total tomboy. I basically wear tennis shoes, jeans, tank tops and hats…that’s it. I don’t like hair and makeup and all that. But Soni pushes me to be more feminine, because she’s always dressed nice and has her hair and nails and makeup done. It makes me want to be more of a lady.

Soni:

Normally, I wear a black shirt and jeans every day. I call it my uniform. But I dress up when I go out with Shakara, because I feel like I am a representation of her.

Do you ever feel like you’re in her shadow?

Soni:

No, I take advantage of it! I get to go places, I get to do a lot of cool stuff. I can get into any event or club. Wherever she is—she could be in Vegas, she could be international—she makes it possible to get into big events and see part of the world you’d never get to see on your own.

Shakara:

And we get free bottle service…that’s part of the deal. We take advantage of that, and it’s a big problem.

Fashion credits


SONI: Vivienne Westwood Anglomania dress, $523, at Caravan, 2 Great Jones St between Broadway and Lafayette St (212-260-8189). Wolford streamline tights, $52, at Wolford, 619 Madison Ave between 58th and 59th Sts (212-688-4850). BCBGMAXAZRIA Page oxford loafers, $350, at bcbg.com.

SHAKARA: Luella Bartley jacket, $350, and pedal pushers, $185; both at luella.com. Wolford opaque socks, $27, at Wolford, 619 Madison Ave between 58th and 59th Sts (212-688-4850). Maloles Saba patent leather shoes, $475, at Barneys New York, 660 Madison Ave at 61st St (212-826-8900).

Annie Henley

27, model, Williamsburg

Dana Della Valle

42, actor, UES
Friends for four years

Fall fashion 2007, models and friends

Stylist: Kristina Dechter; Hair: Kozmo for Bryan Bantry; Makeup: Souhi for De Facto Inc.

Describe your look, ladies.

Annie:

It’s bohemian rocker with a dash of punk. I’d wear it to a rock concert or on a hot date.

Dana:

I look like a quirky Jackie Kennedy or a whacked Audrey Hepburn. It’s a hip UES look, if there is such a thing.

Do you ask each other if your ass looks fat?

Dana:

Unfortunately we’re both kind of queens of the bony white ass.

Annie:

I pray to God my butt looks big!

And are you honest with each other?

Annie:

Yeah, I’ll tell her if she’s giving too much nipple. And Dana always tells me when my crack is hanging out, which it always is.…

Fashion credits


ANNIE: Jenni Kayne motorcycle jacket, $1,995, at Curve, 83 Mercer St between Broome and Spring Sts (212-966-3626). Kova & T Amsterdam T-shirt, $88, and Oxy leggings, $110; both at shopbop.com. Club Monaco Tall Wilhelmina belt, $59, at Club Monaco, 6 W 57th St at Fifth Ave (212-459-9863).

DANA: Kova & T Jecka herringbone jacket, $264, at Poppy, 281 Mott St between E Houston and Prince Sts (212-219-8934). H Fredriksson coated denim skirt, $360, at hfredriksson.com. Club Monaco tights, $24, at Club Monaco, 6 W 57th St at Fifth Ave (212-459-9863).

Will Lewis

25, model, UWS

Liron David

24, event planner, UWS
Friends for 22 years

Fall fashion 2007, models and friends

Stylist: Kristina Dechter; Hair: Kozmo for Bryan Bantry; Makeup: Souhi for De Facto Inc.

Nice cape. You look ready to fight some hipster crime.

Will:

I feel like the Crow type of a superhero. If you need a little encouragement from the devil, you put on a cape. Which means you’re either really good or really bad, but bad in a good way. Not the Michael Jackson kind of bad—the David Bowie kind of bad.

And Liron, I guess that makes you the hipster sidekick.

Liron:

I’d say I feel kind of hipstery. I dress casual and comfortable, so this look works for me. I’m a T-shirt-and-sweater guy.

If your friend were wearing something hideous, would you tell him?

Liron:

I’d definitely tell him, but nothing surprises me with this guy. One day he’s the most trendy person I’ve ever seen. And other days he’s so dressed down, he wouldn’t be allowed in a dive bar.

Will:

Liron always looks sharp. He’s a make-an-entrance kind of guy. And he’s like my producer—he always makes sure I look okay to roll places.

Does having a model-friend help or hinder your chances of meeting women?

Liron:

It helps if the model is cool. A lot of them are awkward—they just look good and there’s nothing more to them. But Will’s got more personality than anybody else I know. His conversations will attract more people than turn them away.

Fashion credits


WILL: Ksubi Desert Storm T-shirt, $135, and acid-washed jeans, $265; both at Ksubi, 219C Mulberry St between Prince and Spring Sts (212-334-4690). Dior Homme calfskin oxford lace-ups, $485, at Dior Homme, 17 E 57th St between Fifth and Madison Aves (212-421-6009).

LARON: Vince Army jacket in black, $295, at Bloomingdale’s, 1000 Third Ave between 59th and 60th Sts (212- 705-2000). Acne Jeans Almost sweater, $355, at Oak, 208 North 8th St between Driggs Ave and Roebling St, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-782-0521). Rogues Gallery vintage T-shirt, $80, at Bloomingdale’s, 504 Broadway between Broome and Spring Sts (212-729-5900). Cockpit USA corduroy pants, $158, at Cockpit General Store, 652 Broadway between Bleecker and Bond Sts (212-254-4000). Kenneth Cole Timeline belt, $80, at kennethcole.com. Clarks Originals Desert Boots, $90, at Clarks, 363 Madison Ave at 45th St (212-949-9545).

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