THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER: Coco Rocha dishes her favorite fashion moments, tech goods and Brooklyn shop.

by Lindsay Flans

Following model Coco Rocha’s career in the world of high-fashion (from catwalking for designers like Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney and Emanuel Ungaro, to lending her face to a limited edition Karl Lagerfeld Coco Cola Light campaign and his Macy’s collection, and filming commercials for clothing super-store White House Black Market), the Canadian has stylishly segued into the weekly TV circuit as a mentor on Oxygen’s The Face. Rocha, who coaches aspiring models through photo shoots and commercials (alongside supermodels Naomi Campbell and Karolina Kurkova) in order to help the winner become the face of ULTA Beauty, has some mentors of her own. “I will always have a special place in my heart for Jean Paul Gaultier who has given me so many amazing opportunities on his runway. He was the designer who asked me to Irish dance down the runway in 2007, which really put me on the fashion radar,” she says. “He has to be one of the kindest, most sincere people you could ever hope to meet and he’s one of the few designers who treats models as muses and really values our opinions.”

FAVORITE DESIGNERS:

Zac Posen has always been like a big brother to me. When I got married three years ago he was the only person I wanted to create my wedding dress and he went above and beyond, creating the most amazing dress I’ve ever worn. The support goes both ways, in eight years I don’t think I’ve missed a single show of his! Karl Lagerfeld also has always been a loyal supporter of me in his many ventures. From campaigns at Chanel to working with him on a Diet Coke commercial. I will always admire him and his work ethic immensely.

Lately I’m really loving the work Nicola Formichetti is doing with Mugler. It’s digital, high tech and everything we hoped and expected fashion would be in the second decade of the 21st century. I’m also extremely excited to see Fausto Puglisi’s first season as the creative director for Ungaro. I love Fausto’s aesthetic, wearing his clothes makes models like me feel like supermodels. I think Ungaro as a brand has gone through some hard times but in Fausto’s capable hands I’m expecting great things for the house in 2013.

FASHION MISHAPS:

My entire early high school career was a fashion mishap, I had the dorkiest style. I would wear big baggy sweaters, bell bottoms and the same running shoes every day. By the end of Grade 10, I was traveling quite frequently for fashion shows and shoots and at the same time receiving a crash course in fashion 101 at the feet of some of the world’s greats. I remember being given all these cute little dresses by Anna Sui when I was 17 and wearing one of them for my graduation boat cruise. I also remember doing looks for Louis Vuitton around then and being given my first designer handbag, it was my prized possession for a long time. Since then I’m sure I’ve made a few blunders and fashion faux pas. I think anyone who takes risks with fashion is bound to make a few mistakes!

FAVORITE RED CARPET MOMENT:

Zac Posen gave me this amazing gown he called the “Cloud Dress” which I wore to the Met Ball a few years ago. It had a seven-foot billowing train that was way over the top and tripped more than a few people, I adored it! I even wore the train as a cape when I entered! I’m a huge fan of Elizabeth Taylor and last year I got to go to her estate auction in New York where I bought this amazing 1980s Givenchy jumpsuit. I ended up wearing it to last year’s Met Gala which was all about “impossible conversations.” I imagined it represented my impossible fashion conversation with one of my personal style icons, Miss Taylor. 

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