Laura Morgan might be the world’s most interesting model. Not only has she called 65 different places ‘home’, but she’s somehow found time to cram about five different careers into the space of one life. And not just any careers. After leaving school at 15, she started modelling in 1998, working closely with Lee McQueen, an experience she describes as ‘educational’ and ‘liberating’, for six seasons. She then pressed pause on the modelling world, turning her hand, instead, to designing clothes, collaborating with musicians and working with Arianne Phillips, Madonna’s costume designer, among other things. She started modelling again two years ago and now appears wearing Dior, Balenciaga, Chanel and Celine by Heidi Slimane, against the rugged landscape of Wiltshire, in our Big Fashion Issue.
You’re renovating your house to turn it into a creative space. First of all, where do you live? And why did you decide to take on this project?
It is a town about two hours from NYC, called Hudson. Most importantly to me it is 15 minutes from the Catskill Mountains, one of my favourite places on this beautiful earth. I have lived in over 65 places since my birth and have a lot of ‘feelings and thoughts’ around the idea of a home. Now with the project ended I can see it has been very much a huge sculptural project for me, that has taught me so much practically and emotionally. Now the project is complete I am moving, renting it to wonderful mindful people and going to live in the UK to go to art college for a year. My next project delves into this idea of home life and its powers.
You started modelling in 1998, paused in 2006 and started again in 2018. How has the modelling world changed during your career? Did you enjoy it more at the start or more now?
I can only talk of my experience, it no doubt will differ to others. It has less creative freedom, and now that absolutely everything is documented on social media there seems to be even more restrictions to people’s behaviour and ability to have trial and error. I love it when a photographer and stylist try different ideas. It’s brave and I fully support that even if it does add an extra few hours to our day. There is now a job called ‘influencers’. I still have no idea what that’s all about. There are a lot more female crews which is AMAZING!! And a conscious awareness around sustainability. This needs to increase massively but at least it’s being spoken about.
How would you describe your experience of working so closely with Lee McQueen?
Educational, liberating, creative expansion, dedication, madness, excitement and supportive.
What about Madonna? What was your favourite outfit/look that you put together for her?
Madonna is one of the most spectacular people I have ever worked with and met. She is a warrior and a no fucks given. Madonna is the look. No one puts her together other than herself.
When have you been at your most creatively fulfilled and why?
That’s a hard one. The only way I can describe it is when I am connected to my creativity which means the creative supportive voice is louder than the negative distracting voices. When I can really, really focus on just my art. That’s something I strive for.
The fashion industry has been so impacted by the coronavirus. Do you think anything positive is going to come out of such a difficult time?
I believe it has made all of us much more aware and respectful of each other, recognising a humanity and fragility which often gets forgotten when one is thinking about the outcome to sell to the masses. It halted production, some missed a season, and this has had a positive impact on the environment. As in the future? I don’t know that’s up to society.
What fashion designers and artists do you look up to today?
Yikes this is dangerous because there are so many that I feel bad that I can’t mention them all, and that there are many more I know I’d love yet haven’t seen their work.
Will Morgan, Talia Chetrit, Jennifer Pattison, Jenny Holtzer, Francesca Woodman, Christian Boltanski, Eckhaus Latta, Charlotte Knowles, Roxane Danset, Diana Kunst, Another Tomorrow. Many of the designers who work with Maryam Nassir Zadeh.
Photographer: Alex Bramall
Stylist: Natalie Wansbrough-Jones
Model: Laura Morgan at Premier
Make-up: Camilla Hewitt at One Represents
Hair: Keiichiro Hirano at The London Style Agency
Casting director: Nick Forbes
Fashion assistants: Emma Gold and Elena Garcia
Lighting: Michael Furlonger
Digital: John Munro