Kate KingModel @ FORD

“As a kid I wore sparkly pink leather pants.”

[Ed. Note: Kate King is a model at FORD who has starred in ads for Dolce & Gabbana and Chloé and appeared on numerous runways and magazines. She hails from Canada, and just moved into her own apartment in NYC.]

Kate King photographed in Chinatown by Stevie Dance.

Photos by Stevie Dance

“I’ve never really had a style icon, especially as a kid since I didn’t read a lot of magazines or go on the internet. I remember I dressed really crazy growing up, though. Now I’m less adventurous with style, but as a kid I wore sparkly pink leather pants. I just really liked fashion–I don’t think that meant I was fashionable–I just really liked clothes. I’d wear matching things, like a black shirt with a turquoise design with turquoise pants, turquoise shoes, and a turquoise headband.

Now, everything I have is pretty simple, so when I go to a casting or to a job, I don’t have to change what I’m wearing or try to put something together. I really like my friend Caroline Brasch Neilsen's style. I go crazy over her wardrobe. I went shopping with her the other day and it was an amazing experience. She has such great taste.

As a model, all the ‘firsts’ of my career stand out to me: my first show, which was Rag & Bone, first campaign, which was Dolce & Gabbana, and first time opening, which was Moschino… Things are always more exciting when they are new. … Outside of modeling, interior design is a really big hobby of mine. I love decorating my apartment and I am always helping out my friends with their places. I handmake a lot of stuff for my apartment. I’ll buy something that’s not-so-great from a vintage store and add to it. I bought a chandelier at Ikea which was kind of dull, so I painted it more gold, took out the electric wiring and put candles in, and I replaced the plastic crystals with real crystals. I love a good deal and I love the idea of making things personal. I also bought a tray from Ikea and stained it and tiled it. I like the idea of individualizing something for myself. I got this tray from Ikea for like $6.00 and then I made it like a tray I saw at a store for like $600.” — Kate King to Shop Ghost