Linda RodinStylist and Creator of Rodin Olio Lusso

"I wake up in the morning and I'm happy because I have everything I like to look at."

[Ed. Note: Linda Rodin is a stylist who has worked with photographers like Richard Avedon, Peter Lindbergh, and Herb Ritts. She began her career as a model in the 1960s. Rodin is also the founder of successful beauty brand Rodin Olio Lusso, which she devised from beauty lessons she learned on set.]

Photos by Adrian Mesko

I’m think I’m defined by the things I own, but only in my own little world. My product [Rodin Olio Lusso] is out there, and it’s very clean and sleek, not very feminine. Maybe it’s because I needed something clean and simple, because my habits are simple. I put on one product. Never wear my hair down. I don’t wear makeup; I only wear lipstick. If I can’t put it in the washing machine, I don’t want to own it. I’m simple in that way, but I like to look at stuff. I just love to look at everything.

I’m very acquisitive, and I don’t care what it costs, not that I can buy something for $10,000! I buy things that cost 3 cents at a flea market. … I wake up in the morning and I’m happy because I have everything I like to look at. If you’re literary, you want to read a beautiful passage. If you’re visionary, you want to look at something great.

Photos by Adrian Mesko

I love flea markets. I’d rather go to a flea market than to Barney’s because it just seems more interesting. … I have visions of things in my head, and it can be realized when I go out in the street. Once you have the vision of what interests you, it’s all out there, and the fun part is finding it, actually.

There’s a million things that I want, that I couldn’t have. In that case, I’ll take a picture of it, and sometimes, I just print the picture. That way I don’t need the thing itself. That’s the beauty of all these digital cameras and cell phones and printers. You can have it all. I absolutely have too much. It’s ridiculous, but it doesn’t stop me. … I don’t feel guilty about having many things because I do other things with my time that are meaningful.” – Linda Rodin to Shop Ghost

Linda Rodin photographed in New York by Adrian Mesko.

Photos by Adrian Mesko

Linda's Tips

Favorite Stores

"I always find something in J. Crew. Always. There's also this great store, Creatures of Comfort, and I like Uniqlo. They have the best jeans."
Keep it Simple

"I've worn jeans since I was 15, which I still wear everyday, and any shirt. I've had this shirt for 20 years, as you can see. I revolve everything around a good pair of jeans. ... I don't care who makes them, as long as they fit."
Signature Color

"I've always loved hot pink. Now I wear a mood lipstick that turns pink, and I wear a Makeup Forever pencil.... I just bought 25 lip pencils in this color!"
Fix It!

"I learned from styling that you can always fix it. You can pin things, puff things, and fake it. I also have a great tailor. I can buy a coat that's too big, and it can be scaled down. I can take a sleeve off of this and put it on that, put a waistband in something that didn't have a waist. … I feel like I can buy anything."