My most vivid memory of Megan Gale doesn't come off so well for me, but I'll tell you anyway. One year at the Cleo Swimsuit party, photographers wanted to snap us together, so I stood on the stairs while Megan stayed on the grass so we could at least be of even head height (have you seen her in heels? Stood next to her? She's an Amazon lady. All bronze limbed legginess.) Anyway, my coy plan didn't work cos they took full length shots! Thanks guys! The glamour girl is now hosting Project Runway and I cornered her for a chat on her style.
HOW EXCITED ARE YOU TO BE HOSTING PROJECT RUNWAY?
I’m very excited but also extremely nervous. There’s a lot of buzz around the show which is fantastic but also adds a lot of pressure!
HOW HAS YOUR STYLE CHANGED DURING FILMING?
My style has changed in terms of the way I look on the show is very different to how you’d see me on the red carpet or working for David Jones, it’s just a very different look. Which is great, it’s good to work on different projects and change it up in terms of your look and it’s been quite refreshing. I’ve had lots of people to help me do this it’s nothing I’ve created myself! But it’s also been difficult in deciding what that look is going to be. It is a fashion show but you don’t want to go too wacky and too trend driven and look like a car crash walking down the catwalk! So it’s been fun to play around with that.
YOUR VERY FIRST FASHION MEMORY WAS …
Jogged when I was looking through baby photos with my mum and came across one where I was in a little sundress and a bonnet which my mum made for me - kind of like a baby from Little House on the Prairie! My mum made me a lot of clothes back then and I still think it’s amazing that she did that for me.
YOU LOOK YOUR BEST IN …
Without sounding like I’m trying to promote him, I think any of Alex Perry’s dresses. When you wear one of his dresses you end up looking like you have a body that’s not actually yours. He knows how to tailor and construct things in a way that improves your silhouette and how you are physically. They call him the king of smoke and mirrors and he just makes you look fantastic – your waist looks smaller, your stomach looks flatter, your boobs look bigger! He’s just a genius.
YOUR STYLE UNIFORM IS ...
At the moment it’s a lot of black – safe and easy. I’m living in my skinny black Nudie jeans, patent leather Jimmy Choo ankle boots which are heels but really comfortable, and usually a black knit with a black leather jacket over the top.
MY MOST FABULOUS FASHION MOMENT WAS …
A finale I did for a David Jones show. They got Alex Perry to make a couture dress in their signature houndstooth print which was a very cool moment.
HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO KEEP ANY COOL CLOTHES YOU'VE MODELLED?
Oh god yeah, sometimes they’re samples which have to go back to the designer obviously but over the years I have got some very cool things. When I was working in Italy I’d get sent quite a few things for shoots from Roberto Cavalli to wear and I had built up a relationship with him, he was fantastic. They actually called my agency and offered me to go in and pick things out which was just heaven. Some of it was current season and some of it was archive stuff so I got stuff that Jennifer Lopez had worn to events and just amazing things. As time goes on they’ll become vintage pieces which I love the idea of.
YOUR STYLE ICON IS ...
Angelina Jolie – she’s very classic and her outfits look very simple but she's always quite striking without being gaudy or flashy. I don’t know how she looks like that while having six kids! She’s always so groomed and elegant without being too much and I really admire that.
YOUR FAVOURITE FASHION DESIGNERS ARE ...
In Australia, Colette Dinnigan, Kirrily Johnston, Lisa Ho, Willow and obviously Alex Perry. Internationally I love Herve Leger, Roberto Cavalli, Gucci and YSL.
YOUR LAST PURCHASE WAS ...
Christian Louboutin heels which are dangerously high. They’re a tan coloured peeptoe ankle boot.
KEY PIECES EVERY WOMAN SHOULD OWN ...
A little black dress, a great pair of jeans you feel comfortable in, a white shirt, anything leopard print because it always comes around again, and a black trench coat.
THE SEXIEST THING A WOMAN CAN WEAR?
A disarming smile.
MINI SKIRTS OR SHORTS? Mini skirts
SKINNY OR WIDE LEG JEANS? Skinny
BIKINI OR ONE-PIECE? Bikini
BALLET FLATS OR TRAINERS? Ballet flats
PENCIL SKIRTS OR FULL? Pencil