When you think of Erin Wasson, there are three words that always come to mind: raw, frank, true. And super cool. Okay, that’s more than three words, but you get it. Look at her sharp features and her long hair that’s always a bit messy when she wears it open. Those slightly curved blue-green eyes that seem to constantly observe their surroundings — these are eyes you cannot lie to, simply because they’re too smart. Too attentive. And they don’t take s***. We caught up with her as GIGI STUDIOS unveils its new campaign.
But it makes sense. Because these eyes have seen a lot. Since the early 2000s, the Texas-born multi-talent has walked every desirable runway there is: Balenciaga, Loewe, Louis Vuitton, Dries Van Noten, Versace, Helmut Lang, or Isabel Marant, just to name a few. These eyes have seen the backstage drama of a Victoria’s Secret Show (we can only imagine what happened there). The round shape of the camera lens Karl Lagerfeld used to capture her for the legendary Pirelli Calendar in 2011. They have seen the rise, fall, and rise again of indie sleaze, with the hats and skinny jeans in all its glory. And they have seen their own successful evolvement from model to actress, to stylist, and finally to fashion and jewellery designer.
So, these eyes know what a long way Erin has come: a path rooted in the never-ending desire to express herself in her purest form. An ideology so strong that every vegan meal the model cooks, every vinyl record she collects, and every piece of interior in her house in the South of France follows that thoughtful dedication to craftsmanship and comprehensive beauty.
Knowing all this, you can understand why the gaze of these special eyes is so deep, and somehow, why it makes you feel judged if you don’t try to be your truest self as well. Now, imagine these exact eyes being even more emphasised. Emphasised by strong but somehow still soft shapes that are just as cool as the model herself (and that means something). Because that’s what the Barcelona-based brand GIGI STUDIOS did with their latest campaign, In The Raw.
In it, you can see Erin staring steadily into the camera. Seemingly with no makeup, barely edited. Natural. Inside an empty yet elegant flat. Her outfits are simple and still elevated. Just a white tank top. A faux fur coat. A suit with fringes. At the centre: GIGI STUDIOS’ new collection of glasses that focus on the construction of a modern, more refined and intentional frame. Just like Erin’s personal spirit, the collection is all about honesty, without performance. And as someone with such distinctive taste, we can trust that the American multi-talent wouldn’t have agreed to be part of this campaign if it didn’t represent her own values.
Just a few days before the release of the images, we had the chance to do an exclusive interview with the iconic model; a chance we used to talk about fashion statements, changes, and the never-ending inspiration you can find within yourself.
You came up during a defining era for fashion: the 2000s and 2010s. What do you remember most vividly about that time in the modelling world?
Honestly, freedom. Freedom of self-expression, freedom of creation. A sense of mystery, a sense of true character. And a feeling like we were putting a stamp on the industry in a new and a refreshing way.
Now looking back, what advice would you give your eighteen-year-old self?
I would tell my younger self: cool your jets. You know? You don’t have to be so tough.
You’re starring in the latest campaign by Barcelona-based eyewear brand, GIGI STUDIOS. How did that project come to be?
I landed with the brand GIGI STUDIOS because I have a very clear vision of what I believe in this world to be authentically aesthetically profound for myself and for the trajectory of others. And anyone that knows me knows that I love sunglasses (laughs).
Do you have a favourite piece in the collection?
Yes, totally. I think that the whole collection is amazing, I mean, look at those shapes. But if I have to take only one, I would definitely choose Lyanna.
Besides sunglasses, what’s one accessory that always completes a great outfit for you?
A fucking pair of cowboy boots, baby!
Has your relationship to beauty – your own and in general – changed over the years?
My relationship with beauty over time… I think it’s just transcendent, right? For me, beauty feels different now, beauty looks different now. I think beauty, for me, is accepting myself with patience and honesty — something I don’t think I could truly grasp before.
What grounds you today, outside of the industry? What keeps you inspired?
Inspiration for me comes through communication, through travel, through art and design. Especially through architecture, contemporary art, and music. And my community — my community of people deeply inspires me by being available to have conversations about who we want to be in this world and what we wanna leave behind.
