Preview: Ginta Lapina for Allure July 2012

Allure July 2012 editorial
Model: Ginta Lapina
Photography: Regan Cameron
Stylist: Jarrod Lacks
Hair: Teddy Charles
Make-up: Makky

Paris Fashion Week AW 2012...Ginta

Ginta Lapina, after Stella McCartney, Paris, March 2012.

Recreate Ginta's look (kind of):

Take a striped body-con dress or skirt: Alexander Wang Engineered striped tank dress, Splendid striped mini dress, Alexander Wang striped dress, Alexander Wang Engineered stripe skirt or Rachel Pally bandage mini 

Wear with a statement jacket/coat: Rick Owens Drkshdw dust denim jacket or Rick Owens Sparta wool flannel coat

Spur Magazine July 2012, Interview with Ginta Lapina by Wayne Sterling

Spur Magazine July 2012 interview

Model: Ginta Lapina

Photography: Kikuko Usuyama, Jonas Gustavsson (runway)

Hair & Make-up: Kouta

Interview & text: Wayne Sterling

WS: Did you feel like you were always destined to model Ginta?

GL: When I was 15 I was one of the shortest girls and then I started to play sports and became one of the tallest, all in one summer . I was scouted a little bit before  my 16th birthday . It was at first a little bit of an issue because the scout thought I was too short. But one day...whoosh.

WS: What was your sport?

GL: Volleyball . I played it in school in Latvia. Nothing international.

WS: As a schoolgirl when everyone was encouraging you to model did you have any ideas about the fashion world?

GL: No. Because I'm from a small town so people wouldn't even think it's real. They think of fashion as something that is untouchable.

WS: Is there much of a fashion industry in Latvia?

GL: For sure we have more and more  modeling agencies ...but fashion as an industry...not really. There are some people who are aware ... there are those who aware of my work but not so many people.

WS: Are you a celebrity in Latvia?

GL: Not really. maybe once or twice a little girl on the street will point and say my name but that's it.

WS: So you still have a little bit of a private life.

GL: Yes. I do. Which I like. For models it's different. Once you are a known model it's not the same as an actor. Once you are in the movies, millions know you. Models still get to keep their private life.

WS: What's the main city that you live in now?

GL: New York. I love the people in New York. I like the mix. It is a lot of energy but I have to say, time to time I have to get out of the city, just to stay sane (laughs) I live in Chelsea and there are construction workers every morning at 7am outside my bedroom for a year now starting with jackhammers.

WS: Are you ready to slow down the fast pace of your life?

GL: I have to say I enjoy a lot, traveling and I like being with people but  I like exploring by myself. I like those moments when I'm by myself. Let's say ...I'm going to go, for instance tonight to Milan for a job, I'm kind of looking forward to it because that's your time . You go to the hotel, spend a little time in the spa. The 8 or 9 hrs on the plane means I can read my book. I'm reading right now, "The Hunger Games" which just came out as a movie. I'm reading already, the third book. I'm a little bit obsessed . That's the moment . I can read my book .

WS: What did you think of the movie?

GL: I liked it . But they were missing things. In the books of course you have more details. It explains more whats happening, why some people die and what happens to the kids in The Hunger Games after they die. They turn into ghosts but they didn't explain that in the movies. The whole forest thing was just as I imagined it. But I didn't like the train. I thought it looked too robotic and futuristic.

WS: Speaking of futuristic, I love your nails by the way.

GL: I just did a video with the directors Santiago & Maurcio yesterday  for models.com with the theme about Japanese cartoon characters . I liked it so much I kept them.

WS: Have you been to Japan?

GL: I've been to Japan like 5 times . I love the culture. In Tokyo I love to go shopping but the clothes are always smaller than my size . I like to buy lots of little souvenirs like chopsticks . My grandmother is so cute she doesn't even use them. She just keeps them on display. I don't have many siblings . I have one brother but I have lots of uncles and aunts and cousins .

WS:  You've pretty much grown up from a young girl to a young woman in this business!

GL: Yes. The journey I've been through is something I'll never forget. Being here on my own. ...it was definitely a growing experience and I believe I had to go through all these things to be where I am now. I understand myself better. Because I now know how easy it is to fall down. I've been through the stages where everything was a challenge which is why I am so happy with where I am now. What I like about my job now is that you go to your bookings and people have now become your friend . It's more like a family feeling which is interesting. I can get nervous sometimes before a shoot but it depends on the story . Sometimes you just go to the shoot and they give you the inspiration . Other days sometimes I wish I had more homework to do (laughs) . It's nice if they send the inspiration or reference beforehand because sometimes I go to the shoot and there are crazy ideas and I want to do my best. It's where I get nervous.

WS: Do you think there should be an age limit for models.

GL: I think there should be verages I imagine if I had a daughter I wouldn't her to be modeling full time since he's 15. I think it's a little bit too young because you not know yet why you are in this world. Occasionally it's great to start young but you do it full time maybe it's best when you are 17 or 18.

WS: If you had stayed in school and not modeled what would you be doing now?

GL: I would be an interior designer. Yup. I was in an artistic school in Latvia and if you had asked me 5 years ago I would have said "oh I want to be a painter or working with stained glass"  but now I think I would have  loved  to be an interior designer .

WS: Do you experiment with your decorating skills at home?

GL: Yes I just got a place in Riga. It's a raw space so it's like my little baby. I'm slowly working out exactly how I want everything to be. The walls...the floors...the apartment I have is in the old part of the city. So I'm going to make my kitchen look like we are on the street . It depends on the mood of the room but I like a lot of gray, black and white. It might feel more modern but I also have a liking or classical. I keep a more classical apartment in New York.

WS: Tell me about your favorite music right now.

GL: With music it's a little funny. It can be pretty much anything. I like rock n roll. Hip hop especially when I'm at work. At home I like 80s . Because I love to dance.

WS: Speaking of dancing, I love that Madonna gave you dance lessons on that Miu Miu set with Mert & Marcus.

GL: Yes. I mean Madonna is Madonna . When she walked into the studio that day, me and the girls didn't know she was coming . So we are in the dressing area and I'm looking and going...no it can't be Madonna. Is she really here?  I was so surprised but she was the sweetest. She remembered all the girls names. We didn't have to say it twice. We learnt the moves. She has such a good memory. Madonna's focus is incredible. She knows exactly what she's doing.

WS: What's your big remaining dream?

GL: My biggest dream in the future...the one thing I really want is to be happy . Always happy. I never want to lose the little Ginta inside of me. I still want to be who I am and remember the place where I am coming from . Because that will lead you into your future.

WS: Beautifully said Ginta. Thanks a billion for making time for Spur this morning.

                                                                        

Numero May 2012 | Ginta Lapina by Sean + Seng

Numero #133 May 2012 editorial
Model: Ginta Lapina
Photography: Sean & Seng
Styling: Samuel Francois
Hair: Peter Gray
Make-up: Gemma Smith

Mirte Maas and Ginta Lapina in a film by Nathaniel Brown

Women Management Presents: A Film by Nathaniel Brown, 2012
Director: Nathaniel Brown
Featuring Models: Ginta Lapina and Mirte Maas
Styling: Zara Zachrisson
Hair: Mike Lundgren
Make-up: Ralph Siciliano
Cinematography: Santiago Gonzalez
Set Design: Jesse Kaufmann
Production: Wilson Murphy and Nathaniel Brown

watch the film on YouTube

watch the film on Vimeo

Ginta Lapina for Nars Spring/Summer 2012

Nars Spring/Summer 2012 beauty campaign
Model: Ginta Lapina
Photography+ Make-up: Francois Nars

Allure May 2012 | Ginta Lapina by Greg Kadel

Allure May 2012 editorial
Model: Ginta Lapina
Photography: Greg Kadel
Styling: Paul Cavaco
Hair: Shay Ashual
Make-up: Gucci Westman

New York Fashion Week AW 2012....Backstage at Tory Burch

Backstage at Tory Burch Fall-Winter 2012 show, NYC, Tuesday 14th February 2012.

Things that were firmly on my wish list after the Tory Burch show: a gold bow headband (so sweet and it even had a tiny Tory Burch logo embedded on the bow); a personal hairdresser* on call at all times to coiffure my hair into a french pleat (studded with pretty flower hairpins) - with a healthy dash of messiness to ensure that it doesn't look too prim; a beautiful full length evening dress (as worn by Joan Smalls) complete with seamstress to sew it closed!. How they do this without pricking a finger (or the model!) in the frenetic atmosphere backstage is beyond me; a ladylike chain handbag - I loved the snakeskin and tortoiseshell detailing (okay, so probably my camera isn't going to fit in one of these but they were so gorgeous I would make an exception ;); an oxblood red crinkly-leather (not the technical name but I am not sure how else to describe it) trench coat (sexy and elegant all at once); rolls of Gracie handpainted wallpaper. I adored the backdrop to the runway which was covered in wallpaper depicting Chinese scenes; a pair of Spectator pumps and elbow-length leather gloves; a leather plaid dress, skirt and trousers (for me, stand-out pieces); a simple peplum top (I loved the quote from Alber Elbaz on Fashionista last week "I created the peplum so you can eat in it,” Elbaz said. “You can have a dessert, you can have another sandwich".); a stack of Chiavari chairs (which worked so well with the Gracie wallpaper and printed runway carpet reminiscent of a five star hotel) and a beautiful ivory coat with exaggerated peter-pan collar and bow nestled at the waist.

p.s. The colours are a bit squiffy (the lighting is rather tricky for the way I shoot) but sometimes that's just the way I roll :)

* Eugene Souleiman if possible please ;)

Vogue Mexico April 2012 cover: Ginta Lapina, ph: Nagi Sakai, styling: Sarah Gore-Reeves

Vogue Mexico April 2012 cover and editorial
Model: Ginta Lapina
Photography: Nagi Sakai
Styling: Sarah Gore-Reeves
Hair: Pasquale Ferrante
Make-up: Charlotte Day

Muse Spring 2012 | Ginta Lapina by Benjamin Lennox

Muse Spring 2012 editorial
Model: Ginta Lapina
Photography: Benjamin Lennox
Styling: Charles Varenne
Hair: Bok Hee
Make-up: Maud Laceppe

  

Pop Magazine S/S 2012 | Ginta Lapina by Anthony Maule

Pop Magazine S/S 2012
Model:  Ginta Lapina
Photographer:  Anthony Maule
Fashion Editor:  Isabelle Kontoure
Hair:  Peter Gray
Makeup:  Gina Kane

Valentino F/W 2012 Show | Daria Strokous, Kasia Struss, & Ginta Lapina

Valentino F/W 2012 Show
Models:  Daria Strokous, Kasia Struss, & Ginta Lapina
Fashion Editor/Stylist:  Karl Templer
Hair:  Guido Palau
Makeup:  Pat McGrath

Daria

Kasia

Ginta

Louis Vuitton F/W 2012 Show | Ginta Lapina, Kasia Struss, & Daria Strokous

Louis Vuitton F/W 2012 Show
Models:  Ginta Lapina, Kasia Struss, & Daria Strokous
Creative Director:  Marc Jacobs
Fashion/Editor:  Katie Grand
Casting Director:  Michelle Lee for KCD

Ginta

Kasia

Daria

Paco Rabanne F/W 2012 | Aymeline Valade, Tanya D., Yulia K., Ginta Lapina, & Anne V.

Paco Rabanne F/W 2012
Models:  Aymeline Valade, Tanya D., Yulia Kharlapanova, Ginta Lapina, & Anne V.

Aymeline

Tanya

Yulia

Ginta

Anne

Aymeline