SUPERMODELS LANA OGILVIE AND GAIL ELLIOTT COME TO COTERIE DIGITAL

Gail Elliott and Lana Ogilvie were two of the biggest models of the 1990s, sharing the runways with Cindy, Linda, and Christy. Today, they’ve turned into entrepreneurs, launching their own businesses in the fashion and beauty world. The Daily caught up with these two icons to find out more.

What are some of the highlights of your modeling career?
There are too many to mention! Walking Gianni and Donatella Versace’s runway show when Cindy [Crawford], Christy [Turlington], and Linda [Evangelista] walked the last passage to George Michael’s “Freedom” track was particularly amazing. Myself and all the other models were literally screaming with excitement backstage while watching on the TV monitors and waiting to join the others on stage for the show’s finale. Gianni and Donatella were hugging each other and crying with joy. It really was an iconic moment in fashion.

What was your all-time favorite photo shoot?
I don’t have just one. The Gianni Versace campaign with Bruce Weber, the Italian Vogue cover with Hiro, American Vogue with Steven Meisel, the Valentino campaign with Helmut Newton, and many more!

What do people ask you the most about your modeling days?
Did you get to keep the clothes?

Who are you still in touch with from those years?
My best girlfriends from the late ’80s and early ’90s were Cindy Crawford, Yasmin Le Bon, and Helena Christensen. They were also my bridesmaids when my husband, Joe Coffey, who is also co-founder and CEO of our clothing brand Little Joe Woman, and I were married 23 years ago. Cindy, Yassy, and Helena are still my besties.

How do you describe the Little Joe Woman brand?
I would say that it’s feminine, subtly sexy, and rock-chic. Our customer is a woman who loves to travel and likes to look elegant with an edge. Just like me.

Why was the line called Little Joe Woman?
We started the brand with six silk slip dresses and six silk camisoles in six colors and named it Little Joe, after my husband. It started small, kind of like “our baby” Little Joe. As we grew, people thought we were a kids’ brand, so we modified it to Little Joe Woman by Gail Elliott.

How involved are you in the design?
I design for myself and what I feel I’d like to be wearing; as the creative director, I’m very involved in the design of every category in our collections. I can’t actually sketch or draw on the computer, so I have someone to do that for me. I do every fitting, and we actually fit on me, so I get to see how everything feels on my body. I didn’t go to a fashion college but had the best learning experience working with all the international designers—everyone from Gianni Versace, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Azzedine Alaïa, John Galliano to Hermès, Marc Jacobs, and Tom Ford over the 24 years I worked as a model based in New York.

What are your favorite pieces to wear?
I love wearing dresses because I find them so easy to throw on, feel polished, and ready to go. At the moment, we sell via our own website, littlejoewoman.com, and ship via DHL worldwide.

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