Meeting Nina

Project Runway star chats to Cosmo

For anyone who works in magazines, the thought of speaking to Nina Garcia is terrifying. The possibility of speaking to one of the industry’s best-known and most successful fashion editors can induce palm sweats and knee shaking in even the calmest of us. So when I spoke to Garcia, you can imagine my hysteria. Luckily, my fears were entirely unfounded (as they so often are) – Garcia is actually charming, gracious and polite to a fault. She hasn’t even got a harsh word for Lindsay Lohan!

As well as her day job as fashion director at US Marie Claire (following her highly publicised departure from Elle), Garcia is a judge on Project Runway. On the show, she offers advice to fledgling designers – but isn’t afraid to cut them down to size when she needs to.

What was it like to work with Grace Mirabella (former Vogue editor-in-chief) at Mirabella?
Amazing! Everyone at that magazine was just so great. They were real ladies, you know? Ladies in the true sense of the word.

One of your first jobs was working in PR for Perry Ellis – and at the time, Marc Jacobs was the head designer. What was that like?
It was during the whole grunge period. I never really knew Marc – because I was terrified of him – but I saw him from afar. He’d be in his office and you know, Keith Richards (from the Rolling Stones) would turn up. Of course, I was just an intern, so all of this was happening around me – not really with me!

Have you met Marc since?
Yes.

And are you ever tempted to tell him that you used to work for him?
No!

We hear you’re appearing on Ugly Betty next season with Project Runway winner Christian Siriano – is that true?
Yes, Christian and I guest-starred on Ugly Betty. That was a lot of fun.

Do you ever devise the challenges on the show?
No – that’s for our very talented producers to do! I’m strictly a judge.

You’ve had some amazing guest judges – Victoria Beckham, Diane von Furstenburg – who has been your favourite?
Apolo Ohno – an American Olympian. The challenge for the contestants was to create outfits for the Opening Ceremony – he was just great.

If you were styling these celebrities, what would you dress them in:
Blake Lively?
Ralph Lauren. I think she wore Ralph to the Costume Institute Gala in May, and she looked fantastic. She’s very classic and preppy – Ralph suits her.

Lindsay Lohan?
Oh, Lindsay’s worn everything! There’s nothing left. How about something crazy, like Alexander McQueen?

Mary-Kate Olsen?
I’d love to see Mary-Kate in (Swedish chain store) H&M.

Scarlett Johansson?
Prada, definitely. Something lacy and feminine. Maybe Oscar de la Renta.

Coco Chanel once said that ‘fashion is what goes out of fashion.’ What do you think of this statement?
I think that’s right on. Fashion is like a mirror reflecting society – and as society changes, so does fashion.