Emily Ratajkowski, who is one of the stars of British Vogue’s triptych of November covers, ranks among the most famous personalities of our time. A fixture on the front-row, she’s also a street-style star, a runway regular, and a frequent face of mega-brand campaigns. Beyond fashion, she’s an acclaimed author and hosts her own podcast, High Low. In short, the world is EmRata’s oyster. Her latest coup? She’s the face of Self-Portrait’s resort 2024 campaign, shot by Nick Waplington. “I love how playful the brand is and how pretty the clothes are,” Ratajkowski tells Vogue. “[Self-Portrait founder] Han Chong is so conscious of women’s bodies and what looks best, and you can feel that the second you put on anything he’s designed.”
Ratajkowski’s outfits for her daily strolls through Manhattan – think crop tops, low-rise joggers and thigh-high boots – are every bit as striking as her looks for the red carpet (where she favours body-sculpting, floor-length gowns). Regardless of the occasion, she dresses to be seen – a trait the model says can be traced back to her childhood. “I’ve been told that I was obsessed with my mother’s boots and jewellery as a toddler – fashion has always been a means of self-expression for me.”
These days, she describes her personal style as “very New York”, in that it factors in practicality as well as a certain amount of flamboyance. “I walk to a lot of places,” she points out. “But also because people really dress here, you can wear heels and a miniskirt to breakfast and no one blinks an eye – I really enjoy that about living here.” After dark, Ratajkowski likes to indulge in a little fashion role play from time to time. “I start by thinking about my mood and what kind of woman I want to be that night – do I want to dance and be ready for anything? Or would I rather wear the heels I’ve been excited about in my closet? Then I start to build out a look. I’ve been leaning into being more glam and sexy recently, but there are also plenty of nights where I go chic and understated.”
“Glam and sexy” certainly describes EmRata’s favourite look from the new Self-Portrait resort collection – the black velvet dress she wore to co-host the British Vogue X Self-Portrait party in London over the summer. “I also adore the minidress with feathers we shot for the campaign,” she adds. “I love how Self-Portrait can be dressed up or down.”
