EMERGING DESIGNER

Gail Elliott

IN THIS FEATURE: Meet Gail Fashion Focus

ail Elliott rose to fame in the 80's and '90's with an impressive career as one of the worlds’ top models, and continues to remain in high demand as a model as well as a thriving designer with the success of her clothing label, Little Joe by Gail Elliott.

Elliott was a favorite runway model for most of the top designers in the world including Gianni Versace, Calvin Klein, John Galliano, Dolce & Gabbana, Ralph Lauren, Tom Ford, Miuccia Prada and Marc Jacobs. She was also an incredibly successful editorial model who shot covers and fashion spreads for the most prestigious fashion magazines including Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Elle and Marie Claire. Additionally, she worked closely with celebrated photographers Mario Testino, Steven Miesel, Patrick Demarchelier, Arthur Elgort, Craig McDean and Peter Lindberg. She continues to shoot advertising campaigns and catalogues, which have taken her to exotic locations all over the world.

As a teenager growing up in London, Elliott started modeling at the persuasion of her ballet teacher. She was quickly signed by an agent and went to Japan, where the 17 year old matured into a professional model, learning to speak Japanese along the way. By the time she arrived in New York a year later, she already had financial independence and a full "Model Book" - the all important "resume" in the modeling industry. After her first shoot with Steven Meisel, Gail immediately became one of the top models in the business, once appearing in four different layouts in a single issue of American Vogue.

Elliott’s first Little Joe by Gail Elliott collection was lingerie inspired loungewear that could be worn in or out of the bedroom. She recalls checking into hotels tired and jet lagged and wanting only "to take a bath, change into comfortable clothes and order room service." The clothing she found available was so flimsy, too short or overtly sexy, that she would have to wrap a towel around herself to answer the door! "It's nice to wear clothing that is sexy enough for your boyfriend, without making the room service guy blush," says Gail. "It's a fine line..."

In late 2005 Elliott and her husband and business partner Joe Coffey opened their first flagship Little Joe by Gail Elliott Boutique in Sydney Australia, which houses her collection as well as her favorite finds from around the world. In 2006 she opened another in Melbourne, Australia followed by stores in New York and Los Angeles.