Getting Ready With Model Abby Champion For Tommy Hilfiger's SS25 Show
New York Fashion Week is in full swing, and it's been a particularly stand-out season already – from Ralph Lauren's all-American Hamptons extravaganza and Rihanna's surprise front row appearance to last night's star-studded Tommy Hilfiger show. The legendary designer pulled out all the stops for his SS25 collection, taking over a decommissioned Staten Island Ferry and calling on Wu-Tang Clan to perform, all while models showcased his preppy, nautical-inspired designs.
Among them was Abby Champion, the 27-year-old model-of-the-moment and social media star, who is also the face of Tommy Hilfiger's AW24 campaign alongside her fiancé, Patrick Schwarzenegger. The actor son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver was sat front row for the show too, of course, wearing a co-ordinating Tommy look.
Ahead of her runway moment, Champion sat down with ELLE UK to talk trends, sharing clothes with her fiancé, and all the best fashion and beauty tips she's picked up backstage over the years from backstage...
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On her look for the show...
'I had my fitting yesterday and I am obsessed with my look. I'm wearing low baggy trousers, a cropped sweatshirt, a blazer-style jacket and crochet flats, so it's giving very off-duty model walking around the city. It's comfortable, chic and casual and just perfect for me and my personal style – it's something I would wear every day. As soon as I put it on I was like, wait, I want to go home in this. I'm hoping I can leave the show in it too.'
On beauty tips...
'Because I'm getting my hair done all the time, someone told me a while back how important it is to preserve my hair when I'm not working and just do as little to it as possible. I'll put a mask in, braid it back and just leave it alone, and it really helps it to heal and grow. As for skincare, when I was starting out I was experimenting with so many new things, but the best piece of advice that's really stuck with me is "don't try everything". If you know what works for you, stick to that, because one thing that might be great for someone else might give your skin a reaction. Nowadays, I bring my own skincare to set or just do my routine before I get there.
'The same goes for make-up: when I first started modelling I was wearing so much of it and trying new things all the time, but now I try to keep in mind that "less is more". For events, it's always best to go more natural and do a look that's very clean, very simple and very you.'
On pre-show rituals...
'Always have a coffee, always bring headphones and always have an activity to do, because sometimes there's a lot of just sitting around, so a book or a game helps pass the time. If the show is later in the day, like Tommy's is, I try to have a slow morning and do something that grounds me like going for a walk. It sets me up for being around a lot of people and the craziness of everything going on backstage.'
On Fashion Week memories...
'I am always so amazed by the creativity that goes into each runway show – I love walking in and seeing what the brand has created. It's insane how they can change an empty room into something so magical, and each one is so unique. Sometimes there's water on the runway, or sand, or even a full-size boat, like in one of my early shows [Chanel Cruise 2018/19]. I love seeing that vision come to life.'
On starring in Tommy Hilfiger's AW24 campaign with her fiancé...
'Patrick and I don't shoot together very often and this was our first time doing so in a long time, so it felt really special. We hadn't seen each other for a while beforehand, and I love that Tommy Hilfiger brought us together for the campaign. It was so much fun. We both love New York and we love being here together, walking around, getting food, enjoying the vibe of the city. Normally I'm by myself when I'm shooting, so it was amazing to have someone to wake up with, go get a coffee with, head to set together and then go for dinner after. Patrick is so goofy on set, too – I think he probably had about five coffees before we got there, he had so much energy, and because I never really see him in that setting, the whole thing was so funny to me. It's just always good to be together.'
On their couple style...
'Our day-to-day casual styles are very similar. We tend to go for very cozy, oversized, comfortable pieces, so Tommy is perfect for that – we're both obsessed with the brand's collared rugby tees right now. We steal things from each other's closets all the time, and we also love to share. Sometimes I'll see a photo of him and be like "where did you get that?" and it's actually mine. I love the oversized look, so I'll wear a lot of his stuff too as it fits that kind of vibe for me.'
On fashion trends...
'I actually love trends. I get so roped in. One that I'm loving at the moment is brown suede – I went shopping yesterday and saw so many amazing bags, boots and jackets. I definitely have a brown suede bag on my wishlist right now. I'm really into buying signature bags that go with everything, and I know it would be perfect for that classic, timeless look. One trend I keep seeing, though, that I hate, is bubble skirts. I don't know why those are in, I just really don't get it. That's definitely one I won't be trying.'
On her style evolution...
'Oh my gosh, my style has changed a lot over the years, it's crazy. I look back at myself when I first started modelling, and I was a totally different person. I'm from Alabama, and the style there is just totally different than Los Angeles and New York, in terms of what you're able to buy too. I just didn't have the opportunity back then to go to vintage stores and find really cool pieces. When I was living there, I wore skinny jeans, sandals or heels and a blouse like everyone else. But once I started spending time in bigger cities, I realised that I really liked to dress more boyish and androgynous, so I got into baggy tees, cosy jeans, and sneakers. I'd say my style basically evolved from quite southern, to New York cool girl.'
On the best fashion advice she's ever received...
'Don't overthink it. There's nothing worse than trying to put an outfit together and it just doesn't work, but you can't work out why. If you're thinking about it too much, it just never works. If it feels good, it feels good. It should just be easy and fun.'
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