Time flies! It’s hard to believe that we’re more than halfway through October. Known what’s next? Halloween, Thanksgiving, the End of Days, Christmas and then it’s 2013. Scary. Before we move on, however, I wanted to take a moment to discuss my favorite sartorial happenings in the October issue of Harper’s Bazaar. What caught my eye this month? First and foremost, when I was cobbling this together I had the Olympics on my mind. I stood up and stared at the TV during the supermodel closing ceremonies when those British Supermodels came out. (Didn’t Kate look ridiculously amazing?) I rewound it and watched it again and again. And then I turned it off. The Olympics also introduced me to my new style crushes Missy Franklin and Gabby Douglas. I haven’t heard much from them since the Olympics, but hopefully they’re in the gym whilst their agents are getting them some good press and campaigns. My other favorite things from the end of the year: An exposed upper tummy area, and denim. In my column I talk about a backpacking trip around India I did with my friend Jacquetta Wheeler way back in 2006, and how a man we met in Rajasthan told us the sexiest part of a woman’s body was the stomach. That explains why saris don’t show much décolletage, I’d imagine. And last but not least, after talking about the London games and Indian flirtations, I wanted to talk about something nearer to home. And what’s more American than denim? My favorite person Lauren Santo Domingo rocked the Canadian tuxedo, as did Kate and Sara Blomqvist, one of my favorite models. As a boy from Missouri, nothing makes me happier than a little denim-on-denim.

PS. I’m working on next month’s column now, so leave any favorite fashionable moments in the comments! And to read my weekly Mr. Blasberg’s Best Dressed list, go to www.harpersbazaar.com/bestdressed

Michael Kors, one of the night’s guests of honors and a man who just changed the future of God’s Love We Deliver, surrounded by his favorite St. Louis boys: RJ, his husband Lance and me

It’s moments like these when I feel guilty: Surrounded by the loveliest of ladies, Jess Hart, Chanel Iman and my little sis Karlie

Table 21 was where all the action was! Top row: RJ, Lyle, Jess, Chanel, Bekah and Cory; Bottom row: Me, Leigh and Karlie

Talk about a busy Monday. Last night, I had two objectives: To support God’s Love We Deliver, which was one of the first charitable organizations I heard of when I moved to New York, at their annual gala. And then head to Foley’s Bar in Midtown Manhattan to support my beloved St. Louis Cardinals. I’m happy to report back that we fulfilled the first, failed the second.

God’s Love We Deliver, a New York-based charity that delivers hot meals to those who would have trouble getting them otherwise, is located on the corner of 6th Avenue and Spring Street, conveniently located to my first ever New York address. When I was still studying at NYU, I’d accompany the Outreach group there to help prepare the meals. A few years ago, I followed Joan Rivers as she delivered the organization’s one-millionth meal. It’s an organization I believe in, and one where the results of one’s time and resources can be seen immediately. This year’s gala honored Micahel Kors, who was generous enough to give an entire table to me and my friends. Not that his generosity ended there: Before he made his acceptance speech, Anna Wintour and Blaine Trump came on stage to give the organization a check for $5million to expand the God’s Love location, which will appropriately be named the Michael Kors building. Other highlights? Ryan Murphy, who also received an award from Gwyneth Paltrow, asking Bette Midler if she’d appear on an episode Glee from the stage and in front of about a thousand people; and the touching announcement that the endearing, charming Cindy Little, who received an award for Outstanding Volunteerism, was cancer free. (Not a dry eye in the house.)

We were feeling fabulous when we left the gala. The rain had stopped, we had pledged our time and money to an organization we believed in. And so we headed to Foley’s to support our Cardinal’s. (Umm, in case you didn’t know, I’m an all out Midwesterner. Remember my birthday, anyone?) Fellow St. Louisian, Bravo’s Andy Cohen, was already there holding down the fort, but by the time we ordered our post-ball beers it wasn’t looking good: We were down by six runs and it was the eighth inning. Sports fans will already know this (because I’m sure so many sports fans read my blog): We lost. But fear not, that’s the good thing about a series! We shall rise again. Though I’m not sure we’ll be at Foley’s. We met a girl called Ashli at the bar who said that when she watches the games from her couch, the Cardinal’s always win. I’m not a superstitious man, but let’s not take any chances. Ashli, what’s your address, babes?

Marjorie and Douglas, who came to my birthday party in Missouri earlier this year (yes, have you seen the videos?) and are therefore honorary Cardinals fans

St. Louisians RJ, Andy Cohen and me surrounded by our new fellow Cardinals fans. (I was very jealous of Andy’s jacket)

I’m rough on technology. As my parents will happily tell you, I’ve always been the sort of boy who breaks everything he touches. Even other people’s stuff. (Let this by a formal apology to the many people who’s phones I have dropped and who’s screens I have cracked.) So it won’t come as a surprise that, after dropping my camera numerous times, it’s a little messed up. But, it turns out, in a good way. Now it does this thing where it starts filming video while the flash charges and the lens auto-focuses. I discovered this when I downloaded the images from Paris fashion week and there was a mysterious video at the end. Annoyed at first, when I watched it I realized it was the most genius thing in the world. What I had recorded was tthe breath, the hesitation, that second before an image is taken when someone is pulling their best camera face. And, as I discovered when I watched the video, I would heckle my subjects. Turns out I love my piece of crap camera. So, without out further ado, watch the moments before I took pictures of (in order of appearance): Karl Lagerfeld, Amanda Harlech, Eugenie Niarchos, Diane von Furstenberg, Olivier Zahm, Natalia Vodianova, Vanessa Traina, Hamish Bowles, Karlie Kloss, Bianca Brandolini, Coco Brandolini, Joan Smalls, Erin Wasson, Alison Mosshart, Natasha Poly, Leigh Lezark, Anna dello Russo, Cara Delevingne, Dasha Zhukova, Henry Holland, Pixie Geldolf, Irina Lazareanu, Riccardo Tisci, Arizona Muse, Bernice Bejo, Suzy Menkes and Alber Elbaz

So, as all of my friends will tell you, I’m a diehard Blackberry user. I love the tactile keyboard, the free BBM, and, perhaps more than anything else, I generally hate change. Especially when it comes to technology. I’d still be using a fax machine and playing Atari if I had my way. However, while I am a spoilsport when it comes to my own experiences with advances in information, I’m not entirely clueless to the advancing world around me. (Which is why I bought an iPad I never use and have AppleTV, which I never watch.) I finally got an iPhone, but exclusively for app purposes. Yes, Uber is amazing. Yes, I joined Trendabl. Yes, I now know where every Starbucks in the world is. And yes, I’ve joined Instagram. My friends at V magazine, where I’m the editor at large, fancied my Instagramming so much they’ve asked me to compile a little diary of my favorite shots. Derek’s Insta-Diary, if you will. There’s a smattering of them here, but you’ll have to click over to the website and peruse the slideshow to get the whole story with the extended captions!

It started off on the right foot: First night in Paris, dinner with Sophia Hesketh, Poppy Delevingne, Karlie Kloss and Cara Delevingne. Long story short: Not long after this picture was taken and a few more drinks consumed, we accosted Robert de Niro (“Bob, is that you!?”), who was staying in the same hotel. Turns out he was into being harassed by a few models and their weird guy friend.

That’s a wrap, fashion fans! Over and out! The jig is up! I’m writing this from the confines of my kitchen table, which I haven’t really spent much time at since early September, when the shows started in New York. (If you’re interested, take a peak at my posts from New York fashion week, the London collections and my very quick trip to Milan.) And while I’m sure I’ll miss some of the hubbub of the collections, it’s good to be home. Paris is a particularly draining city, and not just because the shows are more dramatic and the schedule much more packed. I also have zero to little will power when it comes to social engagements, of which there are many many, so in addition to bopping around shows and appointments, I pack a bunch of fun into the Paris collections too. Whether it’s trying to jump start a career as a DJ (which I already blogged about here), or it’s hightailing it to Carine Roitfeld’s black tie ball, it was a pretty jam packed week. Have a look!

Olivier Zahm and Kanye West at the Purple magazine dinner. Zahm, who founded the magazine, was celebrating two decades. Which meant that when they brought a birthday cake he made these really amusing gang signs.

Sky Ferreira and Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci at the designer’s afterparty at L’Arc. The Givenchy show was one of my favorites, with a collection that morphed from soft blue ruffles into hardcore hardware on sheer chiffon. A bunch of us game from the Purple dinner to the party like a bunch of fashion banshees.

The legendary Bill Cunningham with Stephen Gan, the creative director of Harper’s Bazaar and the founder of Visionaire who owes his entire career to Cunningham. (The infamous story? He bought Gan a coffee and gave him a quarter to call up Details and ask for a job.) We bumped into Bill on a park bench outside of the Dior show, reading his paper and being completely content and adorable.

Bernice Bejo, the star of last year’s The Artist, coming out of the Louis Vuitton show. It was weird to hear her speak!

Giovanna Battaglia and Joan Smalls at the Givenchy afterparty. These are the two girls you want to see in a VIP area.

Dree Hemingway and Olivier Routsteing, the designer of Balmain, at a dinner for the label after the show. I loved Olivier’s collection because it was almost like a cartoon. The shoulders got bigger and brighter and more sparkly, which I didn’t think was even possible.

Fashion week clown car: After Chloe’s 60th anniversary party, cabs were scarce. So when Brian Atwood managed to find one, a bunch of us (including the Business of Fashion‘s Imran Amed, RJ King and Rachel Zoe’s partner in crime Joey Mallouf) all crammed in. I took the spacious front seat. Obviously.

Kim and Kanye who? Karl Lagerfeld and Harper’s Bazaar’s Kristina O’Neill was a much more impressive couple in Paris

My fellow bloggers! Elin Kling, my sister on the NowManifest network, and The Man Repeller‘s Leandra Medine, at Chloe’s 60th anniversary extravaganza

This is Jonathan Saunders posing in front of a new work from Cindy Sherman that debuted at the Paris branch of the Gagosian Gallery. OK, so I was convinced that Jonathan and Cindy looked alike and made him post for this picture. Does no one agree with me? Just a little bit?

Two of the most important ladies in Karl Lagerfeld’s life: The muse, Lady Amanda Harlech, and his sometimes stylist, Carine Roitfeld. We were visiting him in the new Chanel studio on the rue Cambon, which Karl had completely refurbished with silver floors and walls of glass over the smoothest chiffon. Also up there was the nicest, coolest bathroom I’d ever seen. Which one would expect from Karl.

Sweet sisters: Cara and Poppy Delevingne. Poppy was staying at a hotel I’d never heard of before, called the St. James Paris, and it was marvelous. She had a gate house room, which had leopard print carpets (always impressive) and a screening room. Turns out it’s one of Jean Paul Goude’s favorite hotels too.

Erin Wasson outside of the most amazing taxidermy shop in all of Paris, de Royelle.

Anja Rubik at the Balmain dinner. It was so dark in there, and because I shot this picture in black and white, it’s hard to tell that her Balmain outfit was really black and electric yellow. I think Anja is the sweetest little lady, even if her magazine, 25, is quite sexually provocative!

Do blondes have more fun? That was the question I tried to answer with Poppy, Cara, Sophia and Peter Dundas, and it turns out that even though she’s a raven haired DJ now, Leigh Lezark’s roots are light yellow.

Carine Roitfeld’s black tie ball was, as expected, pretty epic. The most memorable part for me, Karlie and Alexander Wang (here on the dance floor with Arizona Muse) was when, in the middle of the party, when Carine was to our left and Nicolas Ghesquiere was to our right, some random guy started spraying the room with a fire extinguisher. Umm, yeah, that happened. Karlie, Alex and I were covered in the stuff. Which is why we didn’t feel bad when the guy spraying the stuff was jumped on by some friend’s of Carine’s son and beat up and kicked out.

The unofficial fashion week mascot is Anna Dello Russo, another sister on the Nowmanifest blog platform and a woman who takes her job as a front row fixture extremely seriously. So seriously that H&M hired her to design her own line of affordable and inspired accessories. She had a tremendous party that involved dancers and her descending from the ceiling on a feathered thrown. It was hot and sticky but no one cared. And if you haven’t already, go watch her video Fashion Shower.

The happy family: Rachel Zoe with the two most important men in her life, husband Rodger and makeup artist Joey. Ha!

And last but not least, a little Russian lip service from me and Natalia Vodianova. I finally got some quality time with Natalia, sitting next to her at the Purple dinner and coming over to her house for dinner on the last night of #PFW. Her son Lucas is 10 now, which was traumatic for me because I can remember when she’s pregnant. But then again, fashion depends on the changing of the seasons, doesn’t it?

Me + Dasha Zhukova = DJ Double D

That’s right, I’m coming for you Samantha Ronson and Leigh Lezark!

My friend Dasha has good ideas. In fact, she has an entire magazine called Garage that is the visual culmination of those ideas. (In addition to the magazine, she started the most important contemporary art center in Russia and is making over an entire island in the center of St. Petersburg into a museum and educational space. No big deal.) Her most recent good idea? During the New York collections, she started RadioGarage, a free, internet-only web radio show where people come and talk about, well, anything. I went on and talked about the spring trends, fashion politics and meeting Mariah Carey. Other guests have included a wide variety of folks, everyone from Martha Stewart to Giovanna Battaglia. Jefferson Hack brought a spoken word poem, Bethony Vernon gave sex tips. It’s a free for all.

Another good idea that Dasha had was for her and I to DJ at a party in Paris to celebrate the debut of RadioGarage. (I will take responsibility for coming up with the name, however.) But good ideas don’t always pan out. And it turns out that DJ’ing is, like, really hard and someone who is as easily distracted as I am cannot be burdened with such a responsibility. Not that we didn’t take it seriously. At the bottom of this post, after I throw up some pictures of some of the people who came to support my radio debut, I’m going to list some of the songs that Dasha and I played at the party. Yeah, we were pretty all over the place. Feel free to leave additional party songs in the comments because, hey, you never know, maybe I’ll DJ again. (But probably not.) And check out www.GarageMag.com for the rest of Paris fashion week for more from GarageRadio.

Julia and Eugenie

Two Olivier’s: Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing and Theory’s Olivier Theyskens

Jonathan and Ronnie Newhouse with Dasha

Anna Dello Russo, who’s song ‘Fashion Shower’ needs to hurry up and get on iTunes so it’s easier for us DJ’s to play, with actual DJ Leigh Lezark

Alison Mosshart is in a band called the Kills, which sort of made my amateur attempts at music styling even more ridiculous. Here she is with Cara, who is just ridiculous

Family portraits: Rodge, Sklyer and Rachel with THE DJ Double D

Hubba hubba, fellas: Brian, Trey and Dr. Jake

Rachel and Bianca. (FYI: Bianca Brandolini just joined Twitter! Follow her at: @1bianca_b) ‏

Me and Arizona at the new bar at Le Bristol

A random selection of DJ Double D’s greatest hits

‘Let’s Have A Kiki’ by the Scissor Sisters [Eds. note: Which would come as no surprise to anyone who reads this blog]
‘The Boys’ by Nikki Minaj and Cassie
‘How Many Licks’ by Lil Kim
‘California Love’ by Tupac
’212′ by Azealia Banks
‘Stand Back’ by Fleetwood Mac
‘Stars Are Blind’ by Paris Hilton
‘Single Ladies’ by Beyonce
‘Dick in a Box’ by Justin Timberlake
‘Barbie song’ by Aqua
‘Wannabe’ by the Spice Girls
‘Starships’ by Nikki Minaj
‘Everybody Dance Now’ by C+C Music Factory
‘Can’t Touch This’ by MC Hammer
‘The Thong Song’ by Sisqo

It’s appropriate that I’m posting this video while I’m at Paris fashion week because it features one of my favorite French fashion persons, Garance Doré. (Even though we filmed it at New York fashion week.) It’s the finale of my L’Oreal-presented Hairspray Confessions, and in it I discuss some very important issues with the illustrator, photographer, writer and all around multitasking blogger Garance. What are these very important issues, you may ask? How to get photographed outside of a fashion show, the difference between Paris and New York style, and whether or not it’s culturally acceptable to put mayonnaise on French fries.

It’s very easy to get caught up in the fashion bubble. In the past three weeks, I’ve shuttled between New York, London and Milan for fashion shows and accessories appointments (and I’m flying to Paris in a matter of hours, but who’s counting?). While I have no problem admitting that I find it to be a gratifying experience, I can’t help but also have some American guilt that I’m missing out on the political free-for-all that will be the next election. Good thing, then, that for a couple of days when I was back in New York, my Tivo was full of The Daily Show episodes, which is my number one source of political news. (What? I think Jon Stewart is funny and handsome, and that’s how I like my news delivered.)

On a recent episode he went on off, and I mean went off, on Mitt Romney. Culturally, socially and even mathematically, he skewered the guy. It was all part of a segment called ‘Chaos on Bullshit Mountain,’ which I’ve posted above. I stumbled upon this at about the same time that I found an article in an old issue of the New York Post where Cindy Adams (Did you see it? It’s quite amusing) reported that Kato Kailin, the C-list actor who lived with OJ Simpson and helped acquit him from the charge of double murder in the most sensational trial of the 1990s, admitted Simpson’s guilt. I couldn’t help but think back to that time. I was so young, so impressionable, and so disillusioned with the American judicial system. What Jon Stewart is always preaching on his show, and indeed in this video, is that we should have more faith in our government, which is a lesson I learned from my father, who has had no faith in the government. He found the whole OJ Simpson trial a social injustice, and as his son, I felt the same way. I’ve had a shaky believe in the morals of all government officials ever since.

I believe Jon Stewart. I believe what he says here. And I actually do believe that Barack Obama has tried his best to instill the faith of the American people into his office. At the end of the day, what I want from a president is transparency and a genuine commitment to making the lives of we Americans better. Something without, as Stewart points out, a bunch of bullshit. (I also thought it was pretty epic how Obama got bin Laden. Have you read the New Yorker’s recounting of the raid? It’s even more amazing than Kato. And I will actually read that book that recounts it from the bigmouth Marine’s point of view too.) I understand the Republican point of view. I’m from Missouri, I have Republicans in my family. And while I want to pay less taxes, keep more of my hard earned money, and shoot guns in the air to proclaim my American nationalism, that Romney guy has become his own worst enemy. His own punching bag. I lost all hope when he went on television with that bad bronzing job.

All this isn’t to say that I’m so anti-Republican that I don’t mind a little Barack bashing too. Quite the contrary: I have my qualms with our current president too, and I enjoy a good leveling on both side of the isles. I’m not opposed to handsome, funny men criticizing Barack Obama. On Saturday night, Seth Meyers slated Obama on SNL’s Weekend Update with accurate, poignant observations about some of his political shortcoming. (I’d embed that, but it wasn’t on Youtube and I’m not tech savvy enough to figure out NBC’s website. But it’s there if you look for it.) That reminds me: Weekend Update is upping its coverage for the election. I’ll have to remember to set my Tivo so I can catch up when I’m back from Paris. But, until then, Happy Fashion Weeking.

Joan Smalls is big time now. I first met the Puerto Rican beauty after her first trip down the runway on a Givenchy couture exclusive, which, even though we didn’t know it at the time, was about to change her life. Riccardo Tisci’s casting transformed the lovely, funny little lady from a catalog girl to a supermodel powerhouse. Now she’s on the cover of magazines (like this issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK, which I interviewed her for), on the world’s best runways and even locked in a cosmetics contract with Estee Lauder. So, it was nice to catch up with this fabulous lady. Read our chat below. 

At heart, Joan Smalls, the 24-year-old Puerto Rican supermodel on course for world domination (she is currently ranked the second most successful model in the world) is just a fun-loving island girl. In fact, when we meet for cranberry juice (she doesn’t drink alcohol) in New York’s Chelsea, the only piece of jewellery she wears is a gold necklace with ‘Joanji’ written in a graffiti script and diamonds. ‘It’s been my nickname since I was a little girl,’ says Smalls, whose skin is cinnamon-coloured and who smiles with bright, dancing eyes. ‘It’s what they still call me when I go home.’ Hers is a tale of triumph through determination.

Smalls grew up with her parents and two sisters on a small farm in the town of Hatillo. She entered local modelling competitions in Puerto Rico, but never won because, she says, ‘I was told I was too tall, too thin and too dark.’ Finally, she made it to New York where, armed with a list of the best agencies, she pounded the pavements. But Smalls found herself a frustrated catalogue model until Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci (now a close friend and diehard fan) booked her exclusively for his haute couture show in 2010. Campaigns for Gucci, Stella McCartney, Roberto Cavalli, Lacoste and Chanel followed. Looking back to that Givenchy catwalk, Smalls says she knew that her life was about to change. ‘I was like, “This is my time. This is my moment to shine.”’ She’s still shining.

Derek Blasberg I want to start with something I don’t think you get enough recognition for: this girl can dance!

Joan Smalls Oh, yes she can! Being Puerto Rican, you come out
of the womb dancing! It’s a mix of so many cultures: African
tribal rhythm, the salsa, the reggaeton.

DB Did you go out dancing a lot when you were younger?

JS I went out all the time. My sister is older than me, but we look alike so she would give me her ID. This is back in Puerto Rico, so all the bouncers were my sister’s friends, and they would take care of me.

DB What was growing up in Puerto Rico like?

JS I grew up on a farm. We had our own banana-trees, mango-trees, orange-trees, avocado-trees, and so many different animals. Peacocks, chickens, ducks, pigs, dogs… There was this turkey
that would attack me when I was a kid. My father told me I had to stick up for myself,
so one day I picked up a rock and hit him with it.

DB That’s a good life lesson.

JS It was. That turkey got mean again, so eventually he went to the neighbours’ house –
and they ate him. That’s what happens when you mess with me!

DB What were you like as a little girl?

JS I was the tomboy. I was always getting messy, falling down and scratching my
knees. We sisters were always close-knit and protective of each other. It’s still like that
now, and I think that’s what keeps me strong in this business. It’s easy to get lost
in New York, but having my family is what kept me out of trouble. I always knew
I could call home.

DB That’s another thing that comes to mind when I think of you: determination.

JS This industry isn’t like others. If you go to school and study, you know you’ll get good grades and graduate. But with modelling you don’t entirely control your own destiny.
It’s up for grabs. You have no sense of security, and that can scare many people.

DB Have you had tough moments?

JS I have dealt with adversity from people I thought were on my side. Past agents, when
I would come to them for advice, would just tell me: ‘There’s only room for one.’

DB One what?

JS One girl of colour.

DB No!

JS Yes. I had come for encouragement and I was given an excuse. It was disappointing. Little by little, my hopes were going down. I remember calling my dad after a tough time in Paris when I was going to casting after casting where they wouldn’t even look at my book. I was sitting on a bench on the Champs-Elysées, and starting to cry. I’m a strong person; I don’t like to show my emotions, especially to strangers on the street. My father told me to keep my head up high and do my best. And he was right.

DB What is it like to be the first Latina face at Estée Lauder?

JS Amazing. When I was starting, Estée Lauder was the pinnacle. It was far-fetched, but
it was my goal. And I got it.

DB What did you do when you got the call?

JS I was in Milan and I had just finished the Versace show and went back to my room.
Then my manager Kyle called me. He said: ‘Joan, I think it’s a go.’ I still get goosebumps when I think about it. I had 10 minutes to myself, and I broke
down. I prayed. I gave thanks to God. Then maybe I jumped on
the bed for a little bit.

DB I was with Naomi Campbell when it was announced that
you would be the first black girl in a Chanel campaign, and she
said she was going to email you.

JS She did! It was such a short, sweet message: ‘We are all proud
of you. We are all rooting for you.’ To have someone you look
up to and who has been a fashion icon since you were a child respond to what you do – it was a flattering moment.

DB Your career changed when you met Riccardo Tisci. How did that happen?

JS My agency sent Givenchy some pictures for a couture show,
and they said they’d like to see me. Before I went, my agent sat
me down and said: ‘This is a gamble. You’re going to put up your own money
[for the travel expenses] and think of it as an investment. It could work out, or it could
not.’ I had been waiting for that moment long enough, so I decided to do it. I went to
the casting, I walked for him, and as I left my Paris agent called me and said: ‘Joan,
don’t go to any more castings, because you’re on the Givenchy exclusive.’ It was one
of those moments when you just know your life is about to change.

DB He [Tisci] told me he went home to Puerto Rico with you.

JS Yes, he did. I remember my dad was talking to him so much; I had to move him away! He was just so happy to meet this man who had done so much for his daughter.

DB What’s the craziest job you’ve had?

JS Probably Chanel’s spring campaign. It was shot in Cap d’Antibes, and I had to pose
on this diving platform hung over the sea – at least I can swim. So Karl is taking the
pictures from a boat and I decide to go for it. I shove my leg through this armhole, and
I’m doing the splits in this Chanel dress, 20 metres over the water. But you know what?
I wanted this for so long – fear goes out the door.

DB What was the first thing you did when you started making some money?

JS Saving it.

DB You didn’t have one extravagance?

JS I wanted to give back to my parents because they had made so many sacrifices for my sisters and me. So I bought my father
a pick-up truck. My mum’s biggest dream was to remodel her
kitchen. When we were kids, she would save up money and then
an emergency would come up. Mothers always put themselves last. So last year, I got my mum the kitchen she always wanted.

DB What challenges are left for you?

JS I want a fragrance contract.

DB You want your own fragrance?

JS No, I meant a fragrance campaign. But now that you say it, you never know.

DB Do it. Here’s your tagline: Smell Small, Feel Big!

JS Can we copyright that right now? I want to be on Forbes’ list, too. I want to become a businesswoman. Look at Heidi Klum, Gisele Bündchen, Cindy Crawford, Tyra Banks. These women have made their own paths, starting from modelling.

DB Is that all?

JS I want to take over the world. I want people to look at me
and say: ‘Oh wow, that girl is doing something.’

I have nothing against Milan. I love Italians and Italian style as much as the next guy. But I will admit that I’ve always felt a little smug about skipping out on the Milan shows. I do the shows in New York and London, then basically sleep for five straight days, and then go to Paris refreshed and ready for action. (My friends who do London, Milan and Paris all in a row all hate me for this, by the way.) But for Katie Grand, I’ll make an exception. For the bunny loving and forever amusing Katie Grand, I’ll suck it up and come to Milan. I wasn’t the only one who made the pilgrimage either: More friends, including Giles, Jonathan Saunders, Pixie Geldolff and Dree Hemingway, all came over too. We were there to celebrate her new collection with Hogan. I cohosted the launch party with Hogan’s Andrea Della Valle and Katie in an old garden where Leonardo Da Vinci grew his vegetables and we had cocktails and danced until the wee hours.

Katie with Jonathan Saunders and Pixie Geldolf in the DJ booth

I think I met my favorite new person in the whole world: Abbey Clancy. She gave a legendary performance on the dance floor and the things that came out of her mouth were fan-tas-tic. As was her husband, the footballer Peter Crouch, the blonde one in this photo with my Danish friend Anders

Dasha and Shala

A fun lass from Down Under: Melissa George

The lovely Cara Delevingne with some of the glasses that Katie included in her Hogan collection

Two of my favorite Milanese ladies, Margherita Missoni and Coco Brandolini

Katie’s boys: Me, Anders, Giles and Jonathan. (Please note: Jonny is not actually that short. Well, he’s short. But not that short.)

The view of the party. Da Vinci gardened here!

Anna Dello Russo, the queen of Italian style, with me on the dance floor. (That reminds me: Have you seen the video for her H+M collaboration? It’s ridiculous.)

The problem with a garden party? High heel sinkage. But by the end of the night, most of the girls had ditched their shoes… including Katie!

Bistrotheque’s David Waddington with Charlotte Stockdale outside the Principe de Savoia, which is where we went for more merriment. (But, luckily for everyone, I had put my camera way.)