A Supermodel’s Guide to New York City

A Supermodel’s Guide to New York City! Florence Nightingale Graham, who went by the business name of Elizabeth Arden, moved from her native Woodbridge, Canada to New York City in 1909. A year later, she would borrow $6,000 from her brother and launch her first Red Door Spa on Madison Avenue. More than a century later, supermodel Karlina Caune, moved from her native Lativa to make her mark in the same city. She would go on to walk catwalks for storied American designers Tom Ford, Jason Wu, Oscar de la Renta, Vera Wang and Carolina Herrera. She also just inked a deal to be the new face of Arden. Both women share passionate, fiery personalities with a love of beauty. We recently sat down with Karlina in New York’s Standard Hotel to get a supermodel’s view of the Big Apple.

Karlina Caune – In her own words

It is very important for me when friends come to visit that I give them the true New York experience as I live it. Every visit must include a barbecue on a rooftop terrace with sweeping views of the city all around. I love making food with my friends and enjoying it outdoors.

I love to walk and I’m often awake at 5 am due to jet lag. Instead of sleeping in, I like to go for a long walk along the Seaport to the West Village and then stop for breakfast at an outdoor café. I love the weekday breakfasts at Café Fika downtown and 1989 in Greenwich. It’s super cozy in winter. In the summertime, I like to enjoy my coffee in the park.

I’m a flowerchild. The best gift anyone can give me is a bouquet of flowers. My grandparents used to grow flowers in Latvia and I remember growing up seeing rows of beautiful daffodils, peonies and roses. I’m in love with flowers! The only thing I find strange is New York flowers don’t really smell. They don’t smell the same as in Latvia.

When I was living in Iceland for three months, I went through bottle after bottle of 8 Hour Cream. It was so dry there! That’s why you’ll always find a bottle of it in my bag wherever I go. I also love Prevage sunscreen. Since I love to spend so much time outdoors, I’m careful to protect my skin.

A visit to New York might include a concert. My favourite is Ben Howard but I really do like Ed Sheehan too. I remember standing in front of the stage at the last Ben Howard show and almost cried when I saw him start to play in front of me. It was incredible. If you see me with an iPod, I’ll likely be listening to Rolling Stones, AC-DC, Iron Maiden or Nirvana.

I enjoy working out outdoors most so this might include skiing, alpine climbing or yoga. When I have too much energy, I’ll go for a run through New York.

My favourite restaurant is Tiny’s in Tribeca. The dining room is actually upstairs and they serve wonderful food. I’m a big hockey fan so I like to watch hockey when I can. My favourite movies are by Tim Burton. He has just the right mix of creepy and mysterious.