MODEL
Lila Moss Loves Matcha, Movies, and Devon Lee Carlson
It’s fun being pretty. From her hotel room in Paris, the 21-year-old supermodel-in-the-making Lila Moss calls up her bestie Devon Lee Carlson to talk fashion week, vintage finds, and her favorite matcha lattes.
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FRIDAY 5:30PM MARCH 1, 2024 PARIS
LILA MOSS : Hi!
DEVON LEE CARLSON: Hi!
MOSS: Yay. I’m so happy that you’re doing this.
CARLSON: Anything for you, my darling. I miss you.
MOSS: I know. I wish you were in Paris.
CARLSON: I know. I’ve been in bed. I’m so sick. I don’t know what happened in Milan.
MOSS: Probably too much flying.
CARLSON: I know. I’m having so much FOMO. I’m just trying not to look at my phone.
MOSS: It’s raining here, so don’t think about it.
CARLSON: That’s making me feel better. Are you loving it?
MOSS: I have a love-hate relationship with Paris, actually.
CARLSON: Why?
MOSS: It depends what I’m doing here, who I’m with. If you’re alone, it can get a bit gray. Sometimes I’m with my mom, sometimes my boyfriend comes.
CARLSON: If you have a good person traveling with you, you can go anywhere.
MOSS: Exactly.
CARLSON: What did you have to eat today so far?
MOSS: I had a croissant on the train. And then—
CARLSON: You took the train there?
MOSS: Yeah. I love the train. It’s so easy. I was reading my book and I felt like I was in Harry Potter.
CARLSON: [Laughs] That’s so main character to go on the train.
MOSS: I loved it. And then I had a matcha and some matcha madeleines. There was a really cute matcha shop, right opposite my fitting.
CARLSON: Oh my gosh! Yum! How has your fashion month been thus far?
MOSS: Really inspiring. I’ve been watching all the shows. Burberry was amazing for the English country girl in me. Now all I’ve been listening to is Amy Winehouse.
CARLSON: So good! Do you remember the first time we met?
MOSS: I do. It was after a Saint Laurent show. [Laughs]
CARLSON: Through Iris [Law].
MOSS: I’d had a few shots at that point—you were mid-shot and you handed it to me and said, “Cheers.”
CARLSON: That’s exactly what happened.
MOSS: It was like, “girl squad.” We were dancing and then I was like, “I love you. I’m obsessed,” and you were like, “Thank you.” And I was like, anxiety the next day through the roof.
CARLSON: You were the most perfect.
MOSS: We always have fun after that show. [Laughs]
CARLSON: I know. I get so protective over you.
MOSS: You’re like, “Did you get home okay? Are you alive?”
CARLSON: It’s so much fun. I love you. So who are some of your favorite photographers? That last shoot you did was so amazing.
MOSS: The black hair with Theo [Liu]?
CARLSON: Yes.
MOSS: He’s so cool.
CARLSON: Who else do you like?
MOSS: Tim Walker. I studied him in school. He has the most incredible vision. He’s so kind and gentle too, so I’m very grateful that I got to work with him.
CARLSON: It’s almost like you manifested it by studying him.
MOSS: I know. I was like, “I know everything about you.” [Laughs] I was so shy and almost starstruck because I knew he was this legend. I also studied Diane Arbus. I love her work. And then Nan Goldin, William Eggleston—there’s so many I could name.
CARLSON: If you weren’t a model, what job would you have?
MOSS: I used to really want to be a primary school teacher. I feel like being around children makes you more fun and silly.
CARLSON: Hold on, the dogs are going insane. I think a delivery is happening.
MOSS: Doggy! It’s okay. My dogs are crazy.
CARLSON: Hey. Shh. Don’t bark. Hey. Get it together, my loves.
MOSS: She’s a mother.
CARLSON: Mother of two. What’s your favorite concert that you’ve ever been to? Or a special moment at a concert?
MOSS: Elton John at Glastonbury.
CARLSON: Oh my god.
MOSS: Yeah, that was tears.
CARLSON: Do you have a celebrity crush?
MOSS: I had one when I was younger, Zac Efron in High School Musical. But now, I just don’t—Billie Eilish, maybe.
CARLSON: Perfect. I was talking to someone recently and they were saying their celebrity crush growing up was Phineas and Ferb, the cartoon characters.
MOSS: It’s so funny when you compare people’s childhood crush to who they go out with now. I’m like, “You have a type.”
CARLSON: I know. Phineas and Ferb is real. Do you have a go-to matcha place in London?
MOSS: There’s a place called Jenki that’s amazing. There’s one in Selfridges.
CARLSON: What’s your matcha order?
MOSS: Iced with almond milk and no sweetener.
CARLSON: My kind of girl.
MOSS: Yeah. I’m not a caramel, vanilla type.
CARLSON: Me neither. My sister loves that stuff. I always make fun of her. I’m like, “The Funfetti cold foam?” That’s her world. [Laughs] What do you do to relax?
MOSS: I like to have a bath if I can. Light a candle, read a book, face mask, chill music.
CARLSON: What’s your favorite movie?
MOSS: The Devil Wears Prada.
CARLSON: Of course.
MOSS: It’s so funny because I’ve known every word since I was probably 5 years old. That or Grease. Your favorite film can change, but nothing compares to the feeling of watching a film that you’ve watched since childhood. That’s comfort.
CARLSON: Do you watch movies on planes?
MOSS: Yeah. I watched Parasite on the plane because—
CARLSON: Isn’t that scary?
MOSS: Watching scary films on the plane is the best. Nothing can get to you on a plane. There’s no ghosts.
CARLSON: Wow. That’s actually a really good tip. Where do you see yourself at 30?
MOSS: Maybe with children.
CARLSON: Have you thought about how many kids you want?
MOSS: I just had a vision of two. Three seems like a lot.
CARLSON: Yeah. I always think about a car. If you want to have your family all together and you don’t want a sprinter—
MOSS: Oh my god. I did that on a holiday once. We rented a car and there were eight girls and I drove. I envisioned myself at 30 driving this crazy mom-car and it looked silly. So three, max.
CARLSON: I think that’s the perfect answer. Have you ever been in love?
MOSS: Yes.
CARLSON: Love is the best.
MOSS: It is.
CARLSON: What are you reading right now?
MOSS: I’m reading A Little Life. It’s super intense. I can’t put it down, but I also don’t want it to end, so I have to make myself read it in increments. It’s an emotional roller-coaster.
CARLSON: I hear everyone talk about it. They’re like, “You have to take breaks. It’s a lot to read.”
MOSS: I told my mom about the plot and she started crying. She was like, “Why are you reading that?” And I was like, “You have to be happy to read it.”
CARLSON: Maybe it offers an outlook on your current life?
MOSS: Yeah. I really like the way she [Hanya Yanagihara] writes. I’m happy that I read the book before I heard about the play.
CARLSON: Oh my gosh, you have to go see it now. Would you ever act?
MOSS: I haven’t thought about it much. I think I’d need to understand more about the art of acting before I go into it. But I love movies.
CARLSON: Me too. So who’s your fashion icon?
MOSS: Well, you are one of them.
CARLSON: Oh Lila, stop.
MOSS: Obviously. And then Chloë Sevigny has been all over my Pinterest board recently. Love her style. From 20 to now. She’s so cool.
CARLSON: Everything from the ’90s until now, it feels very authentic. I feel like you also have a very authentic style.
MOSS: So do you. You can get away with anything.
CARLSON: Stop! You make everything look so expensive and so effortless. It feels like there’s a lot of thought going into what you chose, but at the same time, it’s not like you’re trying.
MOSS: That’s such a good compliment. Thank you.
CARLSON: I love you. Have you always loved fashion? Did you play dress-up when you were little?
MOSS: Yes. I was always dressing up in my mom’s closet. I also looked up to my mom in the sense that I’d want her black vests from Saint Laurent, or I’d wear black leggings and all black and gray. I was so particular from day one. We were actually talking yesterday, me and my mom, about how all the arguments we had when I was younger were about clothes and me not wanting to wear white socks.
CARLSON: You pay attention to the details.
MOSS: And then me and Iris would make magazines together. I was always into it.
CARLSON: How?
MOSS: We’d dress up, do a photo shoot, put it together in a Word document, and print it. Actually, we made it to give to my mom for her birthday. So there’s a copy somewhere.
CARLSON: That needs to be in a museum.
MOSS: It was so much fun.
CARLSON: What is your vibe for spring, clothing-wise?
MOSS: I’m excited to wear capris and get my ballet flats back out because I haven’t been wearing them with socks. See, this is my other particular thing: I like it when you can see a bit of toe cleavage.
CARLSON: I love that. Are there certain brands of ballet flats where it’s too much or too little?
MOSS: Yeah. Miu Miu and Repetto, really good toe cleavage. Chanel it depends. And then I quite like micro shorts. I’m into black for spring.
CARLSON: I love that.
MOSS: I also like a dark green, a pale yellow, a dark red.
CARLSON: Oh my gosh. You and pale yellow is so How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.
MOSS: I know. So funny.
CARLSON: It’s so perfect. Where do you get inspiration for your outfits?
MOSS: I’m on Pinterest all the time and I love it.
CARLSON: Do you dress differently in each city that you’re in?
MOSS: A hundred percent. I love a tight with a short in Paris, and I gravitate towards black. I don’t feel comfortable in anything else.
CARLSON: Something about wearing all black in Paris. It just feels right. And you can just play with the silhouette. What music have you been listening to lately?
MOSS: Good question. I’m trying to think of my playlist. I’ve got “Dancing Barefoot” by Patti Smith, “Femme Fatale” by the Velvet Underground. I made a playlist called “Girl.” It’s very girly. I feel like everyone’s talking about girlhood. I wanted to get into that.
CARLSON: You have to send it to me. Do you have an upbeat playlist for when you’re getting ready to go out? Do you pump yourself up?
MOSS: If I’m getting ready, I’ll play the song that’s been in my head all day. But all of my playlists are pretty chill, like George Harrison, Lana [Del Rey]. I feel like you have a really good going-out playlist.
CARLSON: Honestly, I get anxiety now when I’m going out with my friends in an Uber because I’m like, I only listen to chill music now.
MOSS: I can’t be on the aux.
CARLSON: Same. I’m playing the same song over and over again. I’m like, guys, we’re listening to Drake from a couple years ago. Okay, where are your favorite cities to shop for vintage?
MOSS: Paris has great vintage. New York. London does, but recently I’ve been in a rut with it.
CARLSON: Do you have a favorite vintage piece?
MOSS: I got an amazing Galliano leather trench in Paris at this place called Bobby. Every time I wear it, my mom’s like, “Where did you get that?” And I’m like, “I told you.”
CARLSON: Wow. That’s such a good piece to have forever. I remember that Paco [Rabanne] dress that you showed me last time you were in L.A.
MOSS: I rented it. I got it to wear after the party at my dad’s wedding. That one I found in London. But again, designer vintage. That’s an investment piece.
CARLSON: Totally. Do you have time to shop this trip?
MOSS: I always have time in Paris.
CARLSON: I’m jealous. You’re going to have so much fun. Well, thank you for talking today. This is the first interview I’ve ever done. It felt like we were just hanging out.
MOSS: It was so good. Thank you.
CARLSON: I love you so much. I can’t wait to see this editorial.
MOSS: You’re going to like the pictures. They’re really cool.
CARLSON: Yay.
MOSS: Yay.
CARLSON: Well, I love you. Have the best time in Paris ever.
MOSS: See you soon. Feel better.
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Hair: Akki Shirakawa at Art Partner.
Makeup: Dick Page at Bryant Artists using YSL Beauty Lash Clash Extreme Volume Waterproof Mascara, Candy Glaze Lip Gloss Stick #4 Nude Pleasure, and Touche Éclat All-Over Brightening Pen #3 Luminous Peach.
Nails: Natalie Pavloski at Bridge Artists.
Set Design: Elaine Winter at See Management.
Tailor: Maria del Greco.
Digital Technician: Ryan Jones.
Photography Assistants: Pierre Crosby and Clay Campbell.
Fashion Assistant: Chloe Shaar.
Hair Assistant: Anastasiia Milyaeva.
Production Assistant: Jordan Santisteban.