Karlie Kloss and Doutzen Kroes Discuss Hanging Up Their Wings

We’ve seen a lot of new faces this season (Isabella Emmack, Astrid Holler, and Stella Lucia, to name just three), but at Fendi, Karl Lagerfeld sent quite a few established models down the house’s lengthy Fall ’15 catwalk. On the same day the Victoria’s Secret Swim Special aired on television, Angels Doutzen Kroes and Karlie Kloss were present, alongside Joan Smalls and Lily Donaldson. Kroes, who opened the show, returned to Milan after a 12-year absence. It was also a homecoming for Kloss, who’s skipped the fashion city on the circuit the past few seasons. And in light of both Kroes and Kloss hanging up their wings with the lingerie giant, perhaps this trip down the runway offers not only a blast from the past, but marks the beginning of a new chapter as well. Here, the supers speak about making it back to Milan and their favorite places to eat pasta.

DOUTZEN KROES

When was the last time you walked Fendi?

This will make me sound really old—12 years, I think.

Are you excited to open the show?

Very excited. First of all, I’m just excited to be here, and that Karl asked me to be part of it is a big honor. And to open is a big treat.

Were you expecting to get that call from Karl?

No! It was very out of the blue. I’ve been really focused on my family and being home a lot. I’ve been really busy in Europe—I’ve been in Stockholm a lot, Paris…we’ve been based in Amsterdam, so it was easy to come over here.

How does it feel to be back in Milan?

It brings back so many memories. I came with my agent, Sarah [Keller], 12 years ago, but I appreciate it so much more now. Then, I was tired and we were late to fittings, and now I just appreciate being here and being part of the show. I think when you’re young, you don’t appreciate these things as much as when you’re older. And the good food in Italy, you know?

What is your favorite restaurant in Milan?

I actually went to a really good osteria last night.

What do you order?

I had carpaccio sea bass and arugula with veal. And I love simple pasta, like penne.

It’s a long runway, so you’ll just burn it all off.

I know! That’s what Lindsey [Wixson] was saying. She said: “This is how they keep us skinny!”

How does it feel to walk that long of a runway?

I actually like to have the long, simple runway. Sometimes it can be nice, [as opposed to] the turns and very complicated things. I think for me, the classic runway is my favorite.

KARLIE KLOSS

When was the last time you walked in Milan?

Yeah, I haven’t been to Milan in a while. I want to say at least two years, maybe more. Two years? Yeah, it’s been a while. It’s good to be back!

Did you miss it?

Yeah. Milan’s such a big part of the fashion week—it’s such an important part of the circuit. I always have shoots that kind of line up around the same time. It’s kind of nice to make a trip back, so here I am!

What is your favorite restaurant in Milan?

Ooh, you know, it’s been a while since I have been here, but there is this one place that my friends and I would always go to called Luini. It’s like a local favorite—the line goes around the block. It’s the kind of thing that you literally have to wait in a crowd of, like, 150 locals to get this panzerotti. It’s basically like a pizza folded in half. And it’s heaven.

Like a calzone type of situation?

It’s like a calzone kind of situation. It’s totally heaven. It’s not really in the fashion week diet, but you know what, you’re running around so much, you deserve it!

You’ve been quite the jet-setter lately according to your Instagram account. Weren’t you in London last night at the Brit Awards?

I’ve been traveling so much. I went from L.A. to London. I was there last night. And actually, yesterday I flew to Milan and back for this fitting, and then went to London [for] the Brit Awards last night. And then flew in this morning. So to be honest, I’m happy just to enjoy being in Milan, in one spot for a couple days.

Since you’re traveling an insane amount, how do you stay runway-ready?

You know, I think it’s all going to hit me probably tomorrow. Maybe we should talk tomorrow. But you know what I did on the airplane here this morning: those eye patch things. They felt like gelatin, like Jell-O. It wasn’t like a plastic thing. And they were so cool, and it was heaven. It was exactly what my face needed.

How did you prep your skin before today’s show?

I kind of showed up with not a spot of makeup on my face, and they took care of me. They cleaned me up—so lucky me.

I recently read that you’re hanging up your Victoria’s Secret wings, which is kind of heartbreaking for all of us because you’re our favorite Angel!


Thank you! I have a lot of exciting things coming up and you can’t be everywhere. I wish I actually had wings, then maybe I could actually be everywhere!

—Amber Kallor, Style.com