Camilla Thorsson with American Ballet Theatre dancers Katie Williams, Isadora Loyola and Jessica Saund.

By Gabrielle Gayagoy

VIVmag’s creative team partnered with the New York City-based American Ballet Theatre (ABT) for this issue’s interactive style feature, “Director’s Cut.” The 14-page spread gives readers front-row seats to A Chorus Line-meets-Fame narrative, complete with video footage of ABT’s talent dancing at mock tryouts and rehearsals — and looking exquisite in unique designer samples!

“We decided to call on the American Ballet Theatre because we wanted to be multidimensional and have a lot of interaction and movement,” says Kristina Coleman, VIV’s fashion and beauty director. To act the role of the director in the story, Coleman cast Camilla Thorsson of Ford Models. “She’s not only a gorgeous, stunning model, but she also was able to play the part,” Coleman says.

Wearing sophisticated pieces from designers such as Calvin Klein, Chanel and Monique Lhuillier, Thorsson modeled alongside ABT dancers Isadora Loyola, Jessica Saund and Katie Williams, who donned whimsical gowns by Vera Wang and strapless dresses by Naeem Khan.

“I still cannot get over how beautiful the dresses were,” Saund told us. “It was nice to be a able to participate in both a photo shoot as well as a short movie. The whole experience was so glamorous.”

To see more of American Ballet Theatre this fall, check out Three World Premieres from choreographers Benjamin Millepied, Aszure Barton and Alexei Ratmansky at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY, Oct. 2–4. The premieres will be performed along with encores of Clark Tippet’s Some Assembly Required and Jerome Robbins’ Other Dances at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall in New York City Oct. 7–10. For tickets and more information, go to abt.org.

Want more fall fashion? Read VIVmag’s exclusive interview with model Beverly Johnson and take the style quiz in the September/October issue.

Photo credit: Gail Hadani

"Loving what you do is the secret to happiness," Kirsebom says. "It gives you energy at work."

By Gabrielle Gayagoy

Discovered when she was just 13 years old in Stockholm, Sweden, by Ford Models co-founder Eileen Ford, supermodel Vendela Kirsebom has spent more than two decades gracing the covers of countless magazines, including Esquire and Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue, and modeling for brands such as Almay, Elizabeth Arden and Victoria’s Secret. Now, at age 42, the 5-foot-8-inch beauty looks as stunning as ever — and she feels better than ever too.

“I’m in a good place in my life,” Kirsebom says. “And I think the secret really is to love what you do.”

Bouncing Back
Kirsebom’s passion for her work helped her stay grounded during what was perhaps the toughest period of her life. Having split from her husband of 11 years in 2007, Kirsebom says of that time, “I wasn’t really sure how I would deal with it.” After juggling questions of what would be best for her two daughters, now 11 and 9, Kirsebom reconciled herself to remaining in Oslo, Norway, so that her children could be close to both parents. During this time, Kirsebom was steeped in her role as host of both Norway’s Next Top Model and Sweden’s Next Top Model, the Scandinavian spinoffs of America’s Next Top Model.

“It was a good thing for me to start working where I actually live instead of always traveling,” says Kirsebom, who now puts her vast experience (which includes writing, acting and jewelry design) to use mentoring the shows’ contestants.

Over time, Kirsebom has created a new life for herself, and now she even has a steady beau. “I have a new boyfriend who’s been in my life for over a year,” she says. “One of the reasons I think we hooked up is because of food. He’s a great cook.”

Taking Care of Herself
Food fanaticism is a prerequisite for members of Kirsebom’s inner circle. She says she loves swapping recipes and preparing meals from scratch using fresh ingredients. “Right now, I’m on an Indian trip. For Easter, we made a really great lamb korma, and then we made a chicken that was marinated in yogurt and spices for 24 hours. You could eat it with a spoon!”

Kirsebom’s repertoire also includes homemade meatballs (Swedish, of course) and Middle Eastern favorites like hummus. “I got my interest in cooking from my mom and also my grandmother. Now my daughters are very interested too. They like making cakes and desserts.”

To maintain her svelte figure in spite of her kitchen adventures, Kirsebom says she sticks with regular meal times — 6:30 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. She also runs, practices yoga and goes horseback riding with her girls. “With work and with kids, I don’t have time to exercise as much as I used to, but I try to do it three times a week. Sometimes it’s more like twice.”

Kirsebom has a decidedly European attitude when it comes to aging — she says she’s happy with her natural look and not fearful about getting older. But, she adds, “I don’t mind plastic surgery on others. People have to do whatever they feel comfortable with, as long as it’s something you choose and it’s not a husband or somebody else who’s choosing for you.”

Model Mom
Empowering women to call their own shots is an issue that’s important to Kirsebom. As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for the past 13 years, she’s traveled to places such as Bangladesh, Bolivia and India to help raise awareness about girls’ education. “After I had my own children, the issue became even more important to me,” Kirsebom says. “If you can’t read and you can’t write, you’re so handicapped with everything.”

As a mom who cares deeply about education, loves to whip up home-cooked meals for her children and manages a successful career that continues to evolve, Kirsebom certainly deserves a happy Mother’s Day. And we can’t think of a more perfect person for VIVmag’s May/June cover!

Click here for more on Vendela’s favorites.

Credits
Photography: Ondrea Barbe
Model: Vendela/Ford Models
Styling: Kristina Ferrante Coleman
Hair: Kevin Woon at Woon Salon/Jed Root Inc.
Makeup: Susan Giordano for giordanobeauty.com/Kramer+Kramer
Clothing: Monique Lhuillier cocktail dress; Vera Wang necklace; Olivia Morris for Barbara Tfank high-heel sandals

Vendela Kirsebom keeps her skin looking luminous with Secrets de Sothys face cream.

VIVmag’s May/June cover model shares her personal picks for stressing less and staying gorgeous. Her favorites:

BOOK
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (Knopf, 2008)
“Larsson is an amazing Swedish writer who died of a heart attack when he was 50. His books have sold worldwide and you can’t put them down. You start reading it and it’s like you can’t eat, you can’t drink, you can’t do anything: You just have to read.”

FACE CREAM
Secrets de Sothys Global Anti-Age Destressing Cream
“I started using this when I turned 35 — it’s for older skin. It’s definitely worth finding a good cream and not doing what I sometimes do, which is buy something because it’s in a beautiful jar. You have to get samples and test what works for you.”

PICK-ME-UP
Cappuccino with whole milk
“I love my espresso in the morning with whole milk — I make the foam and everything. I don’t like it with skim. For me, real stuff is the best.”

STRESS RELIEVER
IKEA candles
“I love candles. Sometimes I burn a lot of them, so it’s better to buy cheaper ones.”

HAND CREAM
Eau Thermale Avène Hand Cream with Cold Cream
“It’s a French brand you can actually buy in the pharmacy. It’s really good and I think they have a lot of great products, including sunblock for the face.”

Click here to check out Kirsebom’s interactive fashion spread in the May/June issue!

Credits
Photography: Ondrea Barbe
Model: Vendela/Ford Models
Styling: Kristina Ferrante Coleman
Hair: Kevin Woon at Woon Salon/Jed Root Inc.
Makeup: Susan Giordano for giordanobeauty.com/Kramer+Kramer
Clothing: BCBGMAXAZRIA dress

Fit. The best method is to have someone measure for you. Make sure your arms are relaxed at your side. “We suggest women first measure the circumference of their torso from the top of the rib cage with a tape measure,” explains Martha Bailey product line manager for bras at Bothell, WA-based Moving Comfort. “The tape should be snug but not tight”.

Add five inches and round up to the nearest even number for your band size. Next, measure loosely around the fullest part of your bust.  Finally, subtract your band size from your bust measurement to determine your cup size.

Support. Every sports bra needs adequate support so that you can feel secure when you move in all directions — up and down or side to side. There are two ways that sports bras keep breasts in place: compression and encapsulation.  Compression bras are more popular and press the breasts against the body, while encapsulation bras have molded cups that support each breast individually. Some bras, like Moving Comfort’s “Fiona” ($44 athleta.com) and Enell ($56 enell.com), combine compression and encapsulation for extra support (for sizes C-DD and D-DD, respectively). 

“Most women think if it holds the chest in tight, it’s fine,” says D’Lynda Fischer, cyclist and owner of sporteve, a Culver City, CA-based women’s athletic boutique. “That is simply not true. The right fit sports bra is directly related to the activity it will be used for. If you are  running, jump up and down, or run around the store, if it is for your weekly yoga class, get into downward-facing dog.”

Comfort. Quality is key to a comfortable bra. Check the fabric, bindings, elastics, hooks and eyes for imperfections, and be sure that nothing feels too loose or too tight on your body. “Make sure the band is not bunching up or if spilling out in back,” says Fischer. “You don’t want it too snug, though. You want some flexibility.” Move your arms and rotate your body to mimic what you will be doing in the bra; if you feel any discomfort, don’t buy it.

Moisture Management. Choose a bra with good ventilation for added breathability and quick drying. “Staying dry helps to reduce the risk of friction between the bra and skin which can cause chafing,” says Bailey. Look for sports bras with soft mesh or other moisture-wicking performance fabrics.