The Look Book

Elizabeth Gabel, Model

"Sometimes I'm young, fun, Betsey Johnson girlie. Then there's my punk-rock pixie badass alter ego."

By Amy Larocca
Published Jun 18, 2005

(Photo: Jake Chessum)

What are you doing today?
I just came from a photo shoot. I’m walking home—I live in the East Village. I’m a model with Ford’s teen division.

What’s your day job?
I was waitressing, just to keep busy, and because I love to shop. But now I’m doing an independent film, so I’m quitting. How would you describe your style?
I’m a Gemini, so I’m caught between two things. Sometimes I’m young, fun, Betsey Johnson girlie. Then there’s my punk-rock pixie badass alter ego.

Which ego is this?
This is punk rock. But I change my outfit up to four times a day, depending on how I’m feeling. Like yesterday, I wanted to wear a dress in the morning, but then I went out on my bike, so I wore my Gwen Stefani–type shorts. I was feeling more feminine when I went to dinner, and when I went out at night I put on my biker outfit.

Where did you get this outfit?
The shirt is from Andy’s Chee-Pees. I like Queen, but I’m not a huge fan—I just liked the fit. The pants are from Trash & Vaudeville; they’re Billy Idol–inspired. You can hang bondage straps on them. I have the straps in lots of different colors, they’re just so comfortable. The vintage cowboy boots are a nice gift from my ex-boyfriend.

Do you spend a lot of time on beauty rituals?
I always wash my face twice a day. That’s a must. Right now I’m using Olay, but I tend to switch soaps. I talk to a lot of models and we have a theory that your skin adjusts, so you have to switch soaps.

How did you land in the teen division?
I have a very young face, but it’s not just that. I’m only five-eight.

Is there a lot of pressure to go to nightclubs, sleep with older men, and do drugs?
No. If you want to be bad in New York, you can be bad. You don’t have to be a model. You can ruin your life in a matter of weeks if you want.

What’s your movie about?
It’s called Dimension. These people go into a supernatural hardware store, and they can change their lives in any way by three inches. So right away the men get creative.

How would you use your three inches?
I’d be taller.