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Photo: Courtesy of Triumph Lingerie
It's been more than 20 years since Helena Christensen romped on the beach with Chris Isaaks for Herb Ritts' iconic "Wicked Game" music video, but judging by the veteran supermodel's sultry fall 2013 lookbook for her latest Triumph lingerie collection, the Danish-Peruvian beauty is showing no signs of slowing down. Of course, this particular modeling gig has a special significance for Christensen, who also designed the lingerie line that's now available in the U.S. thanks to the brand-new launch of the label's American e-commerce site.
"I was very inspired by the changing hues of the Nordic ocean and the pink glow on the horizon as the sun slowly settles late at night," the New York City-based model told us of her boudoir-ready wares. "Part of the collection is inspired by Herve Leger's sculptural designs, which I applied to lingerie, as a way of enhancing the organic shapes of the female body. And of course there's a lace series. What's a lingerie collection without a little wonderful lace?"
Indeed. In addition to modeling and designing (she launched a series of bags for Kipling), the mother of one is planning a trip to Peru with Oxfam and has several photography projects in the pipeline.
"Taking photographs has been an interest of mine since my late teens," she said. "I love every aspect of photography, specifically the fact that you freeze moments of life that appear beautiful, interesting, eerie, or life-changing, whether big or small."
We learned more about Christensen's passions and life-changing moments as she took a stab at our signature 10 questions. Take it away, Helena.
What is your favorite smell?
That of my child—the sweet scent of his neck when he allows me to hug him (he's a teenager!) and the scent of my boyfriend's scarf. I love when he forgets it at my house.
What do you consider to be the epitome of happiness?
Moments that are special in a certain way, [such as] waking up in the arms of my beloved and hearing your child yell that he's hungry for a goat cheese omelet; talking to my 96-year-old grandma and she sounds thrilled about having taken a walk in the sunshine; approaching a large puddle of rain water and you realize you put on wellies that day; jumping into the waves of the ocean and staying under for a while imagining huge whales sharing this water with you somewhere far away.
How do you define luxury?
Luxury is many things: traveling the world and discovering its beauty, finding a magical old oil painting at an antique market that no one else noticed, curling up on the couch in a warm, fuzzy blanket with eight episodes of Modern Family showing up on the TV screen...basically being able to live exactly the way you feel the happiest and most peaceful.
What is the last dream you remember?
I remember all my dreams and they all play out as entire thrillers, from beginning to the credits at the end, no kidding! I always crack up when I dream hero dreams, and I'm the hero. Too funny!
What is your favorite childhood memory?
Being in my grandparents' summer house near the beach, waking up to the sound of the cuckoo [clock] on the wall chirping away and smelling the sweet scent of muffins being toasted.
What is the last book you read and loved?
Carson McCullers' The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter.
Describe your home's aesthetic.
I'm definitely a thing-finder, much like Pippi Longstocking, so my home is a treasure trove filled to the brim with all kinds of curiosities and peculiar objects. It just makes me so deeply happy coming home every day, looking at all the paintings, photographs, and the little still-lifes, and smelling the flowers and candles. I sometimes wish I had more of a minimal approach, as I very much love and respect the Danish modern furniture designers, but I don't think it would ever be possible to keep my home bare and simple.
What are your vices?
I never really looked at any of those as actual vices, since I believe vices might even be good for you. It's important to include a tiny bit of depravity and immoral behavior in one's life just a tiny little bit.
Describe yourself in five words or less.
Mellow, passionate, emotional, peculiar, and cozy.
What possession will you never throw away?
Well, it kind of looks like a lot of things at the moment. The thought of putting my things into boxes and storing them in the basement stresses me out. I know I will never look at them again, and my grandchildren will probably find them and go, "What a lot of old rubbish Grandma collected, let's throw it out." Thing is, I also know I could survive with nothing but a simple hut on a beach shore and a fishing line.
