It was the summer of 1985. I was doing a bit of shopping with a school friend at Mango's first shop ever in Valencia (Spain), when Duran Duran’s ‘A view to a kill’ video appeared in the shop’s tv screen. That was the first time I came across top model Gail Elliott.

Together with Yasmin LeBon, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista and Elle Macpherson, Gail is one of my favourite top models ever. And she is not only a true natural beauty but also a bright businesswoman, whose fashion career has evolved from modelling clothes to actually designing them, with the launch of her fashion label Little Joe Woman back in 2002.

So a few weeks ago I decided to approach Gail, hoping she’d be willing to take part in our ‘People in Fashion’ series of interviews, and was delighted to hear back only a few days later with the answers to our questions.

What made you want to be a designer?
For the past 24 years I’ve worked as a model based in New York for all the major magazines and most talented fashion designers in the world. Working with Gianni Versace, Giorgio Armani, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs, Azzedine Alaïa and many, many more for so many years, meant I learned so much about clothing, design, fabric, colour, styling, fitting… So designing my own collections for Little Joe Woman felt like a natural extension from my modelling career.

What was your inspiration for SS2011?
My inspiration for SS2011 came from the documentary Stones in Exile about the time Keith Richards and Anita Pallenberg moved to France in a ‘self imposed’ exile for tax reasons in the 1970’s. The free spirit and style of the way clothing was worn then is reflected in our collection.

What are your personal signature pieces?
My personal signature pieces tend to be a great jacket whether it be a fitted silk blazer or more casual looking with jeans and a silk camisole or a gorgeous dress and Little Joe Woman are know for camisoles and blouses and feminine dresses.

Do you have any fashion icons?
I admire Kate Moss, Carine Roitfeld, Karin Upton Baker (Hermès Australia), Natalia Vodianova and Olivia Palermo, all of whom have great style.

How do you relax?
Cooking relaxes me. Soaking in a hot bath with a good book and Lancôme bath products does too! Massages, sailing on Sydney Harbour, lying on the beach...

Are you an advice-giver or an advice-taker?
I'd say I give advice but also listen to and learn from what others have to say.

How will you be spending Christmas?
I’ll be spending Christmas at our home on Bondi Beach with my gorgeous husband and our Maltese Poodle puppies, sipping Laurent-Perrier champagne and consuming many Ferrero Rocher chocolates with friends!

All pictures courtesy of Gail Elliott and Little Joe Woman.

A very MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY 2011 to Gail from all of us at Caradiaz - and of course a huge 'THANK YOU' for squeezing us in her very busy schedule.

THANK YOU, GAIL!