COCO ROCHA
Occupation: Supermodel | Hometown: Richmond
Q How did this project with Nordstrom come about? A Nordstrom approached me with this great concept, and as a Vancouver native, I just jumped at the chance to do this in my old hometown. I was especially excited to bring my baby girl Ioni to meet some of my friends and see the place where I was raised.
Q Growing up in Vancouver and now living in New York and having so much access to the international markets, what is your take on Vancouver fashion?
A Vancouver is one of the most culturally diverse cities in North America and I really feel like that wide variety of influence shows in the street style I see here. Ideas and style influences are coming from literally every corner of the globe and either being accepted or rejected in a very democratic way in Vancouver; it’s really fascinating to see. Q Do you think the city has grown sartorially since you left? A I do and I think the Internet has really helped educate us all, wherever we are from, on what’s out there and what’s new. You don’t have to be in New York or Paris to see the latest trends and adopt them. The web has been a great equalizer for us all to have access to fashion and style. Growing up, I might have picked up the odd fashion magazine as a kid in school, but that was probably unlikely. Now kids have fashion all over their tumblr and their Instagram (feeds) — we’ve all been educated. Q How are you adjusting to life as a new mom (Rocha gave birth to daughter Ioni James Conran on March 28)?
A It’s a huge learning curve and you really do jump into the deep end. The first day James (Conran, Rocha’s husband) and I left the hospital with Ioni we were like, ‘Really? We can just take off with this little girl and be completely responsible for her?’ It’s a real privilege to raise a child, and something we take very seriously. For the most part, it comes naturally, but for everything else, luckily I have a great group of veteran moms to ask for advice. Q Has the lifestyle change altered your personal style? A Not really. Even when I was pregnant, I still tried to keep my own personal style. I don’t understand when women think you have to give up being you to become a mother. Mom jeans are not part of the job description! Granted, I do have to wash my clothes far more often thanks to Ioni’s little spit-ups, but you’ll still see me in stilettos and a Greta Constantine cocktail dress pushing her around the city in her stroller. Q What place inspires you in Vancouver? A I love Stanley Park; it has something for everyone and I always discover something new. I’m taking Ioni there. She loves looking up at trees.