Model Dree Hemingway on Her Famous Family, 70s Style & Her New Chloe Ads
Dree Hemingway is the newest face of the Chloé fragrance campaign, shot by Inez and Vinoodh. (Photo: Chloé)
Chloé Eau de Parfum became a classic scent the moment it debuted in 2008. The soft, sensual, floral scent is instantly recognizable, as are the stars of its campaigns. In May the French luxury brand announced that Dree Hemingway, great grand daughter of Ernest Hemingway, would be the new face of the fragrance campaign. Hemingway follows in the footsteps of Clémence Poésy, Chlo? Sevigny, Anja Rubik, and Suvi Koponen. The new ads, shot by fashion photography duo Inez and Vinoodh, feature a stripped down Hemingway, who after lighting up the Chloé catwalk last year, became an obvious choice to front the campaign.
We caught up with the model/actress during New York Fashion week to talk about her beauty secrets, what makes her feel confident, and what her sister has taught her about beauty.
Alexandra Perron: You’ve walked the Chloe runway before, and now you are the face of the fragrance. What’s that like?
It’s like the biggest honor ever. The initiation into the Chloe family was one of those things like, pinch me, is this really happening? [The Chloe woman] is my ideal woman. She embodies that 70s, free, and loving [feeling], and is also an independent woman.
Your personal style seems totally synonymous with the brand.
It just feels natural. It doesn’t feel like I’m trying to be something or play a character to be that person. It really is my true personality. I grew up in Sun Valley, Idaho, in nature and stuff like that and I feel like it can embody that girl mixed with that kind of French mystery, if that makes sense.
It’s really hard to create a timeless fragrance. There are very few that have held up over time without being altered.
I think the nice thing about this one is it’s just so subtle, and it’s just really fresh and really feminine, but it’s not loud and aggressive and attacking you.
Do you like to mix up your scent? I’m totally multiple personality with fragrance.
I always do a little switch up. I think more so I’m trying to find the one that works and then once you find it, I sort of grasp on to it. It’s like finding a routine — you mix and match until you find the right one.
I think beauty works a lot that way too. You can be a red lip girl or you can be a smoky eye girl. Tell me a little bit more about your style when it comes to beauty.
My fashion and beauty are two different things. I love to explore fashion and play around. For me, my beauty routine is very simple, very minimal. I like always to be a little glowy, and less is more —a very French girl mentality. I think I’ve been very influenced by that because I moved to Paris when I was 18 and spent a lot of time really observing that woman, which I find to be the most graceful and beautiful and sexy thing.
You’re not alone. The world is obsessed with the French take on beauty and products.
It’s done but it’s not overly done. It’s not processed. Nothing feels like they’re trying. It’s not like prom, like when you to different places, and you’re like, whoa!
Behind the scenes on the video campaign shoot for Chloé Eau de Parfum. (Photo: Chloé)
Who do you look up to as a beauty icon?
My Aunt Margot, for sure. She’s the ultimate woman for me. The images of her by Scavullo and Avedon, she embodies a real woman. There’s so much personality and she’s strong and I love that. Katharine Hepburn is another one I’m obsessed with. Anyone who just owns themselves. Even if you’re insecure, and every woman’s insecure when it comes down to it, we all have our issues and our insecurities. But if you just lay them out and are fine with them, that’s fine, and I love that and admire that.
You and your sister Langley have very different styles. Do you ever share beauty advice?
Langley introduces me to different products. She has a makeup bag and we pull things from each other. She is a f—ing genius at doing her makeup. We’re different though. Langley was blond recently, and she was like, I get it, I get why you don’t wear so much makeup. Everything shows when you’re blond. All your pimples come out. I was brunette for this movie I shot in November through January and I realized it’s a different take on different things. It’s just about your palette and your features.
Dree Hemingway stars in the new Chloé Eau de Parfum campaign. (Photo: Chloé)
What do you like more, modeling or being in front of a camera for a movie?
I like both, I feel like they are the same realm. It’s a nice juxtaposition of being really beautiful and being really ugly on film. Not ugly but being so raw. I think I bring that rawness to modeling, as well.
What makes you feel confident? Is it something you’re wearing? Is it a state of mind?
I think happiness. When I can just be myself is when I’m the most happy. When I’m trying to be anything else, I’m just like, disaster.
I think that goes for anybody. Even when I get dressed and I’m like, this is so not a “me” outfit, it just changes your whole mood.
That’s the thing you just have to go with it, you can try things out and it’s great to make mistakes and f—k up. But go back to you and it doesn’t matter.
Related:
Chloé’s Clémence Poésy on French Beauty Habits & the Power of Perfume