Louisa Jacobson on Her Famous Family, Identity, and Kallmeyer
Louisa Jacobson sees a lot of similarities between modeling and acting. The actress, who stars in HBO’s The Gilded Age, recently made her debut in the spring/summer campaign for Kallmeyer. Though the two skillsets might appear vastly different, she believes in the power of crafting a narrative and the meticulous work that goes into building a brand identity in both industries.
Jacobson is currently embracing the process of exploring her style, sexuality, and a new scope of creative possibilities. She is particularly interested in how women are dressing right now—specifically, how we’re opposing softer colors with powerful suits to create a new kind of sex appeal. Shot by photographer Austin Sandhaus inside the sleek new WSA building in downtown New York City, the two found immediate comfort with each other, setting out to explore these juxtapositions.
Below, Jacobson delves into how she translated her skills from the silver screen to the fashion world.
As an actress, how do tap into your performance skills when modeling on the runway or in a campaign?
For this project, it was about understanding the identity that Kallmeyer wants to bring to life. And I’m helping [make] that happen. Plus, it’s also a vehicle for me for my own self-expression. I love fashion simply because I really love clothes and I care a lot about what I wear. After having been introduced to the fashion world in the last few years, I’ve really learned to deeply respect the artistry behind design.
Do you think your upbringing helped cultivate an early love of clothing that has shaped your relationship with fashion as an adult?
I think I have always loved dress up since I was little. And my parents really supported that kind of play at home. And so, it fueled my imagination. It was my number one top activity. I also always loved letting my friends borrow clothes, or when I borrowed clothes from my sister, Grace [Gummer]. I always looked up to her. I think Grace is actually the person who introduced me to Kallmeyer, but throughout my life, she’s always looked fabulous.
After your sister introduced you Kallmeyer, what was it like walking the runway and being a part of that community?
It was a dream come true. I really think it’s because I believe in the brand’s identity and what they’re trying to do. I think the most powerful, unapologetic version of myself emerges when I wear Kallmeyer’s clothes.
How did you then bring that experience into shooting your first- ever campaign for the brand?
The campaign created a space where I could fully step into who I am. And there is so much power in that intrinsically. The space, the people in it, and the clothes themselves all came together to create this alchemy for me to be able to emit all the strength, security, and sexuality that exists in me without any negative external stuff. It’s so in line with where I feel I’m at personally and my growth as a human being, not just as an actor, but with my journey of owning and understanding my own queerness.
What look from the shoot made you feel the most like yourself?
I loved the suit. The fabric of the suit itself has such nice weight—it falls in all the right places, but it’s still so buttery soft and feels luxe. Just the way it was juxtaposed with the soft blue sheer blouse underneath it. I really enjoy the mix of hard and soft and what we consider masculine and feminine.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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