I tend to sort of over-accessorize, but to feel empowered, I strip it all down and become minimal so that it’s almost counterintuitive. – Karen Elson
I knew I had more in me than just standing up and having my picture taken… Being in the studio, I have to have an opinion. – Karen Elson
I’m a fan of creating the mood and vibe with flowers, candles, and music. I love making my guests feel like it’s not formal and they can relax in my home. – Karen Elson
Ultimately, I’ve learned to pride myself on being quirky. I very much adore people who are outcasts, and I’ve always loved to be around interesting, circus-type people. – Karen Elson
I’ve been writing songs since I was at least 20. That’s what I wanted to do before I became a model. – Karen Elson
It’s time to give back; you know, I’ve lived in this beautiful world of fashion for so long, and it’s time to really get my hands dirty and get in the trenches and see the world for what it really is. – Karen Elson
I like those stories that capture the brutality of life, but there’s still some kind of melancholy romance. – Karen Elson
It’s just this huge sense of relief I have with myself right now… It took me to be 31 to go, ‘Wow, I’m really happy being a model.’ – Karen Elson
At some hotels, I feel like I have to be dressed to the nines – perfectly eccentric – to walk out the door. – Karen Elson
As a model, I am at the mercy of everybody else. It’s much more of a situation where I go to work, put the clothes on, get in front of the camera, and then go home. But in that process, I never really have control over any of it. – Karen Elson
Trends come and go, and style evolves. It’s important to have pieces of jewelry that are timeless and look chic despite ever-changing fashions. – Karen Elson
I would go home and be this insular girl who listened to music and brooded in her bedroom. – Karen Elson
I feel like somehow I’m living my life mentally in reverse. It’s taken me to my 30s to feel relaxed and comfortable in my skin. I think I’m going to be dancing on tables when I’m 50. I really hope I am. – Karen Elson
I feel Dress for Success is basically about empowering women who were in a disadvantaged situation. The act of wearing a suit when she’s walking in the door, it’s so powerful – it’s about gaining control of their lives and situations. – Karen Elson
I’ve been in a New York City-based cabaret for the past seven years called The Citizens Band. It’s possibly one of the most brilliant things I’ve ever been involved with. – Karen Elson
I constantly have a devil on my shoulder telling me that what I’m doing is really horrible, and then somehow the lightning strike happens, and everything comes together. – Karen Elson
There was this moment, particularly after I had my first child, where I felt like, ‘I don’t know if I’ll ever make a record, or if this is always going to be something just floating around in my head.’ – Karen Elson
I am a woman. I go on set, and I’ll be who I am, and I’ll represent who I am. I think it comes with age. – Karen Elson
Research on the Internet, research what people say about the vintage stores, look online to see if customer service is good because that’s really important. Also to see online what other customers say. – Karen Elson
As scary as it is, I like making real, direct eye contact with people from the stage. In a sense, it’s like modeling: that feeling of locking in and projecting some kind of emotion to try to captivate people. – Karen Elson
