Heidi Mount

 As a mom, major model, and muse to illustrious designers like Karl Lagerfeld, multitasking is just the name of the game for Heidi Mount. With a travel schedule that has her pinging from Paris to New York to LA and back, she manages to spend more time on the road in a month than most people do in their entire lives. (We just like the fact that she documents it all via Twitter in her signature down-to-earth way.) Considering Mount's peripatetic lifestyle, it only makes sense that her fashion sensibilities are just equally nuanced and varied. Whether she's dressed for downtown or showing off a dramatic evening look at a red carpet event, Mount is always one to watch.


One of the more notable aspects of this Utah native's style proclivities is her taste for experimentation while on the clock. Backstage her outfits are anything but basic, whether she's kitted out in an eye-popping fuchsia frock at Zac Posen's F/W 09 show or richly robed in a burgundy wrap dress at Dolce & Gabbana that same season. Even when she's more casually attired, Mount's on-duty ensembles are still noteworthy, thanks to interesting color combos and a fondness for contrasting handbags. For example, Mount was snapped between shows in Paris last spring wearing basic black separates, which she enlivened with a pastel pink v-neck sweater and a gray quilted bag (Chanel, but of course). She used a similar slim-and-layered formula at Oscar de la Renta that season, when she combined pale gray jeans and a soft blue cardigan with a slouchy bag in a dijon-tan tone.

When Mount's working a room instead of the runway, she tends to run the gamut of feminine sophistication. Sometimes that means going for a haute biker look (very Angelina Jolie) via a Michael Kors black leather knee-length sheath and oversized silver chain necklace, as she did for a Fashion Group International event last fall. Other times Mount takes a softer approach; just look at the delicate ensemble she wore to a Chanel dinner celebrating the brand's new Rouge Coco lipstick. The combination of her ivory lace top and black lace shrug adds up to a vintage femininity and plays up Mount's ethereal beauty divinely.

It's easy to infuse your own wardrobe with some Mount-inspired mystique; all you need are a few key pieces to achieve the laidback look of her backstage outfits. For a pop of bright pink, try Ted Baker's Woven Panel Zip Dress ($160) or Mason by Michelle Mason's V Neck Dress ($320) in Fuchsia. Balance the boldness of the dress with a simple black waistcoat, like Topshop's Sleeveless Waterfall Jacket ($90) or Elizabeth and James' Tech Vest ($325). Looking for a less dressy MOD look? Mix gray or black skinnies (try Topshop's Black Skinny Baxter Jeans ($80), Cheap Monday's ($65), Dereon's Swirl Skinny Jeans in Pale Gray), with a soft sweater like J. Crew's Cashmere Zip Pocket Cardigan ($175) in Lagoon Green. Then simply add a cool tote like Gorjana's Hudson Quilted Cross Body Bag ($198) or Topshop's Leather Duffle Cross Body Bag—Mulberry's Leah Messenger ($895) is another good choice—and you'll be well on your way to the right Mount-inspired mix.

Of course, if you're interested in emulating Mount's sleek and chic event looks, we've got a few suggestions for that as well. Elizabeth and James'Leather Combo Sheath Dress ($545) offers a partial-leather option with similarly classic lines, while Raquel Allegra's Leather Tank Dress ($518) is another slim, sexy option. Extra bonus points if you accessorize with Kenneth Jay Lane's Oversized Chain-Link Necklace ($330)! If you'd rather hint at skin with lacey tops, don't miss American Apparel's Lace Loose Tank ($28) in Ivory Leaf Flower or Joie's All Over Lace Drew B Tank ($158) in Off White. You can always add a black lace ruff, per our MOD, or simply go for a lightweight layer, like Rebecca Minkoff's Susan Jacket ($395)—a much more wearable choice.