From the glamour of the runway to the grit of a Texas ranch, model Nicole Trunfio shares her extraordinary life!
Imagine trading the flashing lights of Paris for the wide-open spaces of a Texas ranch. That's precisely the life Australian model Nicole Trunfio has embraced, a world that's a captivating blend of romance and rigorous work. She describes her 20-hectare property as a significant undertaking, a place she shares with her husband, the talented US blues-rock musician Gary Clark Jr., their 11-year-old son Zion, and their daughters Gia, 8, and Ella, who is about to celebrate her sixth birthday.
But the family isn't complete without their feathered and hoofed companions! A lively flock of chickens and a herd of pregnant longhorn cattle add to the ranch's vibrant ecosystem. Trunfio cherishes the peace and natural beauty this environment offers, finding immense joy in the stillness and the lush veggie patch and garden, which also served as the stunning backdrop for her recent photo shoot.
But here's where it gets demanding... The ranch life means a significant commute for Trunfio, who will be turning 40 next month. A one-hour drive into town is a regular part of her routine for school runs and visits to her Austin-based fashion label, Bumpsuit. "I spend a lot of time in the car," she admits with a laugh.
On a chilly Texas afternoon, Trunfio reflects on the stark contrast between her current tranquil existence and her past career as a runway model for fashion giants like Chanel and Gucci. She expresses genuine disbelief at the career she's had, often wondering, "Why me? I was so, so lucky." She likens it to living a dream, questioning if it all truly happened. "And this is the part most people miss... While Australia now boasts many models gracing international runways, Trunfio remembers a time when she was one of the few. "There were no one on the circuit at the time. Gemma [Ward] I think came right after me and I was like, ‘yay! Gemma, you’re here … help me.’"
THE KARL LAGERFELD EFFECT
Trunfio's journey to stardom began in 2002 when she won the Australian reality TV series Search For A Supermodel. However, it was the visionary Tom Ford, then at the helm of Gucci, who truly launched the 17-year-old into the stratosphere. He transformed a country girl from Merredin, Western Australia, into a sought-after figure in the elite fashion world.
"I had booked the Gucci show when Tom Ford was the designer," Trunfio recalls. Ford had a unique approach, selecting one new model each season to be his "girl of the season." This coveted designation meant that once Trunfio was cast by Ford for Gucci, other designers immediately sought her out, bypassing the need for traditional castings. "My life changed overnight. I got booked for every single show: Valentino, Cavalli, Missoni, Versace, everything."
Among these prestigious bookings was a show for Fendi, where she encountered the legendary Karl Lagerfeld. In an era before ubiquitous internet access, Trunfio, at 17, had no idea who the iconic designer was. "He was yelling, ‘Maria Carla! Maria Carla!’ And I turned around and said, ‘I’m not Maria Carla – I’m Nicole from Australia’," she recounts. When she asked his name, he cryptically replied, "I don’t have a name."
It wasn't until her Fendi fitting that the realization dawned. "I said to the staff, who is that? ‘That is Karl Lagerfeld.’" Fearing she'd be dropped for her gaffe, Trunfio was surprised to not only walk the runway but to have Lagerfeld call her "Nicole from Australia" and subsequently book her for his other powerhouse brand, Chanel. "He took me on the news in France and was like, ‘this is Nicole from Australia!’"
At the time, Lagerfeld was also famously working with Nicole Kidman as the face of Chanel No. 5. "He was obsessed with Nicole Kidman; he understood the Australian way," Trunfio notes. He took her "under his wing" and even gifted her a cherished black tweed Chanel bag with a gold buckle and chain, which she still possesses.
Trunfio is now preparing for a whirlwind trip to Australia, her first in about three years. She's set to unveil Bumpsuit's capsule collection with the beloved Byron Bay label, Spell.
Bumpsuit, launched in 2020, began with a range of "onesies" initially designed for pregnant women. It has since evolved into an inclusive brand offering denim, dresses, activewear, baby carriers, and accessories, with fans like Hailey Bieber. "All of Bumpsuit is non-maternity. We fit everything on pregnant and non-pregnant [women]," Trunfio emphasizes. "I personally don’t love maternity [clothing]: we work with really high-performing fabrics and make sure our products have a lot of stretch, and a technical designer to make sure our clothes are cut in a way that can serve you through everything."
The collaboration with the bohemian label Spell, a personal favorite of Trunfio's, came about organically. She's worn Spell pieces at major music festivals like Glastonbury and Austin City Limits. "We don’t really do prints at Bumpsuit so we want to collaborate with brands that are really good at prints," she explains. For this collection, they applied Spell’s ‘Roadtrip’ denim print to their jeans and baby carriers.
The Bumpsuit x Spell capsule line also features a nappy bag designed with Trunfio's vision of accessible, non-zippered pockets that close simply by folding the bag. She aimed for it to be the "lightest [nappy] bag on the market."
While her four-day trip to Sydney and Byron this week will be a whirlwind, Trunfio is planning a more extended stay in Australia during May and June, coinciding with her children's school holidays. "I’ve already booked our tickets," she reveals.
But this visit holds a deeply personal significance. "We’re Italian, and my family have a ‘sausage weekend’ – we’ve been doing it since before I was born," she shares. This annual Italian Australian ritual of making salami, held on her nonno’s farm, also includes a bonfire and dirt-bike riding. "I’m bringing my kids for the first time," she says, having waited until they were "old enough to understand." She anticipates a gathering of 700 to a thousand people coming together in the traditional Italian Australian style.
Gary Clark Jr. hopes to join for a portion of the trip, though his tour schedule may impact his attendance. "He’s on tour, so we’re going to play it by ear," Trunfio says. She fondly recalls their experience last summer, traveling with him on tour through Europe and the US, living on a tour bus with the children, experiencing "a different city each night. Wild."
The Bumpsuit x Spell collection is set to be released on February 20th.
What do you think about the blend of high fashion and ranch life? Do you agree with Trunfio's approach to versatile clothing that transcends maternity wear? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
