Coco Baudelle  has made it back to New York after a rare spring snowstorm. Her flight was cancelled and almost left her stranded in a beach town in Florida. The snow melted as quickly as it arrived and rain took its place, not letting up for the entire day. Born in Montreal, Coco moved to New York and became a model by chance—appearing in campaigns for cult makeup brand Glossier, and Mansur Gavriel. An actor and screenwriter by choice, she spends her days working on her first feature-length screenplay. Her distinct look, and elegant style has made her a recognizable fixture in the New York fashion scene.

If you’re an artist at this moment in time, there’s a sense that you need to be in a constant state of production and always showing new work. What is something you’ve been working on that requires longevity?
I love having a lot going on all at once, but working on long-term projects gives me a sense of purpose. Me and a friend of mine have been texting and emailing each other all kinds of photos, graphics and film stills we love for years, and we are both obsessed with horror films. So we decided to write a short together. I’m so thrilled about it because, in terms of visuals especially, the nature of the horror genre is so open it can be soft or harsh, fast or slow, bright or dark. It feels like you can throw in anything you like and there will be a way to tie it all together. We’re shooting it this summer.
I’ve also been working on a screenplay for a feature film for a little over a year now. I had this idea while on a trip back home in Montreal and I started writing it on the plane back to NYC. Some of it is inspired by my friend’s mom, a captivating woman who's had an incredibly adventurous life, rich in people and full of lovers. Some of it comes from my experience of being biracial in North America. The film is about connection.

How do you maintain self-discipline on a day meant for writing, or practicing lines?
I have to change my environment all the time. It keeps me excited and my mind fresh. Soon I’ll dip and go to the desert to finish my first draft. Something about time in the desert feels different than New York City. It’s like everything is slower and the air is clearer. I can’t wait to take my script out there. On lines--I love practicing on the street and on the train while pretending I’m on the phone with somebody. When you take a script and bring it out into the world, it takes a shape of its own and it’s really interesting to experience.

Which films do you find yourself coming back to for inspiration?
Dario Argento’s Suspiria, Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation, Mommy by Xavier Dolan and Sam Mendes’s American Beauty.

How has your style evolved in the past five years?
I get really excited about clothing, especially pieces that had a life before I found them. The world reacts differently to you depending on what you wear, and I love to play with that. I think I’ve always found a lot of comfort and safety in basics and sneakers, but I also cannot describe how much I love to put on an 80’s Yves Saint Laurent tunic dress with a long French manicure.

What is something you never leave the house without?
Perfume!

You are an expert shopper, what has been one of your favourite finds?
I went thrift shopping with some friends in Newark one day, and they found the dreamiest soft pink Christian Dior nightgown with tags for $8 if I remember correctly. I wore it to an event and my photo ended up on the cover of a story in the New York Magazine.

What were you wearing during one of your favourite memories while living in New York?
One night for a party I pinned fresh roses and baby's breath in my hair and wore an old cotton halter dress. I remember blushing all night, it’s a look I’ll always remember.

In the near future, what are you looking forward to most?
Summertime.

Coco wears Chanel
Photos and Text by Marlowe Granados