Teresa Moore brings back the beauty of New York

Teresa Moore. Photo / Babiche Martens

Model Teresa Moore may adore the Big Apple but her heart is still in New Zealand. She tells Viva more.

New York-based model Teresa Moore has appeared in campaigns for Ralph Lauren Black Label, H&M and Diesel, but her latest is something a little closer to home: she flew into her hometown of Auckland earlier this month to shoot the new season winter print and TV campaign for footwear brand Ziera (which will air in March).

Aside from modelling, Moore likes to write music, play the guitar and sing. "I love dancing, being around the people I love, travelling and trying new cuisines," she says. A self-confessed cuisine queen and "frustrated Martha Stewart", Moore also has a food blog which sees her visiting and reviewing restaurants in New York City and beyond. But it's her personal style that saw her feature in the party pages of British Vogue. Moore talks Viva through her style evolution, low key approach to beauty and nutrition, and love for New York.

My love for fashion began with the first editorial shoot I did for Fashion Quarterly, when I was still in high school. I then realised how beautiful clothes and accessories could be. I learnt the distinction of quality materials and tailoring that could make you feel so beautiful. Real fashion design is a true artform.

My style evolution has been from safer pieces like jeans and everything black, to having more fun with fabrics, prints and cuts. I love mixing masculine and feminine garments. When I travel I pack blacks and safe neutral tones to make sure things match, but I love it when I have my full wardrobe to play around with.

Compared to New York, New Zealand style is much more casual. I think people could dress up more in New Zealand and learn to be more diverse and structured in tailoring.

I love New York because it's the city of no limits. You can be whoever you want and dream as big as you want. It's a tough city but gives so much opportunity. It is full of people who have moved there to contribute and learnand is a mecca for fashion, advertising, arts, cuisine and finance.

If I wasn't modelling, I would start a business relating to beauty, nutrition, food and lifestyle. I'm a frustrated Martha Stewart and I'd love to build an empire like hers.

If I could have anyone's wardrobe it would be a mix of Alexa Chung and Erin Wasson. Alexa's for the dorky, proper, well-tailored playfulness and Erin's for relaxed, cool, modern grunge.

My style is inspired by modern classics that are wearable, ranging from cool rock 'n' roll to chic and polished. I am inspired from shoots I work on, fashion magazines, other models, designers and people in the street.

My approach to beauty is to eat healthily and exercise regularly. Beauty is also a state of mind, so to discipline and relax your mind with philosophy, meditation and breathing techniques will help control stress. For skincare I use a mild facewash and a simple moisturiser, but use an amazing eye cream and expensive regenerating serum. Exfoliating scrubs are great, but I don't think facials are very good since they bother the skin too much.

I collect boots and dresses, all lengths, cuts and fabrics. I also have a collection of photos of funny signs that I have taken while travelling around the world.

I can't choose a most memorable job because they are all so different. I love travelling to exotic locations like Mauritius, Bahamas, Hawaii and Morocco and living in cities like Paris, London and New York. Working for amazing brands like Ralph Lauren and L'Oreal is a career highlight as well. Working with inspiring and creative people is always memorable and coming home to shoot in friendly and beautiful New Zealand is a treat.