You’ll Find No Shortage of Classic Accessories in the Closet of Model-Turned-Entrepreneur Nicole Trunfio

Nestled in a quaint little bungalow-turned-office in Austin, you’ll find the unsuspecting model-turned-entrepreneur Nicole Trunfio hard at work, a term which previously entailed posing for a CHANEL ad campaign but now involves product development and customer service. Despite her Australian accent, Trunfio has leaned into the Texan way of life. Beyond her ranch-based lifestyle, Trunfio knows where to snag custom cowboy hats, finds the smokey smell of barbeque nostalgic, and, by the time we finished shooting, was directing us to her favorite nearby margarita—found at Perla’s, in case you were wondering.

Although her genetics do nothing to hide this fact, you wouldn’t infer that this woman spent her teens and early twenties jetting from New York to Paris to Milan modeling for some of fashion’s top houses. Trunfio was scouted in a modeling competition in Australia at 16 and was subsequently catapulted onto the high fashion scene. Once Tom Ford booked her for Gucci in the early 2000s, everyone wanted her. She was cast in shows without actually going to a casting. The ingenue suddenly found herself walking the runways of Versace, Fendi, and Valentino.

Needless to say, a woman’s relationship with her body has always been top of mind for Trunfio, a notion that was only underscored by the pregnancy and birth of her three children. “I don't love my body when I'm not pregnant,” she explains. “But when I am pregnant, I love my body so much.” She continues to emphasize that pregnancy is a “time to show off your body,” contrary to what most maternity lines would have you believe. This contradiction led her to found Bumpsuit, a line of supportive, flattering catsuits that grow with their wearer.

When we walked in, Trunfio was donning the bike short, tank version (they can also be worn outside pregnancy) with a pair of lace-up biker boots and a blazer at hand. With her many iterations of catsuits taking the place of most aspects of her wardrobe, the vintage-lover leans into accessories. In her closet, you’ll find the likes of Bottega Veneta, Anine Bing, and Jacquemus in the form of wear-forever handbags and footwear and a few pieces from her jewelry line Erth. Scroll through the below slideshow to discover more about Trunfio’s fascinating career trajectory and personal style.