Catherine de Castelbajac
Encyclopedia
Catherine "Kate" de Castelbajac (born Katherine Lee Chambers in Santa Barbara, California
) is a former model
and fashion
journalist
who now works as an image consultant and educator. She is currently the founder of CdeC Academy of Santa Barbara, and is affiliated with the Association of Image Consultants International.
. While a senior at Barnard College
, where she would earn a BA in English Literature, Chambers was discovered by the photographer Jean Pagliuso and the editors of Mademoiselle
. She became the subject of an article in the September 1975 issue entitled "The Makings of a Model", in which she was transformed from student to model.
The Mademoiselle feature helped launch Chambers into a career in high fashion, as she began working with the Ford Modeling Agency
and such photographers as Arthur Elgort and Patrick de Marchallier, appearing in magazines like Harper's Bazaar
. Eileen Ford
then sent her to Paris, where, in October 1976, she met fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac
. The two were married in 1979 and she became the 13th Marquise de Castelbajac. They would have two sons together.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s she was among the most popular models in Europe, working for French Vogue, Elle, Cosmopolitan, and represented the line of cosmetics
Orlane B23. She also appeared in several runway shows for Chloé
, Karl Lagerfield, Chanel
, and Issey Miyake
.
, covering European trends. Harper's Bazaar said of her, "Accomplished, charming and refreshingly candid, Kate brings her personal brand of elan to everything she does."
In 1995 she published a book depicting the history of cosmetics, The Face of the Century. It chronicled how faces had changed during the 20th century and the economic, social, artistic reasons for those changes. The International Herald Tribune described it as a combination of "lucid text [and] well-chosen images."
to evict her from his $2.5 million condominium at the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston. Koch alleged that he had allowed her to move in so she could attend Simmons College
, as he seldom used the apartment. In 1994, however, Koch married Joan Granlund, with whom he had a son. When he tried to end the relationship with Castelbajac, she refused to move out and claimed Koch had broken his promises to her. A jury ruled in Koch's favor after a trial noted for its disclosure of torrid letters and faxes between the two.
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
) is a former model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
and fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
who now works as an image consultant and educator. She is currently the founder of CdeC Academy of Santa Barbara, and is affiliated with the Association of Image Consultants International.
Early life and modeling
Kate Chambers was born in Santa Barbara, California, to William Joseph Chambers and Lillian Chambers, and graduated from Foothill High School in Santa Ana, CaliforniaSanta Ana, California
Santa Ana is the county seat and second most populous city in Orange County, California, and with a population of 324,528 at the 2010 census, Santa Ana is the 57th-most populous city in the United States....
. While a senior at Barnard College
Barnard College
Barnard College is a private women's liberal arts college and a member of the Seven Sisters. Founded in 1889, Barnard has been affiliated with Columbia University since 1900. The campus stretches along Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in the borough...
, where she would earn a BA in English Literature, Chambers was discovered by the photographer Jean Pagliuso and the editors of Mademoiselle
Mademoiselle (magazine)
Mademoiselle was an influential women's magazine first published in 1935 by Street and Smith and later acquired by Condé Nast Publications....
. She became the subject of an article in the September 1975 issue entitled "The Makings of a Model", in which she was transformed from student to model.
The Mademoiselle feature helped launch Chambers into a career in high fashion, as she began working with the Ford Modeling Agency
Ford Models
The Ford Modeling Agency, or as it is known today Ford Models, is a modeling agency in New York City. It was established in 1946 by Eileen and the late Gerard W. Ford.-Company:...
and such photographers as Arthur Elgort and Patrick de Marchallier, appearing in magazines like Harper's Bazaar
Harper's Bazaar
Harper’s Bazaar is an American fashion magazine, first published in 1867. Harper’s Bazaar is published by Hearst and, as a magazine, considers itself to be the style resource for “women who are the first to buy the best, from casual to couture.”...
. Eileen Ford
Eileen Ford
Eileen Ford is a model agency executive and co-founder, in 1946, with her late husband Gerard William "Jerry" Ford, of Ford Models, one of the earliest and internationally best known modelling agencies in the world.-Early life:...
then sent her to Paris, where, in October 1976, she met fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac
Jean-Charles de Castelbajac
1949: Born on November 28th in Casablanca, son of Louis and Jeanne-Blanche de Castelbajac1968: First collection for Ko and Co, company created at Limoges by his mother Jeanne-Blanche de Castelbajac1969: First show...
. The two were married in 1979 and she became the 13th Marquise de Castelbajac. They would have two sons together.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s she was among the most popular models in Europe, working for French Vogue, Elle, Cosmopolitan, and represented the line of cosmetics
Cosmetics
Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...
Orlane B23. She also appeared in several runway shows for Chloé
Chloé
Chloé is a French fashion house founded in 1952 by Gaby Aghion. Its headquarters is in Paris.-History:Gaby Aghion was born in Alexandria, Egypt in the year 1921...
, Karl Lagerfield, Chanel
Chanel
Chanel S.A. is a French fashion house founded by the couturier Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, well established in haute couture, specializing in luxury goods . She gained the name "Coco" while maintaining a career as a singer at a café in France...
, and Issey Miyake
Issey Miyake
is a Japanese fashion designer. He is known for his technology-driven clothing designs, exhibitions and fragrances.-Life and career:Miyake was born 22 April 1938 in Hiroshima, Japan. As a seven year-old, he witnessed and survived the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. He studied...
.
Fashion industry and journalism career
While she continued modeling for a time after her marriage, Castelbajac shifted over time to the business side as well as doing journalism. She began her business career in 1983, working as the accessory director for her husband's design company, Jean Charles de Castelbajac, SA., a position she continued until her divorce in 1995. She also began to contribute articles to In Style magazine in 1989, and accepted a position as a founding editor of the women's magazine MirabellaMirabella
Mirabella was a women's magazine published from 1989 to 2000. It was created by and named for Grace Mirabella, a former Vogue editor in chief....
, covering European trends. Harper's Bazaar said of her, "Accomplished, charming and refreshingly candid, Kate brings her personal brand of elan to everything she does."
In 1995 she published a book depicting the history of cosmetics, The Face of the Century. It chronicled how faces had changed during the 20th century and the economic, social, artistic reasons for those changes. The International Herald Tribune described it as a combination of "lucid text [and] well-chosen images."
Romance and litigation with Bill Koch
Castelbajac was sued in 1995 by energy magnate Bill KochBill Koch (businessman)
William Ingraham "Bill" Koch is an American businessman, sailor, and collector. His boat was the winner of the America's Cup in 1992. His last name is pronounced "coke." Per Forbes William Koch's net worth was $3.4 billion in 2010 on oil and other investments-Early life and business...
to evict her from his $2.5 million condominium at the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston. Koch alleged that he had allowed her to move in so she could attend Simmons College
Simmons College (Massachusetts)
Simmons College, established in 1899, is a private women's undergraduate college and private co-educational graduate school in Boston, Massachusetts.-History:Simmons was founded in 1899 with a bequest by John Simmons a wealthy clothing manufacturer in Boston...
, as he seldom used the apartment. In 1994, however, Koch married Joan Granlund, with whom he had a son. When he tried to end the relationship with Castelbajac, she refused to move out and claimed Koch had broken his promises to her. A jury ruled in Koch's favor after a trial noted for its disclosure of torrid letters and faxes between the two.