Meet Lily FitzPatrick, the Santa Cruz native and Model, who proves to be a quintessential symbol of California style with her casual beach inspired ensembles. Check out our interview below as we talk to Lily about how she got her start in modeling, her style, and some of her favorite beaches along California’s Central Coast.
What are you currently inspired by?
“When it comes to looks, I strive to be like Jennifer Aniston in seasons 4, 5, and 6 of Friends. However, I am heavily inspired by 70’s and 90’s fashion as well as photography. There is nothing quite like a crop top, ripped jeans, and the nostalgia of a polaroid photo.”
Tell us about your career as a model. How did you get started?
“Instagram was the key component in starting my modeling career. I used my Nikon camera and took tons of photos of myself in Brandy Melville clothing hoping that they would repost at least one to their page. Eventually, this Brandy Melville store in Italy posted one of my photos on their page and I was contacted by a Bay Area photographer who worked for PacSun at the time. She invited me and 3 other models to shoot some clothes for PacSun in San Francisco. After the photos were posted to PacSun’s Instagram, as well as hers, I had an influx of photographers who wanted to work with me. I was a freelance model for about half a year until I was scouted by an agency in San Francisco.”
What is your favorite thing to do when not working?
“I am moving away from Santa Cruz at the end of Summer, so when I am not working I try to hang out with my best friends and enjoy the area while I still can. I also enjoy exercising more than anything. If it’s a warm day out, I like to go to the beach and swim in the ocean or even surf if I have a wetsuit and board that I can borrow. On colder days, I like to hit the gym and lift weights.”
What’s one of the most interesting shoots that you’ve done?
“Recently, I shot for Land’s End in Santa Cruz. That in itself was interesting because it’s not every day where there’s a professional shoot in Santa Cruz. It is also very easy to determine who is local and who is from out of town based on clothing. I felt super out of place in my hometown wearing a striped pink tee and teal blue 10 inch shorts. All in all though, I ate an entire pizza and had a great time and that is all that matters.”
Which five words would your friends use to describe you?
-Caring
-Spontaneous
-Intelligent
-Laid back
-Independent
What is your favorite healthy snack?
“I like eating raw spinach leaves, a lot actually. It sounds gross, and it totally was for me at first. I got used to the bitter, plain taste and I started to notice that my skin was healthier and that my vision slightly improved.”
Favorite beaches on the Central Coast of California?
“The beaches in Santa Cruz will always hold a special place in my heart. My favorite beach of all time is a beach off of Highway 1 in Pescadero. There is a large, grassy cliff on the other side of the beach that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. I climb up to the top every time I need time to think and be by myself for a while.”
How would you describe your personal style?
“My style is really laid back and beachy. There is never not a day where I am not wearing my flip flops. Even when it is raining, I wear flip flops. My outfits usually consist of crop tops, onesies, boot cut jeans, ripped boyfriend jeans, or high waisted shorts. There is not too much variety. The only time I have and ever will dress up is for a night out or for my work.”
What are some places you’re dying to travel to?
“Bali, Indonesia is hands down my dream trip. I thrive in warm, tropical environments. I would also really enjoy going to the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Finland and renting an igloo so that I can watch the Northern Lights.”
Where can we follow you?
“You can follow me on my Instagram (@lunalily_) and my Snapchat where I post the behind the scenes of my photoshoots as well as my daily life! (lilyelgatita).”
