A glimpse into the world of artist and model Emily Labowe

For model, artist and multi-faceted creative Emily Labowe, getting dressed is simply an extension of how she moves through life: intuitively, intentionally and always with comfort in mind. From well-loved pieces that hold years of memories to the everyday rituals that bring her back to herself, we sat down together to explore the pieces she returns to, and what it means to feel at home in what you wear.

www.emilylabowe.com
@emlabowe.paints

Do you have a uniform or pieces you wear on repeat?

Uniform. A good white shirt with denim or easy trousers. I’m a creature of comfort and habit.

What does a typical day in dāl look like for you? Which pieces from The Core do you reach for instinctively?

A typical day starts with a morning routine: stretching, coffee, and some form of exercise. Then to the studio, running errands, maybe a meeting, computer work, or set if I’m shooting. I like to end the day with a walk and cooking or grabbing a good meal.

I reach for the Shams Essential T-shirt daily. When it comes to tees, I’m very particular, especially about collar width and sleeve length. These tees are actually perfect!

My other Core go-to is the linen Arz trousers. I absolutely love a good linen set. I’ll wear them during the day with a tee, and then throw on a Noah Shirt for a full linen look at dinner with friends. They’re the kind of pants you put on and instantly feel chic.

After spending so much of your career being dressed for different projects, what do you reach for when you’re dressing just for yourself?

Comfort always. I do love dressing up and playing in my closet, but stripped down and easy is when I feel most confident.

Has your relationship with getting dressed changed as your relationship with yourself has evolved?

The biggest shift has been caring about what I’m actually putting on my body. As I’ve gotten better at taking care of myself, natural fabrics like linen and organic cotton have started to matter a lot more.

My style itself hasn’t changed much. I still come back to some of the same core pieces I’ve had for years, but now I’m a lot more intentional about what I add to my wardrobe.

Is there a piece of clothing you’ve worn through different chapters of your life? What makes you keep it?

An old tee that was my mom’s from the early 90s. She wore this terra cotta cotton T-shirt throughout my childhood, and it’s now been with me through pretty much every version of myself.

It’s paper-thin and impossibly soft now, with a bunch of holes I’ve stitched up by hand. The color is faded, and it’s literally hanging on by a thread (ha!). Clothing is really sentimental for me. I think of her every time I wear it, and it brings me comfort.

What are a few everyday things that make you feel at home, even when you’re far from it?

Lavender essential oil, my morning playlist, incense and my journal.

What’s one ritual you rarely skip?

Making a morning beverage and sitting outside in the sun. Lately it’s been a decadent dandelion tea latte with steamed coconut milk, cinnamon and cacao.

What helps you feel most like yourself?

Making something with my hands.

How did your journey with painting begin? What initially drew you to it as a form of creative expression?

I’ve always made things with my hands, like embroidery, weaving, and sewing. Painting became a part of my life about five years ago, when I was living on the top of a mountain. It quickly became part of my morning ritual before the day began.

Do you have a ritual you return to when starting a new painting or creative project?

It depends on my mood that day, but movement and music almost always help me get started.

Do you approach a blank canvas with an idea in mind, or is it more of an instinctive process that finds itself somewhere along the way?

It depends on my mood. Sometimes I start with an idea, and other times I just let it flow. Even when I do come in with a plan, it inevitably shifts and morphs.

Are there particular memories or experiences you find yourself returning to through your art?

I keep coming back to the body: cellular, reticular shapes, web-like patterns, and the texture of skin and scars. I’m fascinated by how the body records what it’s been through.

Your first solo exhibition debuted back in 2024. What did that milestone mean to you, and how has your relationship with painting evolved since?

I called the show New Painter as a playful twist on the “New Paintings” label galleries use. I didn’t want to invent some big artist persona. I was new, and I wanted to own that and let the work speak for itself. The paintings explored nature up close and from far away: swirling marine life, overgrowth, organized decay, and the patterns that repeat themselves.

Since then, I’ve grown more confident and more curious, but I’ve held on to that New Painter mindset. I’m still not trying to be anyone but myself, and I still let the work speak for itself. I’ve been playing with watercolor and glass engraving, and I keep coming back to the same question: what’s hiding beneath the surface?

What do you return to?

Simplicity. Slowing down. Doing what feels good. Getting outside in nature and being with family and the people I love.