Ludi Delfino Might Be Fashion's Hardest-Working Model
And then there's Revolve, the multibrand online marketplace that woos a very specific millennial and Generation Z consumer with its mix of trend-driven clothes and accessories, established and emerging designers, unrelenting use of influencer marketing, and price points that are generally higher than fast fashion but—with many prices hovering in the $200 to $300 range—might not be completely prohibitive for the young woman looking to dabble in cutouts or embrace ruffles. Delfino has become the de facto face of the site, though not by design.
According to the model, the partnership started around 12 years ago when she went in for a casting. Revolve, as a destination, wasn't as pervasive as it is now, but Delfino said it had a strong leader in Michael Mente, the site's cofounder, and seemed like a cool gig. Ten years later, she's shooting anywhere between 100 and 150 looks for Revolve on a weekly or monthly basis, and has been given the nickname “the Revolve girl” by in-the-know online shoppers.
“[We] have over 800 brands, with daily new releases, so it's important for the models we work with to keep pace with a fairly rapid shooting schedule,” says Lauren Yerkes, Revolve's chief merchandising officer. “Ludi is the utmost professional in this sense. The Revolve girl knows her so well, she's become an extension of our brand.”
The fact that most people who see her online probably don't know her name doesn't particularly bother her, as Delfino is in it for the work. And make no mistake—it's work. She tells me that she shot consistently and safely all through COVID's height, often driving an hour each way to jobs, most of which require her standing for eight or nine hours at a clip. But it's not all anonymity. Delfino admits she does get recognized when she's out and about. “It's kind of crazy because my husband and I will go out and he'll be like, ‘That girl just said, “She's the Revolve model,”’” she tells me. “It's funny because he used to joke that I'm the most recognized—not famous—model.”
She doesn't care that much about the perception that e-commerce modeling isn't as cool as flitting around the globe for Fashion Week or shooting with top photographers. “Well, I guess I'm not that cool,” she says. “But then again, I'm busy, I'm always working, I'll take it. It's hard work, but I'm used to it, and I really don't mind it.”
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