As The Editor of US In Style Magazine, Laura Brown has made an international career in fashion and media that’s been characterised by her sense of humour, willingness to take the piss out of herself (and any other subject up for potential piss-taking) and a chill bro mien – qualities often cited in Australians who’ve found State-side success (see also Laura’s fellow expat/posse member Rose Byrne). When those traits collide with whip smart intelligence, great editorial instincts and a sincere interest in people, she’s a bona fide force.

Sure, we might sound like rabid fawners, but we’re simply taking our cues from Laura Brown herself. She’s one of the most outspoken champions of Australian talent in her realm. Case in point: when giving us the skinny on who cuts and colours her hair she proclaims: “Cutler salon in NY – owned by Rodney Cutler. Aussie!”

While she’s staunchly Aussie at heart, Laura moved to New York from Sydney over a decade ago. “Got on a plane with two bags and a dream,” she tells us “…on Sept 4, 2001. So the timing was spectacular. Still here, but.”

Prior to her appointment at InStyle, Laura was Executive Editor of Harper’s BAZAAR and under her steer BAZAAR’s pages featured an exemplary and diverse mix of inspiring, talented, beautiful women; from the nouveau ingénue crew (Kendall Jenner, Rihanna and Game Of Thrones’ Emilia Clarke) to one-name-needed icons like Christy and Kate, to the new guard of creative overachievers such as Uzo Aduba and October 2015 cover star Lena Dunham.

In addition to calling the shots behind the scenes, she’s not half bad talent in front of the camera either. You’ll soon be able to catch her cameo appearance alongside current Chanel muse Kristen Stewart in the fashion house’s latest film Once And Forever. We’d be remiss if we also didn’t steer you to The Look, a celebrity interviews series she hosted (complete with the installation of entirely self-serving wind machines).

So what does a woman with a so-called high-profile career do during her limited down time?

Here’s how she describes her typical Sunday morning:

“They’re normally more productive than a Saturday morning when, if I’m at home, I lie around like I have chronic fatigue. Sunday I’ll sleep solidly, hopefully, get up and go to SoulCycle – where instructors yell inspirationally while you pedal like you’re escaping a fire. Then I’ll shower, get ready and go drink at lunch.”

And her beauty go-to for solving the subsequent hangover?

“Some sort of restorative sandwich. With cheese on it.”

See why we love this girl? Honesty and humour win out, every time.

Photographed by Soraya Zaman. Words by Susannah Tucker.


Her Style File