During last week’s Apple Watch event, Apple brought our 46-year-old Glamour supermodel Christy Turlington Burns to stand alongside Tim Cook and explain a little bit about how she’s using the Apple Watch to train.
After the event, Vogue caught up with Turlington Burns to talk to her in more detail about what it’s actually like to use the Apple Watch. And while there’s no new details, it’s still interesting to hear someone who is so influential in the fashion world have such a “gee whiz” moment about Apple’s new wearable.
In the video, Turlington Burns appears to be wearing the Stainless Steel Apple Watch. Here’s what she has to say about the device (transcription courtesy of RazorianFly):
Hi, I’m Christy Turlington Burns. I’m here in San Francisco with my Apple Watch. There’s my husband [Burns shows her “friends” ring on Apple Watch]. I can send him some… Emojis… that I have on this, and he can get them on his device without having the watch, so – you know – I can send him hearts, etc. It’s so chic, honestly. And when you kind of move with it everyone’s like… What is that? Where did you get that?
So, I do the time, my schedule, temperature… There’s my loops. [Burns points to each of the customised sections on her chosen Apple Watch face]. I’m a sort of a really low-tech person … honestly, and I’ve found it to be so useful… it’s like a running companion more than anything. I mean, now I’m almost motivated to do different types of runs, to do loops… to just kinda’ play with it.
Vogue: “And are you the kind of person that’s always on time?”
Burns: I try to be, [laughs], a couple of times (maybe) – but yes, I’m respectful of other people’s time…
Turlington Burns’ opinion shouldn’t be discounted just because she’s a model. Time named her one of the 100 Most Influential People of the Year in 2014, and Turlington Burns is known just as much for her substantial humanitarian activities as she is for the longevity of her modeling career. This is a smart, down-to-earth woman who is heard by both fashion moguls and mom-next-door types, and the fact that she is endorsing the Apple Watch is a stroke of genius on Apple’s part.
Via: Razorian Fly
John Brownlee is a writer for Fast Company, and a contributing writer here at CoM. He has also written for Wired, Playboy, Boing Boing, Popular Mechanics, VentureBeat, and Gizmodo. He lives in Boston with his wife and two parakeets. You can follow him here on Twitter.
21 responses to “Why supermodel Christy Turlington Burns loves her Apple Watch”
I’d never even *heard* of her until the keynote. I can appreciate your need, blogger, to make her look like “the rest of us” (what with the appeal to moms) and stoke up an “aw shucks, the rich are just like you and me!” sentiment, but her using this watch may not be selling point you believe it to be.
So because the world revolves around you and you haven’t heard of her she must not be important.
I knew someone would bib-dribble like that, so I’m not surprised. Get back to your Pop Tarts, child.
You’ve never heard of her? It may be because of your age, I’m not sure.
Sure, I’ll believe that you’re her biggest fan and follow her career…after you looked up who she was because you’d probably never heard of her, either.
Wow. Wasn’t trying to goad you with my reply. I’m not a big fan, but I’ve heard of her. You seem to have anger issues, though, child, so I’ll leave you alone with your He-Man toys.
The funny thing to me about Christy Turlington is that I only know of her because she was referenced in the film “American Beauty” and I can always hear that line from that movie in my head when I see her name. I think it’s great that she’s sponsoring the Apple Watch as it also raises awareness about what she’s doing which I think is very worthwhile. I was unaware of it prior to the event so it’s good to see stuff like this IMO.
Not many would know her. She’s only been hosted in four movies, select appearances, and mostly as a model and humanitarian activism.
I’ve heard her name before but wouldn’t be able to place the face if she was standing in front of me. I don’t see how any models opinion can be valid due to the nature of their job. She literally gets paid to look good wearing stuff.
Precisely what compelling story is she telling that makes people feel they need this high priced gadget in their lives?
@Sons of Ares I agree with another commenter – you’re probably too young to remember her. She was a Gen X model. She wasn’t massively popular but everyone at least knew her name. It highlights the fact that Apple either (intentionally or unintentionally) missed the Gen Y and Millennial demographics by using her name. Interesting from a marketing perspective.
Does she really love it or does she really love the money Apple is paying her? Endorsements mean nothing to me, it all comes down to if you like it.
Great another over paid celeb, trying to brain wash me into seeing her way.. just glad she didn’t offer any political views or medical advice while she was at it. – sorry will not play video to give her a hit.
…because she can afford it? …because the rich and famous get perks, like Apple watches? …bacause she can show it off in Cannes next year?
This marketing is clearly not aimed at current users.
Halo effect: creating an image for your company that is not based upon the product you sell but the good impression you want to make on consumers about your company. Or something like that.
Choosing Turlington Burns to promote the Apple Watch hits a very specific demographic for Apple: the monied, female, socially-conscious demographic, which is spread far and wide across all of those descriptors.
Above all other consumers, women are buyers of both jewellry AND watches. The Apple Watch is both of these. Thus, with Turlington Burns, Apple hit the proverbial nail in the head for their target demographic. I have no interest in the Apple Watch, but for signalling, this was a brilliant move on Apple’s part.
What size is that? It looks huge.
That’s the 38mm. It has the modern buckle strap which only comes in 38mm. She’s a model, her wrists are tiny.
Ok thanks, that’s made my mind up, 38mm for me :)
I find the apple watch deeply depressing. An utterly useless vanity project from Cook, a novelty item aimed at the super rich. Why couldn’t the creativity and talent at Apple be channeled in a direction to create something useful or truly impressive? The next phase of icloud, or how about an Apple cell network that blows the other carriers away (Apple has the cash to do it).
I believe this watch will be the start of the end for Cook. There is sure to be anger within apple at the principles behind this. If there is a division within the company, poor reception of the watch might trigger an internal struggle.
On the specific point about running, I’ve been running for over 25 years. I run every day, my whole life has been built around running. The apple watch is useless for running. Insanely useless.
WoW, really. It looks so classy on her. I think this watch is insanely cool, and will catch the interest of lots of people. This watch will stand out for the same reasons the iPhone does. Its ecosystem, and developer devotion. I’m already seeing functionality in this watch that’s setting it apart from the rest.
Take the target app for example: If you have a shopping list made using there iPhone App, when you step into a Target store the watch will let you know when your close to the items on your list, and also point you to the location. This is just one example of the care, and practical functionality that developers are putting into there Apple Watch Apps. And its insanely cool!
Even the UBER app lets you haul a Taxi right from the watch. Which is something UBER doesn’t allow on Android Ware.
Also Tim Cook, as well as the guys responsible for this Apple Watch have worked with Steve Jobs for decades. Hell, there the ones that persuaded him to change most of his decisions. If anyone knows what Steve Jobs would have done, its these guys. NOT YOU, ME, OR ANY ONE ON THIS POST! Not even Microsoft, or Google, which is why Apples been continuously successful whit the devices they’ve been creating lately.
My gripe is that she is a just a paid stooge to promote the product. She has googly eyes so perhaps there is a real-life built-in double entendre there, a bit like the Rolling Stones singing songs written by Lennon/McCartney.