Who's that girl? Stephanie LaCava Stylish American Francophile, writer and journalist, Stephanie LaCava, talks old school ski sweaters and beetles. Redheads have more fun, of course, but you have to be a natural to experience the full effect. Stephanie LaCava, 28, is musing on her most striking asset: her tomato-toned hair. The journalist and writer has long-been admired for her russet tresses and "bipolar" sense of style - she loves vintage textiles and also has a "nineties-derivative" loyalty to grunge - but soon she'll have a new attention-grabbing role: that of author. Her first book, An Extraordinary Theory of Objects: A Memoir of an Outsider in Paris, is out in December, and will draw on her unconventional coming-of-age as an expatriate in a Parisian suburb. Born in New York, LaCava grew up in Le Vésinet in France, just outside of Paris, but headed back stateside for her schooling. She readily admits that her childhood was "difficult" and somewhat isolated, and says she turned to literature for distraction. I lived for my magazines as I was alone much of the time and the American versions were a link back home. All my babysitting money went on going to WH Smith or Shakespeare & Co. to get American and British Vogue and books. READ: Who's that girl? Elin Kling LaCava studied International Relations and French at Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, with the intention of transferring to Georgetown or, post-graduation, to the School of Foreign Service. Instead, she ended up in the fashion accessories department of American Vogue. Diplomacy's loss was fashion's gain; she eventually moved over to Vogue's Features department where she assisted the European Editor-at-Large of the magazine. She has since penned articles for The Paris Review, T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Interview, and Garage. She seems pleasantly surprised at the trajectory her career has followed. "I never thought I would be a writer, though I knew I would always write," she explains. It wasn't the plan. I was lucky to have the opportunity to learn and work with certain people at a young age - too young probably as I was so green. In order for my personal writing to evolve, I needed to focus, learn patience and work very hard. It's still evolving, of course. We caught up with the flame-haired fashion plate in a brief moment of calm... On her daily uniform: I'm a total uniform girl. This comprises: Rick Owens long-sleeved t-shirt, Miu Miu bloomers, Anne Demeulemeester wedge heels and a black velvet ribbon necklace. I also love Carven dresses and coats and Maison Michel floppy hats. On her obsession with beetles: It started when I was little and used to play with bugs with my brother. I was never into dolls; always odd animals like tree frogs or insects. They grew to mean something more to me as I learned more about them. There's a great book whose title is from a quote from JBS Haldane, An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles ...I collect them. On hunting for vintage: I frequent Brimfield Massachusetts, upstate New York, brocantes [markets] in France, and my dad's closet (for the BEST old school ski sweaters and men's Lanvin). READ: Carven collaborates with Petit Bateau On hanging out in London: You are going to laugh, but I love eating at Jak's . 5 Hertford is a lovely place to sit and write or meet friends and I also like Lou Lou's - I think I'm going to have my book party there when we do a signing at the end of January. On her favourite book: The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides. On her favourite person: Walter Benjamin. On her favourite item of clothing: My neon pink Jil Sander peplum skirt. I was so happy when I found it in my size. On her guilty pleasure? Obscene amounts of caffeine (in the form of matcha tea). On future projects: My book, An Extraordinary Theory of Objects , and right now I'm also working on filming different clips as book trailers with my friends Henry Joost and Rel Schulman and Ry Russo Young. On new London designers: I LOVE Roksanda Ilincic, Mary Katrantzou, Erdem, JW Anderson, Kinder Aggugini, Meadham Kirchoff - I am so excited about London fashion right now.