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Karla Martinez

Karla Martinez

Fashion Market and Accessories Director, W Magazine. New York

Karla Martinez, the current Fashion Market and Accessories Director at W Magazine, has come along way since her childhood in El Paso, Texas. Since studying at The University of Arizona in Tucson, she landed in New York for two consecutive summers, doing the grunt work interning at both Aeffe and W Magazine. She learned the skills which eventually translated into her career, but before spending more time in New York, she immediately moved to Paris upon graduating and completed two more internships - at IMG Models and at the Hearst Publications satellite office. But, she was destined to return to the pulse of fashion, and moved back to New York to begin her career. And to date, she's worked and built both a name and a career for herself, lending her above-the-curve eye to magazines such as Elle (assisting Nina Garcia), Vogue (assisting Virginia Smith and Elissa Santisi), The New York Times (where she was the Market Director under Anne Christensen and Stefano Tonchi), Interview Magazine (working directly with Karl Templer and Fabien Baron), and now, back at W, where she's back with Stefano Tonchi, as well as Alex White. But for Martinez, It's not all about fashion, as she, along with ten of her friends from El Paso, launched "Project Paz", a foundation where she helps victims of Violence in Mexico.

I am always cold, so I love wearing crew-neck shirts. For spring/summer I like J. Crew and in winter I go with Gap long-sleeve crew necks. I usually wear them under men's Uniqlo crew-neck knits. I feel more comfortable in anything with a crew neck: silks, T-shirts, knits, etc.

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Shirts, Various Designers

Shoes, CHANEL

The pocket watch was a gift I gave my boyfriend a few years ago. I wanted to give him a beautiful object that was practical. I love the Ballon Bleu and of course it now sits on my bedside table.

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Watch, Cartier; Shoes, Le Silla

I love the black-on-black stitching and the practicality of this bag. It's super stiff and minimal and can make a girly look look cool.

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Bag, Céline

These two pieces were a gift from Riccardo Tisci for Christmas. You can wear a T-shirt and this necklace totally changes your look. I like how the gold isn't shiny—it makes you cool instantly!

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Bracelet, Givenchy

Who wouldn't love cats after seeing this outfit? I became a fan!

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Skirt, Miu Miu

This clutch was a gift from Marie-Amélie Sauvé last summer. Not only do I admire her work but I think she has impeccable taste. I like that it wasn't something I saw everywhere before she gave it to me.

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Clutch, Balenciaga Resort 2009

I thought these would be incredibly practical...they aren't.

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Shoes, CHANEL

Clutch, Gianvito Rossi

I was in Milan and had connected through Paris because I wanted to leave at 10pm. My suitcase ended up being two days delayed so I thought I would treat myself to a pair of $850 shoes. They were the first shoes I bought for more than $500. I like to convince myself that luxury European goods are less expensive than in America even if the Euro is ridiculously high. My friend Sonya bought them for me because I had bought her two shoes at another store on Via Montenapoleone.

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Shoe, Balenciaga

Shoes, Charlotte Olympia

This is an outfit saver.

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Vest, Sportmax

I love clothing and accessories but one thing I have learned in the past couple of years is that you can't let an outfit wear you. This sounds so cliché but I believe that you can find a piece of clothing anywhere – it's the way you wear it that's important.

Read More

Jacket, Yves Saint Laurent

This blouse was a gift from Christopher and Tammy Kane this past September in Milan. I wore it the day it arrived. The skirt is just awesome.

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Shirt, Christopher Kane; Skirt, Oscar de la Renta

I wore this dress to the Apollo Circle where the Carolina Herrera PR team dressed more than 50 women—the color and shape of the dress were very flattering, I must say. Carolina dresses always make women feel so glamorous. Any time you are at the MET for a party, it's nice to be glammed up.

Read More

Dress, Carolina Herrera

Bracelet, Bess

Project Paz is a foundation I started with friends from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico to help people in Mexico that have been affected by the violence as a result of the drug war. We had our first event on November 16th and plan to do something annually.

Read More

L to R: Jewelry, CHANEL, Ippolita, SURevolution

Shoes, CHANEL

These were a gift from Shawna Rose and Kristina Musailov from CL press office. They're so fun!

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Shoes, Christian Louboutin

Necklace, Givenchy

Shirt, Miu Miu

I remember these shoes from the runway. I instantly knew every girl would want to wear them—they are uptown meets downtown, especially my fancy lizard ones with gold studs.

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Shoes, Valentino

I buy a pair of Gianvito Rossis each season in Milan.

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Bag, Céline; Jacket, Balenciaga; Shoes, Gianvito Rossi

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I am always cold, so I love wearing crew-neck shirts. For spring/summer I like J. Crew and in winter I go with Gap long-sleeve crew necks. I usually wear them under men's Uniqlo crew-neck knits. I feel more comfortable in anything with a crew neck: silks, T-shirts, knits, etc. Shirts, Various Designers

Shoes, CHANEL

The pocket watch was a gift I gave my boyfriend a few years ago. I wanted to give him a beautiful object that was practical. I love the Ballon Bleu and of course it now sits on my bedside table. Watch, Cartier; Shoes, Le Silla

I love the black-on-black stitching and the practicality of this bag. It's super stiff and minimal and can make a girly look look cool. Bag, Céline

These two pieces were a gift from Riccardo Tisci for Christmas. You can wear a T-shirt and this necklace totally changes your look. I like how the gold isn't shiny—it makes you cool instantly! Bracelet, Givenchy

Who wouldn't love cats after seeing this outfit? I became a fan! Skirt, Miu Miu

This clutch was a gift from Marie-Amélie Sauvé last summer. Not only do I admire her work but I think she has impeccable taste. I like that it wasn't something I saw everywhere before she gave it to me. Clutch, Balenciaga Resort 2009

I thought these would be incredibly practical...they aren't. Shoes, CHANEL

Clutch, Gianvito Rossi

I was in Milan and had connected through Paris because I wanted to leave at 10pm. My suitcase ended up being two days delayed so I thought I would treat myself to a pair of $850 shoes. They were the first shoes I bought for more than $500. I like to convince myself that luxury European goods are less expensive than in America even if the Euro is ridiculously high. My friend Sonya bought them for me because I had bought her two shoes at another store on Via Montenapoleone. Shoe, Balenciaga

Shoes, Charlotte Olympia

This is an outfit saver. Vest, Sportmax

I love clothing and accessories but one thing I have learned in the past couple of years is that you can't let an outfit wear you. This sounds so cliché but I believe that you can find a piece of clothing anywhere – it's the way you wear it that's important. Jacket, Yves Saint Laurent

This blouse was a gift from Christopher and Tammy Kane this past September in Milan. I wore it the day it arrived. The skirt is just awesome. Shirt, Christopher Kane; Skirt, Oscar de la Renta

I wore this dress to the Apollo Circle where the Carolina Herrera PR team dressed more than 50 women—the color and shape of the dress were very flattering, I must say. Carolina dresses always make women feel so glamorous. Any time you are at the MET for a party, it's nice to be glammed up. Dress, Carolina Herrera

Bracelet, Bess

Project Paz is a foundation I started with friends from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico to help people in Mexico that have been affected by the violence as a result of the drug war. We had our first event on November 16th and plan to do something annually.

L to R: Jewelry, CHANEL, Ippolita, SURevolution

Shoes, CHANEL

These were a gift from Shawna Rose and Kristina Musailov from CL press office. They're so fun! Shoes, Christian Louboutin

Necklace, Givenchy

Shirt, Miu Miu

I remember these shoes from the runway. I instantly knew every girl would want to wear them—they are uptown meets downtown, especially my fancy lizard ones with gold studs. Shoes, Valentino

I buy a pair of Gianvito Rossis each season in Milan. Bag, Céline; Jacket, Balenciaga; Shoes, Gianvito Rossi