To earn the title of “heritage brand,” a design house must pass a seemingly endless number of tests put forth by the ever-changing and ever-demanding world of fashion. So what’s Tommy Hilfiger’s secret? Since the brand’s birth in 1985, Hilfiger has steered his eponymous brand through the twists and turns of countless trends, while staying on course to consistently deliver its signature American style. The brand has become a massive entity in fashion, found in closets across the globe, and desired by people of all ages. One of those closets belongs to actress and model Madelyn Cline who was recently enlisted as a “Tommy Girl,’’ or a brand ambassador.
“The Tommy Girl is every girl,” she tells me with a wide grin as she sits by the window of her hotel room, overlooking a bustling Manhattan street. “I’ve always thought of Tommy [as] fun and exciting and just full of life– joie de vivre.”

Madelyn wears all clothing, shoes, accessories TOMMY HILFIGER (throughout) / Rings, watch, and earrings talent’s own
The same could be said of Cline’s career thus far. The 25-year-old has had her hand in the entertainment industry since early childhood when she starred in print and TV commercials. While acting is a mainstay of her career, Cline’s influence in fashion and modeling is equally as strong. When we speak, the actress is fresh off her first New York Fashion Week.
Growing up a homeschooled, only child, Cline’s already atypical childhood was made even more unique as she spent many summers being shuttled to New York City with her parents to model and appear in print advertisements and commercials. “It’s hard to put into words because it was such a formative experience,” Cline says, fixing her gaze out the window. “Sometimes I wish I could travel back in time just to experience it all one more time and share with my younger self what’s happening now and [see] how excited she would be.”

It’s safe to say that her many years of hard- work is finally beginning to pay off, now the new face of Tommy Hilfiger—a brand she aspired to own when she was younger. “Growing up I would see the [Tommy Hilfiger] billboards, the ads, and the pictures in the store being like, ‘Ugh, they’re so cool.’” Now, she’s the one in those ads, being seen by all the young people, who like Cline growing up, are watching, working, and dreaming.
V Magazine: So where are you right now and how is your end of summer going?
Madelyn Cline: I’m in New York right now. I’ve been here for the past couple of days with Tommy Hilfiger and we’ve just been running around doing brunches and events, so it’s been good to be back in the States with my Tommy family.

V: It’s a busy week especially with Fashion Week just happening. Was this your first fashion week?
MC: No, it’s not my first fashion week. But it’s my first time being here for New York Fashion Week.
V: You’re originally from South Carolina and you actually started being in front of the camera at a really young age. What was that like to get started so young?

MC: You know, it’s so interesting because it kind of like was one of those things that I’m really lucky, but it just kind of happened. It was so special and definitely a unique childhood experience but I loved it. I’m an only child and I was homeschooled so I’ve always been really independent. I’ve always wanted to travel, so during the summers my mom would bring me up here to New York and I would work for the summer. So New York is a summer that is really near and dear to my heart, I’ve always loved the city. Experiencing that from a young age kind of gave me that hunger to [do what] I wanted to do.
V: Do you have any memorable moments from the first couple of times coming to New York when you were younger?
MC: It’s hard to put into words because it was such a formative experience. Even when I’m in a car now in the city, going to some event or a shoot, a job, it brings me back to when I was here with my mom during those summers. I think sometimes I wish I could travel back in time just to kind of experience it all one more time [and] share with my younger self what’s happening now and [see] how excited she would be.

V: I’d love to know a little bit more about Tommy Hilfiger. Earlier this year you announced that you’re officially a Tommy girl?
MC: I am a Tommy girl.
V: What is a Tommy girl? Who is the Tommy girl in your eyes?
MC: The Tommy girl is every girl. How I’ve always thought of Tommy is like fun and, um, and exciting and like, just like full of life—Jo de vive. And honestly iconic. So for Tommy to ask me if I wanted to become a part of the family and officially be a Tommy girl, I was quite over the moon. I’ve always looked up to the Tommy girls growing up, I would see the billboards and the ads and the pictures in the stores being like, ugh, they’re so cool. So to be asked has been a very full circle moment.
V: Does fashion have kind of a special meaning for you?
MC: Fashion to me is adjacent to what I do as an actress. It’s playing dress up and it’s that first layer that you put on of this personality that you’re stepping into. It’s almost like this persona that you take on with help from the clothes and the outfit and the styling. It feels like an extension of acting to me. I find it to be playful and freeing in a way.
V: How would you describe your personal style? Or do you kind of play around with it?

MC: My personal style is lazy. Usually when I go out and about or I’m, you know, running errands or whatever. I’ll probably wear something like an athletic set with a sweatshirt wrapped around it, a ball cap, and some sunglasses. I’m all about my personal life: comfort. If I’m not comfortable, I will be at the first store I can find buying sweatpants, . I also love to accessorize with some hoops and some stacked necklaces and call it a day.
V: Sounds like the perfect combination.
MC: Know what I mean? Like, maybe some like sweat shorts, chunky platform flip flops, a hat, and a very simple shirt. And a lot of jewelry.
V: What are you most excited about for 2024?
MC: I’ve had such a great, great year. It’s been such a good year for my mental and I feel like I’ve got my ducks in a row. I’m really looking forward to what next year brings. I’m very centered. I’ve just opened myself up to all this really wonderful energy and growth. I don’t know, I’m just tickled. I’m really, really happy with where life is and I’m on the edge of my seat.
This story appears in the pages of V145: now available for purchase!
Photography Marcus Cooper
Fashion Xander Ang
Makeup Jennifer Luney Tioseco (The Wall Group)
Hair Laura Polko (PRTNRS)
Manicure Mamie Onishi (SEE Management)
Executive producer Sacha Di Bona (Savvie)
Producer Zach Riddle (Savvie)
Lighting and Digital technician William Pippin
Stylist assistant Marli Giedt
Retouching Mario Ernun
Location Rein Studios
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