Gabriela Hearst is a Uruguayan born, New York based, women's luxury ready-to-wear and accessories designer. In addition to designing her namesake collection, she runs and operates her family's ranch in Uruguay.

Porter Magazine features Gabriela Hearst in the Winter Issue #29, with former president of Planned Parenthood Cecile Richards as her model. Glorious!! Tiffany Nicholson is behind the lens documenting this wonderful fashion features editor Emma Sell’s interview session, with styling by Emily Jenkins./ Hair by Shinya Nakagawa; makeup by Nina Soriano

Gabriela Hearst is really excited about her shoot with Porter Edit (Porter Magazine) when we arrive at her West Village townhouse in New York on a sunny Thursday morning. Not because the designer loves getting in front of the camera – she’s far more comfortable behind the scenes – but because, when we asked to photograph her with a woman she considered a muse, it provided the perfect excuse for her to see Cecile Richards again. Hearst first met the activist and former head of Planned Parenthood two years ago, when she moved heaven, earth and Anna Wintour to be able to dress her for the CFDA Awards. “She’s one of these women that I have so admired; I’m a fan, period,” says Hearst. “She’s such a role model.”

It’s true: Richards is smart, powerful and inspiring, the perfect embodiment of the kind of woman that Gabriela Hearst – both the label and the designer – attracts. From Jill Biden to Oprah Winfrey, the line-up of women who wear the New York label reads more like a roll call of the world’s most game-changing women than your average best dressed list. Richards attributes the brand’s appeal to Hearst’s intentions. “She’s such a unique person; she clearly feels so strongly about women and about fashion and wanting to dress women to be successful,” says the female rights campaigner. “Her clothes are incredibly flattering – they just take the female form and make it even better without a lot of distractions. [When I put them on] I feel about 200% better. Immediately I feel like, ‘I can go out and do anything now.’”