Maybe it’s neuroses that lead vicariously famous girlfriends to vie for the spotlight, or maybe it’s ambition, but it’s hard to tell whether Alec Baldwin’s new live-in love, Hilaria Thomas (pronounced ee-lah-ria), is naive, resolved or just way more mature than most of them.
“People think I must be trying to get somewhere, but that’s not at all what it is,” is the first thing the yoga instructor said over lunch at Ma Peche, David Chang’s midtown Manhattan outpost.
Their relationship is on the record, in real time, on Twitter. If you follow them, it’s not unusual to catch public displays of digital affection. Him to her: “The only thing missing at this beautiful day at the US Open is @hilariathomas.” And her to him: “...and @AlecBaldwin was the only thing missing from my 4pm class @YogaVidaNYC! Te veo pronto...” Awww! Their ease with being together makes the couplehood all the more nothing-to-see-here-folks! So maybe it’s not that surprising that Thomas was game for a breezy, uncomplicated meet-up last week — we just wanted to see who she is!
Here’s the quick study on Thomas: She grew up partly in Boston, then Spain (some of her family remains in Mallorca). And she still has a bit of an accent, which she’s self-conscious about.
Her predilection for a discipline of movement started early. She was a dancer from toddlerhood, and competed in Latin dance until she fractured her hip in college. She studied art history at NYU, then took up yoga. After only a few weeks she was offered a teaching position, and now she co-owns Yoga Vida, a studio with two Manhattan locations.
“When I was 5 I came home from a sleepover and said, ‘I no longer eat meat,’” Thomas said. “My mom was like, ‘Yes you do!’ I went on a hunger strike.”
Asked if she had concerns dating a guy who’s 26 years her senior and whose personal life, given his fame, is barely personal, Thomas said she made a point to put his celebrity and his age out of her mind and give him a chance for who he is.
“When we first started dating I refused to read anything. My friends would send me links to articles and I’d just delete them,” she said.
It probably helped that she’d hardly seen any of his work — she’s never owned a TV. “I had seen one episode of ‘30 Rock’ on my laptop, and I’d seen ‘Working Girl,’ ” she laughed.
In the first month of their relationship, she made a point to avoid his movies; now she just blames it on being busy and tired. “Alec makes fun of me because I always fall asleep during movies. It takes me a week to watch one movie.”
There’s a bashful laugh behind just about every Baldwin story because she mostly likes to avoid the topic, so the conversation turns to red carpet culture. Did she get any sort of a primer on how to deal with press? “Not really at all! He lets me do my own thing, but he’s always there holding my hand,” she said, blushing a little. “He always makes me feel so safe and secure.”
Thomas admits it was a shock at first, but hey, “I’m a girl! I love dressing up.” Let’s not forget this is Fashion Week, and Thomas has sage sartorial advice. Red carpet comfort is critical — “I wore Loubs to the Tonys. Not worth it. Jimmy Choos are pretty comfy.” — as is a good sense of humor. Thomas laughed about the rumors that have circulated — “I’m 27! Not 28 or 29 or ...” — and picks one to address: “What even is a promise ring?” she laughed.
“This is my great-grandmother’s ring, I’ve been wearing it for years,” she said, showing off the classic gold band and square-cut diamond that she wears on her left hand, middle finger. For now, they just enjoy staying out of the spotlight, making each other laugh, and talking politics. And just for the record: “Oh yeah, I’m liberal. I’m a yoga teacher!”
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“People think I must be trying to get somewhere, but that’s not at all what it is,” is the first thing the yoga instructor said over lunch at Ma Peche, David Chang’s midtown Manhattan outpost.
Their relationship is on the record, in real time, on Twitter. If you follow them, it’s not unusual to catch public displays of digital affection. Him to her: “The only thing missing at this beautiful day at the US Open is @hilariathomas.” And her to him: “...and @AlecBaldwin was the only thing missing from my 4pm class @YogaVidaNYC! Te veo pronto...” Awww! Their ease with being together makes the couplehood all the more nothing-to-see-here-folks! So maybe it’s not that surprising that Thomas was game for a breezy, uncomplicated meet-up last week — we just wanted to see who she is!
Here’s the quick study on Thomas: She grew up partly in Boston, then Spain (some of her family remains in Mallorca). And she still has a bit of an accent, which she’s self-conscious about.
Her predilection for a discipline of movement started early. She was a dancer from toddlerhood, and competed in Latin dance until she fractured her hip in college. She studied art history at NYU, then took up yoga. After only a few weeks she was offered a teaching position, and now she co-owns Yoga Vida, a studio with two Manhattan locations.
“When I was 5 I came home from a sleepover and said, ‘I no longer eat meat,’” Thomas said. “My mom was like, ‘Yes you do!’ I went on a hunger strike.”
Asked if she had concerns dating a guy who’s 26 years her senior and whose personal life, given his fame, is barely personal, Thomas said she made a point to put his celebrity and his age out of her mind and give him a chance for who he is.
“When we first started dating I refused to read anything. My friends would send me links to articles and I’d just delete them,” she said.
It probably helped that she’d hardly seen any of his work — she’s never owned a TV. “I had seen one episode of ‘30 Rock’ on my laptop, and I’d seen ‘Working Girl,’ ” she laughed.
In the first month of their relationship, she made a point to avoid his movies; now she just blames it on being busy and tired. “Alec makes fun of me because I always fall asleep during movies. It takes me a week to watch one movie.”
There’s a bashful laugh behind just about every Baldwin story because she mostly likes to avoid the topic, so the conversation turns to red carpet culture. Did she get any sort of a primer on how to deal with press? “Not really at all! He lets me do my own thing, but he’s always there holding my hand,” she said, blushing a little. “He always makes me feel so safe and secure.”
Thomas admits it was a shock at first, but hey, “I’m a girl! I love dressing up.” Let’s not forget this is Fashion Week, and Thomas has sage sartorial advice. Red carpet comfort is critical — “I wore Loubs to the Tonys. Not worth it. Jimmy Choos are pretty comfy.” — as is a good sense of humor. Thomas laughed about the rumors that have circulated — “I’m 27! Not 28 or 29 or ...” — and picks one to address: “What even is a promise ring?” she laughed.
“This is my great-grandmother’s ring, I’ve been wearing it for years,” she said, showing off the classic gold band and square-cut diamond that she wears on her left hand, middle finger. For now, they just enjoy staying out of the spotlight, making each other laugh, and talking politics. And just for the record: “Oh yeah, I’m liberal. I’m a yoga teacher!”
READ THE ARTICLES
HAUTE AND HEAVY: Model Elettra Wiedemann’s Fashion Week eatery offers hi-cal delights
FROM THE RUNWAY: Derek Lam
FROM THE RUNWAY: Diane von Furstenberg
VIDEO - POP ART: Behind the scenes at Tommy Hilfiger's Womenswear show
STANDOUT SHOWS: Lela Rose, Cut 25, L.A.M.B.
STANDOUT SHOWS: Victoria Beckham, DKNY, Tracy Reese
ON THE SCENE: Courtney, Lohan, ‘Gossip Girl’ crew among stars at fashion fetes
STREET STYLE: Green light chic
PHOTO: Steve Mack/FilmMagic
A red carpet photo of the new couple shows a unified front.
