Question and Answer with Cathy Horyn from the New York Times
What Made All the Models So Angry?
Q. Why do models look angry when they model? It can't be to not distract from the clothing because it does; the fury and displeasure is the first and last thing one notices with the clothing sandwiched between.
— Frank, San Francisco
Q. Could you maybe explain why the models are walking as if they have to go to the bathroom and why their facial expressions are furious? If they smiled and walked as if they were O.K., the effect wouldn't detract from the clothing any more (or maybe less) than the way they present clothes now. What's with the designers and runways? It's frightfully hard to pay attention to a garment when the model is tripping over her knees and wearing a "hate you" look.
— P.H.T., Michigan
A. Ah, the strange, forbidding world of runway models! You know, in the early 90s, when the supers first hit the runway — Naomi, Linda, Christy et al — we were all struck by their beauty, command and, of course, curves. The 50s and 60s saw beautiful models like Suzy Parker and her sister Dorian Leigh and Jean Shrimpton, but the main difference between then and now is that those models were largely presented to the public by photographers like Irving Penn and Richard Avedon. Consequently, no bad qualities showed.
Today we see models projecting a range of moods, often insolence, and, indeed, virtually a blank personality. We see very green models attempting to walk — I don't even say with any grace or elegance. We've seen models wobble and fall because of shoes that were too high or tight, and I blame the designers for creating both the discomfort and the disattraction. Models often wear the faces they do — nonchalant, tough, bossy, girlish — because that's what they're told backstage. Some shows put up a board that provides instructions to the models about their affected behavior. I'm not sure some of the models pay any attention. Jessica Stam always walks with a slight smile on her face, a dreaminess in her eyes, and a roll to her ankles. Naomi Campbell assertively glides down the runway and will make eye contact with people she knows in the audience, and then smile.
I don't know if this accounts for the angry looks, but we've seen waves of models from Eastern Europe and Russia in the past five years, and the complaint among editors is that they seem to have little or no personality. They're stick-figure automatons. Do I find them distracting? Not really, but I do mind that the constant turnover of new faces means that fewer and fewer models have a chance to get involved in the business and have long careers and thus build a connection with the audience.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Kate Moss: Retrospective
RUSSH out and get latest copy of RUSSH AUSTRALIA!.. Unless you're Canadian
I <3>
Russh is an Aussie mag that covers their local as well as International talent in the realms of art, design, fashion, music and scene in general while keeping w/ immpecable forward thinking style.
Only con to Russh at least for Canadians (where I live) is that it hits our newsstands 2 WHOLE issues behind and THAT hurts me soul!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
She's not pregnant? Hmm.. the confusion!
Image courtesy of nymag.com
MPD aka My Personal Disclaimer: By no means do I consider MyKate fat. She's skinnier than I am, even in her new skin, and I don't consider myself fat. She just looks quite different and b/c she is who she is it's worth noting! She's gorgeous old way, new way, pregnant, anyway!
Do Ipods take up all the room in Model Bags these days?!
VIDEO COURTESY OF nymag.com
K! I understand being short on time but you know that from one job to another you're not likely to wear the same style of make-up and that time is of the essence... right? Right.
Imma-A-Diva, Imma-A-Diva haha
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- colorant
- Surrealist style mantra: love. live. laugh. sing. dance. dress & make-up
