super shops

Ok, so, last week I was busy being 13 and hanging around at the mall and saw a 3x life size Express add featuring what appeared to be Caroline Trentini. This week I see K.Kloss pouting for Topshop (picture above). Hot on the heels, is the news that the newest Vic. Secret angels are none other than mamacitas muy caliente, Arelenis Sosa and Sessliee Lopez. Are mid-market retailers hoping that by shelling out buckets of cash for these high fashion faces they will entice more shoppers into their tumbleweed ridden stores? Granted, though, Express is the only one of the three that has been consistently hurting for business. Kloss for Topshop makes sense since she is age appropriate for the consumer and T.Shop has Kate Moss for Topshop, elevating their brand above that of -ahem- Express. I hope the new angels read their contracts for Vicky's well, as the Wexner mondo-brand mandates that the girl's cannot change their look in any way shape or form while under contract. Granted, for two fresh faces the only more lucrative contract would be a fragrance/beauty campaign. I should also note that Gap has a ton of perfectly symmetrical faces for their Christmas adds: Angela Lindvall, Erin Wasson, Anja Rubik, among others. If this trend keeps up, I am calling that mid-western women will get up in arms (again) about the unrealistic standards of beauty that, this time, Gap/Express/XYZ are pushing on them. Hey, no one ever hated on Cindy Crawford for Kmart people!

tv girl

Holly K, winner of Make Me a Supermodel, a much more legit modeling show than Ty-Ty's ratings juggenaut, has work! Here she is in Barbara Tfank's resort 09 show. Sadly, she looks more deer in headlights than doe eyed ingenue. There is a palpable stiffness in her poses and it is unnerving that she is looking directly at the viewer. Another newish face from NY Models, who has quite the stable of long necked girls, is Anna Iaryn who you can compare La Holly above. Both girls are wearing similar outfits with fairly similar poses, but their countenance/vibe is totally different. Am I doubting that Holly is beyond gorgeous? No way. I am also really glad to see her getting work. I however am more put off by Tfank's layout, choice of pose/face direction, and huge visual contrast in their two resort models which does not put Holly in the most flattering light. Also, the clothes age her tremendously. She should glide over to ADAM or Phillip Lim for better images for her portfolio.

millennials wanna be on top

Chances are if your mother, neighbor, cousin, cousin's drunk social worker, creepy guy down the hall, or any other random stranger tells you that you should be a model, you really have no qualifications for that position. Maybe even less than zero qualifications. Models are not normal people and more often than not come from far away, moderately impoverished countries. Models are not really DISCOVERED on television competition shows or myspace or facebook or any other marketing tool that wants you to funnel your money and time into this generations pipe dream of micro-fame. In true American style, we import our fashion models for what could be termed as one of the most consumable industries. We love our Dutch, and Slavic models so much that there is a push to change the classification of their work visas so that more of these doe-eyed 15 year olds can live in cramped apartments and hope for a lucrative cosmetics campaign. Even our own citizens hope that minimal effort will result their tiny star being launched into orbit shortly before they burn out or implode on themselves.
CNN gives Gramps a good run-down of exactly what micro-fame is and how it relates to the increasingly delusional millennial belief that everyone can be a star, you just have to convince others of your importance instead of actually cultivating marketable skills. So, these individuals lope along with their Warhol screen print tote bags purchased from Urban Outfitters, unaware that they are a walking mind fuck for anyone who can read something outside of image tags and friend requests. Maybe they listened a little too hard when their boomer generation parents told them that they can be whatever they set their mind to and that no one can hold them back from their true dreams of pop notoriety. How will our already crippled economy fare with the upcoming working class, dreaming that they can 'just do it' and that no one understands their true vision to be a multi-bajilionaire athlete, designer, musician, model, whatever? Epic fail for all involved is the most likely outcome. That is unless your life goal is to exploit the micro-fame delusions of American youth, perhaps with a tv show called 'I love Money', that's a better cash cow.

model death: update

Ruslana Korshunova, 20, graced the covers of European Vogue editorials and was runway model for such designers as Jil Stuart, Betsey Johnson, and Libertine. She also jumped out of the 9th floor window of her Financial District loft to her death yesterday afternoon. By-standers commented that the sound of her death sounded like a gunshot or small explosion. Her death has been listed as a suicide as of right now since there were no signs of struggle in her apartment and the construction safety netting that surrounded her balcony (repairs were being made to the structure) had been cut. She was represented by IMG and New York models both of which are declining to comment on the situation as is the board president of the late-model's condo. I wont place bets on what her real cause of death may have been, but I sense a sad, sad, mystery about to unfold...that is if anyone chooses to investigate for any wrong doing. Like most models, Ruslana was working to send money home to help support her family who live in Kazakhstan.
Update: modelslips via jezebel gives really thoughtful insight into this situation

later'd ladies

The Fall 08 Marc by Marc ads by Jurgen Teller are out now and stay true to previous ads with the spot flash lighting, semi-desaturated/obscured tones, and a gorgeous waif-y model skulking through the dreamy scene in slo-mo. This seasons womens wear model is none other than Cole Mohr. A fucking fine male model with endearing stick out ears. He turns out the Marc by Marc LBD better than 99% of the females who will posses this dress could ever hope for.
see this link for the M by MJ ad and below for mssr. mohr.

recanted statement and icy vid

Hedi Slimane has "no interest in Diesel". whew cause the only good thing about diesel is that Terry Richardson shot/shoots their campaigns. also, NYmag has a short video talking to Karlie Kloss who is only 15 but has walked 64 shows and is every magazines dream girl. i was going to say wet dream but that feels inappropriate even for me. She is a gorgeous girl and I hope she sticks around. I'm a fan of the pony stomp walk and death glare visage. I'll rep that for life.