NEW FACES Modeling and Acting Blog

Chanel Iman Offers Advice To The Next Ford Supermodel

2009-11-20T10:55:00.004-05:00

The search for next Ford's "Supermodel of the World" is coming to New York and Los Angeles this Saturday and supermodel Chanel Iman has words to say!

As a former contestant who represented the United States at the 2006 Ford's "Supermodel of the World" finals, Chanel Iman's exclusive tips on how to prepare for the modeling contest will surely help:

1. Outfit:
"You should wear something simple, like jeans or a miniskirt and your favorite top. Skinny jeans and a tank is the best look - you can see your figure."

2. Makeup
"With makeup, it's better that you wear almost none. You can use a little bit of concealer and maybe some balm, but that's about it. Definitely clean skin with great moisturizer is ALWAYS best."

3. Hair
"I would pull my hair back, so they can see my face."

4. No-nos
"There are no real no-nos. Just be yourself, have fun and enjoy the experience."

Asked about the difference of Ford's "Supermodel of the World" competition from reality TV shows, Chanel Iman says:

"This is real fashion - it's not scripted for the cameras. And you don't need to be crazy to get noticed! My life changed immediately (after winning the competition)!!! I totally haven't stopped since entering with Ford. It's been amazing and I'm loving it."

This year, winner of the global modeling competition will take home a $250,000 modeling contract with Ford Models, not to mention joining the prestigious rank of the agency's supermodels like Chanel Iman, Adriana Lima, Gemma Ward, Elsa Benitez, and Alexina Graham.

Think you could be the next Supermodel? Check out the details of Ford's "Supermodel of the World" casting in NYC & LA, now!

Top Korean Model Daul Kim Is Found Dead!

2009-11-20T06:05:00.008-05:00

Daul Kim, 20 years old model from Seoul, Korea, was found dead in her Paris apartment yesterday morning. The cause of her death remained unknown, but it was rumored as suicide.

As top model, Daul Kim was known for her gorgeous hair, incredible street style, and passion for telling a good story - a model with real personality. She started modeling in 2006 with impressive editorials for Korean Vogue, and was most noted for impersonating supermodel Linda Evangelista for Vogue editorial photographed by Oh Joong Seok in January 2009.

Although most of her modeling career was with Vogue, Daul Kim has also walked the runways for top designers like Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Salvatore Ferragamo, Alexander McQueen, and Chanel. Her recent work was with Christopher Kane for a Topshop TV commercial and a photo shoot for the fall issue of Dansk.

Daul Kim's death came as a shock, both for family, friends, and fans of the Korean model. No cause of death has been released yet, but her agents at Next has confirmed her death in a statement:

"She was a top model and a great friend to all of us at Next. Please respect her family's privacy at this time of sadness. We will all miss her very much."

Modeling aside, Daul Kim was also an active blogger. She maintained a blog called "I Like To Fork Myself." Intriguingly, she titled her last entry "say goodbye to forever." The body of the post was a video of the song "I Go Deep" by Jim Rivers. Underneath the song, she wrote "best track forever."

Daul Kim's story is just like one of those sad stories shared by not a few people who are working in the beauty industry - they started with beautiful ambition, lucky enough to enjoy success at a young age, and mysteriously ended their glamorous lives in tragic deaths.

"what i do is not a bad occupation
someone is always willing to pay.

+i would find it

tiring.

-oh no , its quite ________,
almost peaceful

no need to believe in either side

or any side

there is no courage.

theres only yourself.

the belief is your own precision"

- Daul Kim, I Like To Fork Myself, 2009/11/06

Johnny Depp And The Sexiest Men Alive Of 2009

2009-11-19T06:04:00.007-05:00

At 46, Johnny Depp proves he is still one of the most irresistible actors in Hollywood. He tops this year's "Sexiest Men Alive," leading the list of People Magazine's 110 hottest guys on the planet.

Whether he's playing the role of "Captain Jack Sparrow" in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise or enjoying Cuban cigars in his private Bahamian island, Johnny Depp has had women swooning since his teenage days in the film industry. He is also People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2003.

And nothing could be more endearing than his devotion to his family. "I could sit there all day and do nothing but watch them grow. I'm totally inspired by them," the actor says of his wife and two children.

The 15 Sexiest Men Alive (People Magazine, 2009)

1. JOHNNY DEPP, 46
"Johnny Depp has magical powers. He's unlike anyone else. He's funny, generous and clever. It's just a shame he's so hard on the eyes." - Isla Fisher

2. RYAN REYNOLDS, 33
"Ryan is a really good man. He's really loyal, very trustworthy, and he can keep a secret. And he's got the sickest mind. His mind is a dark, scary place." - Sandra Bullock

3. JAKE GYLLENHAAL, 28
"Jake is the kind of guy who can do a spot-on impression of someone you work with that will make you giggle. He plays guitar and has a great voice. Kids and dogs love him. He loves his mom and sister and girlfriend. He's perfect. Too bad he's ugly." - Natalie Portman

4. BRADLEY COOPER, 34
"Obviously he's very great looking, but he also has a great personality. He manages to be manly while still being sensitive. As a woman, he makes you feel very attractive. When you're around him, he's always like, 'I love your dress.'" - Heather Graham

5. ROBERT DOWNEY JR., 44
"Robert has a way of making everyone around him feel very special and comfortable. Whenever I see him, I walk away smiling. Those beautiful brown eyes may have something to do with it." - Michelle Monaghan

6. DAVID BECKHAM, 34
"David is a wonderful husband. He is kind and incredibly romantic. He is a brilliant sportsman and an amazing father. He idolizes our three boys, and this is what makes him 'the sexiest man alive' to me." - Victoria Beckham

7. GILLES MARINI, 33
"Let's be real. My wife doesn't really enjoy gambling or going out too late. (Vegas is a trip) definitely with your buddies. You can let loose." - Himself

8. THE GLEE GUYS
Cory Monteith, 27; Matthew Morrison, 31; Mark Salling, 27
"It was just some beautiful women taking off their clothes. Never a bad thing in my book." - Matthew Morrison

9. NICK CANNON, 29
"A Mariah Carey record, of course. We're talking about Mariah Carey. Of course she loves to hear herself."- Himself

10. ADAM LAMBERT, 27
"I love people with good energy. It's even better when you can hook up with one of them." - Himself

11. JOHN CHO, 37
"(There's a sexy walk) if you're carrying a real gun,. When it's on your hip, you lead differently; your hands go to different places." Himself

12. CHRIS DAUGHTRY, 29
"Sexiest man alive? Am I at least Top 5? I know being bald won't get me the cover. I just hope it's not page twentysomething or other." - Himself

13. JERRY O'CONNELL, 35
"If my kids ever annoy me, I'll go and mow our lawn in a Speedo. Just to embarrass them." - Himself

14. JOHN LEGEND, 30
"Gentlemen's clubs. But I haven't been to a strip club in a while." - Himself

15. ROBERT PATTINSON, 23
"I still can't get a date." - Himself

Miley Cyrus Grows Up In "The Last Song"

2009-11-18T06:33:00.005-05:00

Miley Cyrus, today's premiere teenage pop icon, will be saying goodbye to her adolescence image anytime soon.

In the upcoming film "The Last Song," the 16 year-old Disney superstar (who will be celebrating her 17th birthday next week) will do serious acting.

"The Last Song" portrays Miley Cyrus as the 17 year-old daughter of divorced parents who is sent to spend the summer at her father's beach house. She is a gifted pianist like her dad, but she doubts following in his footsteps. Not much of a grown-up role, really, but it will be the teen star's first movie to get a PG rating (except, of course, for her cameo in R-rated "Sex and the City 2").

With $1 billion talent fee for the "Hannah Montana" franchise, Miley Cyrus is no doubt the highest paid teenager in Hollywood. And that is because she plays the adolescent Disney star.

But with the coming of "The Last Song" in April 2010, Miley Cyrus enters into professional adulthood. How would the audiences respond to her grown-up role?

We'll learn more of that in 2010. Today, we can watch "The Last Song" official trailer:

Glamour's "Women of the Year" 2009

2009-11-17T07:24:00.004-05:00

This year's list of Glamour Magazine's "Women of the Year" includes R&B singer Rihanna, British fashion designer Stella McCartney, and first lady Michelle Obama.

Rihanna: Back on Top
The 21 year-old "Disturbia" singer is recognized for taking a public stand on domestic violence after being beaten by former boyfriend Chris Brown.

Maria Shriver: The Dynamo
California's first lady is credited for redefining her role into a platform for change and leadership for women.

Stella McCartney: The Designer
She is one of the world's most influential designer and she is honored for designs that opted to use man-made materials instead of leather and fur. She is also recognized as a life-long vegetarian and animal rights activist.

Amy Poehler: The Entertainer
The 38 year-old "short, blonde, and underestimated" comedian is honored as an inspiration for young girls.

Marissa Mayer: The Visionary
The vice president, search and user experience, and 10-year veteran of Google, is praised for making Google the number-one search engine.

Serena Williams: The Athlete
The tennis champion is recognized for using her foundation to give grants to U.S. college students and recently opening a secondary school in Kenya.

Jane Aronson: The Guardian Angel
This pediatrician is honored for bringing the plight of orphans to the world's attention through her Worldwide Orphans Foundation.

Susan Rice: The Peacemaker
The first female African-American U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is honored for putting women's needs at the forefront of the American agenda at the U.N.

Laura Ling and Euna Lee: The Journalists
Earlier this year, these Asian TV reporters have been arrested and imprisoned while reporting on the plight of North Korean women who cross into China to escape starvation but fall into human trafficking.

Maya Angelou: The Poet
The 81 year-old "Phenomenal Woman" is credited for being a writer, educator, and civil rights activist.

Michelle Obama: Your First Lady
She is awarded special recognition for bringing the importance of mentoring to the forefront.

The 12 honorees of the 2009 "Women of the Year" Awards are featured in the December issue of Glamour magazine. They are this year's top women who have made major contributions to entertainment, business, sports, fashion, science, and politics.

Carmen Dell'Orefice: Timeless Runway Model

2009-11-16T06:12:00.006-05:00

Carmen Dell'Orefice, 78, returns to the runway for designer Guo Pei during China Fashion Week.

Timeless and elegant, the aesthetic qualities of this American woman makes her an icon of Ford Models. She has been modeling with the agency since 1953.

Not much has been written about Carmen Dell'Orefice, except that she has lived a life of poverty in her youth, started modeling at the age of 13, married a string of men during her prime years, and has recently lost her life savings to Bernard Madoff, operator of a financial scheme dubbed as "the largest investment fraud in Wall Street history."

From the highly-publicized issue just last year, the old model has been quoted as saying, "For the second time in my life, I've lost all of my life savings."

Good thing Carmen Dell'Orefice remains attractive. She can still hit the catwalk for money, even in her old age.

"Nothing Tastes As Good As Skinny Feels" - Kate Moss

2009-11-13T06:21:00.006-05:00

Kate Moss rarely gives an interview. So when she takes time to chat with WWD, the fashion world has to listen to what she has to say.

It turns out that the supermodel is out to promote her latest scent for the holiday season, Vintage by Kate Moss. Coincidentally, she talks about beauty, creativity, style, and her motto in life.

Here's the excerpt:

How do you define beauty?
"It sounds really corny, but I think that if you're beautiful inside, it shows on the outside for sure. You can be a pretty face, but if you're not a nice person, it just doesn't work. I'm not traditionally a beauty, but apparently people think I'm all right. If you're a nice person, it definitely helps."

How do you channel your creativity?
"I write sometimes, or I'll draw. It all depends what's around. If I'm with my daughter, I'll paint. I make jam. It's kind of creative when you make jam. In the country, I get creative with what I have in my house. I just did my dressing room (with my former personal assistant who now designs interiors) and that was quite a good creative process. It's heaven. We did it together. I wanted it to be a space, not just a closet. I wanted it to be a room you could feel comfortable in and hang out in without just being a wardrobe."

You're a business woman as well as a fixture in front of the camera. What's the secret to effective multitasking?
"I think women are really good at multitasking. Men just cannot do it. My boyfriend cannot talk on the phone and (answer) if I ask him a question or get dressed at the same time. I can do all of that — talk on the phone, answer a question, get dressed and put my makeup on all at the same time. Women just do, don't they? I think it's something to do with babies. When you have a child, you have to be able to multitask."

Do you have a motto?
"There are loads. There's 'Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.' That's one of them. You try and remember, but it never works."

Whose style do you admire?
"Loulou de la Falaise, Amanda Harlech and Catherine Deneuve."

High maintenance or low?
"Definitely not (high maintenance)"

Taylor Swift Wins CMA's Entertainer Of The Year

2009-11-12T06:47:00.007-05:00

Country singer and teen sensation Taylor Swift wins "Entertainer of the Year" at the 2009 Country Music Awards. She is the youngest recipient of the association's highest honor.

2009 has been an incredible year for 19 year-old Taylor Swift. Her album is best-selling, her concert tour is a sold-out, and she has the first major MTV Music Video award (as "Best Female Video" for You Belong With Me, remember?).

Then yesterday, she's got the historic night at the 43rd annual CMAs where she was recognized as "Entertainer of the Year." She has also won "Album of the Year" for Fearless, "Video of the Year" for Love Story and the "Female Vocalist of the Year" award.

Fellow artist Brad Paisley, winner of the "Male Vocalist of the Year" award for the third straight year, is all-praise for the young singer:

"She has taken the music world by storm. She's the biggest artist in music right now, by far. It's hands down. She's entertainer of the year in country music, no doubt, and I'm really proud of her."

After receiving the entertainer trophy from her childhood idol Faith Hill, Taylor Swift calls her band on stage for a group hug as fans cheered wildly.

"I'll never forget this moment because in this moment everything that I have ever wanted has just happened to me," the teen celebrity says through tears.

"I think about 37 minutes ago is what stands out for me my whole life. You guys, I didn't expect to win, so I'm really at a loss for words," Taylor Swift tells reporters backstage.

Twilight's Christian Serratos For PETA

2009-11-11T06:28:00.007-05:00

Nineteen year-old Twilight star Christian Serratos is the newest celebrity to strip for PETA's naked, err, Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur campaign. To date, she is the youngest vegetarian celebrity to pose nude for PETA in its opposition to the fur industry.

Like a scene from The Twilight Saga, Christian Serratos' naked pictorial takes place in what appears to be a dark, misty forest. There's blood on the ground where she stood and on the base of the tree that she was leaning on.

"I've always been opposed to slaughtering, eating, wearing carcass," says the teen star.

Christian Serratos now joins the likes of Charlize Theron and Eva Mendes in the campaign against using animals for fur. Like them, her ad for PETA is a steamy one. If it's not for the bold texts and the Twilight theme, one would think it's a teaser for an erotic film.

Good thing Twilight has its power over tweens. PETA might soon influence many young people by incorporating Twilight in its campaigns.

Is It Over For Gemma Ward?

2009-11-10T05:45:00.004-05:00

No, Gemma Ward will not quit modeling just because some people call her fat! She's too young and beautiful to be pressured by fat attacks coming from unstable detractors.

But Gemma Ward did gain weight. She had no modeling gigs after walking away from the catwalk in 2008, following the death of actor Heath Ledger who was her rumored lover. She was reported to pursue acting career in Hollywood that time.

In the latest paparazzi photos of the 22 year-old Aussie, she definitely looks thicker. With a fuller figure that is far from her previous size-0 modeling days, people are quick to ridicule. A fashion blogger writes, "She's a very beautiful woman and I think she could make a name for herself in the plus-size niche."

Gemma Ward's fuller figure makes people speculate on her lack of interest to return back to the runway. With almost a year of being absent from modeling, some even believe that her comeback, if it happens, will be lame.

Although Gemma Ward's agency says that the model has not committed to returning to modeling at any time soon, it is not closing its door for her. Previously, the former promising model has also released a statement denying rumors of her retirement:

"I was surprised to wake up this morning and read news of my own retirement. While I am taking some time off to rest and enjoy the company of friends and family, I am still very much a (excited and enthusiastic) working model and actress. I'm only 20, for God's sake.''

Meet The New Face Of Wickedelic Lingerie: Susie Hutson

2009-11-09T06:42:00.007-05:00

More than two months after posting the Wickedelic Lingerie Model Search on New Faces Castings, UK's largest retailers of lingerie has announced 30 year-old Susie Hutson as the new face and body of the firm.

Though confident of her sex appeal, Susie Hutson's winning against 11 other gorgeous models still comes much as a surprise for her. At 30, she know she's not "that" young as a lingerie model anymore. She is already a mother too. She bores a child who's father left just before he was born. Susie Hutson has had rough times in her career and personal life, so to speak.

From the neighborhood of Hampton Vale in Peterboroug, Susie Hutson will now become an international celebrity as she stars in the 2010 charity calendar for Wickedelic Lingerie. She will also take part in a number of international advertising campaigns for the company.

What's fascinating about this upcoming British model is that she's actually new to the industry – Susie Hutson has just started modeling last year, after deciding to give her life a lift. In her October interview with the Evening Telegraph, she shares:

"I have had a lot of bad luck over the last few years – I was left on my own when I was pregnant with Josh, and then was made redundant a week before I was due to have him. I was really down, so this year I decided I had to make a change. I thought about modeling, but everyone said I was too old.

"That made me even more determined to succeed, and I got a job at the modified car show at the East of England Showground.

"I then saw the competition to become the face of Wickedelic, and when I found out I had been shortlisted, I could not believe it. More than 800 girls applied, so it is a real achievement to get this far..."

Susie Hutson's determination to succeed has included a massive promotional campaign by becoming RAF Wittering's official "sweetheart" and taking part in a sexy photo shoot in the Peterborough United's London Road stadium.

Susie Hutson is hopeful to become one of the world's leading lingerie models of today.

Read here for more of Susie Hutson and her role as the new face and BODY of Wickedelic Lingerie.

Victoria’s Secrets Model Search: Top Ten Finalists

2009-11-06T06:45:00.008-05:00

Victoria's Secrets has released the top 10 finalist of its national model search for the next Runway Angel yesterday.

These 10 gorgeous ladies who have been chosen from the nationwide casting calls that started last October 3 will be sent to the so-called "Angel Boot Camp" where they will face series of challenges that include showing off their photogenic and red carpet star qualities, proving their abilities as a spokesmodel, and "radiating charisma while walking a runway in lingerie."

They're all gorgeous. They're all leggy. But only one of them will get her angel wings. Check out the girls (clockwise from top left):

1. Alicia Hall, 24, Las Vegas, NV
2. Raven Ervin, 24, Birmingham, AL
3. Katelyn Fortes, 18, Boston, MA
4. Courtney O'Conner, 20, Raleigh, NC
5. Krystina Holbrook, 20, El Dorado Hills, CA
6. Jamie Lee Darley, 23, Carmel, CA
7. Allison Turner, 23, Cape Girardeau, MO
8. Catharina Lee, 20, Washington, DC
9. Tika Ivezaj, 25, Detroit, MI
10. Kylie Bisutti, 19, Simi Valley, CA

The life of these 10 girls as they live together in one apartment and compete with each other's beauty will be followed by a camera. The weekly webisodes will air on VSAllAccess.com and CBS.com. Voting for the Victoria's Secrets Angel-wannabee will begin on November 9. And yes, the finale will take us to the aired fashion show on December 1, where one of these lovely ladies will walk down the lingerie along with the rest of the Victoria's Secrets Angels.

Gossip Girl's Upcoming Episode Depicts Threesome

2009-11-05T06:23:00.008-05:00

"Every Parent's Nightmare," is the catchy line on the controversial print advertisement released by The CW for the second season of "Gossip Girl."

There must be some truth to it. This early, there's an emerging parents' group that is already asking affiliate stations of the CW network to pre-empt the show, following the on-air promos on the upcoming episode of Gossip Girl that depicts a sexual threesome.

The Parents Television Council, a nonpartisan education group advocating responsible entertainment, hopes to stop the show's episode from being aired on November 9 as scheduled. According to the organization's president, Tim Winter, airing the teen tryst is "reckless and irresponsible."

In a letter to the affiliates, the Parents Television Council asked, "Will you now be complicit in establishing a precedent and expectation that teenagers should engage in behaviors heretofore associated primarily with adult films?"

The Gossip Girl's threesome, which is being teased in the ad, involves three main characters in the show. They are not, however, identified in the promos.

Retouching Will "Glorify" Photos Of Women... And Men

2009-11-04T06:29:00.008-05:00

Playing devil's advocate to the French-proposed legislation that requires labeling of retouched photos, fashion photographer Jean-Baptiste Mondino says the law would be silly because retouching has always been part of beautifying images.

Since picture speaks a thousand words, the photographer make his point vivid by taking a photo of a boyish model then "glorify" her by adding womanly curves. The photo has been featured in the past weekend's edition of French daily newspaper Libération's Next magazine, with Mondino's own words interpreting the snap:

"The photos of old Hollywood? Retouched! The iconic image of Che Guevara? Retouched! All the photos taken by Richard Avedon of Marilyn Monroe? Retouched! And all of this before today's software existed, of course. Legs were lengthened using a wide angle; skins were smoothed through overexposure."

Ok. So if retouching glorifies women, how would you view this 50 Cent photo in the campaign for his new fragrance, Power. Pulling off his white button-down shirt, the rapper looks heavily Photoshopped with the missing stomach tattoo...

Casting Choice Dismays Blind And Deaf Actors

2009-11-03T06:23:00.007-05:00

Casting choice for the role of Helen Keller in the Broadway revival of the play "The Miracle Worker" dismays blind and deaf actors.

The newest revival of the play will still focus on Helen Keller's relationship with her teacher Anne Sullivan. The producers seem to have the perfect cast in Abigail Breslin, a 13 year-old Oscar nominee. However, the casting decision has prompted blind and deaf actors to complain that the early life of blind-and-deaf hero Helen Keller should also be played by a member of their community — a real blind-and-deaf child actor, that is.

"We do not think it's OK for reputable producers to cast this lead role without seriously considering an actress from our community. I understand how difficult it is to capitalize a new production on Broadway, but that to me is not the issue. There are other, larger human and artistic issues at stake here," says Sharon Jensen, executive director of the Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts in an interview with the New York Times.

But the show's producer, David Richenthal, explains that the production was unable to find a blind or deaf child actor with the "star power" to bring in enough of an audience to justify the show's large budget:

"It's simply naïve to think that in this day and age, you'll be able to sell tickets to a play revival solely on the potential of the production to be a great show or on the potential for an unknown actress to give a breakthrough performance. I would consider it financially irresponsible to approach a major revival without making a serious effort to get a star."

To give support for the blind and deaf community, the producers hope to find a blind or deaf actress to play Abigail Breslin's understudy, stressing however that they will not make any promises.

The original Broadway production of "The Miracle Worker" was in 1959, which starred Patty Duke as Helen Keller. Later TV and movie versions of the play had Patty Duke, Melissa Gilbert, and Mare Winningham for the role of Helen Keller. None of these former child actors were real-life blind and deaf.

White Models On Blackface For Fashion Editorials

2009-11-02T06:23:00.013-05:00

It seems that blackface is becoming an unlikely trend. Despite the criticism, more cases of white models posing as black people for photo shoots are highly publicized.

It all started with the controversial Lara Stone shoot for French Vogue. The model posed with blackened skin for the magazine's 14-page spread, as photographed by Steven Klein and styled by editor Carine Rotifeld. According to the magazine, the image depicted the white model in her "radical break with the wave of anorexic models." (How anorexia connects with black color? Figure that out.)

Next, contestants of "America's Next Top Model" Cycle 13 posed for bi-racial photo shoots. Following the orders of the great Tyra Banks, the 6 remaining candidates of the reality modeling competition were brought to Hawaii where they were transformed into different races - bleach blonde Erin Wagner was turned "Tibetan and Egyptian," Southern belle Laura Kirkpatrick was transformed into "Mexican and Greek," Korean Jennifer An became "Botswanan and Polynesian," African-American Sundai Love was made into "Moroccan and Russian," redheaded Nicole Fox became "Malagasy and Japanese," and blonde Brittany Markert was colored to look "Native American and East Indian."

Disregarding the criticisms, Tyra Banks might be all-smiles now. She has been making headlines herself for simply turning her models biracial.

And now there's the latest issue of V magazine, featuring Sasha Pivovarova in blackface and Heidi Mount. The image is photographed by Mario Sorrenti and is made possible by makeup artist James Kaliardos. The magazine will hit newsstands tomorrow, November 3.

What do you think of white models posing with blackface for photo shoots?

Is it unfair to the black race, considering that there's lack of employment for black models but the production opt to blackened white models for the job?

Or is it simply fashion photography that highlights the creativity of both models, photographers, and artists behind the blackface makeup technique?

Ellen Von Unwerth's Best Shot Is With A Ghost Model

2009-10-30T09:18:00.006-04:00

Famous photographer and director Ellen von Unwerth tells that her best shot is with a "ghost model." On Glamour UK, the German lady who specializes in erotic femininity recalls:

"I took this maybe three years ago, on a fashion shoot for Italian Vogue. We developed a romantic story to go with it: a woman comes back to the place where she grew up, and finds it all dusty and falling apart. We shot it in a chateau in Paris. The girl was a model, and it was the only time I worked with her. After this, she disappeared. She was from eastern Europe, Romania maybe, and even the agency couldn't find her again. So she's like a ghost. The picture certainly has a ghostly feeling.

"I love a picture that surprises you: you try to get everything perfect, then somehow it ends up looking wrong. That's why I love this one. It was taken with a Polaroid, one of those beautiful things that no longer exist. The light has caused the blurriness, giving the shot extra emotion. There's something eerie about it, too: the girl's expression is both vulnerable and strong..."

How's that for Halloween? Spooooooky!

Miley Cyrus Vs Taylor Lautner: Double Standard For Teen Stars?

2009-10-29T07:19:00.006-04:00

Does Hollywood have a double standard for its shirtless teenage stars?

When Miley Cyrus posed in Vanity Fair last year, wearing but a wrap of sheet and exposing her right shoulder and the top of her back, the negative reaction was overwhelming. Critics said the 15 year-old actress and her nude-implied photo is "sexualization of a child to sell magazines."

The call to reprimand the teen star was intense enough for her to eventually make a public apology statement saying, "I never intended for any of this to happen, and I am truly sorry if I have disappointed anyone." This was despite how she expressed earlier liking to the photo shoot with Annie Leibovitz.

Now, with the New Moon movie coming to theatres in a month, there's the 17 year-old Taylor Lautner and his shirtless body blanketing the magazines, websites, and TV for the promotion of the Twilight sequel. Just like Miley Cyrus, Taylor Hautner is also a minor - a child. Unlike his fellow teen star, however, images of his shirtless body not only appeared on one magazine but on countless mass media. And unlike Miley Cyrus, no one called the shirtless photos of this teen male star scandalous.

And so Lindsay Robertson asks on Yahoo Movie Talk colum, "Does Hollywood have a double standard for shirtless teenage stars?"

Taylor Lautner trained for months to get the fit and toned body that New Moon has been showing off. But for all the shirtless images of him in circulation, there's only one major voice to raise questions about his photos. His New Moon co-star Kristin Davis says, "I feel protective, like what is he doing without his shirt on? And then I hear he's dating people, and I'm like, 'Ahh!'"

Good or bad for the young Taylor Hautner, no one is seeing his shirtless images as sexualization of a child to sell a movie. And while there's no big critic to his provocative photos, he could only hope that he never has to take his shirt off in a movie again:

"It's so uncomfortable knowing that so many people are seeing pictures of me shirtless... It's weird. It's kind of embarrassing."

Naomi Campbell Wins Fashion Icon Award

2009-10-28T07:09:00.003-04:00

Naomi Campbell's fuming over the lack of modeling opportunities for black and ethnic models has paid off. She received the Fashion Icon Award at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund Front Row charity event last Saturday.

The Front Row event was created to honor black and Latino fashion professionals and while making her acceptance speech, the supermodel also took the opportunity to continue voicing her sentiments on racism in the fashion industry.

While the 39 years old supermodel has considered herself fortunate to be working in the fashion industry for over 25 years, progress still needs to be made. Calling the lack of minority models in the industry as "injustice," Naomi Campbell stressed:

"Nelson Mandela always told me to speak my mind and the consequences will take care of themselves... There is a small group of people whose minds we have to change because we are living in a multicultural society."

Aside from Naomi Campbell receiving the Fashion Icon Award, other honorees of the Front Row event include Fashion Institute of Technology's president Dr. Joyce F. Brown, makeup artist Sam Fine, and Oprah's hairstylist Andre Walker. The Avant-Garde award was given to the late Michael Jackson and was accepted by his brother Marlon Jackson.

Cindy Crawford Quits Catwalk Over Body And Age Issues

2009-10-27T07:47:00.011-04:00

She used to be the hottest supermodel around, walking down the ramp in her long legs. And then 1990s ended. And Cindy Crawford was supermodel no more...

Now 43 years old, Cindy Crawford is still fit and slim. People would say "she's still got it." But the mother of two knows better. She quit catwalk because she does not want to be compared to all the young beauties with whom she would be walking.

"I don't want to stand next to a 20-year-old on the runway, even if people say you can still do it. It is like, 'Why would I do that to myself?' It would just make me depressed," says the former wife of Richard Geere to UK's Hello magazine.

"I'm more comfortable with myself in the sense that hey, this is who I am now. I guess I appreciate my body for other things - like I was able to give birth to two kids... But at the same time, I am aware my body doesn't look the same way it did when I was 23. I actually don't want to feel that pressure."

Just like former supermodel Claudia Schiffer who recently vows that she would never hit the catwalk again, Cindy Crawford is still busy outside the runway with magazine photo shoots and ad campaigns for TV and print. Though uncertain about how long her modeling gigs will last, she is certainly enjoying her work as a model.

"At a certain point, they're going to stop asking me to take my clothes off. Lying in a baby pool filled with shaving cream is much funnier at 43. Like, 'Oh my god, I can't believe I'm still doing this!' You have to have a sense of humor about it at this point."

So What's With This "Luxury Shame?"

2009-10-26T07:22:00.010-04:00

Not only does recession paves the way for frugal fashion statements and the neglect of ethnic models in bad economy, it also makes rich shoppers feel the "luxury shame" when splurging.

While shopping always involves guilt, the kind that makes the whole activity exciting thus the feeling of "guilty pleasure," it becomes plain odd guilt in times of recession. This overriding feeling of guilt is called "luxury shame," the one that makes wealthy shoppers feel bad when splurging despite that they still have the money.

Luxury shame has been identified by consultants at a global management consulting firm as the worst roadblock to the luxury fashion industry's economic recovery.

"Guilt has really increased in the last year. It can hamper any other good feelings," says one brand strategist.

As shoppers browse, select, and try on clothes, they feel good and get a high - like eating chocolate. But guilt sets in rather quickly. "It's not very strong at the beginning but increases when you swipe your credit card through the credit-card reader." This guilty feeling is the same reaction from a smoker who has finished a cigarette.

Because guilt is running so high in these bad economic times and luxury shame is so strong a feeling to be ignored, shoppers try not to feel the guilt by avoiding stores that tempt them to buy.

To beat the luxury shame among consumers, fashion companies tackle the issue with equally intense psychological tactics.

One way is to catch costumers off-guard by putting new store outlets, expecting to not activate guilt among costumers when they go shopping in traditional stores. However, this solution seems to come up short. "People are so disciplined, their super-ego tells them not to buy, and then they don't buy," observes an administrator for an Italian fashion group.

An alternative marketing strategy is through Internet shopping. While luxury shame is epitomized by walking around in a fancy store in shopping bags, online shopping portrays a different costumer behavior, that is, "you take five minutes out at a specific moment of the day to get the things you need online."

Then there's putting a charitable-giving component to shopping. To take away some guilt from purchasing products, a typical promotion may allow a buyer to donate 15% of their money to a sponsored charity when, say, they buy the new pair of shoes.

Lastly, there are companies that put emphasis on "guilt-free shopping," that is, buying products that do not harm the environment. Do organic bras, eco-friendly shoes, and green clothing ring a bell?

These seem to be effective strategies to beat the "luxury shame," although a person with oniomania (medical term for shoppaholic) may not be stopped by all the said guilt that comes with recession. Shopping, just like fashion, is inevitable. Because it is both a leisure and an economic activity, it will remain an act that forever shapes the world of fashion and the economy.

Kendra Wilkinson Poses With Baby Bump On Magazine Cover

2009-10-23T07:50:00.013-04:00

Reality TV star Kendra Wilkinson poses with her baby bump on the latest cover of In Touch magazine.

The 24 year-old glamour model is known for her sexy body, which has been highlighted on the E! reality television show "The Girls Next Door," documenting her life as one of Hugh Hefner's three girlfriends. She has also posed for nude pictorials with her Girls Next Door co-stars and fellow Hefner girlfriends Holly Madison and Bridget Marquardt.

But Kendra Wilkinson's latest magazine pictorial displays not her curves, but her baby bump. As pregnant model of the magazine, she talks about the joys of pregnancy.

"I have never felt this beautiful! The one thing I love about being pregnant is my skin, I used to have the worst acne. My whole life it's been horrible — on the Girls Next Door, it was disgusting. This is the best skin that I have ever had in my life!

"The greatest thing is probably just feeling like a queen. Everybody does everything for me. And Hank is always just giving me unconditional love — that different type of love that I've never felt before."

Kendra Wilkinson met Playboy magazine owner Hugh Hefner at his 78th birthday party where she was hired as one of the "painted girls." She later lived in the Playboy Mansion as Hefner's girlfriend and made several magazine pictorials and cameos on different TV programs.

Kendra Wilkinson is now married to former Philadelphia Eagles receiver Hank Baskett. Taking her husband's last name, she is now known as Kendra Baskett.

Ever wonder what it's like to live inside the Playboy Mansion? Read here.

Grace Coddington Speaks Her Mind On Ralph Lauren Controversy

2009-10-22T07:33:00.006-04:00

Grace Coddington speaks up on the Ralph Lauren controversy, saying she is worried about the penchant of the fashion industry for very young and very thin models.

Before she worked side by side with Anna Wintour as the creative director of Vogue, Grace Coddington was a model herself. She sympathized with Filippa Hamilton who claimed being fired by Ralph Lauren for being too fat, but her worry has been more on how today's models are getting younger and thus, more vulnerable to the pressures of the industry.

"It is a big problem. I remember when I was young, they told me that if I didn't lose weight I'd be out of the show, so I spent a week living off of coffee. But I'm a very levelheaded person. These problems nowadays are with kids much, much younger than that, and that's most of the problem — when they're very young and vulnerable."

On the other hand, the 68 year-old director believes that Ralph Lauren has been unfairly criticized for using thin models. For one, it is not only Ralph Lauren who uses thin models in fashion campaigns but most of the high-fashion designers in the industry.

"Most of his models are not super-skinny, so this is sort of an isolated situation, and I think it's unfair if he gets a lot of bad publicity because of it. But it is a big problem in the fashion industry. And you go to meetings to discuss it, and you think it's kind of futile, because it's such a big thing, and in the end, people are always asking for more and they're always asking for thinner."

So how do Grace Coddington and the people in the industry address this issue? Will they now stop using skinny models in fashion campaigns and replace them with women of healthier sizes? Why do high-fashion photo shoots choose thin models, by the way?

"They have to be a little thinner than you and I because you always photograph a little fatter, but you don't have to go to the extremes they go to. And because they're kids, they take it too far, and they can't regulate their lives, and next thing you know they're anorexic, and it is tragic.

"And I don't know what the answer is, except to keep on it, which we're all trying to do. Anna's trying to do it. Personally we're not allowed, at Vogue, to work with girls who are very thin, but you never know, because you could book them and think they're a certain size, and they turn up on the shoot and suddenly they've spun into this anorexic situation. And you're on the spot and you have to get the job done and you have one day to do it, and what do you do? But you try to be responsible, as Anna is."

We also don't know the answer Grace, except that with all these posts about weight getting too much, we might finally figure out what annoys us... when models are, in fact, meant to look better than everyone else.

Why High-Fashion Designers Don't Make Larger Clothes? Donatella Versace Answers

2009-10-21T07:36:00.007-04:00

Famous Italian fashion designer Donatella Versace graces Vogue website as the first designer to answer questions directly from the readers.

Amidst all the questioning, one stands out. A reader from Chicago has asked the iconic designer why high-fashion designers refuse to make plus-size clothes:

"Why do designers typically refuse to design for sizes above 10? This question is not meant to be confrontational; I've just always wondered about this. Is it simply a prejudice? Wouldn't it be a good business decision? I can understand not wanting to start a stand-alone plus-size line, but what about extending sizes to 14/16? We have money, too! "

Donatella Versace provides this answer:

"We do offer larger sizes at Versace, but I take your point. I certainly wouldn't want to do a plus-size line, as I have no problem with women of any size wearing my clothes. I guess some styles lend themselves to being scaled up, while some others just don't work. Sometimes it can depend on the specific piece."

Donatella Versace is the current Vice-President of the Versace Group and Chief Designer of the fashion line. She is the public relations giant of the Versace label, responsible for its spread throughout Europe and most of the United States. She designed the famous Versace Green Dress aka the Jungle Dress, worn by Jennifer Lopez at the 2000 Grammy Awards.

Proclaiming Thinness: Ralph Lauren Models And The Ideal Woman

2009-10-20T07:17:00.007-04:00

Despite the controversy over the ridiculous retouching of one model and firing her for said weight gain, Polo Ralph Lauren still makes a proclaimation of thinness by sending skinny models on the runway.

In its every fashion show over the years, ultra-thin Ralph Lauren models walk down the catwalk, making a bold statement for the fashion house's preference for skin-and-bone bodies.

Apparently, those who want to see healthier and thicker bodies on the catwalk condemns the idea. They believe it is time for a change — the fashion industry should now use fuller women on the catwalk, the supposed role model for the healthy American woman.

But Robin Givhan of The Washington Post thinks that it is totally unfair for the fashion industry to be criticized for using thin models. Givhan believes that fashion represents an ideal and so, the thin models that we see on the runway are actually the perfect images of how our society celebrates weight loss.

For Givhan, the skinny models that still make up the majority in the fashion industry have to be seen against the backdrop of a population that is overwhelmingly afflicted with obesity.

"By its very nature, fashion is a business of falsehoods and costumes, all in service to self-definition. The uncomfortable truth about the fashion industry is it has a knack for tapping into unspoken cultural obsessions and taboos. Fashion sets up a rarefied world of perfection that is, in many ways, defined by how much it differs from the mundane, from the norm. And all indicators suggest that as a culture, we hate what we are becoming: fat."

And if there's a decreasing trend of buying glossy magazines, Givhan believes that it is not because the public are turning down publications that feature skinny models, but as a result of the declining economy.

"The fatter the general population, the thinner the idealized woman. And for all the public posturing and blogging, the only force that stopped people from buying clothes and magazines was the souring economy, not righteous indignation over skinny models."