And with the finalists of the Face of Nolcha Fashion Week just announced, Lynn Furge sat down with Camilla Morton, renowned author of How to Walk in High Heels and John Galliano’s muse about the history of models her website www.modelinia.com and why it is so important for a designer to find his/her muse.
Nolcha's Lynn Furge: Please tell me a little about Modelinia, why it was started, what you hope to achieve etc.
Camilla Morton: Modelinia is a home online to learn more about models and their lifestyles, both on and off the runways and the covers of magazines. The website was started in order to give people access to the stories behind these amazing women. Models are some of the most recognized people in the world, but very few know about their personal lives, their families, their community involvement and the stories about how they got where they are today.
LF: Models as icons have not been around as long as the fashion designers who dress them. Can you give me a brief history of the first models that made an impact on the fashion industry?
LF: Models as icons have not been around as long as the fashion designers who dress them. Can you give me a brief history of the first models that made an impact on the fashion industry?
CM: Clothes were created to make the wearer a star: to empower and enhance their appearance. If you look at paintings throughout history, portraits of Queens, heiresses and society faces, their clothes were always a way of communicating social standing, wealth, politics and beliefs. However, to see the first career model who made an impact on the industry, the end of the second World War is a good place to start.
When Christian Dior created the “New Look” it signaled that it was okay for women to be women again, so fashion as well as the models that wore them blossomed. I think that the first big ‘star’ was Lisa Fonssagrives – the model and artist who went on to marry photographer Irving Penn. She defined the era with some of the most iconic and memorable images. Modeling had, until this point not really been a career, but with the increased demand for luxury and escapism the fashion industry wanted to create their own stars – though inspired by the silver screen. Modelinia has created a time line of the entire history of models and link all the famous dates and faces to give you a fascinating guide through it all. I think History of Models video series is a really way to see online the history of the industry and its changing faces and to see how much the industry has evolved.
LF: What does a fashion model do in terms of creating an entire "image" for a brand?
LF: What does a fashion model do in terms of creating an entire "image" for a brand?
CM: The fashion model is the muse that brings the clothes to life – she breathes attitude, grace, elegance, and poise as much as her own beauty. Kate Moss is a great example of a model and muse that has such a strong image and identity she is instantly recognizable – often more so than the brand she represents. You see her and it makes you think if I buy into this brand I buy into her. Think of the success of her own line for Topshop – these models are getting savvy as to their influence. Who wouldn’t want to have something in common with Linda Evangelista? Cindy Crawford? Gisele Bundchen? Who wouldn’t want to feel like a Supermodel? That is the real luxury and selling point.
LF: How can one face/body type/ style change an entire generation of fashion and can you give me some examples?
LF: How can one face/body type/ style change an entire generation of fashion and can you give me some examples?
CM: Many generations have been defined by a body, a face – think of Twiggy in the sixties; Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer or Linda Evangelista in the late eighties and how it all flipped again when Kate Moss appeared. Fashion is constantly evolving, constantly looking for the new muse, the new personality or new look – each generation wants its own look, its own identity – be that in music, film, fashion or in a model. She is the ultimate pin up – the face that gives a glimpse of that generation.
LF: How do you think using a model might have effect on emerging talent in terms of fashion designers?
LF: How do you think using a model might have effect on emerging talent in terms of fashion designers?
CM: A great girl can make anything look good. I think it would be impossible for Naomi, Gisele, or any of the great and extraordinary girls to look bad in anything – and this is the power of their brand. If a young designer receives the support of a major model – or celebrity – early in their career it is very exciting for them as this endorsement is more powerful than advertising as the model becomes a walking billboard of their designs. Think of Michelle Obama and how she championed the new designers like Jason Wu and Thakoon – the power of these images helped promote their designs to an enormous market. Models are some of the most pervasive people in the media as they are often of interest not only to the fashion industry but to the entertainment industry as well.
LF: What do you have to say to those young designers that think that having their merchandise on a celebrity in Us Weekly and the rest, is going to make their "brand image" famous?
CM: Choose your celebrity or model wisely. Choose someone you have empathy with and who you believe in as much as they believe in you and most importantly someone who loves your clothes. Choose a celebrity that isn’t here today – gone tomorrow. Go for a relationship rather than a one night stand. It’s about respecting yourself, and in this case, respecting your brand.
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