Intentional Irony or Mere Coincidence?

We have some snaps of the new Gap campaign thanks to tFS member kimair. And just like everyone else, I can't help but to notice and chuckle at the very choice wording accompanying each model's shot.

Freja: Real Straight (Do I even have to say anything? )
Anja: Always Skinny (It's true, Anja has always been thin. Even more so lately.)

Isabeli: Curvy (Brazilians are definitely known for their curves. Although curvy in the fashion world is still super skinny in the real world.)

Maryna: Sexy Boot (Arguably the sexiest VS/high fashion model out there. She does indeed have a sexy boot-y.)

Now I can't wait to see the full campaign! I hope we get more nuggets of comedic irony. You have to wonder if Patrick Robinson is just having some fun with this. I mean come on. The wording matches up almost too perfectly that it has to be intentional. The probability of coincidence is just too unlikely. But I guess the wording is so obviously ironic and fitting to all of us because we follow fashion and models. To your average Gap customer the words clearly describe the cut of the jeans, not the model wearing the jeans.

Although I've got to hand it to Mr. Robinson. Whether intentional or not, this is definitely the way to give all of us fashion fanatics a good laugh. Now we'll surely remember the Gap when we're thinking about jeans for the fall. And isn't that what good advertising is about? Bravo.

Image Credits: snaps by tFS member kimair

New Interview

Freja is getting quite chatty these days in a departure from her usual reticent ways. There is a new interview up at W's Editor's Blog. It's short and doesn't really contain any ground breaking news, but here are some interesting excerpts.

"Look for her in a fashion portfolio by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin in our upcoming October issue."

Hooray. I'm glad that we'll get to see Freja back in the pages of W. And I'm glad that she's still working with Inez and Vinoodh a lot. Although this does makes me wonder why she wasn't in the 64 page editorial extravaganza in August's Vogue Paris. That ed featured all of Inez and Vinoodh's favs except for Freja. Maybe she was off shooting something else at the time? There's something to mull over.

"We're going to L.A., San Diego, the desert, Las Vegas and Burning Man."

Burning Man's dates are August 31st to September 7. New York Fashion Week dates are most likely going to be September 11th to 19th. So no conflict of interest there, thank goodness. I'm ready to see Freja storming down catwalks again. Hopefully she'll be rested, relaxed and raring to go after her road trip vacation.

"I'm always in an Alexander Wang t-shirt or tank top and Acne jeans."

As the face of J Brand jeans, you'd think she'd shill for the product a little more. :)

On a related note, this interview is just one more to add to the recent proliferation of Freja interviews including one for Danish Elle and one for a Russian TV channel:

Maybe these are just a by-product of Freja's status as an established model. Or maybe she really does have a new regard for the industry...one that's not so nonchalant and distanced. We'll see what September brings.

Final Round

This is it. The last round. The final showdown between the two highest vote-getters of the previous round. The pairing with the most votes will emerge victorious and win the satisfaction of knowing that they're thought to be the most compatible pairing by the readers of this blog.

Although Freidi was the winner of Round 1, McBeha came back strong to take Round 2 by a landslide. What happened to all the Heidi lovers? Sadly, you're not going to get a chance to redeem yourselves because Freidi didn't even come in second place. Frily did and so the final round is between:

Frily


McBeha

Go at it. "Vote early and often" (bonus points if you get that reference). Thanks for indulging me while we weather a slow news period. With many magazines' September issue releases just a few weeks away, hopefully we'll get some new editorials and campaign images...maybe even a cover? And fashion month is also around the corner and fast approaching. Goodness, where does the time go?

Image Credits: imaxtree, frillr

Oh, fashionista

Did anyone else see the poll they have going on at fashionista? It's pretty hilarious, and I'm kind of surprised they went there. But they aren't above posting a few rumors now and then so maybe it isn't that surprising.

Anyway, the final round in our face off is coming soon. If you haven't already put in your vote for Round 2, you can still do it here.

Biker Freja says happy weekend!

Image Credits: vmagazine.com

Thanks JD

I've always wondered what Freja's model card at IMG looked like. Now, thanks to JD Ferguson and his blog/twitter, I know:

Most agencies have a wall of photographs displaying all their models. You can kind of get the sense of what a wall would look like from Daria's recent editorial in US Vogue:

These cards are different from the model show cards that come out prior to fashion week. Sometimes they're the cover of a magazine or just a shot from an editorial like Freja's is. I really have no idea what these cards are used for. I would venture to guess they're used as advertising to potential clients, and the wall itself is probably like an achievement wall for the agency.

I wonder how they decide what image to use? Freja's card shows great body movement, but it doesn't really show her amazing face or her versatility. I'd love to be a fly on the wall at IMG so I could get more insight into what happens behind the scenes. That's where all the juicy stuff happens anyway....

JD has been a fan/friend of Freja's since the very beginning. If you search his blog you can find mentions and pictures of Freja going all the way back to '07. Here's hoping Freja makes another appearance there soon.

Image Credits: twitpic.com/photos/jdvision, mariotestino.com

Gorgeous!

A beautiful photo helps to make Mondays more tolerable. Oh how I wish I were frolicking in that field in Vermont right now instead of sitting in front of my computer.

Image Credits: My scans

In the Pages

Freja may not be fashion's current it girl a la Lara Stone, and she may not be Inez and Vinoodh's muse of the moment a la Anja Rubik, but that doesn't mean we won't be seeing her in the pages of magazines.

If you pick up the August issue of W Magazine featuring Ms. Stone herself on the cover, you'll spot Freja three times throughout the issue. The benefits of having a great campaign season! Even if editorials and covers are slow, we have the ads (and a lot of them this time around).

I must say that all three shots are much better in real life. There is still something to be said for traditional print media, and this is why I hope magazines never become obsolete. Digitalization and the internet are great for quickly disseminating information and democratizing access, but you definitely lose something in the translation. Images just seem to pop more when you're holding them on paper in front of you.

That being said, here are the images digitally. :) We've seen them all before, but hopefully you'll get a better sense of how great they are in higher quality. Still doesn't compare to seeing it on paper though.

Chanel:



This one is really gorgeous on the page. The mood and tone of the image definitely sticks out among all the other campaigns. The anachronism of Chanel clothes in a bucolic setting really make you pause. (Sorry for cutting Heidi out. It's hard to scan double pages in W.)

Pollini:



Again, just stunning on the page. Freja's expression and face really make this ad for me.

J Brand:



So colorful and cheery. Seeing this ad just makes me smile. This is on the back inside cover of the magazine. Notice that they photo-shopped some, but not all, of Freja's tattoos out. Why the pick and choose? And also notice the double piercing in her ear lobe. New? I don't recall Freja having that before. Sometimes it's like "Where's Waldo" with her. You always have to keep your eyes open for new tattoos, piercings, haircuts, etc...

Take a good look at all three images. They're all in the same issue of W, but I just love how different Freja looks in all of them. The uninitiated masses probably can't even recognize that it's the same girl in all three ads. Chameleon-like versatility is the sign of a good model. No matter how many times Freja is labeled as the androgynous, tough girl, I'll always know that she's much more than that. This is why she's survived so long in the very fickle fashion industry.

Image Credits: My scans

It's In the Bag

Freja sure has come a long way since she started her modeling career. We've seen her grow comfortable on the runway, learn how to use her body in editorials, and settle into her own style off the runway. Through it all she's maintained an unattached outlook....even indifference to the fashion frenzy that envelopes her. That's part of the reason she's my favorite. Freja's managed to become so successful despite her best efforts to stay away from the limelight.

It kind of feels like modeling found her and won't let her go, not the other way around. With her face and body, what else could be at play other than destiny? I don't know, but I'm starting to think that Freja might just be better than others at hiding her ambition and investment in the fashion industry.

Why? It's in the bag.

Trusty brown Burberry carried for at least 4 seasons. Last seen during the FW0809 shows. Has been MIA ever since.

Moving up to a black Balenciaga for the FW0910 shows. This "it" bag has been seen on the arm of virtually every top model in the industry.

And not even a season later--showing off the ultimate in model accoutrements--a black Chanel 2.55 carried during the FW0910 haute couture shows. Never thought I'd see the day.

The industry's rebel seems to be coming around to its charms. Guess the job rubs off on you, no matter who you are.

For the record, I don't seriously believe that bags are a true indicator of anything, much less Freja's attitude towards the fashion industry. I just think it's interesting and fun to see this evolution. Now I'm waiting for the Rick Owens leather jacket and Givenchy heels to make their appearance. Perhaps during the SS10 shows. :) Or maybe the Ksubis and keffiyeh will make their resurgence. What do you think?

Image Credits: elle.com, imaxtree, isaaclikes.blogspot.com

Cathy Horn, Take Me With You

I need to start traveling with NY Times fashion critic Cathy Horn. She has an amazing knack for visiting Karl's studio whenever Freja is there getting fitted for shows.

Exhibit A: Back in January during the SS09 Haute Couture shows....

Tonight I dropped in to see Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel, and just as I entered the studio (through the famous door marked Mademoiselle), the assistants burst into applause. The bride in the show, Freja Beha Erichsen, had just stepped out in her pants ensemble, with a white paper headdress and a train that swept across half the studio floor.

Exhibit B: One day before the FW0910 Haute Couture show....

Yesterday around 5:30 p.m., I popped in to see Karl Lagerfeld. The studio was moderately crowded: one or two editors parked at one end of Mr. Lagerfeld’s big desk and several Chanel executives at the other. Models—Freja, Snejana and a new young woman who announced that she was from Omaha, Nebraska—were in the second room getting organized for their fittings.

Twice in a row Cathy? Lucky you. For the next round of shows I'm volunteering to be your assistant. Call me!

Also, look at this cute candid from back in February 2007 that was just posted over at fotovalise:

Multitasking never looked so good.

Image Credits: fotovalise.blogspot.com

Tally It Up!

Freja is having an amazing ad campaign season. Last season she only had Karl Lagerfeld and she shared campaign duties with Daria for Roberto Cavalli. This season the tally looks quite different:

Gucci
Chanel
Gap
J Brand Jeans

And now we get to add Pollini as well!

Freja walked on their FW0910 runway for the first time in her career, but she only had one look and she neither opened nor closed the show. Consequently, it's quite a surprise to see her in the ad campaign.

Last season the honor went to Elise Crombez, but that was a little more expected because she made a special appearance on their SS09 runway. These days Elise is pretty much retired from the catwalks except for the occasional Prada stint, so when we saw her walking the show an ad campaign made sense. Runway shows are generally (but not always) a reliable indicator of what to expect model wise in ad campaigns.

Pollini is a show that usually relies on newer models to walk its catwalk. After all, it is a more obscure and smaller label in the fashion scene and so you can't expect all the big name models to come out like they do for Gucci. Freja's appearance on their catwalk was surprising, but it didn't raise any flags for me as a few other established girls like Raquel, Marina and Kinga walked the show as well. I'm quite happy to be taken off guard though!

Jonathan Saunders designs for Pollini in addition to designing under his eponymous label shown in New York. Just in case you forgot, Freja also walked that show for the first time this past season.

I think we might have another Freja fan on our hands here. And if this is the case, then perhaps it's more likely that Freja will make the trip out to London fashion week this upcoming season.

By the way, I think the ad is wonderful. I find the busy, colorful, whimsical background very endearing. It's a nice change of pace and it provides a good foil to the clothing. I hope we get to see more images, but I think Pollini only does one shot. Freja does hard-edged glamour so well that she has the market absolutely cornered in that look. However, I'm looking forward to seeing some of her other sides in her other campaigns for this season.

Image Credits: Scanned by tFS member Luxx, scanned by tFS member sedirea, style.com

Chanel Haute Couture

As expected, Freja walked for Chanel Haute Couture earlier tonight. Other perennial Karl favorites like Milana Keller, Snejana Onopka, Sasha Pivovarova and Denisa Dvorakova were there as well, along with newer girls like Sigrid Agren, Karmen Pedaru and Toni Garrn. Very fitting considering the collection was like a greatest hits both old and new of Chanel.

Freja had two looks and disappointingly her face was covered up in one of them. The second looks was a little more comical, but it did show off her amazingly long legs.

At first Karl's inspiration for the collection was reported to be "floating panels." But then we got another report saying the inspiration was more 70's nightclub. In looking at the complete collection, I can see both aspects very clearly.

Many of the dresses did indeed have panels of fabric floating down the back. Olivier Theyskens favored a similar idea while he was still at Nina Ricci. I like to think of the look as business in the back, party in the front. :)

And Karl's use of embellishments and sequins give off a Studio 54 disco vibe. Hence, the 70's nightclub reference.

The backdrop of the show was four big bottles of Chanel No. 5. You can always count on Karl to be ostentatious and over the top. Lara was the bride this time, and according to Derek Blasberg she and Baptiste kissed to close the show. I guess that's one way to leave an impression, and it also probably explains why Freja did not make her third appearance as the Chanel bride.

Haute Couture shows are still going on, but I don't know how likely it will be for Freja to walk in any of the remaining shows. We'll see though. She's always full of surprises.

Image Credits: catwalking.com, fashionologie, style.com

Who Wore It Better?

Well, scans are already out of the new editorial. That was super fast, especially compared to last time and the days it took to see scans of the Vogue Nippon editorial. Credit goes to tFS member chanelnumber5 for scanning so quickly. It's a studio editorial showcasing the complete looks of designers from Milan. So this means that Freja shot another editorial with Sasha that we'll see somewhere else!

The editorial is quite beautiful in it's simplicity. No jumping to be seen anywhere, and there is some variation in the perspective instead of only full-body shots. There are no shots of Freja and Sasha together, and the rest of the issue's editorials concentrate on the other cities that comprise the fashion catwalk season. Patrick shot all the city editorials, as well as the cover with Sasha. (Side note: does anyone else think it's time for Vogue UK to give Freja a cover already? She's always in their eds, but never on the cover.)

I think that two veteran models like Freja and Sasha really show how crucial it is to have strong models for a simple studio shoot. Otherwise, the images will be flat and lifeless. As trite as it sounds, you need good models to bring the clothes and images alive.

Since there are only six shots with Freja, and they're all basically full runway looks, I thought it would be fun to play "who wore it better?"

Milan
Vogue UK August 2009
Ph: Patrick Demarchelier


Prada: Freja vs. Stephanie Rad


Jil Sander: Freja vs. Odelia Hoholko


Versace: Freja vs. Julia Kharlaponova


Fendi: Freja vs. Freja :)


Giorgio Armani: Freja vs. Natalia Belova


Moschino: Freja vs. Tanya Dziahileva

Image Credits: Scanned by tFS member chanelnumber5, style.com

New Editorial

Finally some new work! Freja has an editorial with Sasha in the upcoming issue of Vogue UK. It's entitled "Milan" and it was shot by Patrick Demarchelier. At the end of May some candids were posted on Freja's thread of her and Sasha posing together for a shoot. However, these were taken on the very noticeable streets of New York, so they might be from another shoot that they did together. Why would an editorial called "Milan" feature the city of New York as it's backdrop?

This:

Looks nothing like this:

Unless "Milan" refers to a different aspect of the shoot like all the clothing being from designers based in Milan? I guess we'll have to wait until images come out to know for sure. But Freja was in London for work early in June. I thought it could have been for a Vogue UK shoot because that made the most sense to me. So maybe she shot two things with Sasha recently. Regardless, I think this is merely the beginning of a lot of new material coming out for us fans, so you better be on your toes.

Image Credits: virtualtourist.com, gonycbus.com

A is for Androgyny

Happy 4th of July weekend to all the Americans out there! And if you're not in the US, I'm sorry you don't get a three day weekend. Maybe this will help get you through the day.

I came across an old issue of Interview magazine with a Freja editorial inside. We saw scans but I remember them being a little iffy, so I've re-scanned because it's a beautiful editorial.

A is for Androgyny
Interview Magazine September 2008
Ph: Mikael Jannson

Note the presence of Sara Blomqvist, a rising young model from Sweden. You can currently see her in the new FW0910 D&G ad campaign, and you can expect to see her on many of the big runways this upcoming season. She had a good showing last season opening Missoni and closing Miu Miu, but I think (and hope) she'll really break out this season.

Sara presents a welcome alternative to the current dominating crop of Eastern European blonds. She's edgy and unique with a feminine touch, much like Freja. And she's absolutely wonderful in editorials like this and this. With such presence like that, I really hope we see much more of her, hopefully in another editorial together with Freja. They make such a striking and strong pair.

And she's a Freja fan as well! Here is what she said about her in a Pony Ryder interview:

PONY RYDER: You did an editorial with model star Freja Beha. How was it? Any tips from the star herself? How do you think you fit in the photo-story with Freja, who has such a unique look?

SARA: I love Freja, she is SO beautiful! The shoot was quite intimate, since we were hugging and looking into each others eyes in almost every picture, but it was fine. She is such a pleasant person! I think we looked really good together, didn't you? :P

I know I always say that I'm tired of seeing Freja in androgynous shoots, but when it's done right and so in-your-face I just love it! Happy fourth and stay safe!

Image Credits: My scans