"Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin photographed 22-year old Danish model Freja Beha Erichsen, whose unabashed androgyny is living proof that you can be one of the most important models in current fashion without having to hide your tattoos or your sexuality, and without having to conform to a stereotypically female look--just like the tattoo on her right arm: 'Serendipity is Life.'"
Other notable models who have participated in this regular feature include Angela Lindvall, Lara Stone and most recently, Dree Hemingway. All were shot by Inez and Vinoodh in the same black and white, stripped down, nothing left to the imagination style and I can imagine that the same will be true for Freja.
These editorials are always so gorgeous to me because they show the pureness and rawness of the human form without pretense or judgment; just the body in all it's unabashed, natural glory. And because our society is so prudish, it's rare that we get the chance to see images like this and to appreciate the wonders of one of the most beautiful and complex forms on earth. (Side Note: I still can't understand why people were so mad about Janet Jackson's nipplegate during the Super Bowl a few years back. For crying out loud, it was just a boob and we all have them to varying degrees of size. Get over it people. Frankly, I think the world would be a much happier and better place if we all saw a little more boob-age on a daily basis.)
And maybe since the nudity is always so unashamed and proud in this Purple feature, it kind of becomes de-sexualized to my eyes and instead transforms into a work of pure art. Does that make sense? I don't know...that could just be my way of viewing things like this. I'm pretty sure my perception is slightly skewed because I don't even bat an eye anymore when I see nudity in fashion photography. Often times it's one of the last things I'll notice because I'm too busy paying attention to all the other elements like the model, the poses, the perspective, etc... You know you're abnormal when Lara Stone looks stranger clothed than nude.
Anyway, this Purple Naked editorial is interesting news. I'm excited to see Freja get more work of course, but I'm also kind of afraid of the reaction this will elicit from all the fans. I just think this could be more fuel for the fangirl fire in a bad way, but I know I'm speaking too soon because we haven't even seen the final product yet. I will say that I'm disappointed this editorial will focus once again on Freja's androgyny. That's such an old meme. But perhaps at this point it's what she's known for and her trademark, so I should just get over it and accept the fact that it will be impossible for people to separate the two. At least she's consistently getting work right?
Though, I ask you this: Is it better to be famous for one thing to the point where it becomes a handicap, even though you owe your longevity to it? Or is it better to be malleable even if it means you'll fade away? I don't think it has to be either or and I'm just waiting for someone else to think the same way.
This is getting insanely long so I'll leave you with two more things to mull over. We'll undoubtedly see a full frontal nudity shot, so does this mean we'll finally get to see what the infamous 15th tattoo looks like? And this is the closest that we've ever gotten to official confirmation about Freja's sexuality so I wonder, why now? Why in this way? Oh Freja. Just when I think I have you all figured out, you go and do something to show me that the only thing I know for sure is that I know nothing at all.
Image Credits: purple-diary.com
No comments:
Post a Comment