Versatility Validated

Versatility is a term that is all too frequently thrown around when it comes to models. I think there are actually only a few girls who are truly versatile and Freja is one of them. Here's your proof:

Bergdorf Goodman Catalog FW07
Ph: Candace Meyer


The Rise of the Cyber Patrol
Vogue Nippon January 2009
Ph: Nathaniel Goldberg


This is why I absolutely adore Freja as a model. She can go from looking so beautiful and feminine to looking so androgynous and tough. Her facial features seem to adapt so easily to these extreme moods. And yet, when you see her in candids and backstage photos, you can always recognize her distinctive face. This seemingly contradictory quality is something truly special in a model, and all the top girls have it.

On a side note, the first set of pictures was gathered from three different sources and I'm sure some of them are outtakes. If anyone has any more information about the catalog shoot, or better yet some of the pictures in HQ, leave me a comment. I'd really appreciate it. It's one my favorite sets and I've been trying to find out more about it!

Image Credits:
First Set: candacemeyer.com, jkreps.com, Mixologies LiveJournal
Second Set: Scanned by tFS member MAGstyle

A Small Update

So I left out one of Freja's Chanel runway appearances in this previous post. I didn't even realize my mistake until one of you commented on it. So THANK YOU to whoever you are. I can't believe I left out her first runway appearance at Chanel! I feel pretty stupid for not getting my facts straight. I guess writing all those research papers in college didn't do me much good after all. :)

I also just updated the images in this post. Thanks to member kokobombon at bwgreyscale.com, we have the full set in HQ!

Gucci Girl

The rumors can finally be put to rest because it is official: Freja is a Gucci campaign girl for the fifth time! She's been cast in the upcoming FW0910 campaign along with Raquel Zimmerman, Natasha Poly and Jacquetta Wheeler. Those are the only confirmed names so far. Earlier speculation put the total model count at nine, so if those rumors are to be believed, we are still missing five names. Members at tFS have thrown around the likes of Anja Rubik, Lily Donaldson, and Abbey Lee Kershaw as possibilities for the other models. And considering that Inez and Vinoodh are shooting, I wouldn't be surprised to see Eniko Mihalik either. But we'll have to wait for more official word.

After going through a slight slump campaign wise these last few seasons, Freja is back in top form nabbing both the Chanel and Gucci campaigns. A total coup for any model as both are big name, blue-chip campaigns. This is a repeat of her SS07 campaign season and I couldn't be happier. It's just reassuring to see that Freja is still at the top after all these seasons, without the help of Steven Meisel I might add. (Yes, I am still bitter about the fact that he won't work with her, but that's another story.) Freja's looks fit perfectly with the Gucci brand, and while many people are already complaining about the boring casting, I am excited about the reunion of the three Gucci by Gucci perfume campaign models.

Anyway, the official news was broken by tFS member JSYK but there have been whsipers around the internet for weeks that Freja was in. And just yesterday I came across more evidence that I feel I can post about now. While I was reading this article in the NY Times about Frida Giannini and the return of the boyfriend suit, this quote immediately stuck out in my mind:

But she has an ability to hit on the mood of the moment, whether it is the new advertising campaign she is shooting in London with the photographic duo Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin or her “fetish,” thigh-high boots.

Then I was browsing Freja's "official website" and came across this answer from her in response to a fan question:

i was actually in london when my family celebrated easter, but ive been home for a day now hanging out with my friends, cooking, jammin, had a lot of fun, but tomorrow im off to new york, city ive missed!

I don't think Freja travels to London a lot unless it's for work, so here we have even more evidence if you're willing to believe that the official site is legitimate. And New York? Wonder what Freja could be doing there? Shooting another campaign perhaps? Or maybe an editorial? It's fun to think about the possibilities, isn't it?

A Look Back at the FW0708 Chanel Ad Campaign

Freja was the face of Chanel for two consecutive seasons, and the ads from each couldn't be more different. The SS07 season was bright, minimalist and open. The FW0708 was exactly the opposite as you can see below. Karl opted for a palette of black and more black, most likely to coincide with the darker mood of the fall/winter season. However, I think he went too far by slapping that black wig on Freja and converting her into a Morticia Adams lookalike.

Generally I like the use of shadows in photography because I think they can bring great contrast and complexity to images. Here, the shadows are overwhelming and distracting. They are too opaque and I find myself straining to look past them at the clothes. Needless to say, I'm not really a fan of this campaign.

These days it has been very quiet on Freja front. We haven't had any news other than the upcoming Chanel campaign, which is why my excitement level is very high. We know it was shot up in Vermont at Karl's new home. I just wonder how different the ads will be compared to last seasons', also shot up in Vermont. Will Karl employ the same strategy as he did for SS07 and FW0708 and turn out two diametrically opposed campaigns in terms of appearance? Guess we'll just have to wait and see!



Image Credits: Freja's thread at tFS

Blast from the Past

I came across an old editorial this weekend and I just had to post it:

Is It Better to be Alone?
Vogue Italia November 2005
Ph: Bruce Weber
(click for HQs)


This came pretty early in Freja's career, and it is so different from anything we've seen her do lately. It's amusing to think back to before she gained her reputation as a "rebel." Prior to the short hair, tattoos, and laid-back nonchalance, Freja was a wide-eyed, excited newbie just like all the other girls starting out. So naturally she would be placed in an editorial that looks like this.

The theme seems pretty conventional, but if you take the time to look there is definitely an ominous feeling that seeps throughout all the shots. The constantly changing model configurations gives a sense of unease and instability. Who is supposed to be with whom? Why is Freja the only female? Is she in danger? Or is she in control? Even at this early stage of her career, Freja brings this extra edge and mystery to a simple story concept. And isn't that the mark of a great model? The ability to be a blank slate and unique personality at the same time?

Anyway, I should really make a practice of looking at old editorials more often because I noticed some things I missed the first time around. In the second picture Freja's eyes are so light! It could just be the way the light is hitting them, but I've never seen them that way before and they're gorgeous. And in the seventh picture Freja reminds me so much of Kate Moss, especially in the two middle frames. I was really taken aback by how much she looks like Kate there and I've never seen any similarity between the two of them before.

I would love for Freja to be cast in another editorial like this right now. We rarely get to see her exuding this type of overt femininity because she's usually limited to being edgy, hard, or androgynous. Luckily we have old editorials to remind us that she's extremely versatile in that she can pull off both extremes of the gender role spectrum. And that is yet another mark of a great model.

Image Credits: bwgreyscale.com