Blink and you'll miss it

I was browsing Stella McCartney's site in my search for some new workout clothes. I think I just wanted to torture myself by looking at her collection for Adidas, knowing full well that I'd never spend that much on clothes I sweat in no matter how cute they are. Anyway, I started poking around the rest of her site and came across this backstage video from FW0910.

If you skip to around 1:30 you'll see a quick exchange of looks between Freja and Magdalena. I just think this is cute because it gives us a small glimpse of the camaraderie between models backstage. I think many people are still under the assumption that models are bitchy, snobby, cut-throat people. Linda Evangelista didn't do much to dispel that stereotype with her infamous quote about not getting out of bed for less than $10,000 a day. But these days, with "model" holding a lower cache than it did back in the 90s, most girls genuinely seem down to earth and like they get along in their little model cabals.

They form bonds due to their shared experiences and it shows in the few backstage videos and photos that we get to see. In fact, I think we'd probably be surprised at all the different models friendships going on, simply because what we get to see backstage is only a tiny fraction of it all. If you're like me and you religiously read Tatiana the Anonymous Model's column at Jezebel, you'd know that some of her posts reflect and reaffirm that sense of camaraderie.

Anyway, sorry that there isn't any sound and that the video quality is so crappy. Normally, I wouldn't post something like this because it's kind of insignificant....literally blink and you will miss it. But it's a slow news day and regardless of what it does or doesn't mean in the grand scheme of intra-model interactions and friendships, I just think it's a sweet, funny moment. Maybe the Fragdalena pairing isn't such a far-fetched idea after all. Too bad it didn't get any votes. :(

And speaking of, the next round of voting will go up sometime later this week. Thanks to all who indulged my attempt at having some fun. :)

Freja Fans are Everywhere

In the current June/July 2009 issue of Interview magazine with Bjork on the cover, there is an interview of artist Chantal Joffe by designer Stella McCartney. While reading this feature, I was pleasantly surprised to see Freja pop up in conversation and in painting.

Picture of the artist in her studio

Here is the intro to the piece to give you an idea of who Joffe is (bolded for the tl,dr crowd), followed by some interesting excerpts:

Women, children and fashion--on paper, Chantal Joffe's interests seem pretty quotidian. But on canvas, where the 39-year-old artist paints shots ripped from fashion magazines, or photographs of friends holding their babies, the feminine world suddenly becomes a dark, loaded, highly sexualized place. Joffe in not a realist. She distorts the women in her frames for ultimate psychological effect. But the subjects rarely seem like victims, even if the brushstrokes are hard and unforgiving. It turns out, Joffe is actually a massive fan of fashion and sees what she does as high celebration. She paints models like Freja Beha, Kate Moss and Lara Stone because they seem to her like storybook characters come to life. Recently, Joffe even collaborated with fashion photographer Miles Aldridge, painting his wife, model Kristen McMenamy, in Joffe's studio, while Aldridge shot film. This paint was included in the artist's most recent solo show, in New York this spring at Cheim & Read gallery. The love of the fashion industry has proven reciprocal. Stella McCartney is one designer who collects Joffe's work. In fact, Joffe has painted all three of McCartney's children (the paintings hand in the Stella McCartney store in London) and even shot models backstage at McCartney's Fall 2009 show in Paris. The two friends caught up to discuss, among other things, why the weird models are always the sexiest.
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MCCARTNEY: Because it doesn't look like one. It looks tome like a celebration of the female form--and that in itself is a connection with fashion.
JOFFE: I don't know where else I would find all of those images of women. And I actually love specific models as well. It's funny, I've been painting Freja a lot.
MCCARTNEY: So you saw her at my show then?
JOFFE: Yeah, it was like meeting somebody out of a book. I mean, I didn't talk to her, and I didn't really want to. She's such an odd character.
MCCARTNEY: Why didn't you want to talk to her?
JOFFE: I thought she might think I was creepy more than anything else. [both laugh] But I like the weird ones. I like the girls who are a little odd.
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JOFFE: When you're looking through a magazine, what makes you stop and think is when you see an image and imagine the narrative that is going on inside of it. Those are the ones I make into paintings.
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JOFFE: Do you pick the models for your show?
MCCARTNEY: I choose them. I have a guy who does casting for me, but we work together. It's funny because whenever someone else is excited about a girl who I am not keen on and I eventually give in, I always regret it when I see her on the runway....
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MCCARTNEY: And yet you paint these lovely, young women who just come across as perfection. You paint perfection sometimes, don't you? When you think of fashion photography, it's a dream. It's like we all want to be those women. We want to wear those dresses.
JOFFE: I don't think I do want to be them. I'm fascinated to imagine what their lives are like, but I certainly wouldn't want to be them.
MCCARTNEY: I don't think their lives are anywhere near a glamorous as you think.
JOFFE: It just fascinates me to be only 18 and to have that life.
MCCARTNEY: Eighteen! They're old if they're 18 in this day and age.
JOFFE: Right. But still I'm interested in the sheer fascination of beauty--beauty is fascinating.

For sake of comparison, the original photographs:

I love art so I was absolutely thrilled to see this. At first glance Joffe's paintings could be considered slightly grotesque but I think that's part of their beauty. I could go on and on about the artistic implications of her work, but I'll spare you...

It's nice to see that there are Freja fans everywhere from all walks of life. Now I feel like my fanaticism is legitimized in a way because I'm in good company and it's being addressed in Interview magazine. And I thought the part where Stella talks about the casting for her show was very illuminating. Freja has walked for her many times so I suppose we can call Stella a fan as well. :) Anyway, if you're interested I've scanned the full article below. Now we should keep our eyes out for more of Joffe's work!

Image Credits: fashionista.com, my scans

Tweeting Part II

Some more interesting info coming out of Heidi Mount's twitter.

surrounded by books. i love karls studio!!!

Freja didnt know about twitter. shame.

Perhaps she and Freja are working on something for the Chanel Haute Couture show coming up in July? Maybe they're shooting the look book, or getting fitted for their dresses. Although, I think it's still too early for the later, so the former seems like a better possibility. Exciting!

And to tell you the truth, I'm kind of glad Freja doesn't know about twitter. Well she probably does now, but that's besides the point. Can you imagine what would happen if she started twittering? That would just increase the fanaticism over her and I don't necessarily think that's a good thing. Ok yes, I'm a pretty big fan considering I have this blog. But the official site is enough for me. For some reason I like the people I admire to maintain some distance from me. I guess it keeps the allure going. Am I the only one that feels this way?

Anyway, I think I'm still ambivalent about Twitter. It's useful if the tweets that you follow come from people who hold interesting jobs. i.e. Come fashion week twitter will be great for getting the latest updates about everything going on at the shows from people actually sitting at the shows. Otherwise, I feel like it's probably just another internet fad that will eventually come to be obsolete (Hello Friendster and Myspace). I have a twitter account but that's only so I can follow all my favorite fashion related people and websites. And ok, I'll admit it, I tweeted twice. But that was only because I was super excited about Obama and Biden eating lunch across the street from my office that day. :) Otherwise, I hold no illusions about my life that would warrant me giving minute by minute updates.

I don't know, what are you're thoughts on twitter? Anyone interesting out there that I should be following? I do love me some Fake Karl.

Tweet, Tweet

Freja was spotted in New York last week, but apparently she's already moved onto Paris this week. Check out these three successive tweets from Heidi Mount posted within hours of each other:

1: just arrived in Paris and i feel like my hotel room is backwards or just not right. that makes no sense

2: i just threw two sunflower seeds in frejas mouth

3: now i missed

How cute is that!? They always seem to have a fun, laid back time together. Heidi has been updating up her twitter account for a few months now, and she alternates between tweeting about her personal life and her work. She is definitely a reliable source, so we now know that Freja is in Paris working with Heidi on something. Freja already told us she was off on a round trip to NY and Paris a few weeks ago so she's true to her word if any of you ever doubted it.

We keep on getting news of Freja traveling all over the world for work, but it's been so quiet on the editorial front lately. Hopefully all her work these last few months will translate into a plethora of material in a few months time. I can't wait!

Oh, and once again thanks goes to slow_hands over at tFS for the tip. (I swear, sometimes I think you should be writing this blog.)

Self Service

As requested, here are HQs of Freja's editorial in the Fall/Winter 2008 issue of Self Service magazine. It was shot by Inez and Vinoodh and also features Anja Rubik, Catherine McNeil, Eniko Mihalik, and Lara Stone. For the most part, all the girls were shot separately so I'm only posting the ones with Freja.

Untitled
Self Service #29 Fall/Winter 2008
Ph: Inez and Vinoodh

I also just want to say thank you to the readers and commentators out there. I really appreciate your feedback, tips, recommendations and general enthusiasm. I started this blog for myself basically as an outlet for all this energy and admiration I had for Freja and fashion in general. I never thought anyone would actually care to read my endless ramblings, so thank you so much.

In NYC with HGO

Remember Freja's blog post about two weeks ago on her official site? Remember this excerpt?

packed for 4 days in Monaco and now have to do a bigger roundtrip to Paris and then New York

Remember how I told you to keep your eyes open? Well, thanks to the ever vigilant tFS member slow_hands, we have a Freja sighting in NY via the modelinia twitter. So, true to her blog post, Freja is on the move and presumably hard at work.

Even though you can't really tell because of the blurriness of the picture, she's with Hanne-Gaby Odiele outside the Ksubi store. It seems like they're just chilling so I doubt it's work related. Perhaps just two friends hanging out and doing some shopping on a sunny spring afternoon in the city.

I didn't know that Freja and Hanne were friends, but it doesn't surprise me. Hanne is friends with Sheila Marquez and I'm pretty sure Freja and Sheila are friends. I think Sheila is also dating Christian Brylle and we know that Freja and Christian are friends. Maybe I should draw a diagram?

Anyway Hanne seems like an awesome, laid back girl and she's a fabulous model. It took me a while to warm to her, but now I'm a total fan of her unique look and amazing sense of personal style. Check out this video of her navigating her amazing closet and see the effortless way she pairs pieces together. This is part of the reason she won me over. When her modeling career ends she should definitely look into becoming a stylist.

By the way, I didn't mean for this post to come off as a walking advertisement for modelinia. It just happened that way. I swear they're not paying me......much. :)

Image Credits: twitter.com/modelinia

Name Amalgamations

Since there is no news to report of, I'm gonna have a little fun. I totally get a kick from the contemporary trend of combining two names into one. It's fun to do and pretty addictive. So here are Freja and some of her model compatriots.

Round 1:

Frily


McBeha


Frina


Lareja


Freidi


Crombeha


Fragdalena

Pairing with the lowest votes gets thrown out. If this actually works, I'll do successive rounds until we have a winner. If this doesn't work, then at least we all get to enjoy some old school pictures. :) Personally, if I base this solely in the name, Fragdalena wins for me. But overall, with all factors included, I'm not sure who I'd vote for.

Image Credits: Celebritycity, fashionmag.com, fashion_shows