The Light at the End

The picture above basically sums up what I've said to my life these past three weeks. But no matter now because the end is near and in about a week I can stop neglecting my friends, my work and my health. For Paris Fashion Week is here! The last city for the FW1011 season and thank goodness for that.

Will Freja keep up her stellar runway record here? What shows can we expect to see her walk in? Like in all the other cities, I'm sure we'll see her pop up unexpectedly at a show she hasn't walked since her early days. The question is, which one will it be? I'm secretly hoping for Ann Demeulemeester (a show she's only walked once in her first season) but I know that's nearly impossible. But if these past few weeks have taught us anything, it's that we should throw our long held assumptions out the door (Hello Vogue Italia cover shot by Steven Meisel). Maybe it will be Givenchy? Or maybe it will be something else entirely out of left field? Place your bets.

Anyway, speaking of Vogue Italia, the editorial is out but I'm waiting for some HQs before I do a write up on it. Also, there's just too much to say and the sheer excitement of it all is threatening to render me speechless, so I'm just going to take the time to let my thoughts marinate. From what I can see so far though, it's a beautiful editorial.

Image Credits: imaxtree.com

Milan FW1011 Recap

In all the excitement I nearly forgot that the Milan shows ended.

Milan Fashion Week F/W 10.11 - 12 Shows Total
2 Opening Slots
1 Closing Slot

Alberta Ferretti - 1 Look
Dolce & Gabbana - 2 Looks
Emilio Pucci - 2 Looks
Etro - 2 Looks
Fendi - 2 Looks
Gianfranco Ferre - 2 Looks
Gucci (O) - 3 Looks
Jil Sander - 1 Look
Marni - 3 Looks
Max Mara (O) (C) - 3 Looks
Roberto Cavalli - 1 Look
Versace - 2 Looks

Milan brought us a week full of ups and one down. Freja started off by walking in Fendi last Thursday. Good old reliable Karl....never stop your professional love for Freja please. It comforts us when bad things happen, like Freja not walking for Prada. But that's water under the bridge because the rest of the week more than made up for it.

Friday brought Freja's second time walking the runway for Alberta Ferretti, the first time being a year ago during the FW0910 season. She went from looking soft and feminine at that show, to looking ultra modern and sleek at Gianfranco Ferre. Things would have been perfect for me had their FW0910 campaign girl Karolin Wolter also walked the show, but she completely missed out on Milan, much to my devastation.

However, the day continued with Freja walking for Versace and Jil Sander. The latter was a nice surprise and brought back many memories of her early seasons when she was a regular. I've noticed that a lot this season. Freja has been walking shows she hasn't done in a while, and she's even looking once again like the young, bright eyed model fresh from Denmark. I don't know if it's just what I want to see, or if something has happened but I do know that I like it. A lot.

Saturday was by far Freja's biggest day with four shows and a few key runway slots. The day started when she opened and closed Max Mara. I really hope this means the odds are good for an upcoming campaign, because that would be amazing. I think her image now fits the brand quite nicely, for she has definitely matured into a sophisticated, reliable model.

Freja walked for Etro next (in two completely disparate looks), before going on to open Gucci...an appearance that surely shocked Natasha fans who were expecting their queen to either open or close (or both!) the show considering that she's the current face of the brand. I wonder what this means for the upcoming campaign? I personally hope it goes to a new face. *cough* Karmen *cough*

The day ended with Freja walking for Emilio Pucci. I'll be honest, after last season's slight walking fiasco, I wasn't sure if she'd be back but thankfully she was. I hope this means that we'll see Freja at Rykiel again, despite the fact that she stuck out like a sore thumb last season.

Freja kept going strong on the last day of shows for her. She reliably walked for Marni in the morning. I know not everyone "gets" the eccentric, haphazard Marni woman; but it's a show that I absolutely love for its whimsy and calculated craziness. It's also a show that I love seeing Freja walk for, and I would have been really disappointed had she not.

Dolce & Gabbana was her next stop and she made quite the impression as the second girl out. Most people couldn't even remember if Freja had walked the show before, but old school fans know that she was a regular going way back for both of Domenico and Stefano's brands. Needless to say, it was nice to see her walking for them again.

Milan ended with Freja walking for Roberto Cavalli, and with us getting the biggest news we could get as Freja fans. :)

What a week, what a week. Are you exhausted yet? Well, the end is near with Paris shows starting tomorrow and going on for a week before FW1011 is over. I don't think there's anything left for Freja to surprise us with, but I could be wrong. You can never underestimate a heavily tattooed model who comes back with her first Steven Meisel lensed Vogue Italia cover five years into her career.

Image Credits: style.it, tmagazine

The VI Cover

I'm still in a daze. A wonderful, dreamy daze.

The word classic comes to mind. There's just something to be said for a beautiful cover with a beautiful model. Yes, beautiful. Even if you're not a Freja fan it would be ludicrous to say that she isn't beautiful. I know it's subjective, but please let's be real. I know it's too early to say, and of course I'm biased, but I hope this cover becomes an iconic one in the history of VI, simply for what it stands for and for what it means to models. After all, Freja is a model who has seemingly defied all norms and odds to reach the pinnacle of success in her field.

No frills (except for the clothes), no thrills; just clean, straightforward, feminine beauty. Thank you Meisel for getting over whatever qualms you had and finally making this happen. Freja fans around the world are rejoicing right now for sure. And thank you fashion industry for showing everyone that hard work, perseverance, dedication to craft, and steady evolution CAN win out in the end sometimes; that luck and fickleness are not always the major determining factors in a model's career. Speaking for all the long time fans out there (and there are many), I can say that we're absolutely elated and that this couldn't have happened to a better more deserving model. I'm sure everyone reading this is a fan, but if you're not you have to at least respect what Freja has been able to accomplish over half a decade in an industry notorious for treating models like they literally are a dime a dozen.

Anyway, the features of Freja's face are unique in that they are both strong and delicate. This explains why she can go from doing androgynous editorials like this one, to feminine ones like this one. It's a very rare face that can handle both types of styling and aptly express such two different sides so well. Some people may not understand this feminine Freja, but it's something I've been hoping to see again for a very long. It's something who's lack of I've complained about countless times on this blog. Perhaps Freja's personality and off-duty street style have created an overshadowing persona, inhibiting some people from seeing anything else but androgyny? Well, it's their utter loss. And no matter, because the people who count can see it too and this cover is proof positive. Bravo Meisel. Brava Freja. Your fans have never been more proud!

Image Credits: vogue.it via tFS member tarsha

The News We've All Been Waiting For!

We were anticipating it, expecting it, demanding it. And now it's here and it's true. Freja has the March 2010 cover of Vogue Italia shot by Steven Meisel!

"We welcome spring through the intense gaze of Freja Beha Erichsen, the 22-year old Danish top model, clad in a white lace dress by Dolce e Gabbana. Behind the camera the skillful eye of fashion photographer Steven Meisel. This is the cover look for the new issue of Vogue, at your newsstand on 3 March. The magazine, with its photo shoots, interviews and cult features, will tell us about the month of March, dictating the latest trends in fashion and beauty but also in art and music. Always focusing on events and celebrities. "

For Freja fans who've been with her for years (like myself) , this is the news we've always hoped for but never thought to be in the realm of possibility. In fact, hearing it now still seems a little surreal. Like a fuzzy dream that leaves remnants in your memory after you wake up. But this IS real.

How very fitting that we end the last day of Milan Fashion Week with this news. During one of her best runway seasons ever, we get the proverbial cherry on top; icing on the cake; having our cake and eating it too. Truly, truly unbelievable in the best possible way. I feel like words just aren't adequate enough to express how happy I am for this. I guess it just feels nice to have all the time and effort we've put in over the years as fans finally pay off to the fullest.

Thanks to tFS member slow_hands for breaking the news!!!! Now we celebrate! :)

From Backstage in Milan

You guys all know who Delphine Achard is, right? If you love backstage pictures then you're definitely familiar with her beautiful work. I've talked about her before because I was so drawn to some photographs she took of Freja during the FW0910 season. And it turns out that Delphine is shooting backstage for Vogue Paris and WWD at the Milan shows right now.

Anyway, she knows (and is probably amused at) how huge of a Freja fan I am and all of you are, so she's created a new little section on her website of some backstage pictures from this season, with Freja being featured prominently. Here's a sneak peek below of Freja backstage at Versace:

If you want to see the other pictures I'm sending you to Delphine's own website. If you've never been before, take a few moments, browse around and soak up the beautiful images from various seasons that Delphine deftly captures with her camera. You definitely won't be sorry! Oh, and if you're going to post these anywhere or use them for your tumblrs, blogs, facebooks, twitters, whatever....please don't forget the proper credits and to link back to Delphine's website. We're lucky enough to get these pictures so let's not abuse the privilege please. And more exposure for Delphine might mean more pictures for us in the future. ;) Thank you Delphine!

Image Credits: photographs taken by Delphine Achard @ www.delphineachard.com

The Pattern Continues

Take a look a this old post. And now take a look at this backstage picture from Fendi:

Some things will never change. :)

Image Credits: wwd.com

Surprises Aren't Always Good

If you've been reading this blog, you've probably noticed that a huge theme for this season has been surprises. Freja getting photographed by Meisel for US Vogue. Freja walking in Anna Sui for the first time ever. Freja opening and closing Oscar de la Renta. Well, surprises aren't always so pleasant and we had our first taste of the other side of things today.

Freja didn't walk for Prada, the show at which she made her world wide runway debut back during the FW0506 season. She's missed the show twice before (SS08 and SS09) but she left Milan early both those times. This is the first time where she's been in the city but hasn't walked for the show, meaning she did not get cast for whatever reason. So, surprise indeed.

On a positive note, she was at Fendi earlier today. So at least we know she's doing Milan! I'm still disappointed to say the least. Freja and Prada just go so well together in my mind, but after seeing the styling of the show I can understand why she wasn't the best fit for it. Nevertheless, it still sucks. It sucks about as much as when Elise Crombez stopped walking for Prada. :(