With a Little Help From Her Friends

Besides showing up in a stunning editorial with Sasha in the current issue of V Magazine, Freja also shows up in a small feature on Copenhagen designers.

It seems like this shoot was a collaborative effort among Freja's circle of friends.

The photography was shot by male model Christian Brylle.

The styling was done by model Sheila Marquez.

And makeup and hair were done by male model Lasse Pederson.

Now, I'm not sure if it's really Lasse Pederson as in male model with red hair Lasse Pederson, or just someone with the same name. I tend to think it's the later, because I doubt male models are in the practice of moonlighting as makeup artists, but I could be wrong. After all, the whole shoot is all about Copenhagen, and Freja, Christian and Lasse are all Danish. You have Agnete Hegelund in there as well.

Regardless, it's nice to see Copenhagen fashion getting recognition. It's also nice to see the Danes coming together creatively. It must have been nice for all of them. When you can't go home, having home come to you is the next best thing.

Image Credits: my scan, jdvision.blogspot, fashionmag.com, uniquemodels.blogspot

Photography, Politics and Purple

Freja's Purple Magazine editorial is up, thanks to candlebougie at tFS. And depending on your sex, your opinion about the exploitative tendencies of the fashion industry, and your views on sexual politics, you're either going to love it or hate it.

Best of the Season
Purple Magazine FW0910
Ph: Terry Richardson
(note: this is not the complete editorial, only pictures with Freja)

Look, I've taken my share of feminist theory classes but it's not my place to tell you how you should feel about this editorial. You're initial, gut reaction to the images is what you should use to gauge how you feel about Terry Richardson, his work and his "artistic" approach. Not what other people say, not what you think you should feel, not what you think is politically correct, not how you feel about the models.

As much as I want to go off right now, this blog isn't the place for me to pass judgment on Terry, the fashion industry that's embraced his approach, or the agents and models who are permissive and complicit in his image making. As much as I want to, I'm going to refrain and hold my tongue. (And I know that most of you, scratch that, all of you don't want to read a rant about patriarchy, the male gaze, the marginalization of lesbianism, yadda, yadda, yadda.)

However, I do want to do an interesting comparison. On the one hand, you have this editorial above that was photographed by a heterosexual male. On the other hand, you have this editorial below that was photographed by a homosexual female.

Clean Living
i-D Magazine February 2009
Ph: Collier Schorr

It's interesting to note the similar subject matter (in that there is nudity and Freja), yet completely differing end results. In fact, it's striking to me how different the images feel, how different Freja is portrayed, and how different I feel in response. Perhaps the differences are so stark to me because I know about both photographers and their histories. This hits home the point that photography absolutely depends on the gaze behind the lens and the gaze of the consumer as much as, if not more than what is captured within the frame.

There are different narratives and hierarchies behind all photographs that we see, separate from the ones contained within the actual images. They color our perceptions, perhaps without our knowing it. I guess what I'm trying to say is that there is no such thing as objectivity, for nothing exists in a vacuum. This is what makes photography such an interesting medium. It exists under a guise of objectivity because it purports to capture the "real." However, photography is just as constructed and affected as any other medium of art. The fact that it is so entrenched and intertwined with the production of fashion says something...I just don't really know what yet.

The more you know about social issues and politics and the more you experience those things first hand, the harder it will be to divorce certain ideas from your mind when you view these images...any images. So despite any enjoyment I may have from seeing two of my favorite models together in this editorial and seeing Freja's beautiful smile once again, Terry's reputation precedes itself and that's just something I can't overlook right now.

I'd love to hear what you feel and why because other opinions are always appreciated, no matter how different from my own they may be.

Image Credits: fashionista.com, scans by tFS member candlebougie

Backstage at Fendi

If you have 50 minutes to spare and any real interest in how a fashion show is put together, you have to watch this documentary from the Sundance channel called "The Day Before Fendi."

It's very rare that we get such a detailed look at what goes into the preparations for a fashion show and what the backstage looks like on the day of. I found this documentary to be utterly enthralling and informative. I was awed, and even found myself nearly moved to tears at the passion, emotion and charm of the people who work in the atelier. Their dedication to and love of their work is admirable and something we should all be so lucky to find. And if it wasn't already evident before, it is completely evident now: women are the absolute backbone of the fashion industry, both as it's consumers but more importantly as it's producers. The Italian women in the video are simply amazing in their talents and yet they seem so humble. They represent everything that is good about the industry: loyalty, skill, craft, dedication.

Anyway, since this is a Freja blog here are the places where you can catch (very quick) glimpses of her. Seriously, blink and you'll miss it.

Part 5
1:46-2:00: Freja and Cat are in the background as they arrive for the show. Then Freja stops to get some food.
2:45: Freja is getting her makeup done.
8:15: She's greeting Karl.

Part 6
3:00: Freja is standing backstage, looking so calm amid all the chaos.
4:00: She's in the lineup of models doing the final walk.
4:36: She's backstage just after the show ends.

I mean it. If you have any interest in fashion at all beyond Freja, watch everything. You will not be sorry. Sundance will also be airing documentaries for Sonia Rykiel, JPG and Proenza Schouler. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that some kind soul will upload them to youtube, because if this Fendi doc is any indication, none of these should be missed!

The Classic Beauty, Revisited

There's an interesting article in the advertising section of the WSJ today, talking about the return of classic, girl-next-door looks within the fashion industry in the face of the economic downturn. It seems like common sense to me; when things are difficult, people take less risks in favor of playing it safe.

This season we've seen a comeback of sorts for Freja. She's never really left the picture, but we haven't seen this much work from her in a long time. So, I wonder if her resurgence can be partly attributed to this return of the "classic beauty?"

I've always considered Freja to be beautiful in the most generally appealing way. No overly harsh cheekbones, no quirky features, and an absolutely radiant smile. Her beauty is accessible and easily digestible to all people regardless of their interest in fashion. My non-fashion minded friends will never understand the appeal of Hanne or Abbey, but they all think Freja is gorgeous.

"Since the supermodel era of the late 1980s and early 1990s, the fashion landscape has become so segmented that few models can carry both high-end fashion brands and mainstream campaigns. But lately models with classic looks are again doing it all."

Freja falls into this "few models" category because she is a classic beauty who happens to have a subtle edge if you know how to look for it. For instance, her forehead is a little larger than average, her nose is definitely unique and her cupid's bow is very pronounced. I think these are the things that have made her so adaptable as a model, and they explain why her resume impressively jumps from high-end to mainstream and back again.

If anyone has interesting thoughts on the subject, please share. We're experiencing the calm before the fashion week storm right now. And so I leave you with one last quote from the article.

"IMG's Mr. Cunningham doesn't agree that the current aesthetic will continue to reign. 'This look is fickle, and it's cyclical, and this too shall pass,'"

Sound familiar?

Showcards? Really?

IMG's showcards are out. Although, looking at the whole bunch, I have a hard time believing these are actually it. They look like they were put together last minute by an intern who used Photoshop and pictures from all the girls' tFS threads. Most of the cards, including Freja's, use a newer picture. Lara and Sasha's cards even feature their latest September covers that came out not too long ago. None of the cards are in color and they're all missing model measurements, a crucial component of the showcard. This is why I think these cards were a rush job, cobbled together as an afterthought.

Maybe these are just temporary showcards? Is there even such a thing? IMG usually puts out decent ones. They're not on the level of Supreme's, but I don't think anyone expects them to be. I guess I'm just confused because I thought they'd look better than this. With the quantity of high profile models on their roster, you'd think IMG would invest a little more in making their showcards. Or is it precisely for that reason why they don't? They're already so successful that showcards are a mere formality now?

Anyway, the cards remind me of this old models feature in Vogue Paris. Similar graphics and feel. Do you see it?

Just some final notes:
-Cato has moved up to the Women's board. I guess doing Models.Live helped her more than it helped Madeline and Austria who don't even have showcards and are both still on the Development board.
-Caroline Trentini makes her IMG showcard debut.
-Daria has no card. I guess I can stop hoping that she'll make a runway comeback.
-There are some great new faces who I'll be keeping my eyes on, but I'm putting my money on Bara for a breakout season.

Image Credits: imgmodels.com