11 01 2012

STYLE BY NEW AMERICA

as americans, we are being redefined. whether you know it or not, we are. regardless of whether you’re able to recognize it; we’re changing and evolving into a greater cultural community of boundless possibilities and limitless inspiration. though i’ve never been one to reveal too much about certain opportunities or ideas i have, in making a greater attempt to break my usual format, i have been doing much more mental marinating. often times taking topics & researching them much more thoroughly in order to develop stronger angles, better manipulation of language & overall vision. becoming bored with the fashion calendar & growing slightly less interested in show season, my decision to make a change is in progress. a greater discussion needs to be had. all these thoughts have been boiling through conversation, both internal & external, and through different themes i am choosing to write about here. the evolved form of internal conversation is definitely one that works more smoothly in categories. i look for themes in my everyday life and identify how these are being pronounced. the common theme of all being rooted in style.

one tuesday morning i found the universe speaking to me through a piece i read on nick wooster. but let’s pull it back. what is being an american to you? im aware that some of you may be reading this outside of my american parameter, but think, even if not american- what does being an american represent? it’s interesting to look at the ways in which we market and live as americans. the american dream. what does that mean to you? you envision white picket fences, cashmere cardigans, bright smiles- that’s the dream. it’s poised, polished & happy. from commercialized representations to more downtown, hip portrayls- the american dream has been redefined. i felt that my literary voice needed to be more well rounded; i felt like i wasn’t fully flexing & still am not exercising my full potential. sometimes i sit & think- is fashion enough? is writing enough? are impactful images enough? there are moments that everything seems worthless. why? it’s an american mindset. it’s the idea that good is not good enough, great is not great enough & the best is just you scratching the surface. though challenging, it’s this mindset that keeps us thriving.

if you look at musical artists, television shows, fashion labels & the fashion calendar- you can see an brewing redefinition of us, we the people, as americans. you look at albums like jay-z & kanye’s ”watch the throne” – the use of the american flag was modernized, stylized & blurred for the single cover art for the lead single, “otis”- which scored platinum certification in the united states. this was just one of many symbols i recognized that represents what i see as a new america. if you look at major-indie acts like lana del rey, how she popularized & glamourized our american ways with her track, “national anthem”. in the accompanying visual for the song, she represented a kennedy/camelot-esque theme, casting rapper A$AP rocky as her JFK. in the video, del rey flips from character to character as both marilyn monroe & jackie o. inspired roles; using clips of the zapruder film to get her inspriation across more clearly. interestingly enough, A$AP has also adopted imagery of a new american theme, a native of new york city, the rapper-superstar-in-waiting’s album cover also uses the american flag in a way that has allowed a greater communication of artistic freedom to be felt. our bi-racial president, the upcoming election; the 1%, the overwhelming presence of style conscientiousness in us as americans & the root being the circus of a fashion capital known as new york city- all things considered, this is our DNA as people. these small groupings which are divided into social circles & sub-cultures is what we are. it’s the idea that we can be anything we want; a fusion of aspects that all work toward carving individuality through a range of elements. this post started out as many things before i settled on the title. my work here starts with a title; it’s inspired by a direction & a theme. then comes the challenge of articulating what im thinking. going back to the case of nick wooster- who was the inspiration for the re-titling & greater reconnection of this long drafted post. wooster represents the american dream, in the setting of american retail. a young boy from kansas who started out working at a retail store at the age of 16; now age 52, nick is a staple in the world of street style. far greater than that prestige of being well-received on a street level with the cool kids- nick is the men’s fashion director for both neiman marcus & bergdorf goodman, being more recently called upon by JCpenney to help revitalize their cool factor. a necessary move for the department store which is undergoing a major image overhaul. for any one up on game, nick is that dude.  his tatted arms, cool grey hair & satorially faultless sense of style all uphold his reputation as fashion director, as he lives & thrives through that title. if you don’t know his name, you’ve likely seen him floating around the internet, wondering to yourself- “who’s that dude?”

i think, for me, it’s important to see what resources, articles or different signs the universe is putting in front of you. i’ve been super lucky with this site to have been recognized & supported in my ideas of style and beauty. beyond simple ideas, these are beliefs to me & the challenge at this point is how we can elevate that level of execution. i find that my own train of thought is distinctively american in that, i need to know where i am going in order to attain a certain level of success. with my greater reputation being withheld in fashion; i started to think of american labels (once i finally admitted that i was bored with the fashion calendar). without hesitation, i thought of my major favorites- the ones you’ve seen me review here in the past few years. i thought of marc jacobs, proenza schouler, alexander wang, jason wu, marchesa- the cool labels. thinking of the ways that they’ve re-established the prestige of the american fashion scene in new york city. then i thought of more iconic labels that have more years in the game- labels like ralph lauren, ralph rucci, donna karan, nicole miller, michael kors, izzac mizrahi, vera wang. i was bored. while i can honor labels with history, i don’t often find inspiration in dulled concepts, old styles replicated in old ways or lack of innovation in design. i will say though, fashion is a temporary state & love, as well as hate, can shift from season to season. this is what makes it interesting & allows our redefinition to continue both onward & upward year after year. what could be more defining than the clothes we choose to wear? 

it’s not like im a complete outsider of fashion- i understand it, i love it- i live it. it is me. in my escapades throughout new york, developing my connections- i’ve been able to muster up invites at the snap of a finger but never ended up attending shows, despite the fact that i was in the city. i lost interest. i felt my own creative interpretations of fashion were being threatened. i still get the PR emails, like so many other digital journalists. i figured though- im not a machine. im not this robot that functions solely on the fashion calendar- i am fueled by inspiration. there’s no inspiration when the industry is so heavily controlled by corporation. it’s like seeing something shining like platinum from afar- you come closer. as you get closer you realize this thing that attracted you- it’s illuminating sounds & remarkable visage is a machine. you see people going into this machine, only to be spit out either dead or completely damaged. psychologically or mentally, discouraged creatively, stiffled by impossibiltites of financial competition & distribution demands. that’s not the fashion i know, but these aspects are american by nature, consider the demand for success that is expected of us. would you jump into the machine? no! you’d stand back & avoid the harm.

i had an interesting conversation with a girl i met in the city- we talked fashion & i was completely entranced because she understood fashion like i did- which doesn’t happen everyday for me. it’s that sense of mental rarity that i felt with her. we talked about this middle zone of fashion, where people exist simply for the creativity & history of it all. but then we discussed the impossibility & manic state of corporation which now drives it. it’s more clothes, faster paced- go forward, don’t look back. it’s too much. technology alone, is american made. now before i have you techies jump down my throat- listen to what i mean. look at the digital atmosphere in which you & i have been able to build a relationship. many of you have had conversations with me in this space, you’ve watched me on youtube & spoken with me via twitter or through email. whether facebook, twitter, youtube or google- all of these incredibly impactful digital forces are american made. we take the credit for all of that. we generate that revenue. but what price are we really paying? our macbook pros, iphones, SLR’s- these are all american made. we, as a people, are american made. as americans we are cultured; we are proud, we are strong & we will, have and continue to fight. but in this fight, whether creative or not, have we lost ourselves? technology has skewed our sense of real time.

season after season, we see the trends and runway shows so quickly that we’re bored by the time these clothes hit the rack. walls of exclusivity have been made transparent. fashion shows, as i have griped about before, are for editors & industry heads that control levels of influence through proper use of trend, advertising, publishing & marketing. this is what im getting at with this theme of reformation. from real time, our sense of who we are-  as americans; all that needs to be redefined. this is, problematically so, our own responsibility. who we are is intended to be self defined. expansion in america is being seen in retail as well, brands like nordstrom and the gap are taking on greater efforts of growth. as a westcoast born luxury specialty store, nordstrom is looking to enter into canada with plans to open a 285,000 sq foot location in new york city in 2018. san francisco born and based retail giant, the gap has named a new creative director after an extended absence of any real leadership. while other companies like uniqlo, H&M & forever 21 continue to thrive on the lower end of retail- remind yourselves that america is still the #1 retail market in the world. though recovering from a deficit that seen the entire world suffer, we as americans are the elite. brands come to our turf to dominate, new designers launch brands on our territory because we represent that fighting spirit for new opportunity. in this new phase, a re-establishment of style dialogue and the ways we see style, as americans, will be reformed. why? because we are new america. we are our future.

10 13 2012

RESISTING THE URGE TO COMMODIFY

inspired by the sounds of murcof’s “martes” album; i thought about my need to relate everything i know to the mainstream. particularly in the realm of style, i have found myself gravitating towards greater forms of minimalism, more understated translations of dress and ultimately a much more refined approach. again, in the trenches of creative conversation often had with leya, we discussed this need to popularize with methods of exploitation, which eventually rid certain aspects of appeal from things we love & cherish with exclusivity. culturally, socially- through forms of media, hell- it starts as early as kindergarten. “did you make any friends?”, we’re asked after our first day of school; reminding us that it is necessary to be liked. as we grow up, we start to recognize these trends of ‘like’, making greater attempts to fit in. as age progresses and through our experiences, we may begin to reject these ideas & conform but in opposition- become social rebels or lightweight social deviants. yet another pattern that is somewhere in a sub-category for what we know as ‘popular’ or ‘common’. it is in these stages that we develop individuality. it’s a natural feeling to have- to feed into the pattern of the popular. but what is popular, really? abbreviated, crunched and repackaged for musical media, pop has become the soundtrack for manufactured characters of irresistible melodies & widely accepted themes. on the outskirts of the universal language of music lies the shell we know as fashion. what is the fashion equivalent of pop music? trend. every which way you look at it, the popular standard follows us. it’s threaded into our social conscience very early on & often times, this is the root of mid-life or identity crisis, emotional breakdowns or depression. it all starts with the idea that popular is best.

but is this true? is the most popular always the most impactful; always the most effective? no. certainly, to be accepted- to accept yourself is healthy & necessary. but where do concerns of mental health come in when your need to commercialize something, in your own private world, is driven purely by the fact that you need others to validate what you deem as valuable? value is self defined, yes? you determine value based on the ideals or standards that you have set for yourself. right? that or you follow the prototype that has been taught to you, an example that was lent by your parents, those smarter, older, wiser. for myself, i’ve always managed to find ways to relay information through my own establishment of relativity from the mainstream to the luxury sector. with an under layer of creative interest, most of my discussed topics here will now revolve around the social conscience that is one with style & image, as seen in popular media, american culture & sociological climate. i thought of leya; her ability to put me on to something completely new & unheard of- at least to me. my instinctual need to share these secrets of greatness overwhelmed me. flooding my mind, through emails & shared files, unending conversations- leya began to open my world even greater. through inspiration, i felt and questioned my need to popularize or exploit what she had been showing me. we’ve spoken often about this idea of commodification & very often speak of the need as well as importance of creative production. for you to be present through some form of creative work- whether that be written, photographic, illustrative or even in conversation. there is no evidence of execution if you bottle your thoughts- right? your habits of sharing- is this exploitation or an attempt to inspire those around you?

i’ve felt myself drift into a larger space of individualization at that point; through greater exposure to sound, alone- i’ve felt my direction shift, especially with my approach to content here. i think, especially on the internet- we’re built to become even more enhanced in our expectation to be liked. facebook even created a button, specifically for this social need. but as i drift further into re-direction, i find myself taking a liking to the idea of deactivation. not deactivation creatively, but socially- to a certain extent. while sharing is not harmful, either is preservation. there needs a certain aspect of disconnect to give way to a re-connect. while some things are better shared, some things are better left sacred. sacred being, untarnished by the dreadful routine of social approval. i’ve come to expect a certain level of approval from you as the reader, but have discovered that this level of ‘like’ is far less important than my concept of self content, satisfaction with what i produce and with what i associate my name. im seeking that feeling of relief, when i am able to execute something as vividly as i pictured in my mind. giving in to the urge to commercialize something is fine, but only through good intent; to allow that commodification to be translated so the masses can digest something otherwise to powerful for their remedial minds. no shade, all truth- sometimes you just need a breakdown. in outlining my direction very carefully, i find it necessary to pose questions, pitch scenarios & push perceptions so that my sense of disconnection is well placed enough to establish that new connection. there’s that image that has been floating around the internet, the one with the woman wearing that t-shirt that reads, “all blogs post the same stuff” – yeah, that no longer applies here. in other words, fuck the format- we’re moving forward, into uncharted territory. if you thought what i was doing before broke new ground- get your shovels ready, we’re going deeper.

09 25 2012

RE-EVALUATING THE TRUTH ABOUT STYLE

style is the common thread that will become much more visible on this site going forward. in my mind, the ways in which i see things- fashion is a shell; a coating of armor if you will. our culture & society is fixated on powerful & provocative imagery. that imagery has created the basis of what i have done here- which is discuss beauty, fashion & trend. over time, i’ve taken both distant & magnified looks at what style is, how it works- how it can be used as a weapon & how it can be used as a tool. as a vehicle for creativity, as a cover up for shame- as a facade, as a reality, as a dream realized. style is an accent. it’s an outward representation of the spirit you have within. but that’s the where the game is twisted. a game being defined as an amusement or pastime, material or equipment; a competitive activity involving skill, chance or endurance on the part of two or more persons who play according to a set of rules, usually for their own amusement or for that of spectators. in the existence of style, more specifically in the game of fashion- who sets the rules? are there rules? does style exist only in clothes? the answer is no.

for months, i’ve been speaking about a new direction & feeling my way through things. speaking with a great friend of mine, leya, a blossoming film student filled with unending creative potential & an unbreakable spirit; we’ve discussed everything from music to film, language, style, society & spirituality. amidst this seamless conversation were thoughts of timing, destiny & fulfilled expectations set for oneself. i’ve sat watching & waiting for the right time- whatever that means, only to find that there is no real good time for anything except to just do it. while this site was built on fashion; i’ve come to understand the political undertones, the sexual overtones & darkness of what fashion is and what fashion has become through the life of my work here. you’ve been witness to this evolution & while no invites were sent out nor did you RSVP, you have had a front row seat this entire time. as far as rules go- creativity knows no bounds. while there are no actual rules of fashion or style, despite the many attempts made by others to create them- there are, however, social rules. fashion has become a status symbol, an emblem for the rich & famous- both damaged spirits & thriving alike. while fashion is the face, style is the heart. society has created rules, which dictates what & how things are done in the industry. socially, fashion is dark. it’s filled with thirst. i want to be in the front row, i want to know every trend- every bit of inspiration first. i want to be able to articulate one level above you in a greater effort to elevate, not only myself but you. but what price am i willing to pay? to what end will we satisfy this hunger for knowledge? and how many ways will be re-directed, misinformed and confused along the way?

this morning i woke up at 1AM, thinking of my direction & where i want to go. i’ve had an intense desire to break my format. to go beyond the fashion calendar; to exist outside of the parameters of show season or runway reviews in order to establish an elevated sense of connection with not just you as the reader, but with myself & this direction i have so inherently felt. because it’s starts with you, you know. every great thing that anyone has done for anyone else, has had to begin within them, first. as show season moves onward to a climactic paris fashion week, i sit not having seen or viewed nearly as many collections as i have in seasons past. for the past several months, i’ve been looking for ways to refine myself, through style. while this stylization begins with my spirit, i seek to represent my inward sense of style; style of spirituality, style of communication, style of presence- my style of being, in a refined manner. whenever im doing something, anything- i pull references, examine inspiration & jot notes over a lengthy period of time. this, of course, was the normal path for this greater examination of style that starts with my inward presence of not just style- but self-awarness & spirituality. now 4:30AM, i spent four hours seeking style inspiration from tommy ton. a photographer who has really revitalized the presence of style on a street level, ton has this imaginative & realistic approach to what style can be and in fact, is. after collecting images for my own internal reference, i started to think of other resources i’ve used over the past year to collect & recenter my focus and love for image. the fashionesque came to mind. there i’ve been able to collect images, without language through this digital moodboard that i created in order to re-establish the essence of my own image-driven obsession.

masculine to feminine, light to dark, high end to low end- i’ve readily examined beauty through my own definition. always seeking a balance, i wanted to configure a way that would allow me to balance every aspect from low to high, contrasting forms of beauty from men to women, of color & not- to take street images or rough images and pair them with the finest pieces from french runway or italian fashion- it’s a collective of beauty that most vividly represents my standard or level of understanding for beauty. as debussy’s ‘clarie de lune’ loops to set the tone as i write, i continue to regard style as something only you can define for yourself. when i first awoke at 1AM, i began listening to mark ronson & the business international’s ‘record collection’ album, which lead me to listen to a bit of SBTKRT, which was followed by more electronic sounds by salem. see, no one can tell you or explain to you what that is. style is an essence that feels right to you, on you- within you. when you figure that out, everything else becomes clear.

bishop TD jakes appeared on oprah winfrey’s lifeclass earlier this year. he spoke on the interconnection of purpose & passion saying, “you may not feel it all the time, you may not sense it all the time but you do have passion. we have passion through which we are thrust into the throws of life; to accomlish the things that we were created to do- so that we can function at a higher dimension with authority & with conviction.” it is in this next phase that a re-evaluation of truth, as it relates to style, will happen. this unmasking is where my passion lies; my ability to uncover layers to peel back at the illusion that falsifies what is pure. style is directly correlated to what makes each of us unique as human beings & more specifically as individuals. while some have mastered the art of representing style, a select few understand what that means in the context of spirit. without purpose, or refined sense of self- yes, fashion is just clothes. for some style is, allow me to reiterate, an outward representation of the spirit you have within. think; in what ways do you outwardly represent your inner self? while many play the game of fashion, only the foolish find in the end that they’ve been played. fashion is the surface, style is at the core.

08 31 2012

THE FALL BRIAN ATWOOD CAMPAIGN

candice swanepoel stars in the first ever brian atwood footwear campaign, through the lens of mert alas + marcus piggot. drenched in sexual overtones, the campaign is one of many new ventures that will allow the atwood name to gain more visibility. creatively directed by giovanni bianco, also starring one of my male model favorites, chad white; the campaign appears to be almost too sexy. seemingly taking a page out of the tom ford’s how-to-dominate-fashion handbook, candice appears in nothing but atwood heels & is practically swimming in men throughout the 48 second video advertisement. the print images of the campaign capture that same sexual vibe accurately, complete with blue lighting & shadowed silhouettes. it’s been reported that the atwood label is looking to expand in the next year, with stand alone stores & a handbag collection in the works. i love that we’re seeing much more movement on the advertising tip for footwear companies. expansion seems to be the name of the game when you think of brands like atwood, or jimmy choo. unlike choo, which has seemingly entered a space of cheapened style, atwood maintains the same stylistic, feminine, ultra-hip aesthetic season after season. overall, i expect this level of sexiness from brian atwood; the shoes are amazing & the campaign serves exactly in that lane. i will say, however, the campaign is tinged in what i would classify as expected sex appeal. the bare-assed, heels only theme is nothing new & much more innovation will be needed in order to successfully expand far greater beyond the footwear realm of the market. from his friendships with rachel zoe, to his publicized romances with nate burk & engagement to  the handsome, dr. jake deutsch- atwood as an individual is dripping in style, great taste & unending sex appeal. i would like to see advertising that is much more sophisticated in that respect; not something that forces sexual energy in ways we’ve seen before. though potential is something that is vivid with the atwood design empire in waiting, i crave greater effort. the concept is well executed, but stale in many forms.

 

all advertising campaign content sourced by glossynewsstand

08 31 2012

KATE MOSS FOR SALVATORE FERRAGAMO

in 1993, a 19 year old kate moss changed the modeling game. created as the anti-supermodel, moss had been discovered 4 years prior by storm model management founder, sarah doukas at JFK airport in new york city. from then to now, moss epitomizes what true supermodels are. her public image has remained relevant through the years & this season, her career is still going strong with her appearance for italian luxury label, salvatore ferragamo. a dark, seductive edge- the campaign also features male model sean o’pry as well as karmen pedaru. that said, moss is the star. shot by mikael jansson, the campaign is served with a dark, seductive edge. moss appears stunning as ever, aged to perfection; while pedaru & o’pry play the field in the backdrop almost like fixtures being nearly eclipsed by kate’s star power.

while the campaign itself is not one of the best this season, i felt it necessary to bring about the level of consistency in which kate moss has been able to perform through the years in fashion. i find it interesting that she was discovered & crafted as the anti-supermodel in the 90′s, only to become the ultimate supermodel & now the standard for what ‘supermodels’ are in our modern times. girls move to new york in the droves each year looking to become the next kate moss & her name alone, holds weight. this season, like many others of the past, kate remains untouchable- landing three other campaigns in addition to this one. as the anti-supermodel, the era that kate ushered in has given way to a revitalized view of beauty, age and the level of demand of versatility from models across the globe. kate moss has blossomed in front of our eyes, debuting as a girl & championed as a woman- still working successfully. which im sure that will continue from many more seasons, years & decades to come.

 

all advertising campaign content sourced by glossynewsstand

08 10 2012

ELISE CROMBEZ FOR THEYSKENS’ THEORY

as a creative force that i respect & admire, olivier theyskens segues into the campaign sector for the fall/winter 2012 season. cast as the brands face for the fall is DNA model management’s elise crombez. following my meghan collison for proenza post, crombez also shared casting credits with collison last season for the house of prada. lovely to see elise gaining greater model traction in the form of landing a solo campaign for a on-the-rise brand like theyskens’ theory. while the clothes are almost hidden through the campaigns dark direction, the overall execution of the campaign is so accurate to theyskens’ own presence on the runway. the way the light is in soft focus, the contorted poses from the backseat of a car- it’s beautiful. beautiful not in the commercialized or expected sense, but beautiful in that it’s interesting.

one aspect i completely respect of theyskens is his ability to remain true to himself, his ability to act in complete faith of his creative vision. if you look at the archived work during his tenure at the house of nina ricci, you see similar silhouettes which are visible in his work at theory. if you go back even further to his remarkable work at the rochas, you’ll come away thinking of fashion in a new light. theyskens served as artistic director for fashion label, the rochas from 2002 to his discontinuation in 2006. within that 4 year period, he completely reinvented the label; supplying them with celebrity clientele in the form of nicole kidman, jennifer aniston, kirsten dunst, kate bosworth, jennifer lopez & sarah jessica parker. his work was praised by fashion critics as he was awarded the international style award by the council of fashion designers of america (CFDA) in 2006. after the announcement of the houses closure, many were left shocked. at that time, fashion had begun to take on a new format. it was rapdily becoming more & more about business and figures, less about creativity. theyskens was fearless in his approach in many forms with his work with the rochas. he was noted for not relying on the sale of accessories or lower priced diffusion collections in order to bring in big bucks, which many big labels aim their focus in today’s fashion industry. in fact, some of his designs were considered somewhere between ready-to-wear and couture, which is referred to as ‘demicouture‘. with dresses ranging upwards of $20k while at the rochas, one would wonder how profitable truly high end designs are when the middle market is completely ignored. theyskens was fearless enough to try it.

shortly after the discontinuation of the rochas fashion division, theyskens landed in an artistic directing role at the house of nina ricci, which he flourished in from 2006-2009, when he left the label. speculation pointed the finger at higher ups at ricci for the reason theyskens departed. the designs olivier had created with the house were reportedly the source of creative differences which ultimately resulted in his exiting of the house. as short as his stint at nina ricci was, theyskens was praised for his approach which aimed at a younger demographic & his fall 2009 collection for the house was among the most visible in fashion editorial, being seen in every glossy around the globe. his departure was quite the conversational piece in the world of high fashion & was extremely dissapointing seeing as the house of nina ricci needed a new design direction. shortly after his exit at ricci, theyskens’ next design home was being speculated by fashion news outlets around the internet. in 2011, it was announced that theory chief executive officer, andrew rosen had contracted theyskens to create what we now know as theyskens theory, hence the campaign we see above. the capsule collection soon followed an announcement by theory that theyskens was being installed as the brand’s artistic director, a home which has seemed to be working well for him. this FW12 collection reminds me a lot of theyskens’ spring 2009 collection which he designed while at the house of nina ricci. granted the aesthetic is much darker for the fall, the use of textile & the mindful modernization of silhouette is ever present. i’ve had my eye on the theyskens very closely, waiting for him to find a creative home where he is able to flourish and it seems like theory is just that.

 

all advertising campaign content sourced by glossynewsstand

08 08 2012

MEGHAN COLLISON FOR PROENZA SCHOULER

innovation down to thread, proenza schouler is the epitome of modern style in the american fashion realm. who better to serve as the brand’s face in the lane modern style than meghan collison of next models ny? through the lens of alasdair meclellan, with styling my marie chaix meghan completely embodies the downtown cool proenza. with hair & make-up by paul hanlon & diane kendal, collison stuns with slightly undone hair, casual chic presence all set to a greyscaled theme. from the satin brocade dresses to the incredibly chic kimono-weaved-karate coats, this collection was identified as one of my favorite fall collections of the coming season. ultra-hip, stylistically fresh & powerfully detailed, the collection is one that represents the potential of american fashion for the future. i’ve always been fascinated by meghan’s look, considering the range of beauty that is now showcased in the world of high fashion. i am naturally drawn to natural beauty, but recognize that fashion is more about what men & women can be transformed into in these days. models are expected to serve as interesting, rather than looking natural. interesting is, well, an interesting word to use when thinking of models on the scene today and through the 2000′s. language is powerful in every sense, it really shapes your level of understanding.

models today are described as interesting, but from a societal sense might be seen as odd or even ugly outside of fashion. in the golden era of modeling during the 90′s, models were born with naturally, extraordinary physical beauty. with the emergence and greater utilization of cosmetic surgery by men and women alike; the definition of natural has even been questioned when speaking on physical beauty or features you’re born with. what i find so beautiful of meghan collison is that she is a unique combination of natural beauty & those interesting features that have become so greatly in demand in high fashion. that hybrid combination of classic beauty with modern forms of beauty is what meghan exemplifies, which is truly beautiful. there couldn’t have been a more perfect face to fit the ultra-cool of proenza schouler & this campaign is among my favorites this season. included last season among the cast of prada’s spring campaign, collison continues her upward climb with this campaign and another campaign booking this season with moncler. with show season rapidly approaching, meghan will be scratching a few catwalks.

all advertising campaign content sourced by glossynewsstand