Que Soundtrack

To the left of your screen, you will find various bits and bobs. Two of the items are the 'What I'm Listening To...' and 'What You Should be Listening To...' features. I don't know how often these are going to change (I tend to listen to the same album over and over again for weeks or months), but I'll try to keep it updated at least every month with the tunes on my daily rotation. New additions will also earn a little profile on the blog to give you a little idea of why I'm so infatuated. Comments are welcomed as always, and I'd love to hear what you are listening to, or what you think I should be listening to :)


Peace, love, and floating,
Gill Ford

Weather Warning!

So, I'm not sure how many of you are aware of this, but the East Coast has been suffering a severe heat wave for the last week or so. As a matter of fact, New York is breaking records: this is the hottest summer it has ever had. With temperatures consistantly in the high 90s, the United States Tennis Association was forced to change procedures at the US Open (currently taking place at Flushing Meadows) to allow female players a ten minute break between the second and third sets, and male players medical time outs for heat related illnesses.


You might be wondering why I'm bringing this up, but I assure you, I have a valid reason: New York Fashion Week starts on Thursday! As you know, this means loads of fashion gurus and celebrities squishing into front rows under the tents at the Lincoln Center and at various other locations around the city. If the heat wave persists as it has been lately, this is going to mean a lot of sweaty people, and discomfort. Who are the people I'm most worried about? The models.


While fashion fans tend to shy away from discussions about the health of models, there is a sort of unspoken understanding that many of them are a bit thinner than they ought to be. In extreme heat conditions like what we've had recently, people of the model persuasion are perfect targets for severe dehydration, not just because half are severely emaciated and half are almost certainly underweight, but also because of the demands of the profession. These girls (and boys) will be running all over New York for castings, fittings, shows, and shoots for the whole of the week, often on very little sleep because of their hectic schedules (I'm looking directly at you, Vlada). As a result, there is enormous strain on their bodies, which, with the added aggravation of record high temperatures, will be even more dangerous than usual.


Most models carry water around with them, but this will be extremely important this year given the circumstances. Staying fully hydrated will be a problem, especially with the amount of things to do, but I really hope models have been warned of the situation by their agencies. I also hope show organizers are properly prepared for the week with lots of water, not just for models, but for staff as well. Fingers crossed!


Now, having said that, I've had my eye on the forecasts, and after the passing of Hurricane Earl, things seem to be cooling off around here to more tolerable temperatures, but who really knows how long that's going to last? I encourage everyone attending shows in New York to also make sure they're staying on top of water consumption as well: we don't want to have anyone getting hurt and whatnot. And when I say water, that's what I mean: no soft drinks, sport drinks, or things like that, water is what you want, even if it doesn't have a good taste. Another note: warm water is easier for your body to use, so if you're feeling dizzy or whatever, don't pass up a drink just because it's not cold!


Anyway, on a happier note, it looks like most of the showcards have been posted on models.com. Of the major agencies, it looks like we're still missing IMG... I've seen a couple of the cards they released on other sites, and I have to say, not impressive. Not that I was really expecting anything fantastic, but still, a little effort might be nice. But either way, it looks like all my favorites are going to be present at NYFW, so high fives all around!


We also have a schedule for the shows at Lincoln Center (And I stress, AT LINCOLN CENTER. So don't pop your top when you don't see Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, or Rag & Bone like I did at first... they're showing at off-site locations!). Looks like a great lineup this year... I AM SO EXCITED!!


What about you lot? Were you expecting any models that aren't showing up? What are you doing to stay cool during NYFW? What shows are you looking forward to most this year? And most importantly, do you think the person in charge of fonts at Wilhelmina should be fired immediately?


Peace, love, and floating,
Gill Ford

Focus On... Freja Beha Erichsen

I debated for a while on what my first Focus On... feature should cover, and after bouncing about between various options, I decided that Summer 2010's it girl was probably a good choice...

Hailing from Roskilde, Denmark, Freja was born on October 18th, 1987 to two lawyers. Her brother (who is seven years her elder) influenced her in many ways growing up, particularly in her musical tastes: “I was always with him, and he is a crazy Metallica fan. So I grew up listening to Metallica’s lyrics.”


She notes that she wasn't very girly growing up; something that hasn't changed all that much. "I was as much a tomboy as anyone could be," she proclaims in an interview with Vogue UK. "Soccer with the boys, climbing trees and mountain biking, I always came home covered in scratches and bruises."


The modelling profession isn't something that lends itself kindly to such activities, but Freja doesn't seem to be too bothered by this: "I don't move unless I have to, to be honest... I haven't done sports since I was ten or something. I played badminton for a while, and when I was a really little kid, I did all the trampolines. That was great fun, cos you'd just go in and you'd just jump around for a couple of hours... But I was probably five by that point. And that's it. I haven't moved a lot."


At the age of 17, Freja was spotted from behind by a scout while walking about in Copenhagen. It was not the first time she had been asked about modelling, but in the past she had never thought much of it. "When I was stopped on the street, it had already happened like five, six times before, but I was always pretty sure I was never going to be a model. But then it was like the best agency in Denmark, so I figured that if I had to try it, I would do it now." Her parents had apparently hoped that she would take up law, but the opportunity presented by modelling was not one to be passed up. "My family's been really supportive of everything... I don't see them that often anymore because I'm traveling all the time, obviously, but they've been really [supportive]. I think that both my mom and my dad had the thought that if this is going to work, then let's do it for a couple of years, you know?"

Success was quick. The amount of time she spent working eventually forced Freja to leave school a year early so she could devote herself fully to her new career. She’s not overly concerned about missing her final year though: it was a small sacrifice to make for everything she’s gained as a result. "Do I regret that I started? No, never. I mean come on, it's the last year of school, I can always do that, but for me to see the world and experience there's so much more just a straight way through school. You know, you go to elementary school, you go to high school, and you go to university, and you know, it's so narrow minded. There's so many things out there that you can do, and I'm extremely happy that I got this opportunity.”

  

In 2005, she debuted on runways in Milan and Paris, opening for Miu Miu, and also walking for Prada and Louis Vuitton. Since then, she’s walked for everyone from Chanel to Rag & Bone, from Burberry to Balenciaga. She has featured in ads for Balmain, Gucci, and Valentino, among countless other big-name clients. She’s covered for just about every major fashion magazine in Europe, including mainstream Vogue publications in Britain, Italy and France, and her appeal in the Asian markets is a force to be reckoned with, to say the least. Hell, the girl even has Karl Lagerfeld on her speed dial. She seems to be coping with it all pretty well: "It was really fun in the beginning to see the magazines, like 'Wow, that's me'. But actually, you get used to it really fast; at least, I did. But I mean, it's still fun to see you on a billboard or whatever." But success is not always an easy thing to obtain, and the fashion industry is not known for being a walk-on team. Early in her career, Freja found this out first hand.

After her breakout season, Freja was reportedly booked for an ad campaign with Prada, which was to be shot by Steven Meisel, an internationally celebrated photographer. Being confirmed for such a massive project was undoubtedly a major achievement for such a new model, and something that Freja could pride herself on. But the shoot ended in humiliation for her when she was reportedly sent home by Meisel twenty minutes into the shoot, claiming that he was not satisfied with her in front of his lens. We will likely never know exactly what happened on the shoot, but if one thing’s for sure, it’s that Freja’s career has suffered little as a result of the incident. In fact, you might even say she has emerged stronger as a result, learning from this experience, and others: "I think I've learned a lot about myself... I've learned how I cope in different situations, and where my limits are. I've learned that I can often do more than I think I can do. And I think I've just learned how to see life, and how to turn things that, you know – because not every experience is positive – often you can turn it into something positive if you choose to."

Freja Beha Erichsen: "How did I become 'the rebel'..?"

Perhaps it was the infamous Meisel affair that spurred on the labelling of Freja as the ‘rebel’ of the fashion industry. Well, that, and her infamous tattoos. “I had an agreement with my New York agent that I could get as many tattoos as I wanted, as long as I didn’t cut my hair, which I did,” she says. “I cut my hair and I still got more tattoos, so I don’t know where we’re at right now with that deal...”

  

The cutting of the hair was a significant change to Freja's look. It was an enormous surprise when she arrived at shows for the Spring/Summer 2008 season sporting an edgy bob that put Posh to shame. The new cut is blamed by many fans as the reason for Freja not booking as many shows as she did in the past. They also hold it accountable for the typecasting of her as 'the androgenous model'. This might not be too far off the mark: since chopping off her long locks, very nearly all of her photographic work has been centred around this theme. That said, androgeny has been a very popular trend in the last few years, so who can really say what's responsible for Freja's boy/girl role?

 

Beyond her own growing legion of fans, the Internet also reveals that her tattoos have a cult of their own. She has sixteen in total: a Colt revolver on the inner side of her upper left arm; ‘redemption’ is scrawled across the inside of her left arm just below the elbow; ‘Serendipity is Me’ on the back of her right arm; ‘this too shall pass’ inside her right arm; ‘this world tonight is mine’ circles her right wrist; a miniscule cross on her right ear; a dotted circle behind her right ear; an upside down triangle (which was later coloured in) on the back of her neck; a small star (also coloured in at a later date) just below her left armpit; a lightning bolt on her upper right rib cage (which covers up a once mysterious ‘M’); three circles (later filled) on her inner left wrist; three lines on her left middle finger; and ‘float’ on the left side of her neck. By all accounts, that adds up to fourteen, plus a graphic design on her stomach, which remains elusive, along with number sixteen.

  

But what do the tattoos mean? “Three is the lucky number, so three lines, three circles. Just how it is.” ‘This world tonight is mine’ comes from PJ Harvey’s song ‘The Sky Lit Up’. Freja refers to this phrase as her own rendering of carpe diem. Others don’t have any particular meaning at all: “Like the revolver. That's not a heavy symbol for me. I like guns and I think the design is pretty, and once I have an idea, I have to go there.”

The tattoo that gets the most press (maybe because it’s the most noticeable of them all) is the word ‘float’. Perhaps another PJ Harvey reference (‘We Float’ is the title of a song from Harvey’s 2000 record Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea; she also appears floating on the cover of To Bring You My Love)? "You know if you're laying on top of the water in the sea, and you're just laying like this? (demonstrates) That's floating. So 'float'... to me, it means float through life, take it nice and easy, not too much stress. That's it. If you had to carry every person's stress that was laid upon you, you would die, I mean, there's no way you can do it. So you have to try to remain calm even though, you know, everyone around you is stressing and yelling and what not. I think it's the best way to try to do it."


Not too long ago, getting tattoos was a sure way to end a modelling career. But more and more top models are showing a love for body art, notable inclusions being Freja’s good friend Abbey Lee Kershaw, and fellow Australian, Catherine McNeil (who, it has been decided, was Freja’s girlfriend for a little over a year). Despite being frowned upon, the tattoos don’t appear to have halted the success of these three (Freja currently sits at #2 on models.com, while Abbey Lee and Catherine are ranked fifth and twelfth, respectively), and regardless, Freja has no regrets. “I don't think you should necessarily do what people are telling you to do. If you want to do something fun, it's your one chance, it's your one life, do it. I don't think you should let anyone dictate what you should do with your own body. I mean, you do sell your body as a product, but it's still yours. I mean, my body, I get to do with it what I want.” She pauses, before adding with a laugh: “That was my initial thought, at least.”

  

The curiosity surrounding the tattoos is not unlike the fascination fans have with Freja herself. She’s known for being very private, which is perhaps one of the reasons for her appeal. Speculation over the ‘McBeha’ partnership sparked to life forums with major followings all over the net. In fact, despite the relationship apparently ending, the topic still pops up with astonishing frequency (often to the annoyance of those who have accepted the reported parting of ways). The constant public need for answers about Freja’s personal life, and by proxy, her refusal to give an inch in her defence of her own privacy (props to you, Ms. Erichsen, on a job well done) seems to have been a major stimulant to her fanbase (on the principle that we all seem to want what we can’t have). Not only does it keep fans interested, it allows the mystique of ‘showbiz’ (which is quickly fading in the media frenzy we now live in) to continue to surround her.


So after all the successes and the occasional failures, the runway shows and ad campaigns, covers and editorials, where does that leave her? In March 2008, she replied: "I'm still enjoying it. I am. I see it as an investment for the rest of my life... And a very good one. And I think it's in many ways a good job." When asked the question again two years later at the end of another long and busy runway season, she adds: "It's funny though, you walk and walk and walk and walk and walk, and then you walk some more. And then in your quick little stop you're like (deep breath). And then you walk back. But that's okay. It's probably good with all the cigarettes I smoke. I need to get a little bit of exercise, right?"

***

The Vital Stats

Nationality: Danish

Hair Color: Light brown
Eye Color: Brown
Date of Birth: October 18, 1987
Place of Birth: Roskilde, Denmark
Height: 5'10" ; 178cm
Measurements: (US) 32.5-25-34 ; (EU) 82.5-63.5-86.5
Dress Size: (US) 4 ; (EU) 34
Shoe Size: (US) 8 ; (EU) 38.5 ; (UK) 5.5
Agencies:
Unique Models - Denmark
Louisa Models - Munich
IMG Models - New York, London, Milan, Paris

***

What We Really Want To Know...

What's she listening to:

  

Recently, Freja's sung the praises of acts like Florence + the Machine, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and classic Ella Fitzgerald. Constants on her playlist include PJ Harvey and Kira and the Kindred Spirits from her native Denmark ("I like women who can express themselves through music."). Bands like Led Zeppelin, Metallica, and the Rolling Stones have also been noted as favorites. As a major music fan, she's indicated that she loves a wide range of music, though she seems to gravitate more towards a blues/rock genre than anything else.


What's she wearing:

Freja's street style is, if anything, consistent. Most often, you'll see her treking about in black: black skinny jeans, black t-shirt or tank top, black leather jacket. It's cool, it's comfortable, it's rock and roll. It's Freja. Brand-wise, the girl's a sucker for ACNE, Alexander Wang, and Rick Owens. She's also expressed a liking for Balenciaga and Helmut Lang. "I grew up dressed in jeans and T-shirts. My mum bought me a leather biker jacket when I was eight or nine; I wore it everywhere. I still wear those kinds of clothes, not much has changed."
 

***

* For anyone looking for more information on Freja's activities, I would personally advise Rrose Selavy's blog, which is completely focused on the Great Dane... She does excellent analyses of Freja's editorials and covers, and is very efficient in providing updates on her career. On occasion, she posts little tidbits like fan stories and photos, which are always a treat :)


** There also exist several tumblrs which are great if you're just wanting to flick through photos (backstage, eds, runway, etc). The ones I've found most useful are Fuck Yeah! Freja Beha Erichsen and Freja Beha Loving.
 
Sources:
Official Website
Profile at The Fashion Model Directory
"Freja's Edge" Interview in Vogue UK, August 2010
Interview in Spur, Spring 2010
First Face: Freja Beha (A/W 2010)
Special Models: Freja Beha Erichsen (A/W 2007)
Model Talks: Freja Beha Erichsen (S/S 2008)
Le Mads Interview with Freja (A/W 2010)
"Les Filles en Vogue" Documentary by Vogue Paris, June/July 2010 (A/W 2010)
Modelinia Biography
Interview for V Magazine (November 2006)


Photos courtesy of tFS users t-rex, Symetrie, Manuva, and miwi; Official Website user Ingmar; and style.com

Called It... Just Saying

Photos courtesy of tFS member Valentine27

The Return of Catherine the Great?

Catherine McNeil is looking to be gearing up for a full return to the runway after a lengthy absence. After skipping the Spring/Summer 2010 season completely, McNeil made appearances at only five shows for Fall/Winter 2010. While the names were fairly notable (Prada, Louis Vuitton, Blumarine, Stella McCartney, and Hermes), many expressed disappointment that she failed to book more shows.

   

  

There is conflict over what the reason for McNeil's sudden disappearance from runways, ranging from personal problems, to lack of interest in modelling. Perhaps the most vicious of rumours in the press have been those concerning a drastic weight gain. When asked where McNeil was, one high profile member of the fashion industry is infamously quoted as replying: "I don't know, go check McDonalds".


However, after her short Fall/Winter schedule, she has slowly but surely worked her way back into the fashion world, with the summer seeing her pick up a fragrance ad at Narciso Rodriguez, and a spot in the Pirelli calendar. In May, she appeared in editorials for Vogue Germany and Numero, as well as H&M's summer magazine (she also featured on the cover). June saw her return to the pages of Vogue Paris in a beauty editorial. She was also the face of Louis Vuitton's 2010 Resort line.

  

As we transition to the fall, Cat's showing no sign of slowing down, appearing in campaigns at the Gap and French fashion house Givenchy. Not to mention, she's making noise down under, getting a campaign at Bonds and completely dominating Australian Vogue's September issue, snagging the cover and two editorials. She also participated in David Jones' runway show with other Australian top models, who were flown in as replacements for Miranda Kerr.

 

  

I am really hoping that Catherine's recent move to London is a signal that she is returning to the circuit. She has one of the most intriguing faces in the industry, and I'd love to see her take on more projects and return to her former glory... and perhaps even surpass it. However, I find myself incapable of fully expressing the disappointment I have in the press, the fashion industry, and many fans of fashion besides. The cruelty that has been focused on McNeil is completely unacceptable. I understand that being a model means having to deal with daily criticisms of one's body, and countless other difficulties. But that people could embrace this girl (who is still only 21, by the way) one moment, and then turn on her is something I find highly disagreeable. There are countless reasons why the fashion industry is frowned upon by the every day public, and one of those is the fact that it often appears cold and heartless. Forget about offering models proper support under the stresses of what is a difficult and demanding professing, you would hope that people would at least avoid making blatantly hurtful comments.


Anyway, that's my rant for the day... Fingers and toes crossed that we see Catherine gracing runways in New York next Thursday. If recent photos are anything to go by, she's looking better than ever. Next's NYC show package hasn't yet been released, but I've got a feeling we'll be seeing her in the Big Apple next week. May it be a return of epic proportions.


Peace, love, and floating,
Gill Ford


Photos courtesy of style.com, models.com, and The Fashion Model Directory