Stylish Thoughts on… Models as Muse
20 May
The recent Met Gala has the world abuzz with models, not that the world needed the Gala to solidify what it already knows; the fashion industry and the world is obsessed with models. Naomi, Cindy, Kate, Twiggy, Gisele, Agyness; we love them, we love to loathe them and better yet we love to look at them. With fashion regressing to all things 90′s (90210, scrunchies, Tori Spelling) it’s only fitting that the status of fashion models come back to the forefront, not that the conservation ever ended.
Every generation has its totem of beauty; the 60s was the intro of models as cult personalities, the 80s to 90s the era of the SUPERmodel, the 90s enter Kate the Waif and the diverse model is au courant. While models are integral to fashion, they sell the fantasy and lifestyle, is fashion and the world overstating the reach that models have? The Met Gala touted “Models as Muse.” Sure Kate Moss inspires legions of wannabes, but are models really inspiring the forward movement of fashion or simply glorified hanger-ons?
There is no denying that models are important selling tools in an industry based on making money. Beautiful women, wearing beautiful clothing in beautiful locations is a winning advertising strategy that is continuing to bring the fashion industry billions of dollars. No argument there. They inspire consumers to buy an Italian leather bag, a 1,200 dollar dress and hell if Kate Moss wore underpants as a topper, you bet your last dollar there would be tons of panty-ridden impersonators. Fashion sticks with a winning horse and models are championship thoroughbreds.
We love watching beautiful women strutting on the catwalk and designers know this. If Susan Boyle’s mole looked as good as Cindy Crawford’s she would be a cover girl not the leggy brunette. Sadly this is not the case. Models are muses but it is us that they are really inspiring; directly and indirectly. It’s the fashion lovers and consumers that continue to churn the model wheel and as long as we stalk La Moss, google Gisele and agonize over Agy’s hair, the industry will continue to serve us a piping hot platter of beautiful by-products.
What are your thoughts on models? Are you influenced by, envious or ambivalent toward them?
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When I look at that Vogue cover, I can’t help but think that 2/3 of the models on it look exactly the same. I quite miss the persona of the 90s model–strong, fit, curvy, sexy, bold, and with her own identity. Models now just seem to be hangers for clothes with vacant stares and relaxed jaws. It’s a bit disappointing, but I find that fashion editorials aren’t quite living up to my expectations anymore, either…
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I agree with Ashe re: current models. Many are beautiful/quirky/interesting, but I miss the glamazons of the late 80′s and early 90′s–though that may be due to the fact that I’m old school.
However, I do think that the true greats serve as muses not only for those in the fashion industry, but for us “aspirationals” as well.
Their confidence and attitude brings the clothing to life! They wear the clothes, not the other way around, and that inspires me to (try to) achieve the same combination of seemingly effortless glamour with my wardrobe.
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I concur that models today are very indistinct and wholly forgettable. No one (save for Agyness) has a distinct personality. The models of yore (haha, as if it’s that long ago) were definitely more unique and had personality.
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