Back in May I wrote about the rise and rise of the Blogebrities and the way that fashion as a whole is slowly but surely becoming indistinguishable from the entertainment industry. The latest development along these lines is the rampant job swapping currently going on.
A model’s attempt to make the leap into acting or an editor turning their hand to design is hardly a new concept. It makes sense. Besides the fact that models are obviously beautiful – the essential ingredient necessary to play the vulnerable side kick and love interest in any James Bond-type action film – and editors have their strengths in unrivalled good taste and the ability to spot a trend first, it’s also the massive amount of networking that goes on. It really is all about who you know, ya know?
However, a designer turned model? Is that a thing now?
I came across this article by The Guardian’s Kate Carter last week. My favourite portion of her explanation as to why designers are now appearing in their own fashions ads is as follows:
‘The charitable interpretation might be that times are hard, supermodels cost a fortune so hey, why not adopt a make-do-and-mend spirit and do it yourself? Just one designer, one self-timer button, a working knowledge of Photoshop and voila! One ad campaign ready to go.
Buying it? No, us neither. In fact, FS prefers to imagine a meeting something like this:
Ad exec: “We need to sell a lifestyle. Who is utterly fabulous, wonderful, gorgeous and talented? Who does everyone want to be? Who could possibly be THAT amazing?”
Designer: “ME!”’
Teehee. A shameless act of narcissism on Marc Jacobs’ part? Or a shrewd observation by his marketing people that the designer himself is probably more fascinating for the masses than a ‘real’ celebrity? The people who do the behind the scenes jobs – the designers and the editors – are coming to the fore because that’s what people seem to want. A quick search for Anna Wintour on Rex turns out 1679 results. Just look at the paparazzi flash fest induced by her arrival at the Nicole Farhi SS11 show last September…
I won’t even pretend I was too cool to get excited when I glimpsed her blonde bob on the opposite side of the Royal Opera House. I was rubbernecking just as much as everybody else.
