Weekend Update With Seth and....Sheila.

Its not really with Seth, but i love that SNL sketch. Really. Really? REALLY!? reeeeeeally.

Today's inspiration comes from models from the days of yore. Not that i don't love Gisele, and Doutzen, or Lara, or Chanel, or any of the other ones who frequent today's runways. But I feel like fashion ads have been taken over by movie actresses and singers and, disappointingly, reality 'stars'. Mostly because it has. (Anna Wintour admitted it. I'm not alone.) Not that i don't love actresses, because who doesn't. Some of them ARE models. But can we compare (my personal favourite) 90's model, Esther Canadas, to say...Jessica Alba???? (Esther dabbled in acting. Anyone remember her in the Thomas Crown Affair remake?)

Ummm look at that face. Angelina Jolie has nothing on her. And she had the best modeling partner for their famous DKNY ads that I had taped in a border around my wall in my childhood room (nerd). Mark Vanderloo. And they got married. Later divorced, but who cares. I loved them. Miley Cyrus and Jessica Biel and the useless Paris Hilton can sit down with their perfume and shoe and bag and hair extension businesses.

Next we have Jodie Kidd, who was busy busy modeling until she left because she couldn't deal with all the scrutiny that she was suffering from an eating disorder. Last i heard shes back now and has a skin care line to promote. Or make-up. Something perhaps not as interesting as her former modeling career. She was on every designers runway. Now she runs a horse farm I think. Pretty cool girl.

(No comment on the eating issues.)

Maybe after her hiatus?

Next we have our beloved Kate Moss. Miss Moss is still working just as much as she was 20 years ago. For a model who enjoys her ...nightlife, and has a daughter, and is creeping up on late 30's, and spends time touring with her token musician boyfriend, it's quite the accomplishment to have to fire a model from your TopShop line that you designed and use yourself as the spokesmodel because the younger and less...party-friendly model didnt sell as well.

The Calvin Klein ads need no introduction, or background info I presume.

Next...are the Taylor sisters. Tragically, Krissy died suddenly. Was so sad. I still remember those Seventeen covers (also were glued onto my wall). After that Niki worked for a bit, and then had an accident where she almost died, then got married (for the 2nd time) and had twins, and now she's trying to do some reality show, which...needless to say her modeling career was more remarkable.

There are so many other models, some of which are still working today. And for those of you who love the 80's, they deserve a whooooole separate feature. Cindy (love her so much), Helena, Elle, Naomi, Christy, Stephanie, etc etc etc. Phenomenal. (All of them are still highly sought after today. Goes to show you how great they are).
So when you see Madonna as the lead in her recent D&G, and DGM ads with her botox face and 17 year old co-model, just remember these aforementioned ladies. Today is good. I'm not bashing 2010. I'm as enamoured with today's crew as I was with Esther. But...can you imagine Naomi Campbell with a reality crew 15 years ago following her around? The camerapeople would be chewed up and spit out faster than she could throw a cell phone at them.

xo

**(All images courtesy of Google images)