Testing Models for Chewing Gum

This news is going to ripple through the fashion industry like you’ve never seen before.

From the article:

Chewing too much sugar-free gum containing the artificial sweetener sorbitol can cause diarrhea leading to potentially dangerous weight loss, German physicians report.

The Russians are Coming… again

Can’t get over the runaway success of model Masha Novoselova the 5′8″ beauty. Another Marilyn model on the rise, Novoselova has been in over 15 spreads so far. She’s letting us know that the Russians are not letting up on the monopolizing modeling thing. Someone should call the European Trade Commission. She’s recently featured in the D&G ads and will be all over the runways this fashion week season.

Her resume includes: Benetton, D&G, Dolce & Gabbana Resort, Le Silla, Miss Selfridges, Nuxe, Rena Lange, Tally Weijl, Ungaro Homme, Harper’s Bazaar, Numéro, L’Officiel, Italian Elle.

more images

Is Fashion Ready for a Modeling Trade Union?

The idea has been bandied about for years now, but models seem to be getting serious about putting together a trade union. The Independent has an article today on top models coming together to form just such an organization. Right at the outset there is some degree of cynicism as to the purpose and the good that a modeling trade union would do. Having been on shoots and seeing how these talents get treated, I can say with no pause that models definitely need some sort of union or someone looking out for them. The easiest way to look at it is twofold.

1. Models are very you when they get into the industry. Being young means that there are a lot of things you have to learn on your own that few are willing to teach you and many more are willing to take advantage. The agencies are businesses and although they are supposed to have the model’s best interest at heart, they are a business.

2. Most models don’t make thousands of dollars to walk down a runway. While some do, most models don’t make much to walk down a runway or work a photo shoot. In fact most models don’t make hundreds of dollars for shoots. Most models work for a book that leads to a job at a makeup counter. It sounds grim and gloomy the masses are not paid well and after a couple of years they usually have little to nothing to show for it.

A model’s union could function very similar to the writer’s guild you see striking today. The union would negotiate base wages with publications, TV shows, designers etc. The union would also work to ensure that these perennial independent contractors have money stored away, when modeling is not an option anymore. Issues, with weight, non-paying organization and other problems that arise from time to time could be brought to this union.

We’re hoping that the union idea works. It’s long in coming and makes plenty of sense.

Read: Model’s Join Equity trade union (Independent)

The Five Most Important People in Modeling

photo AP (pictured above Steven Meisel)

Forbes has another one of their random lists of important people. This time, Forbes looks at the 5 most important people in fashion modeling. If you were looking to start your career in modeling, this is the list of who can get you on the cover of Vogue. On Steve Meisel Forbes writer Kiri Blakely states:

Meisel is one of the few photographers in the world who can launch the career of a model. His photographs regularly appear on the cover of Vogue, and he is credited with having discovered new sensation DKNY model Jessica Stam, as well as supermodel legends Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell.

The notables of the list include Edward Razek, Ivan Bart of IMG, Aerin Lauder of Estee Lauder, and Anna Wintour (duh).

Take a look at why they are god awfully so important.

Model Obsession

Magazines were my obsession as a child- back home there are probably still stacks of 89-94 issues of Vogue and Bazaar under my bed. The shoots and covers that mesmerized me eclectic looking models in extravagant poses wearing the most up to date fashions. Here recently it seems like the industry-meaning beauty, fashion, and designer ads have opted for celebrity as opposed to models. Once upon a time models became the celebrity based on on how many covers or runways they graced. Now you can’t find a model on the traditional high fashion magazine or beauty commercial. There are plenty of models starving (literally) to be picked I’d prefer to buy lip-gloss based on that girl rather than Rhianna or Penelope Cruz. Our celeb obsessed society should welcome back the model or at least that’s what I think….