« Next entry

Kate Moss Apr 7, 2009 @ 12:03pm

Model Slash Move On

kate moss topshop tea dress.jpg Our world is full of model slash something iterations.

The original, and most common, would be model slash actress: Lauren Hutton, Cybill Sheppard, Cindy Crawford, Elle MacPherson et al. Then came model slash photographer: Ellen von Unwerth, Helena Christensen, Iekeline Stange, ad nauseam. Now we’ve been blessed with a stash of model slash designers which brings us to our point.

To the pretty faces out there making dresses, please spare us from yet another slew of wannabe vintage floral tea dresses. You know who you are, the Gail Elliots, Milla Jovovichs, Erin Wassons and Kate Mosses of the world.

Miss Moss, your Topshop disasters have reached cringe-worthy status. The ditzy, daffodil covered, forties style, matronly, smocks without a dash of cool belong in the back of musty thrift stores, not on high street racks. And you can throw as many super cool Balmain blazers on top of the floral frocks as you like but you’re still a lamb in sheep’s clothing - especially since we know you ordered eight key pieces from Poltock and Walsh this season. Nary a flower in sight, just edgy leopard prints, sharp shoulders and a heavy dose of sexy.

Come on girls, leave the designing to Alexander McQueen. Model slash model can’t be so bad.

—CHARLEY B.

« Next entry

Fashionista Main

posted by creamnyc

Apr 07, 2009 12:12PM

Oooooh harsh! But I totally agree...

posted by guest

Apr 07, 2009 12:12PM

Thank. You.

posted by darcykins

Apr 07, 2009 12:26PM

what if you are a fashion design student that loves what you do and you are really good at it and then one day you get approached...
becoming a model is a great way to make industry connections if you are a designer in training.
of course i don't think that is the scenario with most of the model slash designers we are seeing but it is a conceivable possibility.

posted by guest

Apr 07, 2009 12:41PM

I agree with #3. I also am a student of design, with many slashes. Fashion designer/stylist/model. Before showcasing my designs to the public, I modeled in local shows and for lesser known photographers to build my contact base. Modeling is now not my priority, but it definitely opened doors.

myspace.com/andreakcastillo
twitter.com/andreakcastillo

posted by JJPink

Apr 07, 2009 1:11PM

Ad nauseam, I believe.

posted by guest

Apr 07, 2009 1:33PM

Milla Jovovich is an exception I believe.

posted by guest

Apr 07, 2009 1:46PM

sooo harsh!! Kate Moss Rules!

posted by Lala

Apr 07, 2009 2:18PM

Kate's cellection is a disgrace!!!

So i my dear completly agree with you on this note.

posted by guest

Apr 07, 2009 2:19PM

...I assume you meant to type Cybill Shepherd.
Milla Jovovich also belongs in the model slash actress category (remember The Fifth Element and the Resident Evil movies?). What about Kimora in the model slash designer category? Come on guys, you forgot the biggest offender.

posted by guest

Apr 07, 2009 2:20PM

This is pretty ridiculous.

Fashion is never static, so why should the people that create this type of clothing be?

This post/hate is just another case of "NOBODY PUTS BABY IN A CORNER."

posted by darcykins

Apr 07, 2009 3:01PM

guest 9, no one considers Kimora lee a designer or a model.

posted by guest

Apr 07, 2009 4:08PM

@ darcykins

You might wanna take that back she was a model for Chanel and often openend and closed the show for Lagerfeld.

And she is definatley a designer. Like one can be a designer for H&M.

posted by arue

Apr 07, 2009 4:34PM

guest @ 12 Kimora isn't a designer she has the guy Jerome design .Then she either says yes or no. If that is what you consider a designer than we'd all be designers.

posted by guest

Apr 07, 2009 5:02PM

#3 & #4...no offense but i think we're referring here not to girls who have done a few modeling jobs, but rather to professional models with fully-formed careers in the industry. just saying.

also, to the kimora argument i have to give the win to #13: just having your name on a label DOES NOT mean you are a designer. trust me. the process of design is intense and usually executed by a large team of people, all of whom hold design degrees and contribute their own aspect of the overall end-product. even when the head designer IS a 'real' designer, their day to day role is more akin to an overseer...their hands just don't get dirty with the nitty gritty tasks. that is just how it works industry-wide, and anyone who works in fashion is aware of this (or should be!!).

posted by guest

Apr 07, 2009 5:18PM

Why shouldn't they? Models have such a short self life. It's not like they can just retire at 30 and do nothing. It would be kinda stupid for them not to take up the opportunities that their face opens up for them. Besides you don't have to buy the stuff if you don't like it.

posted by TheThirdRow

Apr 07, 2009 5:31PM

"Besides you don't have to buy the stuff if you don't like it." Totally true.

posted by guest

Apr 07, 2009 5:59PM

I think everyone is missing the point here. Its not about whether or not they SHOULD be designers its whether or not they CAN. Kate's collections have had a handful of good pieces but they are not ground breaking, Erin Wasson took pieces from her own wardrobe and 'reworked' them (read: basically ripped them off) so where exactly is the creativity? People are so concerned with being a brand these days they are willing to put their name on anything. Its pretty gross.
However as much as I agree, the same should go for singers/actresses and actresses/singers. I don't understand why people prefer to be a jack of all trades and in most cases a master of none.

posted by Pretty Young Thing

Apr 07, 2009 6:04PM

I agree with #15. Models can't continue modeling forever, at a certain point they become irrelevant, they need to find other sources of income, and if they're talented in any other area then they have every right to become a model-slash-whatever. Many high-powered editors were once models, including Grace Coddington and Carine Roitfeld.

P.S. if you hate Kate Moss' TopShop line so much why are you guys always raving about it?! Hypocritical.

posted by Modupe

Apr 07, 2009 6:42PM

i do think its okay to use modeling as a window into the industry. With the exclusion of Kira Plastinina, it's very hard for girls to get in the industry young enough (teen-age) and experience a lot of it otherwise.

posted by guest

Apr 07, 2009 7:54PM

As much as i love Kate Moss and Topshop i have to agree i was completely underwhelmed by her new collection. Everything looked great modelled by her on topshop.co.uk but the clothes were very disapointing in reality. Shoddy, overpriced and out of date. The exact reasons why there is still rails of her clothing in topshop. Her clothing ALWAYS ends up in the sale. Must try harder.