Carol Alt - Fashionista

Carol Alt

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John Casablancas, the Modeling Agent Who Launched the Supermodels, Dies at 70

Words like "legend" and "visionary" are often overused--especially in the fashion world. But both would accurately describe modeling agent John Casablancas, who died Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil of cancer, the New York Times is reporting. He was 70. If the glamorous supermodel era of the '80s and '90s could be attributed to one person, it would be Casablancas. But his career was shrouded in almost as much controversy as it was glamor.

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The Changing Face of the All-American Model

Over the past 50 years, the U.S. population has become increasingly diverse: According to the most recent census, 36% of the American population now identifies as non-Caucasian--that's in comparison to just 16% in 1970. The idea of what it means to be American and to look American this July 4, 2013, is vastly different than the July 4ths of half a century ago. So how has this changed the American beauty ideals, and, by default, the American modeling industry?

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Legendary Models Dish: Embarrassing Moments, Critiques of the Modeling Industry Today, and Why Kate Upton Is Important

Last night I got to attend what turned out to be one of my favorite fashion events ever: The NYC premiere of the HBO documentary About Face: Supermodels Then and Now. After seeing a few trailers (here and here), I couldn't wait to see the film. (You can catch the broadcast premiere Monday July 30 at 9pm on HBO.) Photographer and director Timothy Greenfield-Sanders told us he got the idea for the movie after he attended a cocktail party with a group of models from the 70s and 80s. After doing a shoot with them, he realized that there was a story there, so contacted others (going back to the 50s and 60s) to see if they would work with him--and no one had any hesitations. Models like Isabella Rossellini, Beverly Johnson, Jerry Hall, Carmen dell'Orefice and many more ended up in the final product. Some of these modeling legends, like China Machado, Carol Alt, and Beverly Johnson, hit the red carpet at the Paley Center for Media last night to share their memories as well as opine about the modeling industry now.

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Adrienne Vittadini Fall 2011: Modern Muses--Don't Call Them Old

A mere seven models walked in only 13 looks at the Adrienne Vittadini presentation at Lincoln Center yesterday afternoon. But it wasn’t about the clothes. It was about the models. The presentation, aptly titled “Modern Muses,” featured Niki Taylor, Carol Alt, Roshumba, Pat Cleveland, Frederique van Der Wal, Irina Pantaeva, and Carmen Dell’Orefice. All old school, and all fabulous. After a week of watching prepubescent beanpoles walk all over New York City, it was a pleasure to see these ladies looking real and having a blast. It was a brilliant move by Adrienne Vittadini, because the place was packed with an enthusiastic crowd.