Diverge - Converge

What comes to mind when you think of "Valentino"?
Femininity, luxury, elegance, red, etc....am I right?

What comes to mind when you think of "Freja"?
Androgyny, tomboy, leather, cool attitude, etc....yes?

So how can we reconcile the two? How we can explain Freja's role of prominence for the established high fashion house that represents nearly everything that Freja is not? Two consecutive ad campaigns, lots of runway looks, opening the just held SS11 Haute Couture show......what gives?

Even though the two (fashion house and model) may seem so divergent at a surface glance, I actually think Freja is a wonderfully suitable choice to take the brand into the new decade. She is the perfect bridge between traditional elegance and modern edge. She is accessible and beautiful, but also avantgarde and quirky. Her classic beauty references the past, but the personal sensibilities she imbues into her work scream the present, the here, the now. If a venerable house wants to embrace the ever evolving spectacle of modern life and show that it isn't stifled by it's own history, then Freja is the perfect model for the job. (I suspect this is also why Karl is so taken with Freja for Chanel.)

If you don't change, you die. But change too quickly and you lose sense of your very core being. We're all going through this same balancing act in life; whether we're an old school fashion house, a successful model, or just a mere fan. We're all just trying to find ways to navigate through the confusion of surviving while the world swirls and changes around us. And sometimes, in this madness, disparate elements will converge together to make absolute sense.

Image Credits: style.it

Chanel Haute Couture

No surprises here. Freja showed up at the Chanel Haute Couture show earlier today wearing three beautiful looks. No special treatment. No opening or closing looks. No smirks. No different hair style. She was just one of the runway girls, and I don't know why but that's utterly refreshing to me. Sometimes you just want to see a model do her job and do it well, without all the fanfare and hubbub that can happen.

The toned down affair, both in setting and in color, was quite beautiful if misleadingly simple. If you get a chance, zoom in on the details and you'll see what distinguishes Haute Couture from RTW and why these pieces cost upwards of tens of thousands of dollars. Freja wore a softened expression on her face to match the mood, instantly drawing up nostalgia in me for the old days. I definitely don't miss seeing that hard, stern glare that used to be her frequent runway companion. What always surprises me with models like Freja (and Raquel, Daria, etc.) is how they manage to seem ageless despite surviving through the rigors of a stressful industry like fashion. I guess the ageless gene, in addition to the skinny, tall, and good skin genes, are what distinguish them from us mere plebeians. ;)

Valentino Haute Couture shows tomorrow....any bets on whether Freja will be there or not?

Image Credits: style.it

Runway Randomness

Freja popped up in Berlin yesterday, making a runway appearance at the Hugo by Hugo Boss show where she had the honors of opening and closing. Random, no? Then again, to my memory, Hugo Boss always manages to snag a few big name models for their BFW show. I'm sure they pay very nicely. And it's nice to see the return of a sleek and clean runway version of Freja.

Brings back memories doesn't it? Memories from her earlier seasons....

In other runway news, the Haute Couture shows start next week and Chanel is showing on Tuesday, the 25th. So mark those calendars you avid Freja watchers. Bets on what role Freja will play this time? After being singled out during the Pre-Fall show, I wonder what Karl has in store for her this time, if anything at all. Another fact of note is that Karl is once again foregoing the epic proportions of the Grand Palais in favor of more intimate settings at 46 rue de Cambon; not to be confused with 31 rue Cambon, the address made famous by Coco Chanel. So no elaborately huge runway centerpiece this time around. The economy is only showing slight signs of recovery, so excessive consumption is still a bit taboo.

Anyway, all this runway randomness just adds to the excitement about the F/W 11/12 runway season peeking right around the corner.

Image Credits: scans by tFS member Alien Sex Friend, fmd1.com, elle.de

Valentino Haute Couture

In somewhat of a surprise, Freja walked in and opened the Valentino Haute Couture F/W 10.11 show earlier today in Paris. Surprising because it was her first time walking for Valentino HC, and not so surprising because she is one of the current faces of the brand (the two other campaign girls - Monika Jagaciak and Tati Cotliar - walked the show as well).

Earlier I asked, "who is the new Valentino woman?" Well, maybe it's Freja. Having her both open the show and star in the campaign sends quite a modern message for a house so usually bound with classicism, don't you think?

Anyway, it's great to see her on the HC runways, first at Chanel and now at Valentino. Gives me the confidence to presume that we'll see Freja dominate the ready-to-wear runways comes September. Even if contemporaries like Lily, Lara and Heidi are slowing down in their runway work, Freja seems to be going full speed ahead; just the way we fans like it! Although that doesn't mean that the truncated seasons of SS08 and SS09 aren't still fresh in my mind. I'll never forget those...they've scarred me somewhat and no matter how well Freja does, a part of me will always be scared that she'll disappear again.

Image Credits: style.it

From Denmark to Paris to ?

We all have our traditions. Usually around this time of year most Americans are fresh off a weekend of grilling out and watching fireworks in celebration of the July 4th holiday. Freja, on the other hand, always seems to find herself jetting from Denmark to Paris around this time of year; going from crowded, dirty concert tents to immaculate, luxurious runways.

The Roskilde music festival is arguably one of the biggest draws on the European festival circuit. Freja was there last year decked out in some Alexander Wang, and seemingly not one to break with tradition (or give up on her love of music), she was there again this year also decked out in Alexander Wang.

Coincidentally, I happen to own the same green A Wang vest and let me tell you, it's amazing. (I swear I bought it before I knew Freja had it! Contrary to what you may think, I'm not that type of fan.) As soon as I saw the look on Iselin during the SS10 show, I just knew I had to have it. The best thing about it is the long, draping back made of black nylon. The panel wafts up in the air as you walk, kind of like a cape. So just picture Freja walking around, made even more imposing by a black cape trailing behind her. Pretty cool.

Anyway, judging from the blog post of the person who saw her at Roskilde, she was there on Friday, July 2nd. But yesterday, July 6th, saw her in Paris walking the Chanel Haute Couture F/W 2010 show just like last year.

No surprises here. You can always count on Karl and Freja. They're like Archie and Jughead, Sonny and Cher, Turner and Hooch, Inez and Vinoodh. ;) I may have ragged on some of their past collaborations, but I am truly grateful for their relationship. It's reliable and comfortable; a rarity in the fashion world where seasonal change triumphs.

Freja didn't open or close, but she had one of the last showstopping looks. From an Alexander Wang green military style vest to Chanel sequins and beading, Freja effortlessly moves from one look to the other. I never find myself surprised at the way she looks. No matter the setting, no matter the context, no matter her surroundings, Freja always looks like she inherently belongs. She never looks like she's out of her element; but rather, she always looks to me as if she's completely in it. And that's the mark of a true model.

So where next? From Denmark to Paris to the next job, wherever it may be. Here's hoping it's a good one!

Image Credits: fromthedeskofphyllis.blogspot.com, boohyouwhore.com, style.it

Chanel Haute Couture SS10

Freja opened the Chanel Haute Couture show today, firmly entrenching herself as one of Karl's favorite female models, not that there was any doubt about this in the first place. Was this any surprise? Did we expect any less? After all, I would say that Freja is now the female equivalent of Brad/Baptiste, but I don't mean that with any derision. It's just a fact of the fashion world that I've come to accept and even enjoy because of the comfort and dependability it brings. Fashion cycles are always so rapid and turnovers always so quick, that it's quite refreshing to know you can count on the Freja/Karl relationship. And Karl seems less territorial with Freja so she's free to work with other people as recent work can attest to. I may complain and I may whine, but I do always look forward to seeing Freja walk down that Chanel runway.

Karl gave hints that the show would be "neon baroque" but I thought it was more "Bride of Frankenstein in outer space during the springtime." I guess that doesn't make nearly as good of a sound byte and it's quite a mouthful to say. Although I can see where Karl is coming from because the color palate for this collection is quite bright, especially compared to last years' all white spring Haute Couture show. And the presence of high, fluffy collars and culottes brought in that baroque feel.

My Bride of Frankenstein reference comes from the hair, especially with those silver streaks running throughout. And all the metallic accents and accessories, but specifically the shoes, give me that outer space feel. There just seemed to be a general sheen and shinyness to the whole show, most ardently and ferociously summed up by the final look.

Regardless, it was a stunning collection. Not my favorite, but some looks were just so beautiful.

And it was nice to see a mixture of both old and new girls. You had Freja, Heidi, Isabeli, Lara, Anja and Abbey (with her taking honors as the bride) on the one hand. Then Lisanne De Jong, Mirte Maas, Jenny Sinkaberg, Marlene Szoka (!!) and Valerija Kelava (!!!) on the other. I love seeing new girls for Chanel and I'm happy that some of the more unexpected, but no less exceptional, girls got to walk.

Image Credits: catwalking.com, coutorture, moviechopshop.com

Haute Couture

A new year means new things to look forward to. Mark your calendars because the Paris Haute Couture shows are set to run from Sunday, January 24 through Thursday, January 28. Chanel is currently set for Tuesday, January 26.

With the way things have been going the past few months, I'll be very surprised if Freja does not walk in the show. After all, she is one of the current campaign girls. And the last Chanel runway show she missed was all the way back during the SS09 ready-to-wear season when she skipped out on most of the Milan and all of the Paris shows. Since then she's been present (and prominently featured) at all of Karl's shows so I doubt this upcoming SS10 Haute Couture show will be any different.

The question is, will Freja walk in any other shows? I'm hoping for, but not counting on, an unexpected surprise. She walked the Christian Dior Resort show back in 2007, but hasn't walked any of the RTW shows in a while and has never walked for Dior HC. She walked the Elie Saab HC show last year, but that's been the entirety of her work with the brand. She closed Valentino RTW last season, but that doesn't mean she'll walk the HC show. So...I don't know. I'd love to see her walk for Givenchy, but I highly, highly doubt that will happen.

At least we only have a few short weeks to wait. And then before we know it, the FW1011 shows will be upon us in February! And the madness begins all over again...

Image Credits: style.com

Chanel Haute Couture

As expected, Freja walked for Chanel Haute Couture earlier tonight. Other perennial Karl favorites like Milana Keller, Snejana Onopka, Sasha Pivovarova and Denisa Dvorakova were there as well, along with newer girls like Sigrid Agren, Karmen Pedaru and Toni Garrn. Very fitting considering the collection was like a greatest hits both old and new of Chanel.

Freja had two looks and disappointingly her face was covered up in one of them. The second looks was a little more comical, but it did show off her amazingly long legs.

At first Karl's inspiration for the collection was reported to be "floating panels." But then we got another report saying the inspiration was more 70's nightclub. In looking at the complete collection, I can see both aspects very clearly.

Many of the dresses did indeed have panels of fabric floating down the back. Olivier Theyskens favored a similar idea while he was still at Nina Ricci. I like to think of the look as business in the back, party in the front. :)

And Karl's use of embellishments and sequins give off a Studio 54 disco vibe. Hence, the 70's nightclub reference.

The backdrop of the show was four big bottles of Chanel No. 5. You can always count on Karl to be ostentatious and over the top. Lara was the bride this time, and according to Derek Blasberg she and Baptiste kissed to close the show. I guess that's one way to leave an impression, and it also probably explains why Freja did not make her third appearance as the Chanel bride.

Haute Couture shows are still going on, but I don't know how likely it will be for Freja to walk in any of the remaining shows. We'll see though. She's always full of surprises.

Image Credits: catwalking.com, fashionologie, style.com

Mark Your Calendars?

Chanel haute couture is showing on July 7th. Here's a blurb from WWD:

THE LATE SHOW: Often, the night before one of his many fashion shows, Karl Lagerfeld visits the venue and is enchanted seeing the décor bathed in evening light. Come couture week in Paris next month, Lagerfeld will take full advantage and host a sunset show for Chanel under the soaring glass roof of the Grand Palais. The designer said couture “has to be like a celebration” and that sunset shows are reminiscent of the “golden age of haute couture.” The Chanel show is scheduled for July 7 at 9 p.m.

Considering Freja opened and closed the last Chanel haute couture show in January and also walked in the Chanel resort show just this past month, it's a safe bet to assume she'll be walking in July. Maybe she'll even make a record third appearance as the Chanel bride? Any one care to venture as to what other haute couture shows she might walk in? She surprisingly showed up at Elie Saab in January, so I really think anything is possible come July.

Picture of the Grand Palais for your time:

Image Credits: wwd

Chanel Haute Couture

Freja is back and better than ever! She opened and closed Chanel's Haute Couture SS09 show today in Paris. Sashaying down the runway in a brilliant pantsuit, outrageous headpiece and very long train, she embodied the Chanel bride of today--understated femininity in a modernly sleek form.


While the look may appear simple at first glance, you must take a look at the detail. This is no ordinary bride as the delicate paper folds, roses and thorns will tell you. This is haute couture and it is exciting to see Freja make a return to this runway. Her last appearance came during the SS07 season where she made her first appearance as the Chanel bride.


Two appearances as the Chanel bride....does this bode well for Freja's immediate future? Could her small comeback mean that Karl is back in love with our androgynous catwalker, tattoos and all? I certainly hope so! Karl is known for having his "it" girls and moving on from them fairly quickly and permanently. But I really hope his decision to bring Freja back as the bride means that we'll be seeing her strutting on the NY, Milan and Paris catwalks in full force this upcoming FW season. And if she holds the opening and/or closing slots at any of Karl's shows, I hope this means another campaign under her belt.

Image Credits: coutorture, style.it, style.com