March Editorials

Exactly one year after her US Vogue debut, Freja scores her second appearance in the magazine. Is March the Anna Wintour month for doing things out of the ordinary? How else can we explain that Freja's only two times in the magazine have both been in March? Coincidence I guess....

Punk'd
Ph: David Sims
Fashion Editor: Grace Coddington
Other Models: Arizona Muse, Raquel Zimmermann

I never thought I'd be so happy to see Freja jumping against a gray background in US Vogue. :) Maybe because I absolutely love the styling, all three models, and their whimsical facial expressions. When fashion doesn't take itself too seriously, and lets its hair down so to speak, the results can be charming and lovely. The juxtaposition of the absurd faces with the tough modernity of the clothes: leather, spikes and studs mixed with bug eyes, fish lips and exaggerated expressions. You see an editorial like this and you just want to smile.

And thank goodness all three models match each other in terms of ability in front of the camera. How off-putting would it have been to insert some 15 year old newbie who looks as awkward as she probably feels? I know some people don't get the hype about Arizona, but I think she's a dream in print, so I really don't mind her at all. In fact, I find myself right-click-saving nearly all her editorial images. And it's refreshing to see someone older and more mature getting hyped.

Speaking of Arizona, she also poses in Freja's second editorial of the month, along with French model (and my current model love) Aymeline Valade.

The Change Agent
Ph: Steven Meisel
Styling: Nicolas Ghesquiere

The three make such a wonderful team that I find myself lamenting the fact that they only have this one shot. I want more. More. MORE! Eeeek! Lol, can you sense the sheer excitement that I feel from having Aymeline and Freja together in an editorial? I love when my favorite models work together.....I don't know why, I just do. And in some ways, Aymeline reminds me a lot of Freja. They both have this innate toughness that expresses itself in features both androgynous and gorgeously feminine. Both are instantly recognizable on the catwalk with their sharp features and modern lines. Yes both are beautiful in a classic way. Both give off a sense of individuality, maturity, and ease that comes from a fully recognized sense of self. These features are rare and develop over time and with experience. So even though Aymeline is a "new face," she's actually older than Freja and has been diligently working away at the lower rungs of the fashion industry until she broke through this year.

Hmmmm, I kind of went off on a tangent here. Sorry! In sum, Aymeline is like Freja except with blue eyes, a French accent, and strong runway walk. ;)

After a quiet month so far, things are beginning to amp up. And with the start of Milan today and Paris soon after, the promise of more things to get excited about lingers on the horizon. But for now, Freja runway sightings remain elusive. And so they should, since Freja deserves a break after 12 straight runway seasons. Right? So wherever you are Freja, your fans wish you well! Just make sure to show up for at least one show...*cough* Chanel *cough*.

Image Credits: My scans

H&M

Are you there fashion gods? It's me, Margaret. Ok, seriously, my name's not really Margaret, but someone must have heard my repetitive musings on the triteness of Freja and androgyny, because this is everything that I could have ever hoped for and wanted in terms of an antidote.

Smiling and frolicking (sort of) in ruffles and lace? Why yes, of course. Looking easy, breezy and oh so commercial? Most definitely. This is a far, far cry from the rough and tough tomboyish image that made Freja "famous" and won her the adoration of drooling fan girls everywhere. But this is much, much closer to the image of Freja that I fell in love with all those years ago. If this is a sign of things to come in 2011, then color me excited. With a refreshed image comes refreshed ideas. :)

By the way, I must say that Raquel looks amazing with her new short hair. The two of them together in this ad is giving me serious nostalgia for the fashion landscape circa 2006. Those were simpler, purer times; but then again, everything seems that way in hindsight.

Image Credits: zinio.com via tFS member FRANCY ITALY

Campaign News - LV

I'm pretty much awe struck right now by this news:

I don't know if it gets any better than this. Kristen, Raquel and Freja by Meisel? Holy crap! Talk about talent overload. I just hope the results live up to the reputation of all those involved. And even if it doesn't, the pedigree of this job is enough to make me so excited and proud that Freja is included. She isn't the first name to come to mind when you think Louis Vuitton, especially since the last few campaigns have conditioned me to think of big name celebrities (Madonna) and traditional super models (Christy). But Freja can do glamorous, and she can do luxury; so under the guidance of Meisel I have high hopes for something great.

With Chanel and now Louis Vuitton on her campaign list, the S/S 11 season is turning out pretty well for Freja. Not as good as last season, but I think most of us know by now that the F/Ws seem to suit Freja and her aesthetic better anyway. And who knows....maybe we'll be surprised by more campaign news. After all, this entire year and has been nothing if not chock full of surprises. :)

Upper East Side Glamor

Freja's latest editorial in W magazine is an absolute dream. I love it's updated take on the 1980s style of glamor, opulence and affluence. I love that it features Freja in full glam, feminine mode. I love the great casting of both Freja and Raquel as modern day ladies who lunch and lounge on the Upper East Side of NY. I love the big hair, ostentatious jewelry, fabulous clothes and cheekbones galore that pop out on every page. In fact, there isn't anything that I don't love about this editorial. Every single shot is strong and stunning with both models really emoting and showing all the new girls how it's done.

NY, NY 10021
Ph: Inez and Vinoodh
Styling: Alex White
Other Models: Raquel Zimmerman

Maybe it's the amazing sets with their extreme attention to detail, but to me this editorial looks like a beautiful tableau vivant. I keep waiting to see Freja or Raquel move on the page. I haven't been this enthralled with an editorial and it's complete vision in a very long time.

This is such a difference from the last time Inez and Vinoodh shot Freja and Raquel for W Magazine. Thank god Freja isn't treated like a background prop again. I only wish we had at least one shot of her and Raquel together so we could see them play off each others strengths and show us some really interesting contrasts. It's not often that you get two veteran models of their caliber working together, so it would have been really nice.

Speaking of, I'll never understand why people feel the need to say that so-and-so outshines so-and-so whenever there is more than one model in an editorial. Is it insecurity that elicits the need to put down one in the effort to prop up the other? I just don't get it. Perhaps I'm too PC. What I do understand is that is really doesn't get any better than Freja and Raquel shot by Inez and Vinoodh. Think about it. That's years worth of modeling and photography experience coming together in one editorial. How could it not be good? As much as I loved Freja's VI ed with Mathias, this one has to be my favorite of the year hands down. I knew from the moment I first saw it.

I always thought Freja had a little bit of that 80's era opulence in her look, and when styled in this manner you can definitely see it. The last shot is especially wonderful with Freja looking so feminine, playful and wistful. It's the perfect shot to end a beautiful story, and it's the kind of image that really displays the model who I've always known Freja to be. I'm just so happy that this year has finally brought that out again after we all had to dwell in the androgynous doldrums for so long.

You know you've just seen a good editorial when you're utterly disappointed to come to it's last image. And this might even be the last time that we'll get to see something like this, for there are major changes afoot at W Magazine. Changes that could result in major staff leaving the magazine, including Alex White who styled this editorial. I know that W isn't always the greatest when it comes to content and covers, but I feel like it's really the only mainstream American magazine that consistently runs editorials like this one and I would hate to see that change. Stefano Tonchi, now that you're the new editor-in-chief, I beg of you: give us more models and stunning eds, and less egregiously photoshopped celebrities please! Although, things are already looking bad for us fashion lovers. Blah!

Image Credits: My scans

Editorials Keep Pouring In

In addition to having editorials in the April issues of both Vogue UK and Vogue Germany, Freja also has another editorial in the upcoming April issue of W Magazine. It seems like "March Magazine Madness" isn't relegated to one month, and Freja's ubiquitous prominence in nearly all parts of the fashion world continues.

New York, New York 10021
Ph: Inez and Vinoodh
Styling: Alex White
Other Models: Raquel Zimmerman

We only have these small images with weird lines on them for now (part of W's "shop the issue" concept on their website), but I'll post better scans as soon as I can. From what I can see though, this editorial is glamorous, beautiful, and old school; and it gives us a good indication as to how people are conceiving of Freja's look now that androgyny is no longer her only calling card.

Image Credits: wmagazine

Art and Commerce

I've never been this underwhelmed by Freja's presence in an editorial. Perhaps my expectations were raised too high when I first heard about the ed. How can you go wrong with Inez and Vinoodh shooting Freja and Raquel? The first preview image seemed promising, even though Freja was relegated to the role of masculine, androgynous model once again. Even though it's a hackneyed role for her, Freja still could have been amazing, especially with Raquel playing the counterpoint.

What we get instead is Freja confined in the background, mostly as a prop. She doesn't even change outfits. The two main players in the editorial are clearly Raquel and all the amazing contemporary art. Both deliver so well that I wonder why Inez and Vinoodh even used Freja at all? She's a great model, so I'd rather have them take advantage of her skill then stick her casually in the back because that's just a tease.

Anyway, this editorial is long, but really amazing despite Freja's underwhelming presence. The art history lover in me is thrilled by the artists and pieces included. And Raquel shows how amazing she is once again, and why she's been in the industry for so long. You'd be hard pressed to find someone better than her to emulate and interact with the art the way she does.

Art and Commerce
W Magazine October 2009
Ph: Inez and Vinoodh

Image Credits: My Scans