This or That?

It's a battle of the SS10 Eyewear campaigns. Both feature Freja and Baptiste. Both photographed by Karl. But one is dark, the other is light. One is sleek, the other is tousled. Which do you choose?

Karl Lagerfeld SS10:

Chanel SS10:

I think both sets make for striking images, especially when you see them in magazines. Haven't seen the KL ads yet, but the Chanel ones definitely stick out to me because of their insistent brightness. Interesting that Karl would choose to go completely dark for his namesake brand. I think it's rather fitting as I've always thought KL had a darker, more severe (in the German tradition) type of aesthetic message. And since the same two models are featured, the use of light and dark serves to develop a much needed distinction between the two brands. Although, if forced to choose, I'd probably go with the KL ads. I love how Freja and Baptiste's faces stand out against the black. And those ads really show how well they can work together.

Image Credits: designscene.net, my scans

In Two Minutes

I saw this backstage video from the SS10 Isabel Marant show and felt that it perfectly captured the range of emotions and feelings associated with putting on a runway show. In a neat little two minute package, we get to experience the calm before the storm, then the gradual rumbling of activity as the models are prepped, then the frenzy that occurs backstage as those models rush about to change, then the elation and utter joy that the end of the show brings.

Glimpses of Freja are present throughout, but I particularly like this video because it shows us an aspect of fashion shows that we rarely get to see. You always hear about how crazy it gets backstage as a show is going on, but this is the first video that's actually given me some sense of that. And I'm sure that sense is heightened at least ten times in real life. All the running around, the reckless abandon with which you have to approach changing in public, all those people prodding, poking and invading your personal space...

So at the end of the day, I think it would do us all well if we remembered that models are just doing a job and fashion is just a business that comes with it's own stresses, trails and tribulations. The glamor is what we're allowed to see (or maybe just what we choose to see) but the other aspects are there. You just have to dig around a little to find them.

Alexander Wang Backstage

The full Alexander Wang backstage video is up, but there isn't that much more Freja to be seen. Regardless, it's a very well done video (Sorry for the bad upload quality. You can see a better version on the site itself under Collections < Spring 2010 < Backstage Video). The mood and music-can't go wrong with the Chromatics-are pitch perfect in conveying that air of coolness that pervades anything Alexander Wang. And I love seeing the juxtaposition of the calm, orderly runway walk next to the mad, dash backstage run. Not to mention that this was my favorite collection from last season so I'll take any excuse to see it in motion once more.

Alex's clothes are usually a hit or miss with me, but there was something so attractive about the way he did American sportswear that I just fell in love (despite the outrageous prices). The color palette, drape of the fabrics and overall feeling of levity made the clothes easy to relate to and wearable. And watching this video you get the sense that the models really felt comfortable, and that they were the ones wearing the clothes and not vice versa. After this SS10 collection I'm anxious to see what Alex has in store for FW1011. Hopefully it lives up to his hype. What about you? Any collections that you're particularly looking forward to?

Oh, btw, speaking of collections, Marc Jacobs is going to be live streaming his new one on his website, Monday February 15th at 8pm EST. Freja hasn't missed a Marc show in.....ever, so keep your eyes peeled. Don't you just love how the industry embrace of technology has the added reward of instant gratification for us?

Video courtesy of alexanderwang.com

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

Chanel SS10

More Chanel ad campaign pictures have leaked.

One thing I can say for sure is that I'm happy Freja is more prominently featured this time around with a few solo shots. Last season she was clearly playing second-fiddle to Heidi Mount. I thought it would be the same for this season when I heard Claudia would star as well. I was afraid Freja was going to be relegated to the back, essentially becoming the female equivalent of Baptiste (formerly Brad Kroenig) i.e. written off merely as one of Karl's favs.

Not all the images have been released and we probably won't see the whole set (eyewear, accessories) until much later, but things look good albeit a tad straightforward for my taste. There doesn't seem to be as much to analyze and grab your attention like there was in last season's first campaign image saturated with Victorian, lesbian undertones. Nevertheless, this campaign is aesthetically satisfying and Freja looks beautiful.

I'm always surprised at how well she fits the current Chanel image. Especially because I've traditionally associated the brand with an older woman (blame it on the pervasive tweed and the way Chanel No. 5 smells like an old lady), yet Freja is so young and edgy. Goes to show you that sometimes the unexpected works out better than you could have ever hoped for. The location is gorgeous too. And I really like how the grittiness and history of Buenos Aires contrasts with the glamor of the clothes.

Your thoughts? Do you like it? Hate it? Unless the rest of the images are completely and surprisingly wonderful, I feel neutral towards this campaign overall. It's nice looking and I'm glad Freja's in it and getting more exposure, but it's kind of boring. Maybe I was just expecting more considering the show we got on the runway...although, I can see how it would be pretty hard to top that.

Image Credits: scans by bwgreyscale member fearless123, lebook.com via tFS member ThiagoMello

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

Backstage Moments - Paris

First of all, happy Freja Friday everyone. Second of all, this last batch of my favorite backstage pictures from Paris finally wraps up my SS10 coverage. Lucky for us, FW1011 (whoa, we're out of this century's first decade!) is only 4 short months away. With the holidays landing right smack in the middle, the time will pass by way quicker than you think. As usual, click through for HQs and information in the image file name.

My favorite thing to come out of this season has to be Farmen.

Weave-tastic

Up on the roof

A beauty shot

Some artistic shots

Some fun shots

I am Freja, hear me roar

Another awkward moment

And lastly, we have smug Freja

Thanks to all the hardworking backstage photographers who bring us lovely moments like the ones above. Fashion month wouldn't be as fun for us without them!

Image Credits: corbis, dazeddigital, eastnews, elle, elle.it, gobackstage.blogspot, vmagazine, wallpaper, wwd

Backstage Moments - Milan

Milan was grounds for a wide variety of backstage pictures, so it was hard to narrow down my favorites. But I did so here they are:

We got some stunning beauty shots.

Some action shots.

(I just love how these last two shots go together, because on their own they're pretty insignificant. Together they form a small narrative.)

Shared moments with friends.

Some funny moments.

An awkward moment.

And one badass moment.

Backstage pictures from New York and London can be found in this previous post. Paris will come a bit later.

Image Credits: dazeddigital, eastnews, elle, elle.es, elle.fr, elle.it, style.it, sonnyphotos, wallpaper, wwd