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Ageless Beauty: Supermodels are still in Vogue By Robin Givhan Washington Post Staff Writer The familiar face of model Linda Evangelista smiles from the cover of August's Vogue magazine, an issue devoted to aging. Evangelista, 41, wears a black Bottega Veneta dress with sterling silver chain-link straps, and her blond hair with its artfully dark roots is brushed back, except for a few messy strands jutting out from behind one ear. Reflexively there is an urge to smooth her hair down, but intuitively one knows that the asymmetry is fashionably intentional. Evangelista is part of the generation of mannequins who in the 1990s were popularly dubbed "supermodels." The rules for what truly defined these hyperbolic beings were never made clear but they included regular appearances on the catwalk and in glossy magazines, enormous salaries and the average person having some vague first-name familiarity with them. The most famous of these were Linda, Christy and Naomi. That troika is back in the spotlight and just as stunning. Evangelista recently modeled for designer Stefano Pilati of Yves Saint Laurent and has turned up on the red carpet glamorously enveloped in YSL ruffles. Her appearance on Vogue's cover marks the first time this year that the magazine has used a model, rather than a celebrity, in that position. CREDIT: Courtesy Vogue CAPTION: The August 2006 cover of Vogue featuring a pregnant Linda Evangelista. (Courtesy Vogue) Christy Turlington is also in the August issue, starring in a story that pronounces "red is the new black." (One assumes that cover line was written in a frothy fit of sarcasm and cheekiness, lest the September issue command readers to "Think pink!") Turlington notes that she was lured back into the modeling limelight thanks to a job offer from Donatella Versace. Naomi Campbell never went away, although she has judiciously edited the frequency of her runway sashays. But her work life has continued virtually uninterrupted except for those occasions when, after being accused of assaulting assistants with cellphones and PDAs, she has had to spend time in anger management classes or the courtroom. Her perp walk is not nearly as glamorous as the powerful strut she favors on the catwalk. These women are not trying to revive the hectic glory days when they dominated fashion. They don't need to work that hard, and besides, there are babies, marriages and other business ventures to occupy their time. But their return gives fashion aficionados a pleasant break from the umpteenth Lindsay Lohan-Hilary Duff-Mischa Barton-Olsen twin picture. And in comparison to the wan creatures who currently sleepwalk down the runway, the supermodels possess a stage presence that is mesmerizing. There is something more than mere beauty that draws the eye. Turlington is 37 and Campbell is 36 now. Evangelista is the grande dame. (In model years, she's the equivalent of 82.) It would be warm and fuzzy to say these women are especially intriguing because of laugh lines or because they exude a greater sense of themselves thanks to the wisdom of age. But even in their twenties, they were able to animate their faces, express emotion through their eyes and force people to stop and stare. And truth be told, there are no lines of any sort in evidence. In fact, Evangelista happily cops to using Botox and even serves up a couple of referrals to doctors in New York and Los Angeles. Christy Turlington, 37, as she appears in Vogue magazine's August issue, devoted to aging.(Vogue) There is no empathetic balm in knowing that Evangelista is 41 instead of, say, 19. She still possesses the sort of beauty that stops traffic. That's why she's a highly paid model who years ago famously noted that she wouldn't roll out of bed for less than $10,000. A dozen syringes of Botox later and the average woman is no closer to Evangelistadom. Throughout the magazine's August issue, which details how to look fashionable from one's twenties until teetering on the edge of one's centennial, there are non-models used as exemplars of style. Several of the women were particular beauties almost from birth. Others have the benefits of wealth: the best doctors, beauty treatments, nutritionists, relaxing vacations. The average woman doesn't have their advantages, just as she will never have Evangelista's cheekbones or her almond-shaped eyes. Vogue has never been in the business of exalting the average. What is reassuring about that cover, however, is its familiarity. Evangelista has posed and vamped through fashion's obsession with ostentation, minimalism, grunge, tartiness, bohemia and elegance. She took a break and now she's back for grunge: the remix. Over the years, she altered her hair color and changed her body language with each shift of the fashion tides. But through it all, she also always looked like herself. In an industry of planned obsolescence, she is still here. The supermodel on the cover and the exceptional women on the inside pages have seen every trend and emerged unscathed. It is impossible to empathize with them. But they offer inspiration. They have tamed fashion. And their portraits are as articulate as the words of the finest motivational speaker: Fashion excludes only those who quietly acquiesce. |
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| "DETROIT RISING" The 24th ANNUAL NATIVE DETROITER MAGAZINE Release Party By Mark Burton – Michigan Fashion Press November 28, 2008 It was definitely a night for celebration as many of Detroit’s elite including the mayor himself Ken Cockrel Jr. made their way through the tall arched doorways of the Detroit Yacht Club’s second level ballroom. I had been mingling with some of the early arriving patrons and club staff about an hour or so before the fashion event. During this time photographers were hitting pre-show test shots, the D.J. was making sound checks and equipment folks were getting the lighting into show position. For Sherman Eaton, as he scurried in and out of the ballroom attending to last minute details making sure everything was perfect, there was a sense of triumph. This was after all “The 24th Annual NATIVE DETROITER & FRIENDS Magazine release party.” Sherman "The Publisher" wore the look of accomplishment that night and I was happy for him. As for the venue that he chose, The Detroit Yacht Club is one of the most prestigious and historic private clubs in North America. Upon entering its front doors, club patrons and guests are already greeted by traditional décor and style, but to walk up that cherry wood banister staircase into the main ballroom with its hand carved crown moldings and crystal chandelier’s is like being immersed in the trappings of luxury palace. Tall archways decked with ornamental lighting and wall sconces reconfirmed that Detroit still has its gems and can still host a first class event. About thirty minutes from show time the crowd really began to file in. The ladies in full length minks, evening gowns and sequin dresses fully complimented the men in their designer suits. The room was abuzz and I found myself wondering what would the late great Percy Savage, fashions first real PR man have been feeling about this. He probably would have been inspired just like I was at that moment. I turned to my old MSU college comrade Craig Boyd and said “Craig I’m inspired!” to which he grinned as I kept writing. Just before show time Sherman stepped up to the microphone and after thanking everyone for attending the event proceeded to tell us why he continues to promote Detroit the way he does. Sherman was born and raised in Detroit City and it is his true passion and love for this town that drives him. He made a conscious choice to stay in the City of Detroit leaving no doubt that Sherman Eaton truly embodies what a “Native Detroiter” is. Sherman believes in the people of Detroit which he showed by example as he graciously shared the stage with others during intros. He knows Detroit is a city with its own unique style and its own unique stars like Willie Burton, former NBA standout turned real-estate developer and Nathan Adams, owner of The Nfluence hair salon(both recipients of 2008 Native Detroiter awards). Lastly Sherman recognized and thanked his staff for helping him put together such a fantastic event and then it was show time. As the models walked one by one showing the collections, this writer had a smile on his face. When the show was over and the party ensued with flash bulbs popping and champaign flowing, there were a few things that I realized. For all of his successes in life, it is perhaps his humility which makes him so endearing a man to everyone that he comes in contact with. With Michigan’s economy reeling, a broken auto industry and a constant barrage of negative world wide press, Sherman Eaton gave us all reasons to keep the faith that Detroit will rise again. For that we thank him sincerely and say Bravo Sherman, well done! |