Les Mannequins

Models. They get to have fun. The hottest invitations, clothes and gorgeous shoot locations. We do know there is a not so glamorous side with exhausting schedules, demanding agencies and tabloid pictures of some participating in illegal activities. Looking at the broad- spectrum, modeling is one of a kind career that is as a far from individualistic as one can do. They provide their faces and bodies to make pieces become “hits”. Imagine the pressure of trying to fit the seam as an iconic muse for a couture designer. As in many career paths there is the shades of cool, but in modeling it seems to vary within shades of glitz and glam.

The Fash Pack:

~ Doetzen Kroes;
I don’t think I’ve ever shouted “Gimme More” to the Netherlands, until this siren launched multiple ad campaigns and is becoming designer’s next go to girl. Did I mention this past figure skater knows how to break a sweat? Twice a day workouts for this Victoria’s Secret angel who is also dating the infamous DJ Ruckus. Doetzen can consistently be found out on the town looking toned and haute in the legendary Herve Leger band dress. She is definitely my new favorite model who owns her curves and feels that, “ compared with all the other girls… I have big thighs.”(Vogue) but continues to climbs Forbes highest paid models. Get it girl!


~ Lakshmi Menon;
The emerging Indian beauty of the unforgettable Hermès ad with painted Elephants; not only emphasized Lakshmi’s versatility in different environments but showcased her stunning natural beauty. Now a frequent cover girl for French L’Officiel and Indian Vogue. The ad campaigns are adding up and this newcomer is ready to take on more than New York Fashion Week. Luckily for Lakshmi New York, nor Vogue can’t seem to get enough of her and deemed her as 2008 “This Year’s Model”, but I think she’s just begun.


~Jessica Stam;
It seems as if we’ve known her since the days of Naomi and Cindy, but Jessica Stam was just a wee girl in Canada. Fortunately, she won’t being going anywhere anytime soon since her discovery in a local doughnut shop in 2001. Appearing on numerous Italian Vogue covers after Steven Meisel made her his muse at age 16. What I like even better about Stam is she is this generation’s model to the max taking ad campaign’s from veterans and befriending the cool kids of Hollywood's elite. She’s dated everyone from Anthony Kiedis to Malcom Ford. I like her style on and off the runway, her presence is transcontinental. What can I say? I like a girl who is just “livin’ her life.”




Picture credits: Gap Ad by Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin (2008), Pirelli Calendar by Patrick Demarchelier (2008).