The Eternal Muse

Final Show List

2007-10-05T08:37:00.000-07:00

As we draw closer to the end of the SS 2008 season, I thought I would start complying a final show list for Jessica.

New York Fashion Week SS 2008

Anna Sui
BCBG Max Azria
Carlos Miele
Carolina Hererra
Derek Lam
Diane Von Furstenberg
Diesel
DKNY
Donna Karan
J.Mendal
Marc Jacobs
Michael Kors
Miss Sixty (C)
Nicholas (C)
Oscar de la Renta
Peter Som
Preen
Proenza Schouler
Rag and Bone
Rosa Cha
Thakoon
Tommy Hilfiger
Zac Posen

Total: 23

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London Fashion Week SS 2008

Acquasectum
Fashion for Relief
Giles Deacon

Total: 3

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Milan Fashion Week SS 2008

Alberta Ferretti
Blumarine
Bottega Veneta
D&G
Dolce and Gabanna
Fendi
Gianfranco Ferre
Max Mara
Prada
Roberto Cavalli
Sportmax
Versace
Daks

Total: 13

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Paris Fashion Week SS 2008

Alexander McQueen
Chanel
Christian Dior
Celine
Dries Van Noten
Hermes
Louis Vuitton
Karl Lagerfeld
Jean Paul Gaultier
John Galliano
Loewe
Miu Miu
Sophia Kokalski
Valentino
Rue de Mai
Stella McCartney
Sonia Rykiel

Total: 17
SS 2008 Final Total: 56

Milan Fashion Week

2007-09-25T10:06:00.000-07:00

Day 1: Monday, September 24th

D&G SS 2008
Gianfranco Ferre SS 2008

Day 2: Tuesday, September 25th

Sportmax SS 2008
Blumarine SS 2008
Bottega Venetta SS 2008
Prada SS 2008

Day 3: Wednesday, September 26th

Roberto Cavalli SS 2008
Alberta Ferretti SS 2008

Day 4: Wednesday, September 26th

Max Mara SS 2008
Dolce and Gabanna SS 2008
Fendi SS 2008
Versace SS 2008

Day 5: Wednesday, September 26th

Daks SS 2008

Now this is what I call originality

2007-09-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

Please note the sarcasm XD

A note of interest

2007-09-15T09:28:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since I've seen photographers utilize whatever is left of Stam's versatility. Although her publications have remained top-notch (Numero, Vogue, Harper's, V mag, etc), I find that photographers tend to veer away from putting her in risky shots, it's almost as though they refuse to make her 'ugly' or Jessica's features are almost incapable of being edgy these days.

The following three editorials all came out in publications within the last month. Had they been published months between each other, I wouldn't have noticed but because of their close chronological proximity, it has prompted this blog post. (actually, I was supposed to have done this post last week. I kept obsessing over my Nitendo DS/Nitendogs)

The various characters portrayed in these issues are each distinctly different, judging by the general mannerisms that Stam has chosen (or the photographers have directed). Unlike much of Stam's recent editorials which are photographed to showcase the clothes (more common in publications such as Harper's or any Vogue Korea/Nippon, China, etc) and not the character/setting, these focus a tad more on the girl wearing the clothes (or in Vogue Uk's case, both the clothing and the character compliment each other).

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Another Magazine FW 2007
Ultraviolet Garden
Photographer: Craig McDean

While there's no sole character featured in this set (instead, there is three. Possibly more since she has 6 shots in this set), it has to be noted that this is the first time an editorial has featured Stam without her blond hair since 2005. In fact, the last time she donned a wig was Another Magazine SS 2007. I think I might be seeing a pattern here . So who is Stam in this editorial? A sporty SKA girl attempting some sort of an odd windmill dance, a violet-haired nymph with an extraterrestrial nipple or an old-world hippie looking a tad bit constipated/superior? That's really for you to decide *mwahahahha* Obviously, this editorial wasn't photographed to be pretty or easy to 'understand', it seemed to be photographed for the sake of sheer oddity. If this appeared in Vogue, it would be labeled as 'utter crap' but stick it in a 'foreign' or 'edgy' publication and ZOMG IT'S ART.

Don't get me wrong, I do like it though :p

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Vogue Men September
The Blonde, the boat and the Aussie Golfer
Photographer: Tom Munro

Ahhhh, the ol' the rich suburban kept woman, the young aristocrat with the Michael Kors tan, aviator glasses and Colgate smile. I was surprising pleased (yeah, I can be surprising pleased with Stam) to see how well this turned out considering the fact that it's an advertisement for a lifestyle less than 10% of the world's population can reach. (estimation, of course. Please don't pull up statistics and batter me over the head with it *hides*)It's a little out of character of me to find this type of editorial appealing but I think the main cause is that yes, Stam may be playing a trophy wife but it's not in the category of 'gold-digger' It's more in the style of a laid-back, distinguished upper class glamor. Note how nicely her body photographs in print as opposed to on the runway.

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Vogue Uk October
Golden Year
Photographer: Corrine Day

A very Nicole Kidman-esque type of photoshoot with no precise point except to showcase the various Haute Couture (further embellished by matching backgrounds) pieces of FW 2007. Although I do admire the general posing Stam herself displays throughout the editorial. The 2nd picture in the first row is really the one that's worth looking at, the unzipped dress in the back, the emptiness pieced with the wintry delicacy of the reflecting mirrors. For no good reason whatsoever, I'm very fond of the last picture. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever but Stam retains a sense of coolness with her slung back Gaultier dress and her decrepit hitchhiker sign.

Nonsensical photography FTW :p

By the way, I also find it interesting that the last editorial (entitled 'Color Council' ) Corrine Day did with Stam (back in 2005) also featured the same idea of clothing+background similarity.

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Overall, 3 very decent editorials in 3 impressive publications. Each distinctly different, featuring (of course) the same model. While they may not be particularly interesting if you look at them individually, when you put together together and judge them side-by-side, the versatility Stam showcases is still worth a second look.

An ongoing show list

2007-09-07T05:40:00.000-07:00

Day 1: Wednesday, Sept 5th 2007

BCBG SS 2008
Rag and Bone ss 2008

Day 2: Thursday, Sept 6th 2007

Miss Sixty SS 2008
Carlos Miele SS 2008
Preen SS 2008

Day 3: Friday, Sept 7th 2007

J. Mendel SS 2008
Thakoon SS 2008
Proenza Schouler SS 2008

Day 4: Saturday, Sept 8th 2007

Rosa Cha SS 2008
Diesel SS 2008

Day 5: Sunday, Sept 9th 2007

DKNY SS 2008
Peter Som SS 2008
Michael Kors SS 2008
Derek Lam SS 2008
Diane von Furstenberg SS 2008
Nicholai by Nicky Hilton SS 2008

Day 6: Monday, Sept 10th 2007

Carolina Hererra SS 2008
Oscar de la Renta SS 2008
Anna Sui SS 2008
Marc Jacobs SS 2008

Day 7: Tuesday, Sept 11th 2007

Zac Posen SS 2008

Day 8: Tuesday, Sept 12th 2007

Donna Karan SS 2008
Tommy Hilfiger SS 2008
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Total: 23 Shows

So it begins

2007-09-05T17:55:00.000-07:00

Day 1: BCBG SS 2008 (10 am NYC time)

Pro: Simple girlish designs that suite Stam to a tee
Con: Make-up that looks exceeding greasy under certain lighting.

Runway vs Fitting

Let's play a game. I like predictability (unless you know me very well, please don't attempt to surprise me. I don't like surprises) and
for the most part, Stam the Model has never disappointed me.
I'm betting she'll be at Rag and Bone.
Let's see how it goes.

Wow, all this centering made that look poetic *snorts*

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Rag and Bone pictures are in.
How good am I? *insert manic laughter*

Rag and Bone SS 2008

Pro: The sleek, tailored clothing. Understated yet sexy.
(Extreme bias, Rag & Bone is one of my favourite brands)
Con: It's staring you in the face :p

Unless she decides to show up at Lamb (a possibility but I doubt it, She hasn't done that show in two years), Stam should be done for today. ^_^

Copy and Paste FTW

2007-08-30T07:25:00.001-07:00

A collection of my favourite Stam editorials copied and pasted directly from my poor unused LJ.

Fashion March 2003
Live at the Office

A glimpse into the innocence of Early Stam circa 2003 before Miesel crowned the then sixteen-year-old his muse. The innocence and naivity (probably accredited to genuine inexperience) portrayed on Stam's face lets us peek into the nuanced talent of an impending star.

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Numero 59 2004
Mirage by Peter Lindberg

A frequent user of monochrome colors, Lindberg once again shoots in black and white. Stam portrays a ghostly figure translucent against a background of aged, abandoned towns marred with rust and the stench of loneliness. The 1st picture is really the money shot, a natural face shot complete with eye bags and that look of exhaustion, like she has been trapped between worlds for far too long.

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Vogue US July 2004
Summer Escapes by Steve Miesel

Miesel once again puts Stam on the pedestal by landing Jessica her first US Vogue editorial in July of 2004. Stam's chameleonic transition from the wide-eyed ingenue to the angsty red-haired Raphaelite princess has officially begun. Though demurely styled, Stam's firey hair, albaster skin and neon blue eyes stand out within the context of a creatively restricted shoot.

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Fashion (CA) Feburary 2005
Underneath it All by Gabor Jurina

This editorial has remained my favourite for over two years, a flawless dreamy setting accented by Stam's cat-like eyes and ruby lips. Jessica not only compliments the delicacy of the clothes showcased but adds a vibrant touch that elevates what seems to be an ordinary setting into nothing short of magical.

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Vogue Paris June 2006
Lecon de Mode by Mario Testino

Stam enters into yet another transition, this time as the blond bomb shell (minus the curvaceous body) between 2005 to who the hell knows? While the bob and the red hair made her the muses of many, the blonde is what pushed her into the elusive arena of high fashion supermodelism. As this shoot reveals, Stam clearly stands out in a showcase of fashion's newest and most prolific stars (Liya) Of course, being the only blond helped as well.

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Vogue Italia April 2007
Ravishing Beauties by Peter Lindberg

An interesting turn for Lindberg, Stam is shot as a Marlene Dietrich type figure, a chain smoker whose face has prematurely aged from cigarettes and whose eyes are laced with exhaustion. She lounges in old leather couches and sleeps in abandoned Parisian apartments, her companians are few but she prefers the art of silence.

This editorial remains one of the few shoots that remind me of early stam, the girl who first caught my eye on the cover of Vogue Italia with the blue wig and the complex stare. Once again, the question haunts me.

What is she thinking?

Model Rankings in Black and White

2007-08-24T17:55:00.000-07:00

Sans my inane blabbering

1 2 3 45
6 7 8 9 10

1) Jessica Stam 2) Sasha Pivovarova 3) Georgia Frost 4) Lily Donaldson 5) Kim Noorda
6) Morgane Dubled 7) Snejana Opnoka 8) Marina Perez 9) Agyness Deyn 10) Lara Stone

FW 2007: Early Ad Review

2007-08-21T22:57:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to do this for ages. Of course, the season isn't over yet but I thought it would be fun to do a quick review of Jessica's ads. (note: Thanks to Purplish, we know she has one more Asian campaign coming. I'm sure the result will be something completely adorable or so incomprehensibly airbrushed that words will fail to translate my 'wtf' response into something worth reading) Now let the rambling commence!

Christian Dior FW 2007
Photographer: Craig McDean
Scanned by: Original Sin

Like candy JuJuBees

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Bvlgari FW 2007
Photographer: Mert and Mercus (most likely)
Scanned by: Original Sin and Sister D

Classic Bvlgari ads in Old Hollywood style. The fact that they remind me of vintage Grace Kelly headshots doesn't hurt either.

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Loewe FW 2007
Photographer: Camila Akrans (?)
Scanned by: Manuva

Love the general posing of the second shot, the kinkiness of the leather gloves against the delicate beige of Stam's pale skin is a nice touch.

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Roberto Cavalli FW 2007
Photographer: Mert and Mercus
Scanned by: Manuva and Faith

Stam+Androgny = 100% pure and unadulterated SQUEE-lage

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DKNY FW 2007
Photographer: Reagan Cameron
Scanned by: Faith

My favourite brand and my favourite model. The addition of Stam adds a girlish elegance that I hope to see in many more seasons.

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Miss Sixty FW 2007
Photographer: Ellen Von Unwerth
First Image Scanned by: Sister D

Unwerth's plastic photography works surprisingly well with Jessica.
Borderline trashy but nothing too overt.

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Banila B FW 2007
Photographer: ?????
Scanned by: Rei and Chrisis

A cross between cute and heinous.

Although I still fail to understand why Stam's tights are covered in what looks like dust in the first image. O_o

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Hazzys FW 2007
Photographer: ?????
Credit to: Purplish

Ralph Lauren - Asian style.

The Land of Glitter

2007-08-10T18:48:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Victoria's Secret, a world where girls masquerade as women, wings are merely a formality and angels fly through the sky like great soaring birds peppering the sky. It is undoubtedly fashion's most glamorous show, prestigious in it's shallowness, meticulous in it's details and spectacular in it's finality. It is a show backed by the vision of costume makers and number-crunching brilliance of marketing execs, introducing legions of young boys and girls to a land where only the most beautiful lives and others sit by as they float like untouchable trophies behind glass cases.

On a lighter (and much less dramatic note) note.

Do I enjoy the Victoria's Secret shows?
Absolutely. Much like last year, I will sit by with a arm load of junk food, packets of gum and a sea of bottle water, clicking and typing incessantly like dozens of other TFSers riveting with excitement.

Of course the show is shallow, yes the make-up is ridiculous, yes they slather it on with the technique of Bozo the clown, yes at various point Stam looked like a transvestite with very little chest padding but essentially, it is a show (as many have said), theatre on runway, the Superbowl of the fashion industry and much like the Superbowl, they go ALL OUT. Wether or not you dislike the extravagance of the result, you cannot deny Victoria's Secret their revenues nor the sheer amount of publicity it generates.

Now, for the important bit, a more specified detail that is almost always the sole subject of this blog. Do I like Stam in Victoria's Secret?

No.

I like the idea more than the reality.

Once is enough for me, Stam fans have gotten their affirmation.

Jessica is a pretty girl.

She is no longer Meisel's girl, no longer the girl who reaches for the hair dye every season, the girl who goofs for the camera and offers you coffee, she is past the stage where to be unique is to be noticed.

Victoria's Secret isn't like the casting agents of high fashion, they sought only the most aesthetically pleasing and bypass all means of uniqueness. Their selection should leave no doubt on a model's mind that, yes you have been gifted fortuitously with the fickleness of beauty. It is the most blatant way of knowing and never second guessing.

I have almost no doubt that Stam will be back for the 2007 show (though please do not quote me on this, I have no reliable source, simply intuition. If I turn out to be wrong, please don't pelt me with stones *whimpers*), the amount of screen time and promotion given to her was no coincidence. To walk the show once more is to prove that she will never be an abandoned whim.

Victoria's Secret's prestigiousness to a high fashion model is more of an honor than a model like Marissa Miller, it shows both versatility and longevity because so few nowadays are able to conquer both sides of fashion. I'm incredibly proud (despite the amount of times I have/had/will scorn VS in the past/present/future) that Jessica was part of it. However, if she ever becomes a staple on that runway, I might be forced to tear my hair out and scream bloody murder.

Walk VS but with discretion because working too much for that company turns you into an object and it is not a woman's job to appear solely as an item pertaining to sex.

2007: Top Ten

2007-08-07T18:44:00.001-07:00

# 10 : LARA STONE

Vogue Italia July
Rehab
Photograph: Steven Meisel
Models: Lara Stone (top), Agyness Deyn (bottom)
Credit to: IMG Models

Her teeth are gapped and sallow, she walks as though a weight shifts from her shoulders and she smokes so incessantly they render her smile yellow. Yet, Lara Stone is so magically enrapturing in her raw sexuality that one finds it exceedingly difficult to take their eyes off her. Her eyes speak of lost innocence and her face is eloquent in it's delicate fragility. Currently the muse to many prolific fashion figures (Carine Roitfeld immediately comes to mind) as well as photographers alike, Lara Stone continues to charm me with her marble white skin, liquid brown eyes and yes, that kick-ass set of breasts.

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# 9: Agyness Deyn

Telegraph May
Posing for England
Photographer: Josh Olins

The reigning queen of androgyny and loved by models and designers alike, the british native soared up the fashion rankings in a short yet efficient amount of time with single girl edits in every major magazine from US Vogue to Pop! She is vibrant in her personality, eclectic with her fashion choices and intense in her photographs. My only complaint is that Agyness' appeal is in her androgyny, something that is of my preference. (thus, the rank on my own personal list) However, for those who find that quality boring in a model, Agyness simply would not suffice. The silver lining is that despite the blunt haircut, Agyness' features are quite feminine and actually very pretty if you should choose to look closely. Perhaps in the future, in order to prolong her rank in the fashion industry, she might choose a different way of styling herself. Just think what constant transformations did for Jessica Stam.

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# 8 : MARINA PEREZ

Vogue Paris August
A tour de bras
Photographer: Ben Hassett
Scanned by: Diorette

If there ever was such a phrase to describe the loveliness of Marina Perez, it would be 'emotionally silent'. Versatile and intense, one gaze from her cerulean eyes evoke a multiple array of emotions that change seemingly with every glance. She has cheek bones like cut glass and skin like ice. She is the femme fatale in fur jackets, the pin up Queen sprawled nude upon the floor and the elegant figure clad in beaded gowns in the Armani ads. Although her status has dropped considerably over the past seasons, Marina still remains a staple on the high fashion runways and I look forward to each of her new editorials.

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# 7: Snejana Opnoka

Vogue Paris August
Hedi's Girls
Photographer: Hedi Slimane
Scanned by: Diorette

Boring? Perhaps. Versatile? Only when called upon.
Beautiful?
Most definitely.

Snejana's prize is her face, a flawlessly symmetrical work of genetic art so precise and geometric, it tends to baffle me at certain times. Granted, I am no fan of her body (much too awkward on the runway, I find her extreme slimness lack the 'fullness' to maximize the full vitality of the designer's clothing) but Snejena's indifference is her gift, the way she stares into the camera with such blant nocholance and aloof detachment. She is stoic in her coldness and manic in her (rare) moments of joy, she is Snejana, a girl who many deemed as a one expression wonder slowly but surely improving as she treads her path through the high fashion world.

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# 6: MORGANE DUBLED

Vogue Paris October 2006
L'Important, c'est L'or Rose
Photographer: Andreas Sjodin

Unfortunately, the first time I saw Morgane was as she sauntered down a glittered catwalking donning nothing more than a blue satin lingerie set and a lollipop held suggestively in her mouth. Though exceedingly glamorous, Victoria's Secret tends to bring out the worse in models who fit solely in high fashion. I hated her mannerisms on sight and for at least a year, I disliked everything about her. However, one cannot judge so easily until they have ventured deeper (this is where it all sounds very dirty) into another's work. On closer inspection, Morgane's face transforms beautifully in front of the camera, the triangular nose and the face which I found so irritating on the runway was utilized wonderfully to capture the mood of each shot. She is the girl with the mutable face, the ability to change ever so slightly with discrete changes in hair and make-up. Though one of the top ranking models today and one of Galliano's coveted favorites, I often find that what she lacks most is what she is strongest in: print work. A shame for such a fantastic young model.

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# 5: KIM NOORDA

Vogue Paris August
Ligne Optique
Photographer: Mark Segal
Scanned by: Diorette

Kim the bunny rabbit (credit to Jan for this), Kim the sad doll, Kim the sweetheart. Often words used to describe this lovely Dutch model. Sometimes I wonder why Kim Noorda appeals to me so much. She isn't the best model, very often her expression are quite similar and I have yet to see her show the versatility that I covet in many of my favorites. My only reason is that while Kim does lack diverse expressions, the ones she does obtain are looks of quiet intensity. There is an element to her face, a slight edge that keeps her from being boring, something she so closely veers towards. I suppose I'm not the only one who sees it. Her doll-like elegance is aesthetically pleasing and seems to be well liked by the fashion industry. With a new onslaught of editorials in the biggest magazines as well as numerous campaigns topped off by a biggie (Bottega Veneta Fw 2007), Kim has made a big comeback into the fashion industry.

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# 4: LILY DONALDSON

Numero #61
Photographer: Karl Lagerfeld

Although there is no doubt that I covet Lily's style, a cool chic mix of everyday items and kick-ass boots (which I would indefinitely wear over if I wasn't so self-conscious of my height) but what amazes me more is Lily's ability to transform in front of the camera. Versatility, as you may have noticed is something I like in models. Lily's face is nowhere near the classic symmetry of Snejana's features nor is it something soft and feminine like those of Stam's. What Lily's face is, is a hodge podge of flawed yet almost perfect features (such as the upturned yet beak-like nose, the far-set but dazzling blue eyes and the full yet oddly shaped lips) placed together against a template of smooth alabaster skin that works together beautifully. She is undoubtedly one of the most photogenic models in the business. However, Lily isn't quite Lily without her personality. Perhaps I am one of those who are easily allured by British accents but Lily's smart witty replies paired with her musical voice is certainly a very charming match. Although she currently ranks 4th on my list, Lily is my number 1 muse of the moment. (not that it would fair anywhere in the fashion industry but for general knowledge, it's quite interesting that I find her a more intriguing muse than Stam ^_^)

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# 3: GEORGIA FROST

W March
X-Urbia
Photographer: Steven Klein

The youngest on my list at the mere age of 17, Georgia Frost entered the industry as a inexperienced 13-year-old, then grew to mature into a 16-year-old child, who took with her some of the most coveted campaigns in the industry. From the blank futurist setting of the Dolce and Gabanna ads to the stark white background of the Burberry images, Georgia lived up nicely (albeit, not spectacularly)to her own hype. Futher bookings in W, Vogue Italia (five editorials in less than a year) and Numero proved the teenager's burgeoning versatility (possibly the most over-used word in this blog) However, my fondness of Georgia may somewhat be diluted by her similarities to Stam. Not in terms of looks but of career path, both of which included a moderately fast rise to stardom and a fondness of hair dye. Unfortunately, in order for Georgia to remain a staple in the high fashion ranks, her luck needs to extend to the catwalks of Europe. Though fairing very well in New York Fashion Week, she barely showed up for those of Milan and Paris. Never mind though, I'm sure there will be more to come for Georgia Frost! (exclamation point for maximum positivity)

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# 2: SASHA PIVOVAROVA

Vogue Paris August
Total Look
Photographer: Patrick Demarchelier
Scanned by: Diorette

The sole model who has never failed to shock, astound or impress me is Sasha Pivovarova. Sasha's greatest ability is as model is the way she rises above whatever abysmal make-up or styling that is smacked upon her and comes out with something so artistically beautiful and heart-wrenching that you can't help but stare at the intensity of her face or the raw emotion in her eyes. She is a rare model simply because one gets the sense that she isn't in this industry to gain fame or wealth but simply to create art. There is no other model in the industry (of course, this is merely my opinion) that can rival Sasha in her (guess what?) versatility

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# 1: JESSICA STAM

W Jewelry Fall 2006
Forces of Nature
Photographer: Patrick Demarchelier

Need I really express my undying and (seemingly) never ending loyalty to Jessica Stam? Let us put this to perspective and here is where I might get a tad competitive. I apologize but just stick with me.

This blog has been named (and with the exception of this post, devoted) for her. She is (shockers) the eternal muse. The amount of time I have spent on Jessica has probably accumulated to such a terrifying sum that I would rather not think about it. I have made (as many of you know if you are actually reading this) two webpages for her, one rather juvenile, the other much more technical (although the credit isn't entirely mine) that I constantly struggle to keep up with under a smooth exterior.

She has been like a friend I have never known (yes yes, let us all play the violins now) and the girl who I constantly stare at in puzzlement, wondering.

'Who is the Girl behind the mask'

She is flawed, her personality can be far from pleasant and her work irritably commercial and artistically blank. Yet, she is my muse because of the path she has chosen and her undeniable will to stick to what she loves. At the age where most of us suffer from fluntuating self-confidence, she chose to bypass all means of superficiality by doing whatever she need in order to bring the artist's vision to life. She dyed her hair to Meisel's every whims, shaved the side of her head for a shoot and kept herself consistently professional.

I have been a fan for over three years, I have watched this girl (who is indeed 3 years older but I often speak as though she is younger) grow and progress. Her look may not be as versatile and her work no longer artistic but she has deservingly gotten to where she is by taking the means to achieve it.

As Steven Meisel so beautifully said:

"You meet a girl when she's 15 years old and she might be extraordinarily beautiful so she's easy to photograph in one sense. But to meet a girl at 15 and then to meet her again at 18,22,24. She's lived even more. So what she brings to the camera at 24 is even better than just how beautiful she is. Now she brings this woman and her experiences and...life! I love to work with a model for a long time"

Of course, Jessica's journey is far from ending and I look forward to what the future brings.

- P.S. I have no idea why but this portion sounded as though Jessica was dying. I think it's just the exhaustion of writing this entry. ^_^

The Unseeing Eyes

2007-08-06T18:34:00.000-07:00

I have been exceedingly enamored by this picture ever since I capped it (along with many others) from the Prada webpage. Whether the exhaustion (as displayed by the slight bruising of eye circles) is the result of a fast-paced fashion week or if Jessica was just feeling slightly melancholy at the moment this picture was taken, there is something quite complex about her expression, a mix between extreme boredom and perhaps even a thought of

'Why am I here?'

On closer (and admittedly, more freakish) observation, there seems to be something unseeing about Jessica's eyes, something that shuts her away from the bustle about her and shuns her from the human contact of her dresser as she buttons her shirt. It's a look of utmost desolation, something inherent to seclusion and hits close to loneliness.

Or perhaps, the girl was just bored out of her mind and the lonely emo girl in me chooses to over-interpret things. However, nevertheless I feel connected to this image and I only wish she chose to display this look more often in her editorials.

The Eternal Battle

2007-08-03T20:33:00.000-07:00

A Collection of my favourite FW 2005 pictures

Bright and Bubbly. She goofs for the camera and offers you coffee.

How do they grow up so fast?

The Many Faces of Jessica Stam

2007-08-02T22:15:00.000-07:00

Season: FW 2003
Campaign: Atsuro Tamaya
Model: Jessica Stam

The lonely figure melts into the sky, like wisps of rain against the scented pavement

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Season: SS 2003
Campaign: Vera Wang Bridal
Model: Jessica Stam
Photographer: Paolo Roversi

She glances upon the floor, melancholic in a sea of weeping silk.
Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.

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Season: FW 2005
Campaign: Thomas Burberry
Model: Jessica Stam

She sits in destitute, hair in her eyes ,
wishing for the rain to fall so she can cleanse herself
and
banish the sin from her eyes

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Season: FW 2006
Campaign: Americana Manhasset
Model: Jessica Stam

Is that hope in my eyes?
Like the lost cavern of forgotten innocence.
Or is it feigned joy as I look upon the skies and wish to float,
like the balloons I so desperately cling.

Cinderella in Dior

2007-08-01T20:37:00.000-07:00

Campaign: Christian Dior FW 2007
Model: Jessica Stam
Photographer: Craig McDean
Scanned by: Original Sin

How interesting. Very much like the Prada FW 2007 collection, this campaign has begun to grow on me like some sort of a flesh-eating fungus. For someone who loathed the campaign initially and deemed it the worse disappointment of the FW 2007 season, this is quite a feat. Although, I am fairly suspicious that my sole preference for this image is somewhat linked to the Disney fanatic in me. My distorted, sugary mind immediately linked this image to those of Cinderella's (despite the irrefutable difference of hair and gown color) and somewhere in said fairy-tale loving mind of mine immediately went 'ZOMG SQUEEEEEE'

All 'squeeness' aside, this is one of the rare moments that the geometric salmon shade of the background actually enhances the sugary sweetness of the image (slightly offset by the position of Stam's hand against her waist) as opposed to wrecking it as a whole. However, the fact that the dress in question was one of my favorite on the runway only heightens my biased devotion towards this ad. Although I'm pretty sure that the Dior set is almost completed, I would still love to see some softer shades of cerulean as I find that the softer the the background (which also indicates a softer shade of lipstick on Stam's behalf), the more the outfit in the ad tends to stand out.

Although, to be fairly honest I don't think Stam can pull off blue lipstick

Le Geek Tres Chic!

2007-07-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

Lanvin FW 2007

It's always somewhat heartwarming to share some common base with your favorite model. In this case:

1) Starbucks Caffeine.
2) Fashion Magazines.

This picture definitely ranks high as one of my favorites of the season, Stammy's expression along with combination of the bad Lanvin hair and the dorky prop glasses are just so wonderfully endearing in it's subtle silliness. Another appealing characteristic is the lightness of Stam's make-up, bordering on invisibility and giving her a subtle child-like innocence and freshness. Jessica is one of those models who aren't quite as interactive backstage as many of her counterparts (very much unlike Sasha or Lily Donaldson who you always see hamming it up for the camera), so rarely do I see her personality shine through when she's alone. I find that she's much happier when she's with her model friends than she is when faced with a camera all by her lonesome.

Photoshoots vs Covers

2007-07-27T10:21:00.000-07:00

Photographer: Craig McDean
Model: Jessica Stam
Covers: (from left to right) Vogue Nippon May 2006, Vogue Nippon April 2007.

Both Craig McDean, both Vogue Nippon covers, both (shockingly) Jessica Stam. Granted, these aren't the most artistically profound photographs but I felt it would be interesting to provide a comparison between cover shots with and without the print. While the pictures look (obviously) empty without the print, I find it welcoming to see the clarity of Jessica's expression without the constant distraction of bright, over-sized fonts.

Jessica Stam V #48 - Before and After

2007-07-25T09:47:00.000-07:00

V #48: Before and After
Photographer: Inez and Vinoodh
Model: Jessica Stam
Scanned by: Original Sin

The Before shot is undoubtedly my favourite picture of Stam since the high fashion glory of her 2004/2005 days. The expression on her face is so heart-breakingly tender, like she's peering into something that she doesn't want you to see. The natural beauty of her face is utilized beautifully to capture the concept of a 'Before' shot, promoting a sense of 'cleaness' as though she is fresh out of a shower. Ironically, while Stam's Before shot is my favorite of the entire V #48 series, her After is my least. Not only was it poorly styled, Stam looks about to topple off the chair, her expression is one of controlled puzzlement and I still do not understand the purpose of the converses against the Valentino dress. Perhaps it is to create contrast, something so ordinary against an item of such luxury but unfortunately, all it did was to rouse a 'What the hell' response from me.

On the plus side though, her legs look fantastic :D