29 June 2008

r.i.p. ruslana korshunova



1987-2008.

Long-flowing hair and that storybook smile. Shorter that most but you stood above the rest. May you rest in peace.


Photo credit: Nina Ricci

Posted by ilovesecondhandsmoke @ 2:28 PM :: (0) comments

26 April 2008

jumping joe!

It's my favorite North Carolinian and jump rope champion in a Ford Models/VMan promo!



Have you ever SEEN him jump rope?



Talk about sexy.

Posted by ilovesecondhandsmoke @ 1:43 PM :: (1) comments

19 April 2008

a serious case of mmm

Mistaken model identity!

The folks over at Virgin Media have made some pretty funny mistakes. I remember the time when Bryanboy posted Does Style.com have new interns?

Siri Tollerød became Agyness Deyn.
Agyness Deyn became Edita Vilkeviciute.
Bruna Tenorio became Sheila Marquez.

And so on and so forth.


Virgin Media charted the highest earning supermodels and, well, here goes:

#5 on the list is Alessandra Ambrosio!



Coming in at #4 is Adriana Lima!



And taking third place is Heidi Klum!



Seriously? Come on now.


Photo credit Virgin Media

Posted by ilovesecondhandsmoke @ 5:43 AM :: (1) comments

16 April 2008

crazy in love



If you can't tell, I'm thoroughly obsessed with Tim Hamilton's clothes!

They're very youthful, straightforward and anything but fussy. From the grey cardigan on Blaine to the striped blazer, to the grey persuasion on Jamil, all the way to that delightful orange, white, and grey layering, I can't complain. In all seriousness, this is the business.


Where to buy in LA:

Maxfield
8825 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90069
(310) 274-8800

Douglas Fir
8311 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 651-5445


Special thanks to Michael of Tim Hamilton for directing me to Maxfield and Douglas Fir because now I have some clothing options for a Northern Californian spring/early summer.


P.S. The FW08 collection is bananas-apples-oranges crazy too-cool-for-school insanely covetable. Check it out as well!


Photo credit: Arnaldo Anaya Lucca for Tim Hamilton

Posted by ilovesecondhandsmoke @ 11:22 PM :: (2) comments

15 April 2008

vingt cinq ans de beauté

Model shelf lives become lesser and lesser as time goes on, but there's a certain something about the following three models who despite starting out at the older-than-usual model age range, have gone on to become definitive, exceptional and iconic.




In early 2006, Han Hye Jin made a quiet start on the NY and Paris runways, subsequently blasting through the major Vogues including in her home country, South Korea. As any other model, her beauty is widely debated but with her poise and pensive presence, she has set the bar along with fellow South Korean Hye Rim Park for younger upstarts like Hyoni Kang. Brilliance.




Laura Hollins, yes, Laura Hollins with the outrageous style, explosive personality, and one-of-a-kind looks. Agyness Deyn has become one of the proponents of the reemerging London fashion scene. There is so much to say about her. Ben Reardon hasn't really said it so much as he has portrayed it by putting Aggy on six different covers of i-D's May 2008 issue. Nonpareil.




There are a few dancers turned high fashion models but no one has transitioned as well as Du Juan. In an industry that still lacks diversity, repping China and in extension, Asia, is a task of monumental proportions. The "one-girl-at-a-time" syndrome still permeates modeling but thank goodness, her visibility doesn't require being flanked by Gemma and Sasha on either side anymore. She is, after all, worthy of being the only girl on the cover of Chinese Vogue, and they have done just that for February 2008. Grace.


What do they all have in common? As of April 15, 2008, they are all 25 years of age.

Puzzling and sensational, no?


Photo credits: (top-bottom) French Revue de Modes, i-D & dna models, Vogue China & IMG

Posted by ilovesecondhandsmoke @ 10:03 PM :: (1) comments

30 March 2008

it's a problem-free philosophy

Pals.

Model pals.

Model pals going on a trip.

Two model pals going on trip.

Two excited model pals going a trip.

Two excited model pals going a trip to Africa!

Without further ado, here are Behati and Coco!



Beautiful even without makeup, y'all.


The video is a documentation of Behati Prinsloo & Coco Rocha's trip to Behati's home country, Namibia (and Zambia on the side). Interacting with Namibian children, "learning" to speak English with an Afrikaans accent, journeying through safaris, just overall having fun and playing around, it has tons of great footage from their trip.

Yes, there are lipsynching videos involved.

Of course, runway music from the White Stripes ("My Doorbell"), with some Razorlight, Johnny Cash, Nirvana, and The Offpsring thrown in the mix.

It's the fashion industry's darlings. It's the cheeky, cute, and hilarious combined.

It's nature calling!


Video courtesy of Behati, Coco, and Behati's parents!

Posted by ilovesecondhandsmoke @ 12:07 PM :: (0) comments

13 March 2008

honest clothing

Where were you in '92?



I call Generra honest clothing not because it doesn't tell lies but because it has an innate straightforwardness.

Spring is only a few days away but the clothes above have me yearning for cooler temperatures! I think dressing in the fall and in the winter allows you to be the most creative of the entire year. Of course, spring's clothes are just as brilliant!





Nick Snider and Eddie Klint on the runway. Generra AND Prada boys!


Shout out to Sean Krebs! Yes, I STILL love Generra.

Posted by ilovesecondhandsmoke @ 10:48 PM :: (3) comments

23 February 2008

genteel like gabrielle



Besides being a cute addition to a mini library, this might teach your little daughter/son, niece/nephew, or any other special young one in your life about nonconformity, ambition, hard work, and dressing tastefully.

Elizabeth Matthews is very inspiring to me, as being a children's book author and illustrator is one of my dreams.


Buy it at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.


Photo credit: Candlewick Press

Posted by ilovesecondhandsmoke @ 5:04 PM :: (0) comments

15 February 2008

i still love cole mohr



Ladies and gentlemen, Cole Mohr on the cover of Dansk 17.

Oh oh oh I know mareGa probably won't dig this, so here's a shoutout for you haha!


Photo credit: Dansk

Posted by ilovesecondhandsmoke @ 12:00 AM :: (4) comments

14 February 2008

model mad libs!

Now before playing the videos, I encourage you to actually try this out! I always love playing Mad Libs! It is sort of a modified version and you might find the real answers surprising and quite fun.





When asked what they like about modeling...

Andrew Moore likes __________(noun).

TJ doesn't like __________(verb ending in -ing) around.

Philip Huang likes __________(adjective) __________(noun) and __________(plural noun).


When asked how they stay in shape...

Lindsay Ellingson takes "a lot of __________(noun) classes".

Ekat Kiseleva loves __________(verb ending in -ing).

Inguna Butane likes __________(verb ending in -ing) and walking.

Joan Smalls, Skye Stracke, and Miranda Kerr do __________(plural noun).

Emina Cunmulaj just started working out this year.

And Andi Muise hates working out!





At the Michael Kors show...

Helge points out that with glasses on, Terron Wood looks like __________(person).

According to their Icelandic signs, both Michael Kors and Terron are __________(plural noun).

Terron calls Tom Brady a __________(noun).

__________(person) gives us more real estate advice.



If they weren't modeling...

Ekat would either be studying __________(noun) or __________(noun).

Stephanie Shiu wants to be a __________(noun).

Ksenia Kahnovich would like to be a __________(noun).

Andrew Moore would be a __________(noun).

Tyler Riggs would be __________(verb ending in -ing) to __________(noun) and __________(verb ending in -ing) at __________(noun).


Plus, Oscar de la Renta does wonderful things with his tongue!
Carine Roitfeld prefers vodka over champagne, citing the latter as a culprit for bad breath.
Plum Sykes is a converted Oscarphile.


All this at The Daily's YouTube channel!

Posted by ilovesecondhandsmoke @ 3:31 AM :: (0) comments

13 February 2008

phasing out the pola



But why?!

Read about it here, here, and here.

Polaroid film was on my Christmas wish list last year (Thanks Brian). I have something to hold on to until some other company grabs the reins.


Photo credit: Polaroid

Posted by ilovesecondhandsmoke @ 6:44 PM :: (1) comments

09 February 2008

model messsage: cole mohr




Me: "Cole! I love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu! Well, in the fanboy kind of way."
Cole: "Well thanks!"


So cute. From his strikingly unique look to those to-die-for clavicles to that intriguing tattoo, who can resist?

Go Cole!

Posted by ilovesecondhandsmoke @ 1:24 PM :: (2) comments

05 February 2008

i love super fat tuesday!

It's Fat Tuesday and Super Tuesday all in one, so after having a huuuge lunch at Saladang, here's what American Apparel has to say about today's twenty-something primaries:






Four decades ago, the chairman of General Motors proclaimed:
"What's good for GM is good for America." Today we're saying,
"What's good for American Apparel is good for America."

We urge voters to consider Obama on the Democratic side.

We urge voters to consider McCain on the Republican side.

Why? Because of their honesty on the issue of immigration,
the most significant civil rights concern the country has faced
in 50 years.








IMMIGRATION REFORM NOW!


American Apparel (USA), LLC
747 Warehouse St, Los Angeles, CA 90021



Partisanship aside, don't you just love vintage Barack, John, and the Clintons?


Reprint courtesy of American Apparel

Posted by ilovesecondhandsmoke @ 3:22 PM :: (1) comments

04 February 2008

thrill me miss c













Funny Super Bowl ad. Naomi Campbell dancing to "Thriller" with a bunch of lizards. Watch it at Thrillicious.


Credit: SoBe

Posted by ilovesecondhandsmoke @ 11:32 PM :: (0) comments

29 January 2008

the showcard surprise

Angela Lindvall.

A late nineties super from the Midwest. 29. Two kids. 20+ show seasons. She's been on the cover of all the major Vogues (Australian, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, British, and American). She's been in virtually every single campaign from Calvin to Prada, Chanel to Versace, Chloé to Marc Jacobs, Cavalli to LV, Christian Dior to Valentino, everything.

After about four seasons with One, Angela made the switch to her one and only mother agency, IMG.

Let me point out something.

Take a look at Angela's SS08 showcard from One:




Now for her FW08 IMG showcard:



Click on the images so you can read her stats clearly. Notice something odd? One notes that Angela is 5'11". IMG says she's... 5'9"? Now I've always thought that Angela is 5'11", on the runways, next to other girls, she's clearly 5'11".

Now there are some differences in her other measurements but regarding her height, here's what her other agencies have to say:

Barcelona - Group, 5'11"
Berlin - Iconic, 5'11"
London - Independent, 5'11"
Milan - D'Management, 5'11"
Paris - IMG, 5'11"
Vienna - Stella, 180 cm ≈ 5'11"

And here's what IMG New York has to say... 5'9".

Either IMG NY is right, six European agencies are covering up Miss Lindvall's real height because she, um, lost bone mass in the past year AND she's now around Snejana Onopka's height OR IMG's interns aren't being very precise.

Such blatant (and careless) discrepancy in her height is completely laughable. Wonk, wonk, wonk.


Photo credits: Models.com, One, IMG

Posted by ilovesecondhandsmoke @ 12:13 PM :: (3) comments

28 January 2008

sale! sale! sale!

I'm so behind on everything!

My biggest disappointment is that I was behind on the Marc by Marc sale on Melrose.

Grr.

Okay so here's your chance ladies! Fall 2007 dresses by my fave Asians at super discounted prices, think mostly below $500 at Shopbop.



Look #1 at Thakoon. Feather jacquard drop waist dress.
From $1,095 to $328.50!
Size 6 available.



Peter Som Elizabeth dress. It really is a raspberry shade, this photo does not display it correctly.
From $1,495 to $448.50!
Sizes 2 & 6 available.



Derek Lam draped asymmetrical dress. Satisfy your metallic craving!
From $3,590 to $1,077!
Size 6 available.


Photo credit: Style.com

Posted by ilovesecondhandsmoke @ 5:36 PM :: (2) comments

11 January 2008

model excitement #3: red, white and blue


Ali Stephens, 16
Salt Lake City, UT

Opening Chloé is a headliner. Doing the subsequent campaign solo is another. Back-to-back Vogues and an upcoming Numéro should be stellar. All she needs to do is broaden her range of looks and this x-country star should do just fine!



Courtney Smerski, 18
Aberdeen, WA

Nina Ricci campaign? Sold! I don't think this girl is heading for Grays Harbor College anytime soon, not with a momentum like this.



Karlie Kloss, 14
Chicago, IL

Teen Vogue all the way. Side by side with Courtney in the Nina Ricci campaign. Exclusive at Gucci in Milan. Exclusive at Calvin in NY. This ballerina channels her innate regalness even on the runways.


Ah, to be young, 5'11", and all-American.

Looks like Elite is bringing Americans back!


Photo credit: Marilyn

Posted by ilovesecondhandsmoke @ 2:11 AM :: (3) comments

08 January 2008

suddenly sebastián


Draped in a black sequined Chanel resort robe, with a J12 on his right wrist, and with that sexy, intriguing unibrow, Sebastián Faena could easily be mistaken for a model.

Paired with stylist Sophia Achaval, this young photographer and director first caught my attention when Angela Lindvall appeared in a V story entitled "Suddenly Buenos Aires".

The photographs portray Angela, an international popstar who is dating an Argentinean bolero singer named Cristian Ferrera, only to find out that he's been cheating on her with a woman named Dolores.

International superstar Angela arrives in town for her Blonde Venus world tour.

And to be with her man, a local bolero singer.

One night Angela watches Dolores perform.

Dolores had always been the other woman.

Until now.

Angela was suddenly abandoned.

And there could be no more self-deception.

All she wanted now was solitude in her despair.

And revenge.

The world wanted her and her alone, so none of the rest would ever matter.


Faena is also a filmmaker and his debut La Mujer Rota, is produced by Mario Testino.



Photo credits: V Magazine (V49 "Something About You" & V50 "Suddenly Buenos Aires"), Argentina Films

Posted by ilovesecondhandsmoke @ 3:57 PM :: (2) comments