Finally all of us model-loving fashion fans can rejoice in the fact that when it comes to ad campaigns, models seem to be more en vogue lately than their celebrity counterparts. Aside from supermodels like Gisele, few models grace major magazine covers these days, so it’s refreshing to see that the trend is shifting to having them back on ad pages.
I do understand the appeal of a celebrity on a magazine cover, but while I’m intrigued to read interviews featuring stars like Sarah Jessica Parker or Chelsea Handler – both of whom appeared on recent covers of major magazines – I don’t see the appeal of celebrities in fashion spreads and advertisements.
Celebrity-centered spreads always take the focus away from the clothes because the stars usually look overly mannequin-like, and more often than not they are air-brushed beyond recognition, which almost defeats the whole purpose of featuring them in the first place. The celebrity trend has also always struck me as somewhat ironic, since most designers choose 14-year old-girls as their models, so that viewers can focus on the clothes versus the person wearing them.
WWD is reporting that European houses have booked more models than celebrities for their recent ads, and that American houses are likely to follow suit. Among the big names who have gotten on the model trend are Yves Saint Laurent, whose ads will feature Daria Werbowy. I love what YSL creative director Stefano Pilati says about the decision to go with Werbowy: “Actresses are fantastic, but they’re not models and it’s not easy. Actresses have an attitude, but will never be the fashion attitude. To me, fashion photography is with a model; otherwise, it’s a portrait.”
Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, Roberto Cavalli, Gucci, Chanel, and Fendi are just some of the other notables who will be featuring models in their Fall campaigns.
