You must be this tall to ride

Here’s a little-known fact about Jodie Foster – she is part garden gnome. Now, I can say this as I myself am also part garden gnome. It’s a short thing. Still we of the small stature (and occasional pointy red hats) have assimilated amazingly well into normal society. Sure, sometimes we need to climb onto the shelving at Target to reach the toilet paper – seriously, do they need to put it that high? But otherwise we roam among the normal heighted with ease and confidence, oftentimes blissfully unaware of our inherent height inequity. That is until we have to take a picture. And then, alas, then it becomes all too clear. We’re garden gnomes and everyone else is gardeners. Jodie, honey, I feel your pain. And I, too, have an inordinate amount of step-stools in my house. Your secret is safe with me. I would never share all the rare photographic evidence of I’ve collected of “Gnomie” Foster mingling in the wild with the tall, tall world. Oh, wait.

Jodie & Olivia WildeI wonder how many mountain oxen Jodie dreamed of strangling while in Olivia’s towering presence.

Jodie & Kathryn BigelowWell, this isn’t even fair. Her name is BIGelow.

Jodie & Julia RobertsJodie seems to be fearfully eyeballing Julia to make sure she doesn’t step on her.

Jodie & Sigourney WeaverSigourney is clearly wishing her dress had pockets so she could put Jodie in hers and take her home.

Jodie & Queen LatifahEvery queen needs her noble gnome.

Jodie & Goldie HawnTall blonde.

Jodie & Melanie GriffithTaller blonde.

Jodie & Daryl HannahTallest blonde – though perfect eye-to-bust height.

Jodie & Sharon StoneSharon clearly has a gnome fetish.

Jodie & Kristen StewartShe played her young daughter, now taller.

Jodie & Jena MaloneShe played her younger self, now taller.

Jodie & Tom CruiseCome on, she even makes Tom Cruise look giant.

Jodie & Holly HunterFinally, Jodie is among her kind.

We garden gnomes are a proud people. But, yes, we will let you help up get that bowl off the top shelf.

seafoam & burnt orange

Strength in Numbers

The February 2011 edition of US Vogue features a mammoth cast of thirty five of modelling's current and newest faces, in a sublimely beautiful editorial lensed by Mario Testino. The editorial entitled "Gangs of New York", showcases a diverse selection of models sequestered in groups according to hair colour, country or continent of origin and ethnicity. Wearing fashions by Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein, Proenza Schouler, Ralph Lauren, and Rodarte, the images beautifully convey the individual aesthetic of each collection. The end result is an editorial which is whimsical and delightful, whilst  celebrating diversity and beauty in all of it's guises. 

Patricia Van der Vliet, Mirte Maas & Nimue Smit
Photographer - Mario Testino

Jana Knauerova, Hannah Holman, Britt Maren, Abbey Lee Kershaw
 & Kasia Struss
Photographer - Mario Testino

Joan Smalls, Ajak Deng, Arlenis Sosa, Chanel Iman, Anais Mali,
Jourdan Dunn & Sessilee Lopez
Photographer - Mario Testino

Julia Saner, Anna de Rijk, Frida Gustavsson & Jac Jagaciak
Photographer - Mario Testino

So Young Kang, Hyoni Kang, Tao Okamoto, Fei Fei Sun & Ming Xi
Photographer - Mario Testino

Arizona Muse, Jacquelyn Jablonski, Kendra Spears & Karlie Kloss
Photographer - Mario Testino

Kate Somers, Julia Hafstrom, Julia Johansen, Luisa Bianchin,
Chantal Stafford-Abbott, Donna Loos & Gwen Loos
Photographer - Mario Testino
Source - fashiongonerogue.com

Still Super

An exhibition featuring the Supermodels of the 70s and 80s is due to open on the 28th of January at the Steven Kasher Gallery in New York. The exhibition features ten portraits of legendary supermodels shot by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. The images of models; Christie Brinkley, Carol Alt, Cheryl Tiegs, Lisa Taylor, Beverly Johnson, and Nancy Donahue amongst others, were taken in 2009 whilst Greenfield-Sanders was working on a project for Vanity Fair magazine.

In an interview for stevenkasher.com, Greenfield-Sanders pays tribute, "These women, now in their fifties, were once the reigning queens of American beauty. As ultimate icons of world-wide marketing, I knew their stories would be extraordinary, and I wanted to hear what they had to say." By photographing these icons of beauty, Greenfield-Sanders hopes to draw attention to "how we deal with ageing in our hopelessly youth oriented society."

The portraits of some of modelling's most famous faces, provide a moment to reflect on our perceptions of beauty and the ageing process, and illustrate that the two need not be mutually exclusive. 

Lisa Taylor

Christie Brinkley

Beverly Johnson

Kim Alexis

Cheryl Tiegs

Carol Alt

Karen Bjornson

Esme

Nancy Donahue

Dayle Haddon
All images courtesy of stevenkasher.com

Givenchy's Asian Odyssey

Givenchy's Spring 2011 Haute Couture presentation featured a cast of solely Asian models. Designer Riccardo Tisci's cast of beauties featured ten of the most prominent Asian models hailing from China, Japan and Korea. Veterans Ai Tominaga and Du Juan joined Liu Wen, Shu Pei Qin, Ming Xi, Fei Fei Sun, Hye Park, Jiang Xiao Yi, Tao Okamoto and So Young Kang in an intimate presentation of the collection inspired by Japanese robot toys and legendary Japanese dancer Kazuo Ohno. Tisci's influence in the modelling world is fast becoming folklore with many a model's career skyrocketing following an appearance in a Givenchy show. The question now is which of these Asian warrior beauties will dominate the upcoming Fall/Winter 2011 shows.

Riccardo Tisci's Asian Revolution
Source - style.com

Ming Xi

Shu Pei Qin

Du Juan

Hye Park

So Young Kang

Fei Fei Sun

Jiang Xiao Yi

Liu Wen

Tao Okamoto

Ai Tominaga
Images courtesy of fashionologie.com

Always a bridesmaid

Unless all the other nominees fall into a “Rabbit Hole” (puns, puns!) and therefore clear the field for a Nicole Kidman upset, whoever wins for best actress or supporting actress this year will be taking home her very first shiny naked gold man. Well, fine, I don’t want to make any assumptions about these women’s sexual peccadilloes so to be safe let us say their first shiny naked gold man named Oscar – without private parts or facial features, and holding a sword. Right, so my point is that the vast majority of the actresses nominated for Academy Awards this year haven’t won before. No wins for Annette Bening, no wins for Natalie Portman, no wins for Helena Bonham Carter, no wins for Amy Adams. Nada. But that could all change for two lucky ladies. (Though until then, please feel free to ogle their award-winning tank top form as a consolation prize.)

Still, there are so many other ridiculously talented actresses who won’t have that chance this year and are likewise trophyless. Like, did you know Greta Garbo and Judy Garland never won an acting Oscar? No wonder Garbo wanted to be left alone – the shame. And there are plenty of modern-day actresses who have never gotten their proper due. Here is a look at a ten of today’s continual bridesmaids, never a bride when it comes to the shiny naked golden man.

Julianne Moore

Julianne has been nominated four times (“The End of the Affair,” “Boogie Nights,” “Far From Heaven,” “The Hours”). More often than not, Moore picks interesting, off-beat projects over commercial, big-budget offerings. And she is ready and quite convincing at playing gay from “The Hours” to “The Private Lives of Pippa Lee” to “Chloe” and “The Kids Are All Right.”She should have been nominated alongside Annette. I mean, if she can make a totally ludicrous stalker flick like “Chloe” watchable, she should have a whole separate room in her house just to hold all of her Oscars already.

Glenn Close

Glenn Close has not won an Oscar. Yeah, let that sink into the little gray cells. Five nominations (“The World According to Garp,” “The Big Chill,” “The Natural,” “Fatal Attraction,” “Dangerous Liasons”) and no wins yet Mira Sorvino, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Roberto Benigni all have acting Oscars.

Sigourney Weaver

Everything I said above, ditto. Three nominations for Sigourney (“Aliens,” “Gorillas in the Mist,” “Working Girl”) and no wins. Don’t make her get into that hydraulic robot suit from “Aliens” and crush some heads, people.

Naomi Watts

The first time I saw Naomi was in the dream within a nightmare within a blue box that was “Mulholland Dr.” When she made the transformation from Betty to Diane, I didn’t even recognize her for a minute. And then I knew – I knew this one was special. Only one nomination so for “21 Grams,” but that’ll change. It has to.

Angela Bassett

Angela only has one nomination for 1993’s searing “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” but that’s not for lack of talent but the paucity of strong roles for actresses of color, period. Come on, she’s been giving us two tickets to the gun show for years, the least we could do is invite her to a few more award shows.

Michelle Pfeiffer

I think the problem with Michelle is that she is so damn beautiful that sometimes you forget she can act. Three nominations (“Dangerous Liasons,” “The Fabulous Baker Boys,” “Love Field”) prove she can. But once you see that face, you’re all, “Um, wait, what were we talking about?”

Laura Linney

Laura is one of those people I fear will never win because she is always good, always. In fact, she is so good we take her for granted. But being that consistent isn’t luck, it’s hard work – like her three nominated roles (“You Can Count on Me,” “Kinsey,” “The Savages”). Well, at least she is doing well for herself on TV.

Catherine Keener

Nominated twice (“Being John Malkovich,” “Capote”), Catherine is another one of those unendingly dependable actresses. But just because it looks easy, doesn’t mean it is. Also, dude, she’s Dawn Denbo’s sister.

Salma Hayek

Don’t let the accent fool you, Salma is good. Her one nominated turn in “Frida” was great. And – think about it nominating committees – why would you ever pass up the opportunity to have Salma in a form-fitting ball gown on your red carpet? That opportunity you’re missing is golden.

Lauren Bacall

In 1996, when Lauren lost in an upset to Juliette Binoche after her first and only nomination for “The Mirror Has Two Face,” you could almost see her mentally telling Juliette to put her lips together and blow.

So many snubs, so many ways that blows.