The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion

Recently Metropolitan Museum of Art had a terrific exhibit titled,

The Model as Muse which explored the relationship between high

fashion, femininity and models. The exhibition and accompanying book, featured iconic models from 1947 to 1997 and includes photographs of the hottest models who had influenced the ideals of beauty in their time as well as some iconic film footage related to fashion. What was really interesting about this show was that it puts the focus on the models themselves and the impact they have had on popular culture in each of the decades beginning with the

50's through to the 90's. Seeing Janice Dickinson, in the exhibit reminded

me that during the early 80's I did an ad campaign for an Aboriginal jewelry

manufacture with European photographer Herbert Schulz. Schulz was

involved with the influential European rock fashion movement at the time.

Dickinson was one of the first models to bring a cool 'ethnic' look to the New

York fashion scene of the early 80's. She appeared within and on covers of

magazines such as Harper's Bazaar and Vogue, and worked with some of

biggest fashion houses, including Giorgio Armani, Gianni Versace and

Calvin Klein. Here is one of the ads we did with Dickinson.