Kate Moss enjoys fruits of her labors
By Yang Di |
April 13, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
YVES Saint Laurent once said that "a good model can advance fashion by 10 years.'' Conversely, she can exert a negative influence.
Perhaps both can be said of English model Kate Moss - one of the most controversial and enduring models of our time. As a teenager, the scrawny, waiflike model personified "heroin chic" and a few years back she became infamous for her motto about being thin: "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." There was an uproar and people said she was encouraging anorexic girls. She died it.
But today she's healthy, glamorous and rich - and thin, but too thin.
At age 38, she looks extremely well and much more like a role model. In fact, she was recently signed up to be the face of Barcelona-based retailer Mango's spring/summer 2012 campaign.
Over the years, Moss has appeared in countless influential fashion shoots and shows and been the muse of many photographers, fashion designers and artists.
When Storm model agency boss Sarah Doukas spotted her at JFK Airport in New York and signed her up, Moss, then 14, was wearing a white shirt and jeans and recalled feeling "very cool."
As she attained superstar status, her distinctive, edgy style inspired young women worldwide.
Despite favoring simple silhouettes and pairings - skinny jeans, a blazer, a classic pair of high heels and a big, soft bag are her everyday staples - Moss has garnered many awards for her style, including a place on the Vanity Fair international best-dressed list.
Equally well known for her hard partying lifestyle, Moss married English musician Jamie Hince last year, wearing a wedding dress by John Galliano, himself no stranger to controversy.
This is not her first time Moss has worked with Mango. She starred in a Mango video with photographer Terry Richardson - which Richardson directed - for their fall 2011 runway show. Now the full campaign, again shot by Richardson, is out everywhere - including Shanghai's streets. And looking at the shots, it's fair to say Moss still looks pretty amazing.
She spoke to Shanghai Daily in an e-mail interview.
Q: What's it like working with Terry Richardson?
A: There is always an undercurrent of something sinister going on with Terry in every picture. You can think that it's really a normal picture but there is always this undercurrent - something's going on. There's an edge to it, and that's what makes it fun. Unless you get that, it would be really frustrating for him. But I always kind of got it.
Q: His work is praised for spontaneity. Are you used to a loose or fixed script?
A: It changes all the time with everyone - everyone you work with is always different, so you go with the flow. It depends.
Q: Talking about going with the flow, in the digital world, people are less content with stills - they want Kate in motion.
A: Fashion in motion is what's going to happen, isn't it? I think that's the way things are going but I still think there are people out there who will want to see a picture - you know, to be able to hold it.
Q: You seem to have shifted from modeling mostly for stills to becoming Kate in motion, acting Kate. How does that feel?
A: I enjoy it. It takes the work to another place because, obviously, you can't just turn it on and off as with still cameras, where it's click, you're on, click, you're off. With a film it lasts a lot longer. But yes, it's fun.
Q: Mango's latest campaign doesn't feature the usual stable of girls - just you. How do you feel? Pressured?
A: No! I'm quite used to being "the face of ...'' but I didn't know that was what they were doing, so I didn't even question it. It didn't cross my mind.
Q: What kind of girl does Mango target?
A: I think it's an eclectic, modern girl who likes to have fun - quite laid back, not too uptight.
Q: Which designer's works have had the most impact on your personal style?
A: The late Alexander McQueen. He is the special designer to me.
Q: Are there items you buy all the time?
A: Jeans, tops and bags. Maybe bags, I love big bags, but the material has to be light. In general, I like those big, soft and light bags.
Q: What's the new "must have'' piece?
A: This spring, white and pastel tones are invading our wardrobes. The must-haves for me are a pink top in a pastel and fit jeans. That's all you need to be chic in town.
Q: Where do you usually go shopping?
A: Rellick is my favorite shop.
Q: What is a typical day like?
A: It begins with a few questions -- like everybody else's day. What to put on this morning? If there are any interesting kids' stores nearby or where can you get something good to eat in Milan?
Q: How do you relax?
A: In the countryside. When I'm in the country with the kids around and cooking, that's when I'm most relaxed.
Q: What your proudest achievement?
A: I know people might say I am a designer. But, I'm not really a fashion designer. I just love clothes. I've never been to design school. I can't sketch. I can't cut patterns and things.
I can shorten things. I can make a dress out of a scarf. Lee (Alexander) McQueen didn't do that! Galliano doesn't do that! There are lots of them who don't.
Q: What's next for you?
A: Not sure. Maybe you can check with those paparazzi.
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