The Metropolitan Museum of Art debuted its latest Costume Institute exhibit "
The Model as Muse" early this month, exploring the relationship between designers and a key source of their inspiration -beautiful women. It recalls an era when fashion models were worshiped and highly paid for strutting on catwalks, posing in magazine spreads and, as Linda Evangelista famously said, not getting out of bed for less than $10,000 a day.
But while the supermodels of the '80s -
Linda, Naomi, Christy -were content with walking the runways and playing muse to the likes of Gianni Versace and Karl Lagerfeld, today's top models (who for the most part don't earn as much as their predecessors and aren't known by their first names alone) have their eye on their own fashion design careers. Say goodbye to the supermodel and hello to today's model/designer.
Kate Moss has a successful collection with
Topshop inspired by her own trend-setting wardrobe; it sold out in one hour when it debuted in London last year.
Elle MacPherson designs a line of intimates sold at Neiman Marcus and Saks, among other stores.
Amber Valletta is rumored to be working on a recession-friendly fashion-forward clothing line.
Even the high-cheekboned, not-quite-as-famous models-turned-designers are worthy of more than the chuckle or quick dismissal that usually befall celebrity fashion lines. After years of working closely with prominent designers--and with a lot more fashion cred than the troves of B-list stars who have tried their hand at design careers--these young women have proved adept at dissecting the trends of the moment and creating reasonably priced clothes that stylish women want to wear.
Why the surge in models turned designers now? "As the fashion business has changed, and fashion has become geared toward celebrities, many models have decided to take matters into their own hands," says veteran model Erin Wasson. "At the end of the day, the reality is that models aren't on the covers of magazines as much anymore and there aren't as many campaigns for us."
Erin Wasson...
Model Erin Wasson, who is the face of Maybelline, has graced countless magazine covers and walked the runways for Balenciaga and Gucci. But after consulting for rising star designer Alexander Wang two years ago, she knew she was ready to give her dream of designing clothes a try.
"Here I was looking at Alex, who is two years younger than me, and I was just so impressed," she says. "He is this kid who dropped out of Parsons and said, 'I am going to do this my way.' Alex has the same mentality as I do--if you want to do something you should just go out and do it."
Wasson now designs a high-fashion capsule collection for skate lifestyle company RVCA. "We (fashion models) have seen it all, we've seen the trends come and go and come back around again. I've been in the business for 10 years and it's such a crash course in itself. It's a bit like going to fashion school." Now, with two collections under her belt and a jewelry line called Low Luv, she is thinking of expanding into handbags.
Liya Kebede...Liya Kebede, famous for being signed to an Estée Lauder contract as well as her humanitarian efforts with the UN, has developed a children's line, LemLem, which is handmade in Kebede's native Ethiopia by local weavers.
"I was very much inspired by Bono and the Red Campaign and their idea of helping in a sustainable way by giving economic opportunities instead of just financial aid," says Kebede. The line of cotton dresses and caftans for tots has taken off and is now being sold in J.Crew. Kebede is also expanding the line to include clothes for adults this fall. "A lot of women who loved the items for their children started telling me that they would love adult versions," says Kebede.
Natalia Vodianova...
Natalia Vodianova, the face of Calvin Klein, recently became the brand ambassador to lingerie company Etam and is also designing a capsule collection for the brand each season. "I wanted the line to be for women who are not afraid to play," Vodianova says.
Of course, the added bonus for this new crop of model designers is that they can do double duty posing in the ad campaigns, as Vodianova does for Etam. "What I realized when designing this is how feminine and confident I am," Vodianova says.
Cheryl Cole has shelled out a staggering 36,000 pounds on a weird exercise machine to look slimmer when she shares the frame with fellow X Factor judge Dannii Minogue.
