My Response to SJP Commenters

My child wouldn't sleep.  I went to the grocery store to get Tylenol.  My girlfriend and I both rolled our eyes when we saw who was on the cover of Vogue this month.  Again?!?  Why?  What film is she promoting now? 

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A friend sent me a photo of one of my covers next to SJP's Vogue cover this month.  I think it's a good illustration of the difference between fashion and Hollywood.  One needs major advertisement and intrigue to sell it.  The other uses only an image.  Daring? I don't think so, Italian Vogue is still the reigning magazine in fashion.  US Vogue became akin to US Weekly, a magazine driven by the advertising dollar instead of the creative influencers.

 

I told my friend, "You know, I've been wanting to write a blog post about her brand for some time.  First with Gap and then with Halston.  I think now I have to.  Enough is enough.  Someone has to call this out." 

It's not that I don't like SJP.  I think she's not only talented but incredibly intelligent and beautiful.  What I don't like is her brand.  And her brand to me is this: SJP+SATC=Money for SJP.  And here's my problem with it. 

1. it adds little of substance to the table beyond a product 

2. it says little about fashion beyond a trend

3. it does little more than make money for her brand and the brands SJP aligns herself with

4. I'm don't take kindly to blatant self-promotion, it's no better than some of our reality TV friends and I think US Vogue and SJP is capable of so much more

And why does this bother me?  Well… I don't know about you but I don't like money being the all powerful motivating factor for what people pay attention in our society today.  I wish it was the talent because there are so many gifted, talented, deeply creative people that could do amazing work given the opportunity.

Instead what we have is an industry, that over the last 10+ years has gone the way of Hollywood and decided to put their faith and trust and branding in the hands of those who have money instead of the those who have the ability to create fashion.  

I could have written the same post about Blake Lively or Lauren Conrad.  It just so happens, SJP was on the cover this month. 

One last thing I feel necessary to address.  I'm a model.  If you're interested in the work I've done, you'll have to dig.  I don't have a website.  I don't have a fan page.  I don't have a team of PR people gathering and submitting to the press every move I make.  Call me old fashioned but I'm not interested in you knowing my name because I'm a beautiful face representing a brand for a season or on the cover of a magazine.  If you know my name, it's because we've met.  We've had a conversation.  We've exchanged ideas.  

Fame is something you can purchase so easily today.  I'm not interested in being famous. I'm interested in developing a conversation. 

Thank you NY Daily News, The Washington Post, Perez Hilton and all the bloggers who picked up this piece.  You drove people to this blog and a great debate about what is fashion and what entitles one to the title of an Icon ensued.

Hopefully the conversation will continue.  Keep reading and stay connected!