I know this is kind of old news, but since I'm not exactly a huge Taylor Swift fan, I haven't been eagerly awaiting the release dates of her music videos. Which is why I had no idea that male model Guntars Asmanis made a fitting, if surprising, appearance in Taylor Swift's "Back to December: vid. In case you haven't heard of him, he was ranked #38 on MDC in 2008 and has walked for Calvin Klein, Prada, Miu Miu, Missoni, Versace, Moschino, Fendi, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, YSL, Bottega Venetta, Thierry Mugler, and Chanel (for which he opened in 2007), among others. Apparently the country star handpicked him for the male lead, but never got to see him (which explains why the two never meet, much to the chagrin of traditional Taylor fans). They didn't much appreciate her choice, either. "Why is he pale, if the lyrics describe him as tan?" was an oft-bemoaned subject. I guess choosing a model who rocked skinny jeans, high cheekbones, and sleek motorcycle jackets didn't go over well with the conventional country music lover either. However, director Yoann Lemoine summed up what Taylor's preteen followers were unable to recognize: "I wanted a boy that was fragile and beautiful. I didn't want to go for a hunk or a perfect cheesy boy that would have killed the sincerity of the video." Perfectly said.
Lady Gaga's newest track debuted at the House of Mugler show last week in celebration of Nicola Formechetti's first menswear collection for Thierry Mugler. He also happens to be Lady Gaga's personal stylist (wait, who knew she had one?) and costume designer. She calls him "Fashion's Freedom." "I love him, my friend the genius, my collaborator, more more than any piece of clothing or closet I possess. But don't tell him I said that, he'll die. He picked them all out," she said in a statement at the show.
Shot by fashion photographer Mario Vivanco, the film is haunting, moody, and more than a little unnerving.
Like most of Lady Gaga's work, it's heavily techno-ey, pop-inflected, and practically incoherent. The music is a perfect runway soundtrack, but it's hard to say whether it'll transfer well to the mainstream market.
In case you're wondering who the creepy guy in the video is, he's Canadian model Rick Genest. Formichetti tracked him down through Facebook, where he goes under the alias "Zombie Boy." I'm guessing the tattoos are real.
Shot by fashion photographer Mario Vivanco, the film is haunting, moody, and more than a little unnerving.
Like most of Lady Gaga's work, it's heavily techno-ey, pop-inflected, and practically incoherent. The music is a perfect runway soundtrack, but it's hard to say whether it'll transfer well to the mainstream market.
In case you're wondering who the creepy guy in the video is, he's Canadian model Rick Genest. Formichetti tracked him down through Facebook, where he goes under the alias "Zombie Boy." I'm guessing the tattoos are real.
There's been an awful lot of Chanel in the news lately, and this time the attention is centered on Lagerfeld's main muse, Baptiste Giabiconi. He's the face of the brand's last eleven campaigns and is currently numero uno on MDC's rankings. Last time we heard, Bappy G was collaborating with 50 Cent on his debut single, "Showtime." And Showtime it is. The sequence opens with a gangsta-fied Baptiste wearing low-slung jeans and sporting more jewelry than Paris Hilton. Bappy G soon finds the love of his life at a sleazy-looking diner and carts her away on a motorcycle. (Without actually riding one, of course, since Giabiconi has a self-professed fear of bikes). Not so easy. Miss Perfect also comes with an abusive albino man-friend who feels threatened, apparently, by Balmain-clad hipsters. The miffed Bappy shouts, "Vat's wrong weev you?" through a thick French accent, but to no avail. Cardinal rule number one: Don't upset a man whose clothes are worth the mortgage on your house. The camera zooms to Giabiconi's silver chain belt and hardcore rings (five, to be exact, and presumably Chanel). Under their perfectly groomed brows, Bappy's birdlike eyes turn menacing. The music starts up again and flashes to Giabiconi, this time wearing a ginormous statement necklace that rivals the fantastic creations of Tom Binns. Collar popped, the camera follows Bappy as he whisks the girl off on his waiting Vespa (or Harley Davidson, or Honda ... in fact, with the absence of lettering, it's quite difficult to determine). They proceed to consummate their relationship in a similarly sleazy-looking motel that apparently lacks sheets, but the lovestruck couple ignore the possibility of a not-so-romantic bedbug infestation. As the triumphant Bappy awkwardly windmills his arms against an obviously faux-desert backdrop, surrounded by unrealistic dust explosions, it becomes painfully apparent that Mr. Giabiconi is far better suited as a model than a musician. However, there's something to be said in favor of unabashed cheesiness - seriously, what else were you expecting from a Chanel-clad Frenchman? And it does have some major fashion cred (check out those moto boots at 0:33)! In fact, out of context, this could read more like a jewelry ad than anything else - Giabiconi seems to be defined by his charm bracelets, and he seems more interested in the girl's necklace than his lady love herself. For those of you more interested in the man than his accessories, this isn't the last time you'll see Baptiste. There's a second installment in the works.
Due to someseriously uptight copyright restrictions, the video is no longer available, but you can still watch it here.
Some fabulous screenshots after the jump.
Due to some
Some fabulous screenshots after the jump.
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