Simply Chic! Oh La La! : Fashion TV

Spicy Victoria Secret

I haven't watched the Victoria secret fashion show for years, but tonight because the Spice Girls were performing I decided to watch. It didn't take me long to remember why I stopped watching in the first place. From the actors and athletes staring like their scouting for fresh hot girl recruits, to the sweet yet mushy duet between Heidi Klum (who I adore), and her husband Seal (who was performing the last time I watched it and that was a few years ago), and finally the barely clad models rousing the crowd like pro wrestlers, Victoria Secret is a spectacle that leaves me feeling a little uncomfortable. Even Neil Patrick Harris, who I really like and think is incredibly charming and funny, and who claims to be gay was caught ogling the girls like a college frat boy on spring break. I guess even gay men can't resist. Is nothing sacred?

I love gorgeous lingerie and swim wear and I always watch the Rosa Cha fashion shows on FT (Rosa Cha is a fabulous Brazilian Swim wear line designed by Amir Slama), which uses many of the models that star in the VS show yet somehow the atmosphere of Victoria Secret fashions shows comes across to hedionistic and over the top for me, and I don't enjoy it. The girls are gorgeous glamazons but I feel like its Brazillian Carnival trapped on stage, concoted and unnatural. Plus the little get-to-know-you segments where each girl talks about her life, and goals, feels like a staged beauty pageant, and the behind the scenes shots where all the girls are running around smiling the same and behaving like bubbly little school girls seem a little too much like some teenage boys fantasy image of beautiful women, other then a few exceptions like the drop dead gorgeous Adriana Lima. Also, Gisele Bundchen was not in the show, after severing her contract with VS almost a year ago, and I missed her, she has always added a fresh energy to the show.

But it was all worth it for the Spice Girls. Though they didn't sing one of my favorite tunes I really enjoyed their performance. Ginger, Posh and Scary have always been my favorite Spice girls but all of them looked glamorous and happy. Posh appeared kind of reserved and shy but when she began to sing the crowd really screamed, making it very clear that Posh is winning over America, as she had planned.

I remembered why I loved the Spice Girls, there is something so youthful, playful, glamorous and dynamic about them. You feel like a teenage girl again, swept up in the pleasure of being girly, singing girly tunes, playing dress up and relishing in your femininity. Plus the cute strong male dancers in sailor uniforms just really added something special to the stage. The Spice Girls actually matched the show more then any of the other performers.

The Spice Girls go on their sold out tour soon. It was actually one of the fastest selling tours ever. If anyone is going to see them please post how the show went on my blog, I would love to hear about it.

Move aside America's Next Top Model...

Today was the last episode of, A Model Life, a show I have enjoyed all summer. A Model Life followed six young models, from various parts of the world, as they tried to take their careers to the next level by winning a contract with NEXT Model Management. The show was hosted by beauty, Petra Nemcova.

Immediately the show took a completely different take on the world and life of an aspiring model in comparison to America's Next Top model. There was no sensationalizing or scandalizing of the girls lives, personalities, or struggles. In fact, you barely knew anything about the girls private lives, which did not prevent you from rooting for them, instead it made the viewer take the show, and the their dreams, more seriously. I didn't realize how tired I was of ANTM's constant whining wannabe models, who all have a sob story that they exploit until you are rendered unsympathetic. If I had to hear, "I'm doing this for my son," or "No one's ever told me I was beautiful," or the "lesbian model finding herself tale" one more time I would gag. ANTM uses so many ploys to draw attention to the show, (the murder serious of photos they did in the last season for example), that it has become more of a model melodrama reality show then a career boosting opportunity. Once the show is done most of these girls slip into oblivion. And its not surprising that they do because in most cases the girls, though very attractive or even beautiful in some cases, were not quite model material. But the girls selected for A Model Life were all working models in their own countries. Though all very young, they for the most part were very mature, serious, and sweet girls, on the show to boost there careers on an international level.

I also did not miss the fake screams that the girls greet Tyra with every time she walks into the room. America's Next Top Model is often more about Tyra's image then the real world of modeling. The girls on AML greeted Nemcova happily but they didn't feel the need to kiss her butt every chance they got. The girls also got along wonderfully. Their heartfelt tears when they all had to go their separate ways was moving. Such young girls, pursuing an unpredictable and difficult career. It was great to watch a show that was free of the catty, gossipy, jealous ridden dramas that are a normal routine on ANTM. Now thinking about it, it is very clear that A Model Life purposely took a different approach to the model reality show in order to raise the bar.

Lucia

My favorite model right away was the stunning and sweet, Lucia. 18 years old, from Solvakia, Lucia was so warm, outspoken, dedicated and playful that besides her incredible beauty, you realized that this girl had so much more going for her, that a fabulous life just has to be in the cards. And her adorable little accent was beautiful!

I also liked Valeria, from Australia, and Beatrice from Brazil (though I eventually stopped rooting for Beatrice because though nice and very pretty she didn't seem ready for the challenge. Then again she was only 16). Beatrice was also warned to watch her sometimes disinterested attitude, especially the eye-rolling that was viewed as disrespectful. She seemed honestly upset about coming across that way to clients and the agency.

Valeria and Beatrice

What I also loved about AML is that they did not reward the "I know it all" slightly obnoxious, diva of the show, Angelika, who literally felt and expressed her superiority and infinite knowledge of the art of modeling every chance she got. Interestingly enough, she was very kind and warm with the other models, who she became very close to, it seems she just chose to be defiant with the Next team and some of the clients. She was very attractive and photogenic but after one episode I was so turned off by her personality that I couldn't see past it, and felt little appreciation for her photos. In the final episode, she was the one girl to be unceremoniously dismissed from any possibility of being represented by Next.

Angelika

Another plus about the show was that there was no weekly voting off of one of the models. The models had an opportunity to work, and improve each week. They also received constant feedback, which really showed you how challenging a business it is. Lucia, who is a bombshell, was expected to lose some weight because, though perfect for Sports Illustrated, she was considered to heavy for high fashion. Lucia, already a pro, took the news gracefully, refused to starve herself but started seeing a trainer.

Abigail

In the end, Lucia, Valeria and Abagail all won $100, 000 contracts with Next, after their final swimsuit modeling challenge in the Bahamas. They also won their first fashion spread in Marie Claire. The editor and chief of Marie Claire, Joanna Coles, said that the girls were not only beautiful and unique but, "You actually eat! You look like normal girls." Beatrice was sent to Next Miami, where she will most likely be very popular, and Michelle, the skinny, awkward and edgier looking model was sent to London where her look will be much more sought after.

Michelle

My only critic of the show would be its stark lack of diversity, other then Beatrice there was no other woman of color. If Model Life returns, which I really hope it does, a variety of beauties would be very much appreciated.

I hope I see these girls doing major things. You never know I may be seeing them stomping the stages of Fashion Weeks all over the world soon.

Chic!

p.s. Though I've ranted on America's Next Top Model don't be surprised if you see me tuning into the new season this fall. I'm weak dammit...