Modelinia
September 14th, 2009Fashion week always makes me Nostalgic..
When I first met Kevyn Aucoin in 1992, he had already been doing the makeup for NY fashion week for many years. He had been working with Geoffrey Beene, Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, Isaac Mizrahi, Todd Oldham, to name a few. His work had been featured regularly in Vogue , Harpers Bazaar and Allure magazine. At the time, I was a nieve boy from Pittsburgh, just getting my bearings in New York. The world of high fashion never existed for me, except for my love of Calvin Klein jeans and Polo shirts, which I often shoplifted in my earlier years from Kaufmans dept. store in Pittsburgh, in order to fit in with the other kids. I didnt comprehend his status in the fashion community at the time, but later realized his power when I saw the fashion editors and top designers jostle for his time.
I’ll never forget my first glimpse into that world when he asked me to go with him to Donna Karans for a fitting, in which he would discuss with her the look for the upcoming show. It was incredible to watch Kevyn and Donna talk about the collection, watch her dress the models, and then have him come up with the makeup for the show. They spoke the same language and understood each others subtle references. I sat back and watched, not really getting it.
As fashion week approached, Kevyn suggested that I come along to the shows and take photos of his work as well as all the action backstage. I was nervous, of course, not knowing any of the players as he had, but was assured by him that it would be fine. That is the power he had. All the designers and models respected him so much that they let me have access to their world.
It was the height of the supermodel era and the girls were as big as the designers themselves. I was intimidated by the entire scene, but being with Kevyn I felt very safe. He was a star as well, and he was treated as such. All the girls clamored for him to do their makeup. I had a front row seat in the pandemonium of it all to watch Kevyn interact with each girl. It was there, each season, that I got to know Linda, Christy, Naomi, Cindy, Kate, Amber, Shalom, Carla, Nadja, Beverly, Nikki, Yasmeen, Chandra and many others. Each treated me with the same respect that they did Kevyn.
I’ll never forget how funny Linda. She would tell us a story and look at me on the side and wink..like we had a private joke. She also took extra care in the craziness of it all to give me really great shots.. Here was the girl who wouldnt get out of bed for 10,000 a day,, and she was my private muse. Amazing really how kind and sweet, dispelling all the rumors that were out there in print.
The same with Naomi. Every season she remembered my name and went out of her way to ask how I was doing. It was hard to believe considering the thousands of people she had come in contact with.
Amber became a really good friend. Carla Bruni had the funniest sense of humor and would keep the younger girls in line. Christy was always rock solid, supportive and super sweet.
My experience as an outsider coming into their world couldn’t have been a more fulfilling one. I got to see the insanity of their world, but also the real side of women who carried themselves under such pressure with grace. It is no wonder that they were called supermodels.
