Wednesday 28 January 2009

51 Year Old Runway Model

Gaultier’s 51-Year-Old Runway Star: Inès de la Fressange

Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week

gaultier_DV_20090128132949.jpgGetty Images
French model Ines de la Fressange presents a creation by Jean Paul Gaultier for his Spring/Summer 2009 haute couture collection.

As always, this week’s Paris couture shows have been the stomping ground for stick-thin models with high cheek bones and clenched jaws.

But Jean-Paul Gaultier is not one to abide by rules. Despite the presence of singers Kanye West and Kylie Minogue, it was the former French supermodel Inès de la Fressange who stole the show.

As the voluptuous 51-year-old strutted down the runway, the crowd cheered this one-time French queen of the catwalk. Clearly moved, she turned to wave at old friends and slipped off a cream jacket in front of the cameras.

Mr. Gaultier, also caught up in the moment, chased the former supermodel down the runway and practically wrestled her to the ground during the final moments of the show catching her just before she fell.

Fashion models “are not just 14-year-olds,” Mr. Gaultier said later. “There are no [age] barriers to beauty.” The French designer explained that the curvy Ms. de la Fressange embodied the sexuality demanded his raunchy Spanish themed show, which also featured high-waisted pinstripe pants for women, suspenders and elbow-length gloves.

Ms. de la Fressange in the 1980s was the first model to sign an exclusive modeling contract with a haute couture fashion house — Chanel — and then went on to represent France’s symbol of femininity, Marianne. She described how she felt nervous backstage with the other models, “surrounded by all those sexy little things.”

Despite the warm reception from the crowd, she said her return to the catwalk was a one-off. “For me it was like a Sunday,” she said batting her eyelids. “This is not my job anymore.” -Max Colchester

3 comments:

  1. are you kidding me, she's not voluptuous at all.

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  2. omg i was just about to write that, contrast has no idea what the world looks like

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  3. This actually wasn't an article written by Contrast, it was taken from another source. Sorry for the confusion! Though she is obviously beautiful she is super thin! I guess this just shows the standard of modeling... I just thought it was cool that they would even consider using someone who is in her 50s.

    -Sarah

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