Who wears the clothes? Fashion's Reality Check WWD

This morning I wanted to clench my fist and scream YES, YES, YES! While reading an article by Nick Axelrod and Venessa Lau, in WWD, called Who Wears the Clothes?
At last! An article about how fashion needs to “give up the fantasy and grow up into reality.” At last! I never thought, growing up in Syracuse, NY, that I would know who Oscar de la Renta was or Roberto Cavalli or Donna Karen or Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, and many others who are in the magazines and newspapers each day. Growing up I only knew DEB, JC Penny. H&M didn’t even come into my hometown until I was in college.

And yet you don’t have to be born with it, for “it” to creep up on you. As I have reached my adulthood “fashion” has seeped into my veins and as Advertising boosts to all media formats, I realized the amount of knowledge I have gained on fashion, the names, people, the history, and I didn't go to fashion school. I especially notice it when I pack my bag for Thanksgiving in Syracuse, NY and purposely try to bring items that are NOT as fashionable. I don't even own a black turtle neck anymore!

Going home always reminds me of how I was fine and dandy not even knowing these labels growing up. I appreciate fashion as an art, a craft, but because I didn't have it when I was younger, and found passions (running, art, writing) beyond it, I don’t obsess or cry if I don’t have this seasons shit. Also my mother wasn't a fashion freak, so perhaps that is why I do enjoy fashion, fashion magazines, clothing, shoes, but I know these items are items, not something that should define a person.

Yet I will admit, when my fiancée presented me with my first pair of Prada sandals this past summer, I couldn’t believe it. OMG! OMG! OMG! And jumping into his arms.

Despite the excitement, the obsession of fashion in our nation has made women emotional upset and mad. The fantasy has become too much of a so-called reality in the minds of designers. They have this unrealistic mindset of what is real and sellable.

But this is not new news to me, I have always felt this, fashion should be what the word suggests, something wearable. Something to cover our naked bodies. Something that makes us feel attractive, something that WE like, and that it should be designed for PEOPLE, for the customer, NOT just an ego or fantasy. It doesn’t take a Brain Surgeon, to figure this out. Why does designing for American women have this “boring sound” to it, like the words average, normal, and “for all sizes” sting the sewing machines. The reason is because the image of the clothing, the ad, the appeal is bitchy, rude, FU! And with it comes this thing we as people have created called Prestige. The "I am better than you because I am wearing this shit persona."

And also, since I mainly advocate on modeling currently let's go there too: the model in the ad today, is not related to the customer. (Grab all those fashion magazines and take a look, it might be pretty, well crafted, pretty makeup, styling, but does it make you want to buy the clothing, or just frame the image?)

I don’t think the customer would mind if the girl modeling the clothing, shoes, jewelry, were someone she could better relate to?

Models were not always 6 feet tall. Look at the 60’s, 50’s. The models were more realistic to the customer. Why this changed is a mistake in my mind.

I liked the chart in the article that showed an illustration of the heights of the customers of designers these days. Yet it isn’t like women’s bodies have changed THAT much, I mean why were designers always designing for the “actual bodies” of the customers always? Let’s talk about Queens and Princesses, they first led fashion and not all of them were itty bitty small…or tall.

I am not tall, I am petite, and although I am fit and have a trim body it is HELL sometimes shopping. Pants too long, and going to the tailor time and time again is a true pain in the ass, most of the time. I am always hunting for “SHORT” sized pants. Usually they are gone.

Basically I think the article was important in not just Fashion Terms but for how the change and realistic mindset of designers will begin to affect the rest of the retail industry and the psychology of it’s customers. Let’s just simply start with Height.

The Average American Women is:
5’3” or 5’4”

That alone should inspire some changes.

Let’s just face the facts. The customer can handle seeing how the garment would look on someone her size.

So not only will designers sell more, but also the customer will feel welcome no matter her height or size.

Thank you for this article, it is long past due! :)
Isobella

Model Life feature in the NYDailyNews!

Yay, I wanted to share a feature in the New York Daily News on my graphic novel "Model Life: The Journey of a Pint-Sized Fashion Warrior," and my Illustrator Jazmin Ruotolo, and my self. I hope you enjoy it and check out Model Life :)

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2009/11/22/2009-11-22_petite_model_and_internet_personality_isobella_jade_tells_her_story_in_a_graphic.html

my twitter quote

In this self-made world, you have to be picky about how you handle your options, or create a better option 4 urself.

Models that jump or hang.

When I lived near Water Street I was shocked when model Ruslana Korshunova, 20, jumped to her death. Even recently, when I go to FED Ex on Water Street I feel slight chills thinking about it. Recently I read that South Korean Supermodel Daul Kim hung herself.

It makes me wonder and sad that if under the makeup and clothing the girls do not have love for themselves? To model, I think that it takes confidence and one has to have very,very thick skin. This sad news makes my head tilt down as I type this, these girls are walking the catwalk but are they not mentored? Do they not feel they can share things with their agents, especially if they are depressed? The highs and lows of working in a fast pace industry can take a toll on the mind and emotions. What do you think about this?

http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/11/21/2009-11-21_south_korean_supermodel_daul_kim_hangs_herself_after_blogging_about_depression.html

Short Model Support podcast radio show on self promotion

At 9pm EST 11/18/09, Isobella shares a recap of ANTM cycle 13 and shares a recap from her Model Life book party on her podcast radio show, along with tips for self promotion and marketing yourself as a model. And how visiting the magazine section in a bookstore can help you be the model in the magazine.

Tune in live at 9pm, or listen to the archive anytime you'd like:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/isobellajade/2009/11/19/short-model-support-aiming-high-and-getting-more

The Models of the Model Life book party photo-shoot

Most book parties allow the author to mingle with their readers, for the Model Life book party it was an interactive experience where guests were able to watch live petite models model shoes from Bakers. It was an amazing time, and here are some of my favorite shots of the girls from the photo-shoot shot by Robert Milazzo at MercBar in SoHo.

Guest also enjoyed sampling some of my favorite "petite" fashion and cosmetic brands. We had the participation of Sweet Petite's, Lula Lu Lingerie, LUSH, Michael Antonio shoes as well, as Styli-Style cosmetics!

Sonya.


Leila.


Tifanny.


Cheli.


Ashley.

Model Life shoe modeling photo-shoot winner is...

Leila!

She modeled the shoes in a great way that represented what a shoe ad looks like, (I would have liked to see a bit more of her personality), see below for a couple of my favorite shots of her, she has won a $75Gift Certificate from Sweet Petite Apparel.

Airbrush lingerie experience, it is a favorite!

Yesterday I did some airbrush body art. Typically I stray away from body art, it can look often untasteful and unless it has an advertising feel, or editorial beauty type feel it can "just be a cool shot" but it might not help your pursuits as a model, unless very WELL done.

Yesterday it was VERY well done. The concept was to paint lingerie on me to look as real as possible. A piece of beautiful lace was put against my backside, then the airbrush was sprayed against it. What was left was a beautiful, real looking pair of panties, it was really impressive. I had a gold base on my legs and I put on a pair of black fishnets and the artist then airbrushed black against the fishnet. Then the fishnets came off and omg, it was so beautiful. And real looking.

A line of burgundy sequins made the top of the thigh highs and more lace was airbrushed on to the top of them to give that real appeal.

I hope to share some pics soon.

Some Model Life book party pics

An Interview from the Model Life book party (video)

Enjoy this Fabulous interview after the Model Life book party with Colleen Brennan asking me about the root of Model Life!

Petite Models and Model Life party tonight! whoo hoo

Whoo hoo, tonight is the night you can stop by my Model Life book party, where modeling and the graphic novel world come together, shorter models and high shoes, red balloons and red drinks, art and fashion, and my passions all come together. I hope to see you at MercBar, 151 Mercer street the festivities start at 7pm! :)

Here is the scoop and more details on the launch party, where 5 petite models will be rockin out shoe modeling!

Isobella

The Models of the Model Life book party on podcast tonight

The Model Life book party pre-party. At 9pm Est tonight, Isobella speaks to the petite models (Tiffany,Cheli, Sonya, an Ashley) who will be shoe modeling during the live photo-shoot at her interactive book party tomorrow Nov 12 for Model Life: The Journey of a Pint-Size Fashion Warrior. They discuss modeling,being petite and how height isn't everything in modeling. Shoe model Leila can't join us this evening but she will be rockin' the shoes as well at the party~ :)

Tune in here at 9pm EST:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/isobellajade/2009/11/12/The-Models-of-the-Model-Life-book-party-for-petite

I had Yeats on my body today at a shoot.

I had Yeats on my body today at a shoot. "And pluck till time and times are done The silver apples of the moon The golden apples of the sun"

never give up

Spoke to Jennifer at Mediamoiselle today about modeling and Model Life, in SoHo, near the Apple Store actually. :)

Here are some final thoughts from the interview:

if you want it, go get it, jump the hurdles & when you succeed it will burn inside of you from those who doubted you, hang in there shorties.

Also I like this song Two Hearts by Phil Collins and these words:

"if you don't put faith in what you believe in. It's getting you nowhere."

Aspiring petite models in NYC meet Isobella Jade

If you live in NYC and you are an aspiring model, bring your compcard or portfolio to the book launch party for Model Life: The Journey of a Pint-Size Fashion Warrior on November 12th, 2009. Meet petite model, author, radio host Isobella Jade, and share your compcard with her and get some tips on being a height challenged model from a girl who's lived it.

Model Life: The Journey of a Pint-Size Fashion Warrior with Isobella Jade book signing.

When: November 12th 2009
Time: 7-9pm
Where: MercBar 151 Mercer Street New York, NY 10012
21 +, free