Erotica

This is one of the songs I get regularly obsessed with. It is when seeing this kind of work by Madonna that I wonder what actually is the big thrill about Lady GaGa. I mean, as much as I love GaGa, her overtly sexual style doesn't seem more groundbreaking than this video, which was shot almost twenty years ago; her oxygenated hair seems a 2010 version of Madonna's, her sub-gun bra seems a (less practical) extension of Jean-Paul Gaultier's cone bras... and, so far, no one except Madonna has managed to include Naomi Campbell and Isabella Rossellini in a video with such explicit sexual content.
I know GaGa gets very often compared to Madonna. I wonder why... have we actually regressed where it concerns female empowerment and true sexual freedom? Maybe we do need a new version of that first creative, shameless and fresh Madonna (before she got obsessed with the Cabbala and yoga) to remind us what things should be like. And, on behalf of Lady Gaga, her career has only just begun; we don't yet know where she'll take it to, but I think it will be to a very exciting place in any case. Meanwhile, let us enjoy powerful women and their creative freedom.

Model Citizens Part II: Kelly Klein

Meet Kelly: a sharp, chic model who lives between Paris, Holland and Brazil. Kelly blends together Brazilian sexyness with an edgy look one can only guess comes from her German ancestors. What I love about her is her versatile personality and her good conversation... and of course her very Brook Shields-like take on femininity.

How Long have you been modeling for?

It's been two years.
Which would you say has been the highlight of your career so far?

I do a lot of shows in Brazil every season during Fashion Weeks. It's nice to work at home!
How would you define your style?
Cool ;)

What are your beauty tips?

For me it's very important to take good care of my skin, eat healthy, and always be happy with myself.
What do you most like about being a model?
I think it's amazing that we can constantly see different cultures and travel a lot... We get more and more experience with time which is great not only for our careers, but also for life in general.
And is there anything you dislike?
I don't like being far away from my family.

Can you give us any makeup tips?
Yves Saint Laurent concealer, no doubt! It works like magic.
In your wardrobe, do you have any fetish piece of clothing or accessory?
Yes! I love all kinds of dresses.
Who are your favourite designers?
Karl Lagerfeld and Donatella Versace.

What is your favourite food?
I go for barbecue.
What do you enjoy doing when you're not working?

I love going out with my friends... Also getting some rest and watching a good movie is a good plan for me.

I want you to find happiness and stop having fun

This is one of my favourite scenes ever in film history. Never before had we seen a group of chorus boys instead of chorus girls showing (not only) their legs and, what's more, wearing nude mini swimsuits! Everything in it exudes female empowerment: Jane Russell's total black look, the song's lyrics, the boys' dance, the tongue-in-cheek feel to the whole scene. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is one of those films I have to watch several times a year, because, as Woody Allen said, "it keeps me from feeling depressed".

Boys Boys Boys

These past two weeks have been filled with surprises for me. Mostly it was me surprising myself, actually. I'm not the person I used to be; where am I? During World Cup, I have found myself cheering to the Spanish team and watching football as stressed and excited as if my life depended on it. Also I have switched from straight to wavy hair. And also, I have discovered I actually like menswear. All my life I used to be completely indifferent to that side of the industry (excepting Hedi Slimane when he was a designer), but it has only taken one mens fashion week to convert me. Actually, it only took one show and a half: the first show of the season was Issey Miyake. I did enjoy the clothes but above all I discovered that looking at male models could be a very nice pastime. By the time the next show started I was a menswear fan (OK, the second show was Rick Owens. His shows can take anyone's breath away). Having seen the same boys over and over again during the week, I have become acquainted with the it-models of the season. Each one has his own style and embodies a different trend, but there is one common trend: long hair. I couldn't agree more on this fashion, I love it! So, all you guys out there, quit going to the hairdresser right this minute and start concentrating on growing some long, luscious hair! Just know that by long hair I don't mean a heavy-metal, Europe- inspired mop, but proper beautiful hair.
I believe the only thing of the old me that I can recognise in this football-loving, wavy-haired menswear addict new me is my taste for extremely skinny, androgynous boys. I have no idea where that came from, but I have never been able to like any man who didn't fit into this beauty canon. So you can imagine my joy when seeing some of the new male models: they are all ill-like skinny, they all look like innocent girls and... now they come with long hair too! And in all versions, from the most discreet, kind of "boy around town" style...

Richie Cotterell

Boudewijn

... to more extreme styles:

Felix

Berthold Rothas

Viggo Jonasson

Hubert Rapisardi

The it-boy of the season is, without a doubt, Marcel Castenmiller. I have heard about 20 boys and girls say they were in love with him. You have to admit he is gorgeous.

There are of course some others who have caught my eye too: I love Tomek with his delicate features and his Yves Saint-Laurent-like flair.

By the way doesn't this picture remind you of another very well known (although fictional) male model?

But Andrej Pejic is the one that has impressed me more than anyone else. From the moment I saw him walking down the Jean-Paul Gaultier catwalk smoking with a cigarette holder and moving his hips like a very elegant woman, I simply haven't been able to get over him.

Conclusions? Just one: I should have been born a gay man...