So you and I know that we will never be in a most beautiful people list, but I'm glad that we could still be in the running for Paper's list. As said on its website, the amazing folks that Paper has brought in are a bunch of purposefully diverse, eclectic and slightly off-kilter people. You know what this means, I'm sayin' that Megan Fox and Angelina Jolie and George Clooney wouldn't even be considered for this. I'm just sayin'....maybe I could stand a chance. You know, just sayin'...
(Ok, stop it. You and I won't stand a chance, especially when the coolest people are in it.)
1. autumn de wilde & shirley kurata
Autumn and Shirley have probably spent weekends with Elijah Wood at Kate and Laura Mulleavy's house watching horror movies, know every book in their colour-coded bookshelf, and probably, just probably have gossiped about how Alexander, Jack and Lazaro are having secret affairs with fashion editors when they stay in the same apartment during New York Fashion Week. Jokin'. The stylist-photographer pair has been with Rodarte from the beginning, organising the house's first runway show in 2005, dressing up the models, and you know the rest of the story, where Barneys and Bergdorf came along, and Anna Wintour and Tavi came sitting front row.
2. hanne gaby odiele
The only similarity Hanne Gaby has with other models is her 'founding story': a 17-year-old Hanne Gaby Odiele was minding her own business at a music festival in her native Kortrijk, Belgium, when she was approached by a man asking if she was interested in being a model. A golden opportunity or a classic pick-up line? “I didn’t really trust it,” she remembers and adds with a smile, “but now I’m here.” Other than that, Hanne Gaby is like no other. Hanne Gaby, like I mean Hanne Gaby Odiele, she should be in this list like forever. To me, Hanne Gaby has the best streetstyle among all the models; she does not do the same model off-duty look: t-shirt, jeans and biker jacket, that probably ten other models are doing.....you see. She's my favourite model now, she's mah gurl.
You tell me, who wears Dries head to toe and have Miu Miu collars.
And plays air guitar with other model band mates backstage.
3. ohne titel
Designers Flora Gill (she's the one sitting down, who prefers bright hues and arts and craft) and Alexa Adams (she's the one with the dark-clad, city-girl persona) named their ready-to-wear label Ohne Titel, or “untitled” in German, as an homage to Anselm Kiefer, the German artist who inspired their first collection and often leaves his work… you guessed it. The designer pair met in their second year at Parsons and their story is much more interesting: “I actually saw Flora’s work before I ever met her,” says Adams. “Everyone put their work up on the wall. I remember seeing Flora’s and thinking, ‘Oh, that’s really good.” Adds Gill, “Ours were exact opposites.” But it was the perfect contradicting formula that has made them recognisable among the sea of wearable yet sometimes repetitive collections in New York. Their clash of ideas and concepts often produces a cool mish-mash of avant garde and traditional handiwork, which has no doubt won over many editors, including Carine Roitfeld.
4. natalie joos
ARGH, MIU MIU AND DIET COKE. Natalie Joos is so so cool, probably the most stylish casting director, Tommy Ton thinks so too. She is responsible for picking the right faces for ad campaigns and shows, and has made famous Jacquelyn Jablonski and Lisanne de Jong. Having modeled and earned a journalism degree before she became a successful casting director and setting up her own casting agency, she admits that her journalism skills do not help her as a casting director but Joos still does occasionally write for magazines. "I do write good emails too," She adds.
