Models For Christmas? Maybe Not.

 

T’was the day before christmas (so to speak) and the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was back for its 2008 edition. There were a lot a celebs packed in Fountainbleu (Florida), to view the new show, and its whole new set up.

A regular show scene as runway, velvet bleacher-looking-concert-seats for the guests… it all seemed a bit flat. I wasn’t as fan of the 2008 edition as I had been of the 2005/06 and even 2007, but this show is an annual Must Watch, so I watched it from start to finish, waiting for the candles to be lit, for the fire to start, for the models to fall down, for anything that would breathe new life in the show.

I don’t know if it was simply due to the confusion of the horizontal runway,or the remarkably few pair of wings, but I didn’t feel the energy and the sparks I had felt in previous editions. There were a lot of “new” faces among the angels, new to VS, that it. All the models were familiar from all of favorite Vogue ads.

Usher opened the show quite nicely to the “greek” set, but interacted WAY too much with the models. It just seemed like a twice re-heated act, stolen from Justin Timberlake (down to the moonwalking in glitter) and from Will I AM (the hat and the over the top model ogling). Heidi Klum took his hat, put it on her head, then had to stop and turn to put it back on Usher’s head before exiting. KK did the weirdest runway walk in order to walk alongside Usher, while holding his arm, Selita E. stopped to get a touch on the cheek, while some other model touched his ass. And when Usher was done singing and groping each and every girl, first model out Adriana Lima, came back out a second time to help Mr. Raymond exit on the other side on the “runway”.

Listen, I love tv, and I love cutesy “tv moments” but this was way too much: it seemed like they all wanted extra face time (NB that model who touched his butt did get extra face time and a slow-mo). It’s suposed to be fun ,yes, but it’s also supposed to be a runway show. Not a bunch a skinny girls in full PDA with the singer…. We have dancers for that.

Then came the “lamé and lace spanish” set which I hated. The music wasn’t bad, but I have no idea was Jorge Moreno was there, and his song wasn’t catchy. It was a bunch of screams mixed with singing… As for the model/singer PDA, it had stopped, except for Noémie Lenoir who apparently hadn’t gotten the memo, and who proceeded to twirl in front of Moreno and kiss him before exiting…. tut tut tut…. 

Then came the uneventful “beachwear” set, which nevertheless started to bring a little life back into the show: pretty colors, energy… 

Then a quick skit by the new “pink girls” in order to showcase themselves (Miranda having graduated fom Pink to the top of the “adult show”, the  only well know Pink faces remaining are Rosie & Flavia) and it was off to the “Pink” set. A cute and fun line as usual, amped up by The Ting Tings’s “That’s not my name”, by a bunch of dancers in colorful swimsuits, and undeniably by the Pink Girls (the much younger, fresher and funner VS angels). I finally felt like the show had reached an acceptable upbeat rythm. 

Then there was a good solo performance by Usher. 

Then the “flower/love” set came on, with its lead Doutzen Kroes rocking out to Chris Brown’s with you. The set was beautiful soft and relaxing to watch, while maintaining good enery… Alas there was only one set remaining….

The closing set was glittery and glam, with black, with white and red all to Kanye West’s Love Lockdown. It ended with the usual bow from the models and fireworks to Robbie Williams’ “Let me entertain you”.

The celebs seemed to have liked it…. I thought it was o.k (small o, small k).

To me, the undeniable star of this 2009 show was Doutzen Kroes, who was pushed to the top with KK, Heidi, Miranda, Selita etc… probably due to her L’Oreal campaigns and quasi permanent presence in fashion editorials the world around. She used to be a “secondary” VS angel, appearing in Pink, if at all… Good for her, she deserves it. And if I may, where the F*** was Gisele?

  /Edit/ Here is the link to download the full show /Edit/

Here are a few pictures, and you’ll soon be able to see for yourselves as I will post the full show very soon.

For more info got to the VS page on CBS.com

Christmas 2008 Playlist

   

 

Must have sounds just in time for Christmas and Christmas parties…

• Circus – Britney Spears, “Circus”
• Street Lights – Kanye West “808s And Heartbreak”
• Let It Rock – Kevin Rudolf & Lil Wayne (single)
• Right Now – Akon (single)
• One More Drink – Ludacris Ft T-Pain (single)
• Single Ladies – Beyoncé “I Am…Sacha Fierce”
• Trouble - Britney Spears, “Circus”
• That’s Not My Name – The Ting Tings
• Love Lockdown -Kanye West “808s And Heartbreak”
• Better In Time – Leona Lewis “Spirit”
• Viva La Vida – Coldplay “Viva La Vida”
• Lifeline – Angels And Airwaves (single)

Social Climbing is Expensive

In the Real World*, you either are or aren’t. Social position, status and connections are all you have in order to build up your persona and stay on top. Being a savvy (and lucky) WIG, I know people with enough influence, fame and/or connections to help me out when I need something out of my “reach”. One of these people is Mother’s close friend Serial Wife.

 

Serial Wife is not to be mistaken for an It Girl or even a WIG. She is in a category of her own: the Wives’ Club. The Wives’ Club regroups all the women who know wealth, status, and social position, and have found no better way than marriage to remain at the (high) level they deem acceptable. Most of them were born into wealth, but achieved a much higher status by marrying wealthier men than them, and will do anything to keep it. Should the marriage fail, have no fear, because just like cats, Wives have nine lives. A divorce settlement here, an alimony payment there, and second (or third, or fourth, or…) nuptials in case of emergency, ensure the Wives survival. Now, maybe I am being harsh with Serial Wife as she only had three husbands, but she did have a LOT of fiancés in between. But I’ll admit that she does play a respectable and successful game of “one-upping” everyone else.

 

Anyways, Serial Wife‘s third husband, Tycoon, has been a bit of a father figure to me in the studies/work department. He has helped me find 2 internships in major firms, given me valuable advice, and always negotiated money deals so I wouldn’t have to “bargain” for my salary in the internship world. It was an all around benefit for me and I am very grateful for his support.

 

But as you may well imagine, nothing is free in the Real World. Not even “favors” made by “friends”. Everything has a price and you better get an estimate of said “favors”, or else you might get a huge surprise when the time to pay your bill comes.

 

Since Serial Wife is Mother’s friend, Mother usually “pays” the bills coming from her. Tycoon isn’t demanding so I usually pay them myself. I have one Tab* laid on two people…it isn’t the smartest thing to do. They come as a “package deal”, so for one favor done by one of them, I may be required to “reimburse” both of them. Reimbursements usually consist of minor annoying tasks such as faxing or scanning papers they need from France to their country of residence, or more complex and time consuming tasks such as going to pick up administrative papers, or renew memberships. I made an unspoken deal with them, and I understand the workings of Social Climbing*, so I have to “snap to” when they beckon me; but the truth is the more “advantages” I seem to get from them, the longer my “Tab” gets, and the more tasks I have to perform for them, reminding me that I am still a WIG, a petty social climber who isn’t “there” yet and still has to sing for her supper.

 

Three words, eight letters….

 

Skye