Trendspotting: Unexpected Models

Have people become very jaded about fashion ad campaigns?  The surest way to get attention for fashion brands these days seems to be to use the "aww" factor in your photo shoot...

Chinese clothing shop owner Liu Xianping was being aided by her 72 year old grandfather when she was putting together her collection for the upcoming season.  He started giving styling advice and one thing led to another and he ended starring as the model for her website.  He works those looks.  The story went viral internationally and sales of her shop, Yuekou increased by 5 times.

Following on the heels of Choupette Lagerfeld and the Algonquin Hotel fashion show, Juicy Couture cast frisky felines as the stars of their accessories campaign.  Cute? Yup. Am I worried about allergies when I try them on? A little.

Cats are every bit the divas that their human counterparts are...Check out the hilarious outtakes reel: 

Eco-friendly collection EDUN by Ali Hewson had birds as the co-stars for their Fall 2012 campaign.  This is less "aww" than Hitchcock nightmare for me though.  While they are beautiful, some of the images of the birds in flight with the models looking perplexed just look like it was a better idea in theory than execution. See the full campaign here.

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Cats in Fashion, Choupette to Hello Kitty

I've always said it...Fashion is not for pussies. I stand corrected. In the last few years, cats in fashion have been making a big splash in the media.

Choupette is the famous familiar of Karl Lagerfeld. Her overnight fame (she has made appearances in WWD, I-D magazine and now her own photo editorial in V-magazine) is not just for obvious cuteness, but the thought of an often intimidating designer doting on a sweet cat. Karl is often quoted for words that sound unforgiving or harsh, so his affection for the little fluffball shows a different side of him. Perhaps our obsession with Choupette is a projection of our own fantasies. Who wouldn't want the kaiser of Chanel doting on US while flying us in a private jet while two separate maids care for us?

Matilda is the legendary cat of the Algonquin Hotel. Her annual birthday party has turned into an elaborate feline fashion show benefit.. Matilda is an icon of the historical inn (there have been several versions of her). She has social media accounts where she Instagrams her #OOTDs as well as employs a social secretary. She is more socialite than many of the bolded names in gossip columns.

Hello Kitty has always been a fashion icon to the Kawaii set since way back in 1974.  The fashionable feline has her own clothing collection (of course). She is expanding her style empire with collaborations with lingerie brand Hanky Panky, in makeup with M.A.C. cosmetics , fast fashion with Forever 21 and soon to be high fashion with Yohji Yamamoto.

Maybe that crazy aunt you had with the ugly cat Christmas sweater was just ahead of her time...

Photos from V-magazine, Time Out NY, Harper's Bazaar,Girly bubble

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