I developed a strong attachment to French department store ads while in Paris–the ads are in every Metro station, and since staring at other passengers is not an option (two words: creepy men), I always stared at the ads.
One of my favorites (left) was by Printemps. Great colors, and I love that Alek Wek looks so vibrant and happy. So many fashion ads have miserable-looking models (or else they look like plastic dolls or mannequins, like Lindsay Lohan in her new Miu Miu ads). I don’t understand it at all. If you can afford a live model, why not make her look, you know, alive?
Isn’t this Nyabel from the Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency?
Nope. I agree they look similar, but this ad was from a May 2006 French Glamour. Also, the department stores tend to use well-known models–Letitia Casta did a series for Galeries Lafayette a few years ago.