Kelly Kopen Model For H&M

Please note that my blog has moved. Check out the upgrade at: http://www.sachinbhola.com/blog - Sachin Bhola

Earlier this year I made reference to Kelly Kopen modeling for H&M. Well, here is H&M's Divided Spring 2010 campaign featuring Kelly Kopen, Cole Mohr and Re'l Dade.

Kelly Kopen: Model Moment

Please note that my blog has moved. Check out the upgrade at: http://www.sachinbhola.com/blog - Sachin Bhola


Raise the topic of fashion models with anyone outside of fashion, and prepare to take the defensive. No, they're not (all) suffering from an eating disorder; no, they don't all earn $10,000 a show and; no, they don't all look the same (read: are from Eastern Europe).

Every now and then a model breaks the mold. We call them "oddballs." Think Kate Moss breaking the industry standard with her 5'7-inch stature, Alek Wek with her baby-like features (and 36-inch inseam - 36 inches? dang) or Omahyra Mota with her androgynous look.

The latest conteneder? Enter Kelly Kopen, the tomboy with a personality that is just as "oddball" as her distinctive look.

I had first met Kopen during the production of the Chanel Cruise 2008 show. Her style? Totally stood out from the other girls (check out the Models Own Clothes feature I did with her in my blog archives: December 2008). Her vibe? Too cool for school. Let's just say that if it weren't for her teaching me how to do "the monkey" at the Chanel after-party, my moves wouldn't be as fresh on the dance floor.

Fast-forward a year later, and I bump into Kelly Kopen at the Alexander Wang after-party (pictured above). OK, so what prompted me to feature a model moment with Kopen? Last week I walked into H&M, happy to see that its Spring 2010 visuals were up. The usual crop of girls were featured in the lastest campaign (Liya Kebede, Anja Rubic to name a few), but there she was: Kelly Kopen. Congrats.

Watch for her growing importance this year. Just sayin'.

Mark Your Calendars: Comme des Garçons at H&M (November 13, 2008)

November 4, 2008 – Following in the footsteps of Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney and Viktor & Rolf, Rei Kawakubo has partnered with H&M to design an exclusive line under the Comme des Garçons label for the retail giant.

Whether designers lend out their names under licensing agreements or co-brand with retailers, the transaction is nothing but profitable. These deals operate on a simple principal: high turnover + (comparatively) lower margins = $. Unlike their ready-to-wear lines that discriminate against those who can’t afford them, these deals make their aesthetics more accessible and democratic to the discerning masses. In fact, Karl Lagerfeld’s line sold out within the day – now that’s turnover.