Shelby Coleman: Model Moment

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- Sachin Bhola





“Thankful.”

It’s her latest Facebook status.

With what is essentially a poor man’s publicist, you would expect her Facebook updates to read more like Paris Hilton’s tweets – smug and self-absorbed.

But despite her envy-inducing life (she was discovered by Giambattista Valli himself at the age of 16, she now travels around the world as a top model -- need I go on?), Shelby Coleman remains down-to-earth.

“My family couldn’t care less about what magazines I'm in or what store my picture is hanging in. They will still tease me and give me crap about everyday things,” says Coleman. “One time my mom booked a ticket from New York back to Chicago [her hometown] because I wasn't focused on school work. She said that if I don't step it up then we're going home.”

I first met model Shelby Coleman during the production of the Chanel Cruise 2008 fashion show. Her sense of style, race (alongside model Yasmin Warsame, she was one of only two colored models casted for the show; incidentally, Warsame was kicked out of the show due to her tardiness) and natural poise were notable.

Two years later, at the young age of 18, she is wise beyond her years. Here, she offers modeling advice and talks to me about her experience on and off the runway.

About Shelby Coleman

Sachin Bhola: How did you get started in the business?

Shelby Coleman: I did some modeling in Chicago, my hometown, since I was about 13. I was more focused on school though, so I would only do local jobs. Then, when I turned 16, I was at a casting for a Giambattista Valli trunk show in Chicago. He saw me and told me he wanted me to do his fall show in Paris. So I went, and then IMG found me and signed me.

Sachin: What has been the highlight of your career?
Shelby: Definitely being brought to Paris for the first time and walking for a top designer.

Sachin: What do you wish to achieve in the future – on and off the runway?
Shelby: My goal is to bring something new to the fashion world and eventually become a household name. As well as to be an inspiration for young black models and young girls in general. At the same time, to start a family and surround myself with the people I love.

Modeling Advice From Shelby Coleman
Sachin: What challenges have you faced in the industry? How are you overcoming them?
Shebly: Rejection is normal in the industry. Coming into this not knowing that was very tough, but now I don't even think twice about it. If I don't get a job for whatever reason, I say "oh well" and focus on the next job/casting I have.

Sachin: What are some common mistakes new models make?
Shelby: Getting all worked up and offended when not booked for jobs. Don't take it personally!

Sachin: How do you stay so grounded?
Shelby: My family couldn't care less about what magazines I'm in or what store my picture is hanging in. They will still tease me and give me crap about everyday things. One time my mom booked a ticket from New York back to Chicago because I wasn't focused on school work. She said that if I don't step it up then we're going home. That was when I first started, so I know better now. Hah!

Sachin: What has modeling taught you about life?
Shelby: More than any book has ever taught me! I've learned so much, it's crazy. I've learned how to carry myself better, deal with people judging me on a daily basis, and how to be very independent at a young age. Not to mention the huge amount of people I meet from around the world and how their lifestyles are so much more different than mine.

Shelby Coleman On Fashion & Style
Sachin: Who is your favorite model? Favorite designer?
Shelby: Liya Kebede is my favorite model. She's an obvious and classic beauty yet she's unique. My favorite designers are Alexander Wang, Giambattista Valli, Marc Jacobs, Balmain, and Gucci.

Sachin: If you had to boil your wardrobe down to 5 pieces, what would they be?
Shelby: Tight jeans, my delicious Burberry heels, a simple white tee, a blazer, and a sexy short dress.

Sachin: What’s on your iPod playlist these days?
Shelby: Lil Wayne is all over it. I also have Coldplay, Beyonce and Lady GaGa.

Thank you, Shelby! You're beautiful inside and out :)

Photos (from beginning): (1) Shelby's comp card (2) Steet style (3) tbc (4) Giambattista Valli Resort 2009 (5) Sachin Bhola (me) and Shelby backstage at Chanel Cruise 2008

For more photos of Shelby Coleman, check out her profile on Style.com.

rag & bone Interview

"We're both English," says rag & bone duo David Neville and Marcus Wainwright when asked what's the one thing they would like the public to know about them.

Seriously? In their defense, we'll chalk that initial response up to being pressed for time in light of New York Fashion Week, where the guys are presenting their Fall 2010 collection today.

"We take pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our garments," they continue, "so the production process is always under quite a bit of scrutiny."

Hold up. No celebrity name dropping? No mention of awards (which, we'll go ahead and point out: 2007 CFDA Swarovski Award for Menswear)? Nope and nope.

But talk is cheap. Take a look at any given rag & bone product and let it do all the talking. In fact, it is this very humble and disciplined approach to design that has contributed to the success of the company. In a time when new designers are popping up on every hipster street corner and coming (and going) faster than reality TV stars, it's refreshing to learn that the duo has put in the time required to build their brand.

About rag & bone
Sachin Bhola: Can you give us some background on the rag & bone label?
We founded rag & bone in 2002 because we felt there was a gap in the market for well-made, functional garments -- the kind of clothing our friends could wear. But as we had no formal fashion training, we decided to learn from the garment manufacturers themselves, starting with the perfect pair of jeans. We traveled to Kentucky where, at the time, a lot of the American denim factories were based, and [we] met a lot of craftsmen and women who had spent their years cutting, stitching and making jeans. From there we developed our collections, launching menswear in February 2005 and our women’s collection the following season.

John Varvatos Interview

Guys really don’t like shopping, now do we? As kids, we deferred every dressing decision to our moms who, bless their hearts, would costume us in some dorky pair of corduroys and suspenders (apparently, Little Rascals chic was a big theme for Gap Kids back in the day). We would throw the most inflated tantrums just to avoid shopping.

Fast-forward a decade or two and the game really hasn’t changed much, has it? We let our girlfriends weigh in on our looks and finding the time to shop between overtime and, well, more overtime is as likely as the economy bouncing back in 2010.

The solution? The good ol’ internet. “Guys don’t like to shop or don’t have the time to shop. The not-having-time thing is big right now; people are busy and times are crazy,” says men’s fashion designer John Varvatos, whose online store launched in September. “I shop a lot online… and just the ease of it makes a lot more sense.” While e-commerce isn’t exactly new, his site is a good example of what guys are looking for online: It’s user-friendly, aesthetically appealing and, best of all, Varvatos’ elegant, urbane take on menswear makes us want to buy, say, a pair of grown-up corduroys and suspenders -- without leaving the comfort of our homes.

Rad Hourani Interview

Back in the day, when I was a public relations intern at Miss Sixty, Rad Hourani was a stylist that used to come pull from our closets. That is why I was really excited to interview Hourani; it was quite nostolgic.

While he still works on styling projects, he's better known around the world as a contemporary designer. His work has been compared to Helmut Lang, as his macabre, androgynous aesthetic speaks to a similar customer (Side note: If there's anyone endorsing girlfriend jeans for men, you can count on Rad).

Sachin Bhola: Can you give us some background on the Rad Hourani label? Describe the Rad Hourani man.
Rad Hourani: I want to make clothes that give the wearer a bold presence without looking contrived or overdone. It’s about apparent simplicity, but refinement in details. It’s confident and powerful, sort of like a weightless armor. Long, straight, sharp, black, and slick silhouettes; geometric shapes that come alive through the movement of the wearer. I hope to reach people who do not define themselves in strict terms.

Sachin: Can you elaborate on your aseasonal philosophy?
Rad: Given the nature of the fashion calendar, I have to present my collections on a bi-yearly basis, but I design them with the idea that they could be worn by anyone, at any time. Therefore, I do not start every new season with a specific concept, but rather try to establish continuity from one to the next. My pieces are timeless and freed from any strict differentiations.

Sachin: What’s on your iPod playlist?
Rad: The Smiths, Lou Reed, The Cure, Joy Division, Patti Smith, Nina Simone, Siouxsie and The Banshees, Amanda Lear, Michael Jackson, Nina Hagen, Jane Birkin, Grace Jones, David Bowie, Kate Bush, Blondie, Timber Timbre.

For more, check out the Rad Hourani interview on AskMen.com

Michael Kors Interview

OK, you're probably sick of these fashion interviews, but I'm trying to catch up with my postings. So, expect a few more. Here's an interview I did with Michael Kors discussing his Fall/Winter 2009 collection:

Who is Michael Kors? He spearheads three different clothing lines that include menswear, accessories and fragrance; he was awarded Menswear Designer of the Year in 2003 by the CFDA; he creates modern, luxurious classics that actually translate into real peoples' wardrobes, which has become his signature. In short, he is the king of American sportswear. Clearly, we could learn a thing or two (or five) from this man.

AskMen.com caught up with Michael Kors to talk about fall 2009 fashion, shopping in today’s soft economy and what big-ticket item is actually worth its price tag.

Sachin Bhola: What advice do you have for men shopping in today’s economy?
Michael Kors: Learn to invest in the best quality you can afford and wear pieces in different ways. For example, if it’s a suit, can you wear it to work with lace-ups and a tie? Can you wear it with loafers and a polo shirt? Think about the piece and see if you can make it work in two different situations and go for it.

Sachin: What does luxury mean today, in the midst of a global economic crisis?
Michael: It can mean many things depending on the man. For me, true luxury can be caviar or a day with no meetings, no appointments and no schedule.

Sachin: What’s on your iPod playlist?
Michael: Adele, Madonna, Prince, Coldplay, and New Order.

There more. Check out the Michael Kors interview on AskMen.com.

Yigal Azrouel Interview

Here's an interview I did with Yigal Azrouel discussing his Fall/Winter 2009 collection:

Belted coats that cinch your waist, shrunken schoolboy suits, knee-high laced-up boots, and pants that fit more like a ballet legging than, well, pants -- after combing through the Fall ’09 shows, sometimes it seems like designers don’t have the slightest sartorial clue about what men will (actually) wear.

So, when a guy like Yigal Azrouel comes along whose pieces are as easy to understand as they are wearable, we like him. And when his answer to a commonly asked question about what his inspiration was is: “There isn’t a specific inspiration… It doesn’t have to be that serious; it’s a cool collection for a cool guy,” we like him even more.

DKNY Interview

Here's an interview I recently did with DKNY Men design director, Ken MacMillan, discussing its Spring/Summer 2010 collection:

Attempting to define the New York man is somewhat of an enigma. Sure, images of an austere-faced Trump raising his mighty finger at an MBA grad or of a starving artist setting up his gallery on the corner of Lafayette Street and Hipster Excess are good starts, but they are equally elusive.

The New York man is in motion. His only constant is change -- much like the city itself. So, who better to turn to than Ken MacMillan, DKNY Men design director, for his point of view. “New York fuels everything DKNY is. It’s as forward as it is forever. There’s no one way to look or one style to wear.”

AskMen.com sat down with MacMillan to discuss its new collection presented around New York Fashion Week, common male fashion mistakes and the seven essentials you need in your wardrobe. We may never be able to define the New York man, but thanks to DKNY, we can capture it for a season.

Domenico Vacca Interview

April 16, 2009 – Known for his traditional Neapolitan tailoring, designer Domenico Vacca introduced sartorial style to America in 2002. Since then, people can’t seem to get enough of him: Major Hollywood film and television productions, including the cast of Entourage, Lipstick Jungle and actors like Denzel Washington have turned to him for his unapologetically Italian aesthetic. AskMen.com sat down for the Domenico Vacca interview to discuss his Fall 2009 collection presented at New York Fashion Week, current trends in menswear and more.

Written By: Sachin Bhola

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Photo Credit: Zimbio.com