Fresh Faced: Suzie Bird

So, if an onomatopoeia is the formation of a word based on sounds, do we really have any equally exclusive word for when things are named after what they look like? Well in the case of Suzie Bird at Elite Paris, I suppose I'm just going to call her last name apropos, as there is something decidedly avian about the shape of her insanely high cheekbones, nose and lips. Yes, there are plenty of other models with similar pointed, bird-like features, but what truly is holding my attention is what Suzie does with her eyes. There is a very quite and stoic strength behind her big brown eyes that comes across as very confident in photographs.



(all images courtesy of Elite Paris)

More over, I'm really enjoying the subtle androgyny that Elite is building upon in these polaroids. There is something decidedly Jil Sander about the combination of a clean, strong, angular face and clean lines of the clothes Suzie is wearing. Anyhow, Suzie's debut on the Elite website has come without statistics, but from what I can tell her body is looking quite bookable (albeit about maybe 5'9.5"?) and her portfolio is actually quite nice for such a newcomer.




I for one am looking forward to watching Suzie's development process unfold over at Elite, and presumably Ford in New York, which will hopefully include more of those avant-garde polaroids that I'm so fond of. In any case, Suzie is fast becoming one of my favorite faces on that Elite Paris development board which is already stacked with potential.

Edited to add: Just a brief editorial here, but I would like to note that no modelista in the online community ever truly discovers a girl; we're not in that realm. However, when I'm not the first to come across a model online, I am at least wise and considerate enough to credit and thank those who did. To me, there is nothing more underhanded than passing off someone's work and ideas as your own.

An Aesthetic Shift For Elite

Sure, this blog is primarily focused on showcasing new and developing faces in the modeling industry, but to ignore individual agencies and not showcase interesting developments on that front would be irresponsible. So I wanted to take the opportunity to highlight a shift that I'm beginning to notice over at Elite Models Paris, particularly in their development board.

It should come as no surprise that the new partnership between Ford Models in New York and Elite Models in Paris has been producing some strong talented on both fronts. I've been quite enamored with the selection of faces on the Elite's development board for awhile now, and it seems they are starting to really come into their own as far as aesthetics go. Take a look at these recent polaroids for Natasha Belebrovik, Loris Kraemerh, Jennifer Messelier, and Louise Houdart:



(all images courtesy of Elite Models Paris)

Do you see what I see? There is a very vintage, but decidedly youthful and spontaneous quality to this styling that is beginning to clearly define these girls. Look, it goes without saying that Paul Rowland's polaroids for Supreme revolutionized the impact of one of the most basic elements of marketing a new face. Copy cats of the Supreme method have usually paled in comparison, at least until this shift at Elite Paris. The styling is avant-garde without being pretentious, and that achievement should not be overlooked. My favorite choice thus far has to be Jennifer Messelier's bow above, but I am also quite fond of this bee piece used again for Messelier and Hana Jirickova:



I love that retro feel in terms of color and quality, juxtaposed with the playful and fresh styling. As seemingly minute decisions such as these become more repetitive, I cannot help but wonder if Elite Paris is starting to carve out its own branded image (or better yet, when this method will be implemented on Adama Diallo)? Anyhow, in an industry that revolves around selling image, and making it a tangible, lucrative commodity, a strong marketing strategy goes a long way.