Model Muse: Gemma Ward

                                                                       

 Gemma Ward, age 25, is a fashion model turned actress from Perth, Australia.

She was scouted at the tender age of 14, when she was accompanying her friends to a model search competition, Search For a Supermodel. She was dressed in 'a big, gray barn jacket and was covered in mud, having just returned from her Uncle & Auntie's farm. The scouts weren't interested in her friends though. They wanted her. 

When asked if she was interested in taking some tester shots, she initally said 'No, thank you." and kept on walking. Unknown to her, having already noticed her supermodel potential, forged her parents' signature, and thrust her in front of the camera.


  In 2003, aged just 15, Gemma made her Australian Fashion Week debut, wowing the anticipated crowds.

  At 16, she was featured in prestigious fashion magazine, US Vogue, and had walked for the likes of Vera Wang and Oscar de la Renta. 

 At 17, she beat THE Kate Moss to the job of promoting Calvin Klein's new fragrance. Now that's something.



  After being declared as the 'Model of the Moment', and having s hugely successful career throughout 2003 to 2008, Gemma decided to retire from modelling to take up acting, something she had wanted to do for a long time.

  

She has now had roles in movies such as Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides, The Black Balloon, and is currently filming the big feature film adaption of The Great Gatsby!

I find her beauty very ethical and natural, and she has such an intriguing style, which is essential for any model. Not to mention, Karl Lagerfield has previously declared her as his 'muse'. Wow.

My favourite picture of Gemma Ward is her cover for Numero magazine. I drew this cover for an art project back in July, not knowing who she was, but determined to find out! Here's the picture I drew and the original:

Hope you like it!( Its A3 ,so sorry for the awful quality!)

-R x

The Pointe Is

Ballet

"You don't have to know about ballet to enjoy it, all you have to do is look at it" 

- Edwin Denby

Yesterday, I attended a ballet class with two friends at the COOLEST place on Earth, Dance City. There were break dancing competitions in the reception, jazz dancers kicking down the banisters, it was like a scene from Fame!

 I hadn't attended a proper ballet class since I was around 6 ( take a look, there's me, second row and third from the right!) and I was pretty nervous that I'd have forgotten EVERYTHING.

My worries soon vanished after the OAP guy in full-on lycra walked in ( that happened! ), and it was generally just good to get back into something I used to love so much. Whilst I was there, I noticed all of the luxurious costumes the dancers were wearing, including ruffled tulle tutus, beaded bodices, delicate silk slippers and flowing ribbons.

It made me think that a lot of high-fashion designers creations are rather similar to those worn by these ballet dancers. Just look at recent catwalks from the likes of Chloe', Sherri Hill, Alexander McQueen and especially Marchesa, the reigning brand of elegant gowns and dresses. Back in September this year, Valentino hosted an amazing event for New York City's Ballet Gala, where he designed a mass of beautiful dresses for the performing ballerinas, which gained a lot of media attention for the polished dance style.

Vogue Russia have previously devoted an entire editorial shoot to the refined art of ballet, and they even feature in Kanye West's music video, Runaway. And who could forget big-time controversial movie, Black Swan, which thrust ballerinas into a completely new light.

    So, do you think designers are inspired by the graceful entity of ballet, the silhouettes, costumes and chic yet sophisticated manner? 

Here's a picture of my little brother and I at the NYC Ballet in January 2011!

P.S. My ballet inspired outfit!

-R x

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