Katie Scanlan • Blog

I was extremely fortunate to be a part of a very small team who worked on the Chanel Resort ‘09 fashion show held in Toronto several days ago. This was only the second time they have shown a collection in Canada; the last time being way back in 1996.

Myself and 3 other artists from my agency worked along side the Chanel team to make 30 models even more stunning than they already were. I had the chance to snap a few shots in between. All I can say… is I could get used to that!

A recent creative I did with Toronto photographer, Matthew Lyn can be seen on Dan Grant’s  Model Resource . The creative consisted of NAM twins Jen and Jackie and was styled by Stevana Hanna.

About a month and a half ago I had the opportunity to work with Sean Paul here in Toronto filming a music video for one of Estelle’s new singles, “Come Over”. It was an extremely long day, but I must say that his managers and team made the day quite fun and a little bit interesting at times! I was invited up to the $5000/night penthouse rooftop to have lunch with them; a lunch which consisted entirely of traditional Jamaican food… ackee and salt fish cod anyone? It was all very good and following it up with a can of coconut water (which I was told I couldn’t pass up) made me want to jump on a plane and head right back to Jamaica with them! It was a pleasure to work with him… he was kind, gracious, and very humble.

Come Over by Estelle featuring Sean Paul, directed by Little X

I am very pleased to say that I am now represented by Judy Inc. here in Toronto. My link can be seen here on Judy’s site!

I felt a great sense of sadness this morning as I learned the unfortunate news of Yves Saint Laurent’s passing last night. He was one of very few who played an enormous role in the evolution of fashion during the second half of the 20th century.

This video captures Yves launching his first own-label couture show in 1962, at the age of 26.

It’s easy to forget what rigorous circumstances some models have to go through and supermodel, Coco Rocha is no exception to that. This video offers a little inside look into what it would be like to be Phillipe, Coco’s faithful driver in Paris.    
Coco Rocha: Drive, She Said

Vintage ads and their products have always intrigued me. I particularly find the parallels of today’s beauty advertising and the beauty ads and products from over 50 years ago to be fascinating. The craze of products like Jergen’s Natural Glow Moisturizer a few years ago popularized self tanning all over again. If you were looking for a sun-kissed glow back in 1929, all you had to do was reach for a bottle of Cotytan’s liquid tanner and you were set. I’m sure it probably produced some sort of god-awful orange colour, but hey… they were onto something.

Then there’s the type of ads that appeal to the viewer’s emotions. Even back in the 1930’s they were doing this to sell products such as perfume, among many other things.  In the ad below, a scantily clad Marilyn-esque woman is flanked by the words “you can’t buy love”. It’s interesting that love and romance have been (and likely always will be) such popular themes with products like these. 

Some advertising is simply a reminder of how far along society has come. Despite its sexist undertone, I still find this ad from 1947 quite charming.

Finally, the use of celebrity endorsement within advertising is actually quite an old idea. Here’s the one and only, Marilyn Monroe for Westmore Hollywood Cosmetics in the 1950’s. 

Almost 60 years later, celebrities within advertising are more popular than ever. 

So as many know… trying to make it in the fashion industry is pretty much the hardest thing ever. I consider myself to be a pretty tough cookie, but every now and then I find I need a little motivation and a reminder of why I’m doing what I’m doing. Below are just some of the inspirational quotes that resonate with me and that I love.

I’ve come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that’s as unique as a fingerprint - and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you. ~ Oprah Winfrey

We have the answers within us always. We always have the answers, and I knew somewhere deep down that I was doing the right thing. I just knew I was doing the right thing. The right thing was what I was supposed to do. ~ Kevyn Aucoin

Creating makes you feel like you’re alive. When you’re not creating, you’re not living. ~ Kevyn Aucoin

There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done. ~ John Lennon, ‘All You Need Is Love’

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. ~ Dr. Seuss, ‘Oh, The Places You’ll Go’

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. ~ Scott Adams, ‘The Dilbert Principle’

Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness. ~ Oprah Winfrey

The journey is the reward. ~ Chinese Proverb

Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success. ~ Pablo Picasso

You cannot allow anyone else to have a greater opinion than yourself because we all know our truth. We have something inside us that is a voice that is always the right answer, and if you just sit still long enough, you’ll hear it and it’ll come to you. ~ Kevyn Aucoin

Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you’re going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus. ~ Oprah Winfrey

An interview with the truly inspiring Kevyn Aucoin

The new issue of Passion Magazine is now out. I have a six page beauty story in there shot by photographer, Martin Goldie . We shot Adrianne Ho and Bea who are both with FORD Models in Toronto, as well as Afroditi who’s with NAM. I have yet to scan the actual tear sheets, but they’ll be posted as soon as I do!

Well, where to start? I’m planning on familiarizing myself with this as I go. The whole blogging thing is an entirely new endeavor of mine. What better way to start off than posting a shot from a recent creative I’ve done. This is the first of the five looks we did for the beauty story. I’m extremely happy with how the shoot turned out, and I must especially thank the amazingly beautiful Nadine at Next for braving the insane snow storm that day to come shoot with Martin and I. Check out my site or goldiephotography.com to see more of the story!