Are You And Your Favorite Model Twins?

Sep 26, 2007 @ 11:59am

lily cole is not our favorite model, because our face is more oval.jpg Think of your favorite model.

Now think of yourself.

Any similarities?

Faran has a theory that people like the models they like because they resemble them.

Some of her favorite models are Cintia Dicker and Lily Cole, who both have wavy/curly hair and round faces--like Faran.

This summer intern Sarah's favorite model was Irina Lazareanu, with whom she shares her '60s rocker style and dark blunt bangs.

Our favorite models tend to be other light-haired pale girls with prominent cheekbones (Lara Stone, Sasha Pivovarova).

And we've always thought it was funny that Natalia Vodianova got her solo Vogue cover after she cut her hair into an Anna Wintour style bob.

Maybe we like models that we can see as our ideal versions of ourselves;

Taller, with perfectly applied eyeliner, and killer clothes.

Maybe they're the grown-up version of the American Girl dolls you can customize to look like you and dress in matching clothes (except in our case the models have the clothes first).

Do you share features with your favorite catwalker?

--ANNA FIELDING GRIGGS

posted by Faran

Sep 26, 2007 12:09PM

Oh Anna, it is with great regret that I inform you I look nothing like Cintia or Lily.

But about that raise you wanted, I think we can definitely pay you more :)

xo F.

posted by GG

Sep 26, 2007 12:20PM

I hadn't thought about this for models, but definitely for actresses, I always love the tall, awkward-ish brunettes the best -- i.e. the ones like me. Alison -- I'm thinking Liv Tyler, what's-her-name in the Weeds poster in the subway? Yes?

posted by Rebe

Sep 26, 2007 12:21PM

I don't know. I definitely have very strong opinions on models I like, such as:

Lily Donaldson, especially in the recent Max Mara campaign, Mariacarla Boscono, Doutzen Kroes, and Agyness Deyn (when I don't get too annoyed at the pretentious respelling of her name).

as well as models I dislike, such as:

Vlada, Irina Lazareanu, and Sasha Pivovarova, all of whom I find more suited would to a Diane Arbus photograph than a fashion glossy, but oh well.

And I don't think the models in the first category have all that much in common, neither with me, facically, nor with one another.

posted by bryanboy

Sep 26, 2007 12:27PM

LOL

I thought about this before and I don't think I have anything in common (physical attribute-wise) with my favorite models.

I mean, really, Natasha Poly? Me? That's like black vs white

posted by

Sep 26, 2007 1:56PM

Once I was buying an Allure in my neighborhood walgreens and the person working check out help up the cover to compare the picture on the cover to my face. He then remarked that "people always buy magazines when they look like the person on the cover". I stood there speechless as the person on the specific Allure cover was Lindsey Lohan. But I don't know maybe there's some truth to what he said (about people buying magazines when the person on the cover looks like them not about me looking like LiLo)

posted by Kara

Sep 26, 2007 1:57PM

It's true. I have a baby face and giant blue eyes ala my favorite Gemma. And if I were an inch taller and about 20 lbs lighter and two years younger we'd look so much a like I could probably get a modeling contract.

posted by sasha

Sep 26, 2007 1:59PM

I too have thought about this. I also ADORE Cintia Dicker and I like Jesscia stam. ( especially with her red tresses)
I have red hair and freckles, pale skin and also stam's slightly upturned mouth and upturned nose. They are my ideal version of me and there are obvious similarities although I look nothing like a supermodel unfortunately!
However there are models that I aspire to look like because of features that are so different and alien to mine- ie. Cintia's pout and great cheekbones.
There's a mix. I like models that I can see elements of myself in but also those that are completely different and alien from myself like sasha with her great, angular face.

posted by Kendall

Sep 26, 2007 2:13PM

Hmm, an interesting theory, and quite possible - I've always liked Hilary Rhoda; and I have a more classic face with strong brows like her.

Then again, I also like Lily Cole, Vlada, Bette Frank, Stam, and Sasha, all of whom I look nothing like!

posted by columbussocialites

Sep 26, 2007 2:37PM

I really never gave this much thought . So maybe perhaps somewhere deep down I resemble Agyness or Chanel Iman? or even Liya? I look in the mirror and def don't see any of the strikin features but maybe similarities in how i want to look. I guess that's why they're the ones with the campaigns and not me

posted by Lacroix

Sep 26, 2007 2:44PM

Ugh, I hate to say that there is some truth to that. I don't like her antics but I love seeing Naomi in editorials and covers. Though I think my build is more toward of Liya and Chanel.
My absoulte favorites are Mariacarla, Ai and Chrystele- she rocked with mid-90's runway with her blond 'fro!

posted by

Sep 26, 2007 2:44PM

I love Lily Cole, probably because of her red hair! (I'm a redhead)

And I love Irina Lazareanu, and come to think of it she kind of looks like my best friend.

So maybe you're on to something!

posted by schlepp

Sep 26, 2007 2:56PM

hmm... I guess I do resemble my personal favourite Daria Werbowy... if only I was a foot taller, 10 pounds lighter, with impossible proportions and cheekbones to die for ;)
but all kidding aside, I've noticed this phenomenon with paintings. I'm drawn to faces that kind of resemble myself, such as Vermeer's 'girl with the pearl earring.'

posted by lulu

Sep 26, 2007 3:18PM

I loooove liya kebede. she is my all time favorite, and we look like exact opposites except that we both have high foreheads. I think I like her because she is so NOT me (i.e. white blond girl nextdoor looks) she is exotic and regal and hot.

posted by Jen

Sep 26, 2007 3:19PM

So Giselle has always been my favorite (probably because I want to look like her). Does this mean I DO look like her? Yeesssss!

posted by Caroline

Sep 26, 2007 4:00PM

My favorite has been Caroline Trentini for a while. I do look a lot like her- my friends have mentioned it (who aren't at all into fashion). We even have the same name, haha.

Now if only I were as tall as she.
*sigh*

posted by lubugrious

Sep 26, 2007 4:21PM

Just pointing out that for those of us who aren't white girls, there aren't a lot of models with whom we share features.

posted by Olivia

Sep 26, 2007 6:03PM

I've noticed this with actresses too... My favorite ones always tend to be the taller, dark haired ones...

I hadn't thought about it, but I guess it can be true for models too! Hilary Rhoda's one of my favorites and I have the same hair color, height, and some similar features (face shape, eyebrows... though I have dark eyes)

However, I don't look anything like Agyness Deyn or Jessica Stam, who are also some of my favorites, but I really relate to Agyness's taste in music (does that count? haha).

posted by Anna

Sep 26, 2007 7:20PM

My favorite model is Gemma Ward, but unfortunately I look nothing like her.
I think I look the most like Elise Crombez, except darker, which is interesting because we have the same birthday.

posted by lana

Sep 26, 2007 7:57PM

Actually, I was showing a non-fashiony friend a picture of Gemma the other day, and going on and on and on about how I thought she was the world's most perfect-looking person, and my friend started laughing and said that I just like her because she has "freakishy wide-set eyes," which, actually, so do I...

posted by Gwen

Sep 26, 2007 8:11PM

when i had a pixie cut, one of my male friends thought a picture of agyness on my wall was me, but that can be chalked up to a bout of fashion ignorance. my more fashion friends have compared me to stam, tho (and once, heather marks, v disparate!). while i find this very flattering (and unfortunately a BIT untrue...haha!), i'm certainly not tall enough to take advantage of it. anyway - i agree!

posted by SM

Sep 26, 2007 8:20PM

Yay Irina! <3

posted by jac

Sep 26, 2007 10:49PM

I tend to like models that look NOTHING like me. I look at Gemma and sometimes I just covet her fair skin, blue eyes and blonde hair (i'm tan brown and brown). For me, it's about the unattainable. Knowing I can never look like most models (lots of actresses) is what makes them so desirable.

posted by michope

Sep 27, 2007 12:32PM

HERE'S WHY: (and my psych background finally pays off) Attractiviness grows stronger based on familiarity...that's why when you first meet someone you might rate them as medium in attractiveness, but once you get to know them better, they become more and more attractive to you. Evolutionarily, this helps sustain relationships so that men stay around long enough to help women care for thier children.

In this case, its a matter of you being most familiar with yourself (having spent quite a bit of time looking in the mirror throughout your life). Therefore you judge yourself as more attractive (80% of Americans believe they are above-average in attractiveness) and people who look similar to you. It's the same reason that spouses have a tendency to look similar....and why you prefer celebrities/models that look more like you...Well, the mirror-image of you...

posted by

Sep 27, 2007 6:07PM

Fun post!!

You should put up side-by-side photos of the Fashionista crew with their favorite models!!