Quite
a few turned out for this event including myself, figure artist, Ruth Collis, though
notice was short and advertising was minimal. Just a small logo online,
advertising their seasonal gift packs brought many in the Los Angeles area that
couldn't believe November 12, 2004 was the day they would actually get to see
the so publicized models live, in person with only a short window of opportunity
from 12 noon to 2 pm.
The
previous days before, the models started in New York at Herald Square, then
visiting Miami for autograph signings, followed by a Hard Rock Hall of Fame
induction in Las Vegas, with a finale now in the Victoria's Secret Store at
The Grove,
handing out their picture in a glamorous fun town with a casual feel, to make a
handprint in “Hollywood Walk of Fame Style”.
Any
fan with hours of preparation and anticipation of getting a picture of the
models, or next to them, may have met some disappointment from the website
mentioning "autograph signings, interviews, and photos", as no cameras of any
kind were allowed, nor up close question asking.
Autographs
signing at
The
Grove
on the Victoria's Secret model picture below, in
Los Angeles about an hour from me
near the Ontario International Airport:
Security on the ground directed the line
preparing people for putting their belongings in a Victoria's Secret bag to
be left on the first floor with the store personnel, and given a ticket with
the number written on the bag for retrieval.
A trip up
the second level store with wide winding marble steps displayed seductive photographs of the models
you were about to see. Then there was another zig-zag line where Victoria's
Secret had their own security for the models, next to the actual girls in the
flesh, who were all sitting pretty at a panel, just
writing their names at high speed continuously for 2 hours.
The models were an assembly line as well, whizzing out
half-signatures a second… zip, zip, zip… Fans were not the only ones
having to go through a process while the Victoria's Secret models wrote
their names.
Fans were
able to see within 5 feet of the Supermodels
There was no time to personalize anyone's name on the color photograph they
gave out of all 5 models where each signed on top of their photo.
There was
no saying Hi, or time to talk with the girls, as every second counted to
move the amount of people that attended in and out as fast as possible.
The wait was about an hour to get through the whole ordeal,
to not even be in there a minute, but the memory lasting a lifetime. If there was a word to describe all of this…
and them, it would be: “stunning”.
"It was like looking at
your favorite print, and watching it form 3-dimensional and personable
qualities right in front of you. If you can ever imagine seeing a real angel
live and present before you, it would be this."
- Ruth Collis
But even though the disappointment, there
they were in the flesh, some saying the figure models being just gorgeous in real life, and even thinner, as the camera
has a tendency to widen the subject in photographs.
Accents rang out with liveliness as if hearing a language
from heaven, and Gisele Bundchen was certainly in a
happy mood. It
brings a feeling of a different dialect that makes you seem very removed from your own world and part of something special.
You can hear Adriana Lima's Brazilian
accent of describing how she
creates a personality of fantasy in this
behind the scenes peek video of the holiday lingerie catalog photoshoot and interview.
Angel, Heidi Klum, gives her latest news
here,
and cover girl of Victoria’s Secret Pink, Alessandra Ambrosio, has
also launched her own line of swimwear (Alessandra Ambrosio by Sais).
In first appearances, it seemed everything about them was dreamy, every sense
of elite and the best and finest breed of human being. Tyra Banks, at
the time, was meticulously
focused on the detail of her signing, as she was the last of the line that
gave the finished colored free photo of all the girls signature to the guard who then gives the signed photo to the fan, 5 feet
away from the Angels. One can easily get caught up in it all, not remembering
even what they were wearing, until being reminded of personalized, pearly
fitted pink jackets made by Victoria's Secret especially for the tour.
Before, no one could get a look at the model
industry, for those who so wanted to, and I have since found an inspiration in Tyra Banks,
who has brought about the
America's NextTop
Model reality show where she opens eyes to what
the modeling industry is really like, and inspires those to reach their
potential. For any aspiring model looking to get some exposure here, Tyra
offers a casting call and eligibility requirements
here.
Back down to retrieve
belongings was another line to stand in. The belongings being covered in
these pink bags seemed to deter theft and became a protection offered for
the people. Leaving the store and back into the streets one may not
really be sure what to think. It was almost a dream, happening so fast.
Beauty was truly a weapon there, however untouchable they seemed, all were
still part of a process. I like how they embody a classy sense of
refinement. People line up for miles just to get a flicker and glimpse of
them.
Back in the quaint but
ritzy community, a double-story trolley with bells and
winding staircase escorts visitors for a free ride from the town square to
the Farmer's Market. This casual setting provides a captivation in it's elegant
dining on the patio, with goblets, white table cloths, and healthy
looking sandwiches on people's plates, where they dine by column designs and soft
painted murals under the umbrellas and balcony archways. Some liken it to a replica of Beverly Hills,
where celebrities also grace this atmosphere.
A fountain greets passer-bys in the center of the village performing with
movement every
30 minutes to choreographed music. It is a smaller version,
but made
by the makers of the fountain at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. Even the parking garage
at
The Grove has a chandelier, carpet, large round
marble coffee table, and couches lining the restrooms at the entrance to car
parking. Inside the parking structure were digital signs telling you how
many spaces were available on each level, or if it was already full, to make
finding your way easier.
Amazing. The town in it's glamour just makes one feel right at home with bridges over a stream, an ice cream
stand, theatre, and a quality of people sporting finer sunglasses, boots, and
designer stores.
A bronze statue of angels in flight called "The Spirit
of Los Angeles", on a limestone column, is also seen in the village,
symbolizing the
dreams realized and the opportunities of Los Angeles. It took 14 months to
create within the confines of the studio, where clay pieces were cut into
100 sections and sent out for many artisans to work on sculptor De L'Esprie's
original vision.
Returning home from all the excitement of
the Victoria's Secret models' picture and names buzzing in one's head,
one may not know which is better... an experience, or
someone to tell an experience to; a place for visiting withall kinds of neat things to do; fun
reasons to dress up or go casual; or to make this a common part of
integrated living for a lifestyle to feel part of.
.