Not a very accurate post Parker.
The model is the centre of attention. It just so happens that there are a wide variety of ideals and sometimes an emphasis on unusualness regardless of other factors. There is no singular representation, masculinity, femininity, androgeny, it's all there in varying ammounts.
It depends very much on what market they are trying to appeal to and the direction that they want to go with the product.
Gisele is like a Kate Moss type, Plain, certain unusual attributes, androgynous, that got pushed and is in the public eye now so is unlikely to fall out of favor.
She is known so lends any brand instant recognition. Thats whats it's about and the same reason the Kim Kardashians, Paris Hiltons, Situations,of this world are in demand.
You think there aren't a thousand models out there that aren't in better shape and have a better look than say Posh and Becks, Megan Fox? it's just a numbers game.
in the fashion industry the clothes are the product, the models the hanger...the clothes are prototypes for what the design houses are bringing out...yes the model is center stage, but it is what and how she wears the clothes...ever looked at a car magazine and seen wheel ads from those "upscale" brands like Savini? They always have a Lambo or Porsche featuring their rims, usually it's the Lambo (woman) who is center stage and the clothes (rims) are what compliments her, but the purpose of the ads are that the wheels (clothes) are what makes the Lambo (woman)...it's a method of trickery, how something is presented to you, how it is marketed to you. As was said before, anything marketed right, it can be sold. People who are smart enough to see it, don't buy...some of the most gullible women are the ones into fashion.
When I worked in Footlocker while in college, I could learned that I could sell a woman a outfit that would go with her sneakers. The outfit complimented the sneakers, and the sneakers supposedly complimented the woman. I said supposedly for a reason.
You see the design houses market their clothing to compliment the everyday woman, who let's face it, are far more prettier than their catwalk counterparts, but the they put emphasis on the models to compliment and showoff the clothing. The girl I used to date was heavily into "America's Next Top Model", and as I sat there begrudgingly watching it, I had notice that a model's job is to "model" the merchandise, to compliment it, not to overwhelm it with her beauty, therefore a totally stunning woman will take away from the object she is modeling...and the fact that most women are the audience, not men who are very visual and will buy a product due to a hot chick...women DO NOT want to see a woman hotter than themselves modeling clothing. They loathe her, and will not focus on the item being modelled, but will tear the girl up.
