Naked on the catwalk

Self portrait 2011 photo reprocessed by DG

I am not a fashion model, but I seem to be doing quite a few catwalk shows, at least one every year for the past four years. Some are for charity, some are part of London Fashion Week, like the one I will be doing on Tues 21st Feb, showing off Robyn Coles Millinery creations. This is a show with a difference, because all the models will be naked. There will be no runway, we will walk around a studio barefooted, wearing little make up, hair out of the way, wearing only Robyn's hats and being photographed. You are welcome to join us, the show is at White Rabbit Studios 471-473 The Arches Dereham Place Shoreditch London EC2A 3HJ at 1 pm. I would love to see some of my readers there!
Robyn has chosen unconventional models, including a pregnant woman, and insists on a very natural look, minimal make up, no heels, hair in ponytails - personally I always  find it bizarre when my long white hair has to be taken out of the way or covered. It is what makes me. But I am a docile model and do whatever the stylist/designer asks me to do.
This is not the first time fashion embraces nudity. In 2010 Charlie Le Mindu, also a milliner, had naked models on the runway. They were in heels and with accessories and they were standard 5'9" + models, not size zero, but definitely slim and very long legged.
Nudity does not really appear so often on the catwalk but editorial photography has occasionally embraced it.

To be honest there can be nothing as un-erotic as nudity in a fashion show context. Even if the models are going to wear clothes, backstage in the changing rooms you see as much naked flesh as you like as people change outfits and honestly cannot be bothered. You might see topless models engaged in a phone conversation while waiting to be made up.
It is however true that fashion has often treated nudity as sexual or sensual, which of course nudity can be. But on this occasion nudity is a statement on naturel-ness, a celebration of the human form, the female form in particular, in all its glory, and of course a celebration of Robyn's designs. Let me know what you think.

(All photos modelled by Alex B)