A young Ash, photographed by Jacob Sutton…I just don’t get his appeal!

Isn’t it comforting to know that Ash Stymest was not only in a boy band, but was a Myspace whore too? How incriminating photos from the past can be!

Thanks to The Fashion Spot!

Corey recently posted this incredible video featuring one of my favorite models, Ash Stymest, for Metal Magazine’s 17th issue. Here are a few stills from the shoot…enjoy!:

Cole Mohr may be Kirby’s love obsession, but Ash Stymest is 100% my idol. This video of him for Metal Magazine’s #17 issue is really cool. I’ve been considering getting my hair cut similarly to his, what do you think?

Love, love, LOVE his hair. Ash Stymest is dreamy….shot by JM Ferrate for Metal Magazine, #17

LINK LOVE: Metal Mag

I’m always surprised at how busy and nutty-acting everyone gets during Fashion Week prep. Everyone is in a huff. I’ve seen a lot of models in Soho, they’re almost all in huffs. Except for the “It” models, you know like Ash and Jethro. I bet they’re never in anything like a huff, they’re only in magazines. Is Cole Mohr still “It”?

Anyway, I got invited to the model casting for Duckie Brown. It made me feel a little special, but whenever I told anyone they sort of laughed. Everyone thought I was trying out to be a model, I wasn’t. Duckie wanted me there to cast models, and pretend to DJ. I really like pretending.

It was self-defeating though. The casting, I mean.  I was the short, pasty, black-clad kid with grandma glasses and bad hair. Everyone around me was 6 foot tall, healthy, fit, and beautiful. It was awful, and amazing. Amazing because they were changing and naked and trying on great clothes.

Two boys I party with came on a go-see. Is that an official term? Go-see? Or did Tyra make that up for America’s Next Top Model? But, right, Jace and Harvey came on a go-see. It was nice seeing them out and about during the day. And I think both of them were cast, because they have amazing walks and are so handsome.

Oh. Did anyone see that Craiglist missed connection from Tuesday? A friend posted it to my Facebook. I think someone I know, a boy, gave a man a blowjob at the Box while his girlfriend watched. It all happened on the balcony, I mean, I must have been a few feet away. Was it you? Tell me the truth. I need the scoop.

I think it’s a good nightlife when things like this can still happen. It reminds me of Studio 54.

It’s so sad that the Ruff Club is ending. I don’t know what else to say. It’s the end of an era, or something. There’s a rumor that Peaches Geldof and Jethro Cave will be there. That they’re going to DJ. I love Nick Cave, and his son Jethro is amazing. I didn’t know that Peaches is still around. Can I have her job? What is her job?

P.S.

I forgot to mention I met Christopher Sauve and Julia Frakes yesterday while creeping Soho with Alex. Chris was the nicest, like so pleasant. Julia was a button, but I kind of think I squeezed her hand too hard. Alex thought her pants were a great Beacon’s find, but of course they were Erin Wasson. Nicollette said Julia was a downtown luminary.

I guess she must be if she’s curating a collection at Screaming Mimi’s for Fashion’s Night Out. I’m jealous, wish I was curating a collection.

Did you know that even the Disney Channel changes its New York programming before and during Fashion Week? I told you, nutty-acting. Everyone.

Mom grounded me for putting my face on the car windows. Ash made money.

Photographer: Steven Meisel

Models: Anna Maria Jagodzinska, Ash Stymest, Christian Brylle, Jamie Bochert, Max Rogers, Sasha Pivovarova, Sessilee Lopez, Simon Nessman, Will Lewis

GALLERY: SPREAD UM: “Performance” Vogue Italia September 2009

Thanks Fashion Copious!

Steven Meisel shot Sasha Pivovarova and Ash Stymest for the homeless-chic September cover of Italian Vogue.

Paul Smith is helping to cure nostalgia with his very late 80’s/ early 90’s, Wes Anderson film inspired Fall 2009 Jeans collection. Featuring male models Ash Stymest, Jethro Cave and Stuart Jones, Paul Smith Jeans Fall 2009 is obviously for the flashier gentleman who isn’t afraid of a little fun and color. While I can live without men in neons and acid-wash denim, It sure is nice to see some tight jeans paired with bulky knits and duck-printed button-ups!

Via The Fashionisto.

I’ve always been relatively impressed by the denim variety carried by Barneys New York, and further gaining my stamp of approval is the Barneys Fall 2009 denim catalogue. It’s been a little while since we’ve seen Cole Mohr or Ash Stymest work on anything of substance, let alone work on modeling gig together, but the boys are back in the Fall 2009 mailer and looking better than ever! Really folks, jeans are never going out of style, so if you’re in the market for some new denim, I’d say Barneys is the place to look!

Check out the Barneys New York Fall 2009 Denim mailer here!

I haven’t been home in Buffalo but two days and I’m already suffering from A.M.W (what physicians like to call ‘attractive male withdrawal). It is needless to say that stumbling upon Forbes’ 2009 list of the most successful male models was not only a sight for sore eyes but rather informative about the business of the modeling industry.

While the industry is dominated by doll-faced, lanky females, male models with more classic looks tend to be the most successful. In the midst of a recession, agencies have had to renew older contracts to save money, thusly narrowing the types of men represented. The Cole Mohrs and Ash Stymests, although trendy “image guys,” tend to fall once they’ve been used and seen enough. In addition, those who have been branded to a fragrance campaign tend to endure a low profile in the industry since such campaigns are so publicly widespread.

I’ll admit, it is a bit disheartening to see some of my favorites so low, or even nonexistent, on the list, but based on magazine covers and spreads, advertising campaigns, contracts and runway shows over the past two years, here is Forbes’ most successful male models:

1. SEAN O’PRY

2. MATT GORDON

3. DAVID GANDY

4. DANNY SCHWARTZ

5. GARRETT NEFF

6. OLLIE EDWARDS

7. TYLER RIGGS

8. JON KORTAJARENA

9. TAYLOR FUCHS

10. COLE MOHR

Via Forbes.

**WARNING** If you have an intolerance for shallow observations or you recently modeled in Men’s Spring 2010 Fashion Week, don’t read this. 

The end of June and beginning of July are of importance to me for one reason: men’s fashion week. Yeah,the tailored suits and spring apparel are nice, but what  I really look forward to is the hours I spend cooing over drop dead gorgeous models. The chiseled jaw. The supple lips. The piercing eyes. I’m like a kid in a candy-store!

But these past two weeks have been less than enjoyable for my model addiction. Is it just me, or are designers and bookers seriously skimping on the man candy this season? What once was a Cole, Ash, Luke and Taylor dominated field is now pillaged with some of world’s less fortunate looking creatures. Is there some sort of repulsive man trend I’m missing the boat on here? 

Costume National

Bernhard Willhelm

Walter Van Beirendonck

Maison Martin Margiela

Blaak Homme

Proceed in clawing your eyes out. 

Images courtesy of NY Mag.

You haven’t seen boys in makeup until you’ve seen the models from John Galliano’s Spring 2010 menswear showing. With an Arabian Nights meets “Lord of the Flies” vibe, the boys were decked out in foliage headgear, covered in tan makeup, painted with facial hair and fake abs, making it hard to recognize even the most famous of models! Even I couldn’t recognize Cole Mohr or Ash Stymest…tis a sad day in the life of Kirby. 

GALLERY: BACKSTAGE: John Galliano Spring 2010 Menswear

Thanks Models!

GALLERY: SPREAD UM: Ash Stymest For Rodeo Magazine May 2009

Thanks Cheapskate Chic!

Jump-starting another successful modeling career is Hedi Slimane and his series of photographs featuring 18-year-old Brit, Alex Dunstan. If you recall, Slimane practically catalyzed the careers of Cole Mohr, Georges Barnett, Josh Beech and Ash Stymest, so it isn’t too far-fetched to predict that Alex Dunstan is going to be the next big face in the male-model world. It’s nice to see some fresh blood in the mix, but Cole and Ash will always be near and dear to my heart! Oh, and is it just me, or does this kid look strangely like Olivier Theyskens? 

GALLERY: FIRST LOOK: Alex Dunstan’s First Time

 Check out Hedi Slimane’s Diary here! Thanks for the tip Fashion Copious!

Having recently posted some pieces from Bliss Lau’s recent jewelry line, there’s no doubt that I’m a huge fan of the body chain jewelry, as seen plastered all over Cole Mohr, Ash Stymest and Luke Worrall in the Vogue Italia February 2009 issue. After doing my daily snoop on Nitrolicious, I noticed that Wendy was rocking out some similar pieces by indie designer, A(r)mor.

Essentially, A(r)mor creates structural body chains, just like Bliss Lau, but at a fraction of the price. While many of Lau’s pieces push the $600+ mark, A(r)mor is just as cool and basically under $200. Loving the Miko piece and how it is a dual necklace and body chain! 

GALLERY: DESIGNER TO KNOW: A(r)mor Jewelry

Shop A(r)mor at Etsy here!

The messy hawk is trickling down into mainstream, and now that Kingston did it, we’ll be seeing more of this do on the streets..

Fashion Indie recently posed some images from “The Life of A Boy Model” in the recent issue of Arena Homme +. In addition to those photos, the gallery below includes part II of the editorial and the actual editorial. The spread, shot by photographer Alasdair McLellan, features top male models George Barnett, Cole Mohr, Ash Stymest, Josh Beech and Luke Worrall in all of their natural, charming, tattooed boy glory. 

GALLERY: SPREAD UM: “The Life Of A Boy Model” Arena Homme +

Thanks to The Fashionisto for the images!