Jan de Villeneuve
From being a model in the ‘60s to being a model in one’s 70s, Jan de Villeneuve knows a thing or two about fashion. She shared some wise words with Ellie Fazan: “Don’t worry about measuring up to anyone else’s idea of physical beauty. Be yourself, look yourself. Forget the fashion police.”
“The best modelling job I ever had was a three week trip with Norman Parkinson around the south and west of America in 1970 for British Vogue. It started in San Francisco, where I’m leaping right next to The Golden Gate Bridge, and we went from LA to Las Vegas, through the Painted Desert and on to Florida,” says de Villeneuve. “Beatrix Miller, Vogue’s editor at the time, asked Parks, the fashion editor and me to go over all the photographs together which was quite a treat. Normally, a model has no say in what is used.”
De Villeneuve has been modelling for 50 years, and her tenure has seen her through many styles and silhouettes. From Ossie Clark’s elegant wraparound dresses with long sleeves to Bill Gibb’s big, chunky Kaffe Fassett knits, and long, full net skirts. The strong shapes of Issey Miyake and Commes des Garcons. Zac Posen’s beautifully constructed suits, both casual and dressy, and Aganovich’s unique asymmetric designs.
