Fashion Blogs

I have so many stories about my life on the Fashion Battle Field, I don’t know which one to share first.

Should I do my Kim Alexis story, Bert Stern story, Andie MacDowell story, Janice Dickinson story or… ???

Ok here goes “She loves me, she loves me not, she loves me, she loves me not…”

Well the flower petals have chosen the Bert Stern story. Youprobably all know who Bert Stern is. If not, he did the last sittingwith Marilyn Monroe and has shot for everyone from Bazaar to Vogue and everything else that isconsidered credible.

Several years ago when I was living in Mid Town New York on East58th Street and only in New Yorkfor about 6 months, I got a call from an Art Director named MichaelAprigliano who I had shown my portfolio to several weeks before. It wasquite late in the evening and his voice sounded quite frenzied andpanicky. I said “What’s wrong Michael?” He asked if he could come andsee me with a colleague of his from the Ad Agency and said that he hadan urgent problem to solve. It was already 10:00 PM and I wassufficiently curious to comply ad said “Sure, no problem, come onover…”

Michael arrived at my place around 10:30 PM with his female associate and sat down and spurted out, “Ihave a serious problem and we are hoping that you can help us out…” Isat and listened. The next thing that came out of his mouth was aquestion. “Ben, have a look at this image and tell me honestly what youthink of it.” He went in to his attaché case and pulled out severalMedium Format slides and select one for me to have a look at. I askedhim to wait a moment and brought out a small light box to have a closerlook. On the slide was a very pretty model standing against a greyback drop with a tiny squiggle of light that kind of looked like alight worm just slightly off center from where she was standing. Ilooked closely at the image and felt rather embarrassed and didn’tquite know what to say. I looked at Michael and asked, “what do youwant want, a diplomatic answer or my personal opinion?” He looked at mefor a moment and said, “please, tell me what you think of this?”

All Photos By: Bert Stern©

CONTINUED HERE