* Moderately strong content.
Much like Maria Sharapova’s post-U.S. Open behavior last year, which saw her hanging out at New York fashion week and in Nole’s player’s box, her early Wimbledon loss quickly turned into cameos at a few places in Paris and London.
She made a showing at the Valentino Fall 2008 couture show — the first one by young designer Alessandra Facchinetti (who replaced the recently retired Valentino Garavani himself). The hyper-embroidered collection reinterpreted the fashion house’s classic silhouettes and included the requisite red dress.
And she took in a night at the Tiki-themed Mahiki Club in Dover Street.
Stella McCartney courted this Maria (instead of her tennis muse, Maria Kirilenko) when she hosted a party at Harvey Nichols‘ Fifth Floor Restaurant to expand her organics collection, which currently includes make-up and lingerie.
Masha showed up in a white chiffon cocktail dress with friend Camilla Belle. Masses of pink peonies occupied the dining room, with each of the lucky guests receiving a bespoke napkin ring embossed with their name. The Above Text and images are from cornedbeefhash.wordpress.com
Its faintly interesting to take a look at the circles that the two Masha's move in, but only faintly.. one wouldnt want to linger, Just study it all for long enough to prime oneself on what exactly it is that preoccupies the mind of an essentially voyeuristic male audience.
It's also interesting to contrast a Sharapova/Kirilenko image and style consciousness with a Bartoli one.. Or lack of.. People say Marion isnt the ideal shape for a tennis player. What is the ideal shape? Sharapova?
I read comments on Tennis Forum to the effect that Marion is plaigiarising kit that should only be worn by Maria Sharapova, because, Maria has the perfect body! How absurd. Marion can wear whatever she wants. 'Perfect' has a bit more subjective lattitude according to my aesthetic. Besides, just look at the state of those human coat-hangers they call catwalk-models. Held up as some kind of lolita-complex beauty-paradigm. How disturbing. Women present in skeleton only. Draped in fine fabric. Raped of personhood. Have you seen anything more sickly, pityful, post-human, and undesirable-looking, since last seeing a 18 foot tall disabled transsexual in a pink tutu on Jerry Springer?
Granted, Maria is entitled to choose just how to spend the time she has at her disposal following her exit from Wimbledon in whichever way she wishes. But what messages does it send out to body-conscious insecure young girls, when a sporting ikon is providing tacit endorsement to an industry of dubious worth as a career choice and as a trendsetting machine - The UK after all has a big problems of anorexia, lack of participation in sport, peer pressure and bullying, to name but a few things among it's youth population. You might think i'm going over the top on this. But not really, Maria is doing this stuff all the time. It's why she's the richest female sport star in the world. But at what price I ask? Marion has said before that she doesnt bother with the scene, or other peoples opinions. She's her own woman, not a product or commodity. Quite unconsciously, she is a good role model as a professional and as a woman for young aspiring female tennis players. (Edited for clarity 15:20)
