February 7, 1993
Fashion: Cover boy
By JESSICA STEIN
IT'S A LONG time since a male model enjoyed such a degree of overnight success as David Boals. Three weeks ago he was breaking all records at the Milan menswear shows by stalking down a remarkable 18 catwalks in four consecutive days. After the Italian collections he flew to New York for the American men's shows, and last week knotched up another 17 catwalks in Paris. It's the kind of intensive exposure usually reserved for female supermodels, but Boals is 6 ft 2 in, costs dollars 5,000 a day and 'everybody wants him' according to Homer Cusic, his booker in Milan.
His life story sounds like a reject script for a Bon Jovi video. He grew up in Ohio, hung around after school playing the guitar, football and shooting pool until, two years ago, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and took a job as a construction worker. Last year, locks flowing and (presumably) stripped to the waist, he was discovered by an Atlanta model agency. He was soon booked by Bruce Weber to be photographed for Interview magazine in New York wearing nothing but an Azzedine Alaa coat and a pair of biker boots. He then went for a casting with the photographer Steven Meisel and who should happen to be in the studio? Yep, Madonna. So next time we see him, he's between the covers of Sex. Meisel then photographed him for the cover of Italian Glamour and shortly after that he packed his guitar and moved to Milan.
Although he's become Valentino's favourite model, he's scored the unlikely double of appearing in both the Valentino (straight) and Versace (kitsch) summer advertising campaigns - a sure sign that his look has become more important than the clothes. He's currently on the cover of Vogue Homme and is about to act in his first film.
Boals's look is the masculine response to the droopy Seventies-hippy syndrome (pale skin, bit of a mess), personified by Kate Moss, and prefigured by Daniel Day-Lewis in The Last of the Mohicans and Matt Dillon in Singles. His success has opened the floodgates for a whole generation of male long- hairs. Last year, Gaultier gave him ringlets; this year he's appeared as a blond Dracula- dandy. The trick is that he's foppish but not camp; butch but beautiful. So, for all you art directors who finally cut off your pony- tails: bad luck.
David Boals MALE SUPERMODEL
from FROM Modelhommes
Loook at them! All so different but all so beautiful! Thanks for posting these from Bellazon...some are new to me! I especially love the photos of Naomi,Christy,Linda & Heather!
