Marie Helvin
Encyclopedia
Marie Helvin is a fashion model
, who worked extensively with David Bailey—to whom she was married between 1975-85—in the 1970s and 1980s she appeared in many fashion stories for British Vogue and posed for a series of nude photographs made by David Bailey, which were published in his 1980 book Trouble and Strife.
and French American
descent, had married a local interpreter of Japanese
descent, and was brought up in Hawaii
from the age of four. She was approached by a model scout on a visit to Japan with her mother and signed up as the face of Kanebo cosmetics at 15. She moved to London, where she worked for designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Versace and Valentino, and married photographer David Bailey when she was 23, having met him when he chose her for a photographic session for Vogue
. Together Bailey and Helvin produced a memorable book of nudes titled Trouble and Strife in 1980. The marriage lasted ten years.
In the 1980s, Helvin left mainstream modelling to broaden her career, working for television and radio, covering subjects from books to travel, which in turn led to major television, radio and advertising campaigns, such as for Yves Saint Laurent and Olympus cameras
, built around her personality and lifestyle. She launched her own collection of body/swimwear range in 1990 and went on to produce seasonal collections which sold worldwide.
She published two books, made a health and fitness video, appeared on television and presented several
programmes including GMTV's series Helvin on Hawaii, which featured her philosophies on health and beauty.
Helvin remains in the forefront of the fashion industry, appearing as a judge in Britain's Next Top Model
, and with appearances in British Vogue
and the US W
magazine, features in Sunday Times Style and You magazine, and a retrospective in Harper's Bazaar
. She recently appeared on her 7th British Vogue cover.
Her autobiography was released in autumn 2007 by Weidenfeld & Nicolson and will be published in paperback in September 2008 by Phoenix. The Sunday Times has called the book "funny, naughty, sexy, revelatory".
Most recently, Helvin returned to Japan to present a look at fashion and innovation in modern Japan in "Marie Helvin's Tokyo", part of the Luxury Life series on CNBC.
Currently, Helvin is the face of Marks & Spencer
's new Portfolio fashion range for women over 50.
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
, who worked extensively with David Bailey—to whom she was married between 1975-85—in the 1970s and 1980s she appeared in many fashion stories for British Vogue and posed for a series of nude photographs made by David Bailey, which were published in his 1980 book Trouble and Strife.
Biography
Helvin was born in 1952, in Tokyo, Japan, where her American GI father of Norwegian AmericanNorwegian American
Norwegian Americans are Americans of Norwegian descent. Norwegian immigrants went to the United States primarily in the later half of the 19th century and the first few decades of the 20th century. There are more than 4.5 million Norwegian Americans according to the most recent U.S. census, and...
and French American
French American
French Americans or Franco-Americans are Americans of French or French Canadian descent. About 11.8 million U.S. residents are of this descent, and about 1.6 million speak French at home.An additional 450,000 U.S...
descent, had married a local interpreter of Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
descent, and was brought up in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
from the age of four. She was approached by a model scout on a visit to Japan with her mother and signed up as the face of Kanebo cosmetics at 15. She moved to London, where she worked for designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Versace and Valentino, and married photographer David Bailey when she was 23, having met him when he chose her for a photographic session for Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
. Together Bailey and Helvin produced a memorable book of nudes titled Trouble and Strife in 1980. The marriage lasted ten years.
In the 1980s, Helvin left mainstream modelling to broaden her career, working for television and radio, covering subjects from books to travel, which in turn led to major television, radio and advertising campaigns, such as for Yves Saint Laurent and Olympus cameras
Olympus Corporation
is a Japan-based manufacturer of optics and reprography products. Olympus was established on 12 October 1919, initially specializing in microscope and thermometer businesses. Its global headquarters are in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, while its USA operations are based in Center Valley, Pennsylvania,...
, built around her personality and lifestyle. She launched her own collection of body/swimwear range in 1990 and went on to produce seasonal collections which sold worldwide.
She published two books, made a health and fitness video, appeared on television and presented several
programmes including GMTV's series Helvin on Hawaii, which featured her philosophies on health and beauty.
Helvin remains in the forefront of the fashion industry, appearing as a judge in Britain's Next Top Model
Britain's Next Top Model
Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model is a British reality television show in which a number of women compete for the title of Britain's Next Top Model and a chance to start their career in the modelling industry...
, and with appearances in British Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
and the US W
W (magazine)
W is a monthly American fashion magazine published by Condé Nast Publications, who purchased original owner Fairchild Publications in 1999. It was created in 1971 by the publisher of sister magazine Woman's Wear Daily, James Brady. The magazine is an oversize format – ten inches wide and...
magazine, features in Sunday Times Style and You magazine, and a retrospective in Harper's Bazaar
Harper's Bazaar
Harper’s Bazaar is an American fashion magazine, first published in 1867. Harper’s Bazaar is published by Hearst and, as a magazine, considers itself to be the style resource for “women who are the first to buy the best, from casual to couture.”...
. She recently appeared on her 7th British Vogue cover.
Her autobiography was released in autumn 2007 by Weidenfeld & Nicolson and will be published in paperback in September 2008 by Phoenix. The Sunday Times has called the book "funny, naughty, sexy, revelatory".
Most recently, Helvin returned to Japan to present a look at fashion and innovation in modern Japan in "Marie Helvin's Tokyo", part of the Luxury Life series on CNBC.
Currently, Helvin is the face of Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
's new Portfolio fashion range for women over 50.
Further reading
- Marie Helvin's Autobiography http://www.orionbooks.co.uk/MP-42096/The-Autobiography.htm 2008-08-01
- Vogue cover, (December 1975) Model: Marie Helvin, Photographer: David Bailey, Vogue Cover Archive, Retrieved 2007-10-04.