This Gap ad featuring Sarah Silverman (above, via JustJared) reminds me of hip ’60s model Penelope Tree.
Penelope had a distinguished family. Her mother, Marietta Peabody Tree, was the first woman delegate to the United Nations. Her father, Ronald, was a member of Parliament and a grandson of U.S. retail king Marshall Field. Her older half-sister, Frances FitzGerald, is a Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and author. Penelope herself was discovered at the age of 13 by the great photographer Diane Arbus, but Ronald Tree threatened to sue if those pictures were ever used, so Penelope didn’t start her modeling career till two years later.
Penelope wasn’t a stereotypical beauty but her haunting visage was perfect for the ’60s. She once shaved her eyebrows “because she wanted ‘to look more like a Martian than I already did.’ “ That story brings to mind another otherwordly face –’90s model Kristin McMenamy, whose career took off only after she shaved her eyebrows.
I knew those Silverman ads reminded me of something, and you totally nailed it. (Though I have a kingering suspicion I also see a bit of Diane Keaton in them.) They are really interesting and suprising ads, but nothing compared to those shots of Penelope. (Perhaps one of the best names ever?)
Lovely post!
Er, that kingering would actually be lingering. Sounds like a Star Trek term.
I think they use that term in the Willies Major galaxy.
Corny jokes always come back to haunt…
I love that gap ad with sarah she looks amazing and so do the clothes!
Wow Kristin McMenamy had a really hard life growing up, but at least she had the last laugh making it big right?
As for the Penelope Tree, she has one of the most freakishly unique faces i have seen in ages. I’m scared to look at her but at the same time i’m engrossed at the uniqueness. Never heard of her before, glad i have now though 🙂
Penelope is really unusual, isn’t she? I loved Kristin. She had such a great, fun attitude. Someone asked her about her diet once, and she said she ate Champagne and diamonds. 🙂
i used to love kristin – i search for updates on her every now and then and can never find much.
penelope reminds me so much of kate moss. i always stumple upon things/ppl/ideas/images and am struck how things are so often repeated. does that make sense? almost as if so little is actually innovative (but in a good way).
great post.