It is official, no smoking in Dutch bars. No longer enjoying a Martini and a cigaret during a concert or a night out. Even though people in Holland still try, in amazing creative ways by the way, to fight it, we all know it is over with the old "style Icon". Yes style Icon, because in the old days cigarets seemed to be more of an accessory than an addiction. I also smoke(d) my cigarets in style, starting by putting them in a beautiful silver case, I even have one of those elegant cigaret holders. Well, while sitting here being elegant behind my computer (because the Dutch law is forbidding me to do it elsewhere) with my pile of Vogue magazines (another addiction) I realized that fashion is also not ready to say goodbye. The cigaret is still used as an elegant or sexy accessory in a lot of photoshoots. We even see one on the runway occasionally. A cigaret, in the right context, creates a certain sexy, mysterious and strangely (because it is still an addition) strong independent feeling. It ads a bit of old Hollywood glamour and for some reason French feel to a photo. Looking at photos of old style icons it is almost harder to find a photo without them smoking. Like Marlene Dietrich, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford who was even smoking in her publicity shot. I wonder if this icon is slowly vanishing or will the fashion industry keep it alive? One thing I know for sure, If governments are thinking about creating a law to keep cigarets out of fashion magazines they have to realize that the fashion industry is a tough one to battle. We don't give up style easy, not even if it is killing us.
(Images below: French Vogue June–July 2008)