David Gandy Launches Blue Steel Appeal
David Gandy is pouting, but for a good reason. Last night during London Collections: Men David Gandy launched the Blue Steel Appeal, yup you guessed it, taken from Ben Stiller's memorable pouty pose in the film Zoolander. The Blue Steel Appeal is working in collaboration with Red Nose Day 2013, with proceeds going towards the Comic Relief charity. David has worked with Comic Relief in the past. He appeared in a sketch for the popular British show Absolutely Fabulous last year.
The first Blue Steel event will be a fashion auction hosted by ebay on March 7th. And here's the best part ladies, David will be auctioning off a date with himself! Get your wallets or bank accounts ready this one looks like it will be a fight or a bid to the finish.
Ph: Bryan Adams
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For years, hunky British model David Gandy tried to distance himself from the Ben Stiller comedy about male models; Zoolander - and refused to laugh at any jokes comparing him to the film’s clueless protagonist, Derek Zoolander. Now he’s had a change of heart and decided to embrace the joke and the comedy pouting at last.
David told at an event at menswear fashion week, that he has seen the film approximately 20 times, and it still makes him laugh. When asked if he’d be up for a cameo in Zoolander II (should it be made) he replied ‘I love to. As far as I know, there are no plans to make a sequel, but if they do, I’d love to be involved. Just get me and Ben Stiller in a room together and I’m sure we could make this happen’.
Why has he changed his mind? He is joining forces with the TV charity fundraisers, Comic Relief, heading up a committee of fashion people to raise money for the good causes supported by Red Nose Day.
Last Tuesday announced his new role as Red Nose Day's 2013 fashion ambassador (Friday March, 15). The model starts his new role with the launch of Blue Steel Appeal - a series of fashion events and initiatives that will take place throughout the coming year to raise money for charity Comic Relief. Its name is inspired by satirical fashion film Zoolander, which stars Ben Stiller as model Derek Zoolander - a man famous for his pouty pose, Blue Steel. To celebrate his newly appointed Red Nose crown, Gandy hosted a private screening of 'Zoolander' at The Hospital Club in Covent Garden.
Gandy will head up a fashion committee to help support his future plans - including British Fashion Council chief executive Caroline Rush, Vogue editor Dolly Jones, GQ editor Dylan Jones, Comic Relief marketing director Michelle Settle, model Poppy Delevingne, photographer Rankin, stylist and magazine editor Sophia Neophitou and co-founder of Select Model Management, Tandy Anderson.The first official 'Blue Steel' event will then be a fashion auction on eBay on March 7, whereby fashionistas can bid on a selection of money-can't-buy items and experiences, donated by brands and individuals.
Gandy first worked with Comic Relief two years ago when Brit designer Vivienne Westwood turned her talents to designing some very witty, and stylish, charity t-shirts for Red Nose Day in 2011.Inspired by 18th-century caricatures by Hogarth, Westwood designed comedy tees emblazoned with red-nosed portraits of Shakespeare and Blackadder which were worn by Laura Bailey, Pixie Lott, model Alek Wek, Helena Christensen and himself.
And last year, appearing in an Absolutely Fabulous sketch - also starring Kate Moss and Stella McCartney.
"Having seen first-hand the challenges people face in the UK and across the world, I wanted to do something to help," said Gandy. "After working briefly with Comic Relief on the Absolutely Fabulous sketch with Kate Moss and Stella McCartney last year, I decided to launch the Blue Steel Appeal to fundraise for Red Nose Day through fashion. I hope that the fashion industry will come together, have some fun, show off their best Blue Steel looks and raise money at the same time. There are truly wonderful people in the industry and it would be great to show the public the lighter side of what we do and encourage them to join us in fundraising. If we all rally together, I know we can really help a lot of people."