Karen Elson
Karen Elson | |
---|---|
![]() Elson performing in New York City in 2010 | |
Born | Karen Jill Elson 14 January 1979 Oldham, Greater Manchester, England |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1995–present |
Spouse | |
Children | 2 |
Modelling information | |
Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) |
Hair colour | Red |
Eye colour | Blue |
Karen Jill Elson (born 15 January 1979) is an English model and singer-songwriter.
Early life and education
Elson was born in Oldham, Greater Manchester, and attended North Chadderton School as a child. She has a fraternal twin sister, filmmaker Kate Elson.
Modeling career
Elson was discovered at age 16 by Debra Burns, the owner of Boss Model Management in
Elson's runway modelling credits include:
.Elson has over 30 magazine covers to her credit—international editions of
In 1997, Elson won the title of Model of the Year at the VH1 Fashion Awards. The September 2004, cover of American Vogue featured her as one of the "Models of the Moment".[1] In 2005, she won the British Fashion Award for Best Model.[2]
It was then announced that Elson was the new face of British department store
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Karen_Elson_at_Anna_Sui_2011.jpg/220px-Karen_Elson_at_Anna_Sui_2011.jpg)
She has been in ad campaigns for
Elson is currently the face of Jo Malone London and represents them worldwide.[5]
Elson has appeared in many short films and videos, including the music video for the White Stripes song, "Blue Orchid". She has also appeared in fashion films: War Opera,[6] Nick Knight's Andy Warhol-inspired series More Beautiful Women,[7] Craig McDean's 48 Girls,[8] and Bruce Weber's Petit Fleur, Harlequin, Voodoo Daddy, Closer Walk With Thee and Karen's Boogie (all films were made in conjunction with W as a tribute to New Orleans).[9]
She acted in the short film Lay Down Lean, a project by the experimental filmmaking team Belles of the Black Diamond Field.
Elson has contributed to
In 2010, she modelled a Patricia Field dress for the Sex and the City Archive in the Naomi Campbell's Fashion for Relief runway show for the White Ribbon Alliance, an organization aiding mothers in Haiti.
Elson has designed her own line of shoes, bags and jewellery for fashion brand Nine West.
Elson was one of eight British models chosen to walk during a segment at the 2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremony. She wore a gold gown by Burberry and walked the stadium with her fellow models to David Bowie's song "Fashion."[11]
Music
Elson is a founding member and performer with the New York-based political
Elson contributed backing vocals to a remix of Robert Plant's "Last Time I Saw Her" from Plant's album Dreamland in 2002.[16] In 2005, a personal recording of Elson singing "Coming Down" was made available on a CD accompanying the August 2005 issue of Uncut magazine. The song was chosen by REM singer Michael Stipe.[17] She sang a duet with Cat Power of "I Love You (Me Either)" for Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited, a tribute album to French singer/songwriter Serge Gainsbourg.[18]
Her first full-length album was written, for the most part, in secret without letting her then-husband Jack White hear what she was doing. "At home I would hide—I would play my songs really in isolation. I would lock the bathroom door and hide. Eventually he was like, 'Why are you hiding this from me?'".[19] Elson released her debut solo album The Ghost Who Walks in May 2010, via White's label, Third Man Records. It received generally favourable reviews. Spin magazine gave it 7/10 and compared her voice to both Jenny Lewis and Loretta Lynn. Elson and her band performed on the Late Show with David Letterman in September 2010.
Elson has recorded numerous cover songs throughout her career including "
In September 2012, she was featured in a campaign called "30 Songs / 30 Days" to support included Elson's song "The Ghost Who Walks" on their season 4 episode "A Better Human Being".
Elson opened for Neko Case in October 2013, for eight shows in Case's North American tour.
Her second solo album, Double Roses, was released in 2017.[24] Her third, Green, was released in 2022.
Discography
Albums
- The Ghost Who Walks – Third Man Records/XL Recordings – 2010
- Double Roses – H.O.T. Records/1965 Records – 2017[25]
- Green – Big Yellow Dog Music – 2022
EP
- Radio Redhead, Vol. 1 – 2020
Personal life
Elson has two children with her former husband, American musician Jack White. Elson and White were married in 2005 and divorced in 2013.[26]
She is an ambassador for
Elson resides in Nashville, Tennessee, United States.[28]
References
- ^ Lee, Helen (11 April 2007). "Vogue's 'World's Next Top Models' cover". SassyBella.com. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
- ^ "Karen Elson – The Vogue". Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ Scheidnes, Jean (3 February 2009). "Tom Ford, Lensman ..." Women's Wear Daily. Fairchild Fashion Group. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
- ^ [1] Archived 12 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "What's Your Sign? Karen Elson on Her New Birthstone Perfume-Bottle Tops". Vogue. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ War Opera, directed by Steven Meisel and Darren Lew[permanent dead link]
- ^ ""More Beautiful Women", directed by Nick Knight". SHOWstudio. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ^ ""48 Girls", directed by Craig McDean". SHOWstudio. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ^ ""W" Presents: Bruce Weber's New Orleans". Wmagazine.com. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ^ "Moving Fashion- "Falling in Love Again"". SHOWstudio. 17 October 2005. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ^ "Kate Moss, Georgia Jagger, & Karen Elson Have An Olympic Model Moment". Popsugar.com. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ^ ""Welcome to the Citizens Band" in "Paper" magazine (2006)". Papermag.com. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ^ "The Citizens Band on MySpace Music". Profile.myspace.com. 26 July 2013. Archived from the original on 23 January 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ^ "Elson performing "Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier" in the Citizens Band's "The Trepanning Opera"". Thecitizensband.net. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ^ "Elson performing "A Hundred Years From Now" and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" in the Citizens Band's "Chewing Up the Scenery"". Thecitizensband.net. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ^ ""Karen Elson" by Sara Templeton". Webwombat.com.au. 14 January 1979. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ^ "Elson's "Coming Down" on "The REM Collection Disc 2: Michael Stipe Presents ..."". Eil.com. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ^ Elson's duet with Cat Power, "I Love You (Me Either)" on Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited Archived 21 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ ""Karen Elson" "Interview Magazine"". Interviewmagazine.com. 27 April 2010. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ^ KAREN ELSON – Vicious (7" BLACK VINYL) Archived 8 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ KAREN ELSON – MIlk and Honey (7" VINYL) Archived 31 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "New Fleetwood Mac Tribute Includes St. Vincent, Best Coast, and More; Hear New Pornographers Do "Think About Me"". Pitchfork.com. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ^ "Half the Sky". Halftheskymovement.org. 30 August 2012. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ^ "Official Karen Elson". Karenelson.com. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
- ^ "Double Roses by Karen Elson on Apple Music". Itunes.apple.com. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
- ^ "Jack White, Karen Elson Throw Divorce Party on Sixth Anniversary". Billboard.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "Tour Karen Elson's Elegant English-Inspired Nashville Home". Architectural Digest. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2022.