In the 70s, I worked a lot with model, Rosie Vela. I was introduced to her as “Roseanne,” so I continue to call her Roseanne. She calls me “Red” because she remembers my red hair from 1975!! This gorgeous photo was shot by Albert Watson for Vogue and Harry King did her hair.
I worked with Roseanne almost every day of 1975. There is one issue of September Vogue, 1975, where she’s on every page. The photograph below is by Irving Penn and was taken during the sweltering, hot summer in Paris, 1975. I didn’t use any fake lashes and no eyeliner, but tons of shadow pencil and shadows. Shadows were the “thing” and liner and lashes were old hat because they looked very 1960’s. The 1970s were all about eyeshadows and blush. Harry King, hair.
This Irving Penn photograph was from the 1975 Collections in Paris and was inspired by the European magazines at the time. These were the days before air conditioning, and I don’t think Mr. Penn did another location shoot after this one. I had the right face to work with however, and Harry King styled Roseanne’s hair.
This Irving Penn photograph of Roseanne was from the same 1975, Paris trip and was used on the cover of Vogue. Harry King did her hair. Again, no air conditioning, plus we flew coach next to the bathroom. Ugh!
Vogue’s beauty department used this photograph of Roseanne from the same 1975 shoot with Irving Penn to give a makeup lesson on eyeshadow. I’m the “Dreamer Upper” of great makeup looks, so how lucky I was to have a model with a face like hers. In the piece Vogue called me “Sandra.”
6 thoughts on “Model Roseanne “Rosie” Vela”
Sandy, I love how Rosie can go from looking like a Pre-Raphaelite angelic beauty to chic sophisticate to that wry smile that seems to be saying, “I’ve got a secret!” Great story!
I love hearing about the people you’ve met as well as how you achieve certain makeup looks. Thank you, Sandy! xoxox, Brenda
She’s beautiful! I can’t imagine that lifestyle it sounds so glamourous even sitting next to the bathroom!
Rosie Vela is having serious health problems and heavy financial difficulties. Her close friend Denice Lewis launched a fundraising to help her. Rosie Vela deserves our help. A video was posted to prove it’s not a scam. You can make a donation on https://www.gofundme.com/rosie-vela-needs-our-urgent-help
Rosie stops by and posts on my FaceBook Tribute to Gia! They worked together in the 1970’s and the early 1980, specifically for Versace and Richard Alvedon. Rosie speaks about a time when she tried to befriend Gia on a shoot and was rebuffed! Rosie has also just written a sweet song about Gia. She called her a diva! and I’m happy to report Rosie is now back in the US and sounds much better. There was never a face in the mid-1970’s more prominently seen in Vogue than Rosie Vela. As a makeup artist, it doesn’t get any better than that!
Always been ahige fan of your art, because that’s what Make-up is, a washable art that lasts in photographs. And of course working on someone with a fasce like Rosie’s. well it’s a match made in cosmetic heaven! Love all the shots above, too bad about that nasty Paris heat, I hate it! Don’t like Paris in any season, it’s so over rated!!! LoL!
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