It Crowd Violinist (& Classical Music Coverboy) Charlie Siem

To the fashion industry, Charlie Siem's worth more than just his musicianship. Siem's been a familiar face among fashion's jet-setters since legendary photographer Mario Testino anointed him at a book launch to premiere his portraits of Kate Moss (which can be yours for $1,385.00 /lol/).

Whether he's first row at fashion week men's shows (like he was last month in Milan to check out Calvin Klein's RTW Fall 2012 luxury-sportswear inspired collection) or at a Cartier event in Rome, you mention his name to fashionable crowds and they know his face despite knowing much about classical music.

He's been stamped a Savile Row style icon, thanks to facing Dunhill's spring 2011 ad campaign and smug or shallow, we don't care. We admire him for making classical music cool by association and for growing our list of male violinists who bring the secks (fictional or not). The 25-year-old London-born violinist feels the same way:

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s only giving exposure to the violin to a different audience — a fashion audience — that might not otherwise read about it or know about it. So it’s only a positive thing.” <-- that's what he told WWD's David Lipke in a recent interview (print out here).

Comments

[Rose-Mary Hyslop]

A bit of eye candy is always welcome in the world of classical music, but if Mr Siem has any sense, he won't hitch his brand too closely to a hot fashion ticket. Not if he wants to be taken seriously in a professional sense anyhow.But maybe he isn't so serious after all. Seen at a fashion show? Fashionistas know his face but not his music? Hmmmm-could this be the (male) Katherine Jenkins of the violin?

[Coloratura Tempura]

Hot!

[Wexell]

I would definitely go to one of his performances to hear if he lives up to the hype but honestly if the fashion crowds have claimed him as one of their own, it doesn't speak highly of his skill. They can't tell Bruch from Bach nor would they even care to learn.

[Furst]

Whatever. ASM is the queen but Janine and Lisa (Batiashvili) are most fetching (and we discovered Arabella Steinbacher last spring - and surprising and most edifying discovery it was).

But you ladies have fun.