From the Archives: When Iowa Governor-Elect Rob Sand Was Shot by Steven Meisel for Vogue Italia
“Be My Baby,” by Steven Meisel, was originally published in the February 2004 issue of Vogue Italia. For more of the best from Vogue’s archive, sign up for our Nostalgia newsletter here. With a fluffed-up quiff and a supermodel on his arm, here’s a look at Iowa’s next governor. Long before Democrat Rob Sand made political history, he was having a very different kind of moment in the spotlight, posing for Steven Meisel in the pages of Vogue Italia.
The year was 2004, and Sand was among the fresh faces who appeared in “Be My Baby,” an editorial in the February issue, photographed by Meisel and styled by Brana Wolf. Alongside Sand was a cast of rising fashion stars, including a young Caroline Trentini, with whom he posed in a series of moody, black-and-white portraits. The concept centered on a romanticized vision of 1950s youth culture, abounding with the aforementioned rockabilly hair and lots of leather The original Italian introduction described the mood as a collision of bon ton—good manners and traditional propriety—and transgression.
Garren was responsible for the towering and teased hairstyles, while Dame Pat McGrath crafted smudgy, kohl-rimmed eyes. The cast wore Belstaff leather biker jackets, white Guess T-shirts and jeans, Helmut Lang tank tops and tailoring, Prada separates, and a Gucci crocodile belt. Womenswear included diaphanous Blumarine slips, Prada silk and tweed, and chiffon dresses by Rossella Tarabini for Anna Molinari.
Was a fun day! Sand wrote beneath
“Was a fun day!” Sand wrote beneath an Instagram post by Meisel revisiting the shoot. Sand’s modeling career was no mere college dalliance. While studying political science at Brown University, the six-foot-three Iowan spent time working in Milan and Paris, walking for Prada, cult Japanese label Number (N)ine, and Giuliano Fujiwara. He also appeared in Prada’s spring 2003 menswear show.
In fact, his fashion commitments were once so serious that he missed the 2004 Iowa caucuses in his hometown of Decorah because he was working in Milan. On November 3, Sand defeated Republican Zach Lahn to become the first Democrat elected governor of Iowa in 20 years, following two terms as state auditor. His newly resurfaced modeling portfolio has since become an unlikely internet sensation.
Sand himself has joined in on the joke, sharing one of his old Vogue Italia photographs with the caption: “I’m disappointed to learn images of me modeling for Prada are circulating. Because this shot from Italian Vogue is much better.”
From Prada to public office, it’s quite the career trajectory. And with his campaign now selling “My Model Governor” merchandise, Rob Sand clearly knows how to harness a good fashion moment.
Source: www.vogue.com
