Joan, revisited

It feels like so long since I've been posting regularly, but the last three months I've been wrapped up in my dissertation, but the 10,000 words are done, bound and handed in. I can finally get back to blogging - a month before the A/W 11 shows kick off! I'm lucky enough to be at London Fashion Week again this season, and I'm really hoping to bump into a certain Joan Smalls. I first blogged about her all the way back in April 2010 and I was just thinking how far she has come.

For the S/S 11 campaign season she has both Gucci and Roberto Cavalli:




...and she's rumoured to appear in the (as yet unpublished) Stella McCartney campaign.

My favourite of her recent run of work, however is this editorial:

all images scanned by the wonderful users at TFS.

Shot by Mario Sorrenti it appears in the February issue of Vogue Paris. Joan is such a great mover, and in this editorial she has the presence of a veteran model with her compelling gaze and awareness of how the clothes move. She's one of the most versatile models today.

I can't wait to see the Stella McCartney campaign!

Miss Joan

I don't know why I've left it so long to blog about Joan Smalls. The 22 year old Puerto Rican beauty started off on the catalogue circuit, modelling for commerical brands until she met the model maker that is Ricardo Tisci at Givenchy, and an exclusive appearance at Givenchy Spring 2010 couture followed.

But it was Fall 2010 that would be her breakout season, 44 shows and appearances at Prada, YSL, Louis Vuitton, Jil Sander & Gucci.


Prada, YSL, Louis Vuitton, Jil Sander & Gucci.

Joan has the regal look of Liya but the commerical appeal of Noémie Lenoir, so it's not surprise that her first major editorial appearance was in Vogue Italia April, holding her own against such veterans as Amber & Lara. Oh, and of course it was shot by Meisel.

With rumours of a Givenchy campaign to follow, it's hardly surprising that Joan has become the model to watch for the Fall 10 season.

images; imgmodels, style.com