Shot of the Day

Aymeline Valade @ Giles.

The more I look at Giles S/S 12 collection the more I think how fantastic he would be doing couture.

Shot of the Day

Emily Baker (DNA) closing Oscar De La Renta (oh, and she opened too). I love the way the dress moves so Emily almost looks like she's running:

Best of the Show Packages

Elite Models NY Front Cover
Now that I'm officially a graduate (eeek!), I find myself focusing just a little more intently on fashion week, in particular the preliminary buzz around the new faces (which I usually picked up towards the end of NYFW). I found myself on the ever brilliant models.com and finally had time to look through the show packages, and I can't believe I left it so long! The creativity, wit and style have gone into the images - Ford Models was a particular favourite of mine - makes it worth spending some time with show packages, if for no other reason to pick out your top 10 of the season.

Karmen Pedaru @ Ford Models.

Taylor Nicole @ Next (in what will be her first full season).

My favourite model in years, Aymeline @ Women Direct

Anais @ Trump.

Blanca @Ford.

This may seem a little Ford-centric, but I'm so impressed with their showcards and their board. So here's one more:

Brenda Kranz @ Ford (spot her in Vogue Italia September.)

Anyone for Tennis?

With Wimbledon just around the corner, and bikini season well under way, what better way to celebrate than with the new Nike campaign shot by Annie Leibovitz?



From the 'Make Yourself' campaign the shot features Allyson Felix, Chinese tennis player Li Na, Algerian-French dancer Sofia Boutella, British hurdler Perri Shakes-Drayton, Russian-born tennis star Maria Sharapova, USA goalkeeper Hope Solo and Australian surfer Laura Enever.

It's certainly got me to dig out my Nike trainers and make my way to the gym - a long over due trip!

10 for 10: Paris Couture Spring 2011

I'll try and to keep this post to as few words as possible, because I can't even begin to describe some of these looks. Here are my favourite looks, make up and accessories from the wonderful world of couture:












It would see there is a new optimism in Paris these few days, these looks are so light and airy - even at Armani with it's futuristic light reflecting materials. This has been one of my favourite couture seasons for awhile, even though Chanel was more subdued than usual I love the silhouette of the long floaty skirt with satin pointy flat shoes. I can't believe I'm starting to favour flats over heels, but such is the power of Karl Lagerfeld

Aymeline Valade

I have been desperate to post about this new face! I'm not sure why I've left it so long but I just had to share, as she has the most captivating look. Aymeline Valade, represented by Women model management and FM Models in London made her major debut at Balenciaga S/S 11:



After her appearance, things got a little quieter but then the Pre Fall collections came out and she only made an appearance for Balenciaga and Alexander Wang. If there were two brands to ever make a models career these are the ones to appear with:

(Balenciaga Pre-Fall & Alexander Wang Pre-Fall)

She has such an intense look, that photographs beautifully. Then she appeared in the first Alexander Wang mainline campaign (shot by Craig McDean)


And today her appearance in Interview Feb/March (again shot by McDean) has been published on models.com:




(models.com)


Aymeline really rocks the tomboy clothes, and doesn't get lost in Karl Templer's exquisite styling. For a new face, she photographs in such a confident self-assured way. I'm so intrigued to see what the next runway season brings for her, whether she will appear everywhere or just walk a select few blue chip runway appearances.

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!