Alexander Wang's All Star Cast

What do Maria Bradley, Aymeline Valade, Britt Maren, Mirte Maas, Freja Beha Erichsen, and Raquel Zimmermann all have in common? Well, they were all marked for success by designer Alexander Wang who selected each model previously to open for his collections. With all eyes firmly cast on Wang's  Fall/Winter 2012 show on Saturday, Danish newcomer Nadja Bender emerged in opening slot, as the model who will be most coveted for the season ahead. 

As is the case at Alexander Wang, the show's line-up consisted of an all-star mix of newcomers, established models and iconic faces. Nineties supermodels Shalom Harlow, Gisele Bundchen, Karolina Kurkova, Carmen Kass, Querelle Jansen, Frankie Rayder and Elise Crombez were joined by the current generation of stars; Abbey Lee Kershaw, Anja Rubik, Joan Smalls, Natasha Poly, Karmen Pedaru, Jourdan Dunn, Aymeline Valade and Liu Wen. Amongst such a stellar line-up of talent, a new generation of models emerged from the fray unscathed. Lara Mullen, Maria Bradley, Kati Nescher, Ava Smith, Josefien Rodermans, Laura Kampman, and Nadja Bender looked right at home amongst the seasoned pros.

Opening Slot - Nadja Bender
Alexander Wang - F/W 2012

Laura Kampman

Lara Mullen

Ava Smith

Maria Bradley

Anja Rubik

Liu Wen

Jourdan Dunn

Frankie Rayder

Karolina Kurkova

Gisele Bundchen

Shalom Harlow

Josefien Rodermans

Joan Smalls

Abbey Lee Kershaw

Carmen Kass
Alexander Wang - F/W 2012
Photographer - Monica Feudi
Source - style.com

Art + Commerce

With advertising clients including Prada, Alexander Wang, Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, Lanvin and Carolina Herrera, it's no wonder boutique agency Production at Art + Commerce attracts the cream of modelling talent at its castings.  PRODn are the masterminds behind the casting and coordination of editorials for the likes of American Vogue, Vogue Italia, Vogue Paris, British Vogue, Love Magazine, W Magazine, Interview, i-D and Numéro. With such an illustrious roster of clients, a go-see at PRODn can propel an up and coming model from relative obscurity to blue chip status in well, less than five minutes flat. 

Maria Bradley

Ling Ling

Jessek

Kelly Mittendorf

Arizona Muse

Gertrude Hegelund

Jasmine Tookes

Sui He

Daga Ziober

Varsha Thapa

Juana Berga

Cris Urena
All images courtesy of artandcommerceproduction.com

Raquel Reigns

Raquel Zimmerman's blue chip appeal shows no signs of wavering even after more than a decade in the modelling biz. Zimmerman's reign continues with three Fall/Winter 2011 campaign appearances for Alexander Wang, Lanvin and Yves Saint Laurent lensed by Fabien Baron, Steven Meisel and Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. Zimmerman also features in the August 2011 editions of US Vogue in two editorials captured by Meisel and Steven Klein, in Paris Vogue posing again for Lamsweerde & Matadin, and on the cover of Vogue Espana photographed by Josh Olins.

Zimmerman first rose to prominence in the late nineties amidst the Brazilian wave of models bringing sexy back into fashion. Whilst many of her Brazilian counterparts have since fallen by the wayside, Zimmerman's appeal and reputation as one of the most versatile models in the industry has made her an enduring presence in publications like Paris Vogue, US Vogue, Vogue Italia, V Magazine and W. I particularly adore Zimmerman because she is not your conventional cookie cutter beauty. Zimmerman's elongated face, distinct jawline, and distended gap between her upper lip and nose, make for a face that is uniquely beautiful and intriguing.

Zimmerman is the undisputed campaign queen having figured prominently in campaigns for Gucci, Chloe, Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin, Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen, Hugo Boss, Hermes, Fendi, Oscar de la Renta and Shiseido cosmetics. Zimmerman's stunning versatility and her ability to transform in front of the camera ensure her the kind of longevity that is only accorded to models truly worthy of supermodel status.

Raquel Zimmerman
Alexander Wang - F/W 2011
Photographer - Fabien Baron
Source - nymag.com

US Vogue - June 2010
Photographer - Mikael Jansson
Source - models.com

US Vogue - November 2008
Photographer - David Sims
Source - models.com

US Vogue - August 2009
Photographer - David Sims
Source - models.com

US Vogue - April 2011
Photographer - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Source - models.com

Raquel Zimmerman & Catherine McNeil
US Vogue - March 2009
Photographer - Mario Testino
Source - nymag.com

 

Paris Vogue - August 2009
Photographer - Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin
Source - nymag.com

Wish Magazine - November 2008
Photographer -  Ruy Sanchez Blanco
Source - models.com

V Magazine - August 2007
Photographer - Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin
Source - models.com

Purple Magazine - Fall/Winter 2010
Photographer - Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin
Source - thefashionspot.com

Vogue Brasil - May 2010
Photographer - Henrique Gendre
Source - models.com

British Vogue - November 2010
Photographer - Nick Knight
Source - models.com

Paris Vogue - February 2010
Photographer - Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin
Source - nymag.com

W Magazine - October 2009
Photographer - Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin
Source - nymag.com

W Magazine - March 2008
Photographer - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Source - nymag.com

Yves Saint Laurent - F/W 2011
Photographer - Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin
Source - nymag.com

US Vogue - August 2011
Photographer - Steven Klein
Source - thefashionspot.com

V Magazine - May 2009
Photographer - Mario Testino
Source - models.com

W Magazine - August 2006
Photographer - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Source - nymag.com

US Vogue - April 2008
Photographer - Mario Testino
Source - nymag.com

The Future is Here

French model Aymeline Valade has emerged as this season's most coveted newcomer landing three  Fall/Winter campaigns for Kenzo, Just Cavalli and Etro photographed by Mario Sorrenti, Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott, and Mario Testino respectively. At age twenty six, Valade's success may come as a surprise to many given that most newcomers are barely shy of their teens. Valade's breakthrough occurred during the Fall/Winter 2011 collections in New York when Alexander Wang selected her to open his show. What followed was a deluge of runway bookings in Milan and Paris for the likes of Gucci, Chanel, Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton for which she closed. Valade has since made an indelible mark editorial-wise in blue chip publications including W, Interview, Numero, the Journal, i-D Magazine and German Vogue.

Valade along with Arizona Muse and Saskia de Brauw represent a shift in modelling's aesthetic toward models with life experience, a defined sense of self and purpose, and above all with personality. More than just a pretty face, Valade is an inquisitive woman who is clearly at one with her body, having trained for years in classical ballet. Valade details in an interview with the Cut that "I was scouted multiple times at multiple ages, but due to school and lack of interest I never pursued it. When I was 23, I went to Paris and was interning at a communications agency. Every day I passed by an agency and they scouted me. I did a few jobs with them but left after my internship was over. I eventually signed with Women Paris when my old agent from the agency became my manager and the rest is history."

Valade's striking individual looks are accentuated by an insightful mind and serene nature, adding in the interview with the Cut that "Happiness is a state. It is not something you think about, but something you are. The best thing to do is to just enjoy every situation as much as you can, the less you think about it, the better." Valade to me represents a backlash against the past few years of android-like pre-pubescent models predominantly from Eastern European block countries. Valade possesses the looks and personality to inspire photographers and designers to allow models to project their own personality onto the runway and editorial pages.

A new era of Supermodel
The Journal - S/S 2011
Photographer - Hugh Lippe
Source - models.com

German Vogue - May 2011
Photographer - Greg Kadel
Source - models.com

Arizona Muse & Aymeline Valade
W Magazine - March 2011
Photographer - Steven Meisel
Source - thefashionspot.com

German Vogue - May 2011
Photographer - Greg Kadel
Source - models.com

Aymeline Valade & Alla Kostromichova
i-D Magazine - April 2011
Photographer - Josh Olins
Source - models.com

  

Aymeline Valade & Clement Chabernaud
Kenzo - F/W 2011
Photographer - Mario Sorrenti
Source - models.com

Aymeline Valade & Andres Risso
Etro - F/W 2011
Photographer - Mario Testino
Source -  models.com

Aymeline Valade & Stelios Niakaris
Just Cavalli - F/W 2011
Photographer - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Source - models.com

Alexander Wang - S/S 2011
Photographer - Craig McDean
Source - thefashionspot.com