Cruise Mode

V Magazine's Model Issue serves up four alternate covers featuring eight of modelling's most illuminating faces captured by Terry Richardson. Joan Smalls, Daphne Groeneveld, Saskia de Brauw, Candice Swanepoel, Sui He, Hanaa Ben Abdesslem, Lindsey Wixson and Bambi Northwood-Blyth are paired off wearing the best of the Cruise collections styled by Carine Roitfeld. The models sport fluorescent eye shadow, candy-coloured spandex leggings and vibrant prints to brighten up the dreary Winter months ahead. Models appear to be making a come-back as cover subjects with Roitfeld anointing Smalls et al. as the "next generation of supermodels." Speaking with WWD, Roitfeld enthuses, "These eight girls are unique. It's their diversity that makes each of them, to me, truly modern. They bring a new energy to fashion."

Candice Swanepoel & Joan Smalls
V Magazine - Issue 74
Photographer -  Terry Richardson

Daphne Groeneveld & Saskia de Brauw
V Magazine - Issue 74
Photographer - Terry Richardson

Sui He & Hanaa Ben Abdesslem
V Magazine - Issue 74
Photographer - Terry Richardson

Bambi Northwood-Blyth & Lindsey Wixson
V Magazine -  Issue 74
Photographer - Terry Richardson
Source - models.com

Terry's Girls

Just in, are these candid snaps of photographer Terry Richardson with three of modelling's most gorgeous faces. Joan Smalls, Candice Swanepoel and Aussie sensation Bambi Northwood-Blyth pose solo and alongside Richardson for these studio shots. Richardson "thumbs up" studio shots have become his signature trademark and bring a sense of lightness and fun on set. The candid pics also give the models the opportunity to ham it up and to express a side of their personalities that we don't get to see often enough.

Terry Richardson & Joan Smalls

Joan Smalls

Candice Swanepoel

Terry Richardson & Candice Swanepoel

Candice Swanepoel

Bambi Northwood-Blyth & Terry Richardson

Bambi Northwood-Blyth

Bambi's Bambi Tatt
Photographer - Terry Richardson
Source - terrysdiary.com

Bambi bites back

Australian modelling sensation, Bambi Northwood-Blyth continues her editorial crossover with appearances on the covers of Australian Harper's Bazaar, Oyster Magazine, Spanish Harper's Bazaar, Vogue Nippon, and French Revue de Modes. With so few magazine covers allocated to models these days, five covers is an astonishing feat for any model let alone a relative newcomer. Steven Meisel appears to agree, having recently lensed Northwood-Blyth for the Spring/Summer 2011 cK one campaign and for an editorial in W Magazine. Let's hope that Ms Northwood-Blyth pops up on the pages of Vogue Italia or US Vogue for whom Meisel is a key contributor.

Harper's Bazaar Australia - June/July 2011
Photographer - Lachlan Bailey
Source - fashiongonerogue.com

French Revue de Modes - S/S 2011
Photographer - Thierry Le Goues
Source - thefashionspot.com

Harper's Bazaar Espana - May 2011
Photographer - Nico
Source - models.com

Oyster Magazine - Issue 92
Photographer - Bec Parsons
Source - models.com

Britt Maren, Fei Fei Sun, Milou Van Groesen
& Bambi Northwood-Blyth
Vogue Nippon - April 2011
Photographer - Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin

cK one - S/S 2011
Abbey Lee Kershaw, Bambi Northwood-Blyth, Lara Stone & Ruby Aldridge
Photographer - Steven Meisel
Source - models.com

W Magazine  - March 2011
Bambi Northwood-Blyth, Eliza Cummings, Saskia de
 Brauw & Jana Knauerova
Photographer - Steven Meisel
Source - models.com

Model as Muse

Modelling's newest rising stars serve as inspiration for a series of paintings by artist Danny Roberts, commissioned for models.com's MDX. Roberts portraits are based on various existing images of Arizona Muse, Melodie Monrose, Iris Egbers, Hailey Clauson, Julia Saner, Daphne Groeneveld, Bambi Northwood-Blyth and Britt Maren, with the artist imbuing each canvass with his own unique perspective. Roberts captures the individual nuances of each model from the understated elegance of Monrose, to the bohemian chic of Northwood-Blyth and the haunting beauty of Muse. The end results are pure magic and hark back to the days when models served as Muse beyond the world of fashion.

Arizona Muse

Hailey Clauson

Melodie Monrose

Britt Maren

Bambi Northwood-Blyth

Daphne Groeneveld

Iris Egbers

Julia Saner
All images courtesy of models.com

Australian Invasion

After a succession of Brazilian, Beglian, Russian, and Dutch models, it appears that Australians could very well be riding high on the next wave of models set to infiltrate the modelling world. In the agency show packages released in the lead up to the Fall/Winter 2011 shows, Australians feature prominently, with 7 out of the 25 models presented in the official Elite Models show package being Australian.

Established Australian models Catherine McNeil and Abbey Lee Kershaw are not officially slated to appear at New York Fashion Week but will be duly represented by emerging talents; Bambi Northwood-Blyth, Julia Nobis, Ajak Deng, Alice Burdeu, Tallulah Morton, Amanda Ware, Myf Shepherd, Lauren Brown, Annaleise Smith, Ruby Jean Wilson, Melissa Johannsen aka MJ, and Codie Young. This is just the tip of the iceberg with fellow Antipodean models; Stephanie Cherry, Samantha Harris, Juliana Forge, Meg Lindsay, Rachel Rutt, Stephanie Carta and Alexandra Agoston O'Connor yet to be confirmed for appearances during the Fall/Winter show season.

According to influential US casting director Ashley Brokaw in an interview with the New York Times, "Thing's are steering away from the army casting we've seen in recent years." With the focus shifting towards personality and individuality, models like Abbey Lee Kershaw who possess a quirkiness and an unaffected, natural beauty that is endearing, are positioned to do well. There is no doubt that Australian models will feature prominently throughout the Fall/Winter 2011 shows, the question that remains however is which models will garner the attention of the all important fashion editors, photographers and stylists?

Alice Burdeu - Elite New York

Annaleise Smith - Supreme

Codie Young - DNA

MJ - Wilhelmina Models

Ruby Jean Wilson - Elite New York

Ajak Deng - IMG

Lauren Brown - Elite New York

Bambi Northwood-Blyth - Elite New York

Julia Nobis - Elite New York

Amanda Ware - Elite New York
All images courtesy of models.com

Make or Break

The casting for BCBG Max Azria drew an impressive line-up of over 500 model hopefuls who were sent through their paces under the watchful eye of casting director Russell Marshall. Three shows are cast for the BCBG group, namely BCBG, Max Azria and Herve Leger. Industry pundits can rely on the BCBG shows to forecast the most promising new models for the season ahead. Models of the moment; Arizona Muse, Celine Van Amstel, Andie Arthur, Linnea Regnander, and Samantha Gradoville, all appeared in BCBG's Spring/Summer 2011 show last season. 

The lead up to the shows can prove to be an arduous time for models, often spent running to and from castings and fittings with little time to stop to refuel. BCBG shows a little love by providing survival kits at it's castings, complete with snacks, water, beauty products and tips to stay healthy throughout the runway season.

Judging by the images below, this could well be the season that the fashion industry embraces diversity. Spotted at the BCBG casting were an eclectic mix of models; Ajak Deng, Danica Magpantay, Crystal Renn, Samantha Gradoville, Hailey Clauson, Ornelia Edwards, Betty Adewole, Alice Burdeu, and Bambi Northwood-Blyth.

Ornelia Edwards, Betty Adewole & Aymeline Valade

A little Patience...

Californian Sunshine Kid - Hailey Clauson

Nyasha Mantonhodze & Ajak Deng

Australia's Next Top Models
Amanda Ware & Alice Burdeu

These boots are made for walking...

Hanne Gaby Odiele & Kasia Struss

The List

Betty Adewole & Ornelia Edwards

A little conversation - Bambi Northwood-Blyth & Lauren Brown

Best foot forward

Unknown & Celine Van Amstel

Nerves of Steel 

Centred - Danica Magpantay

Welcome

Survivor - Crystal Renn
All images courtesy of bcbgmaxazriagroup.com