Element of Surprise

Whilst it's always lovely to see established models like Natasha Poly, Karmen Pedaru, and Raquel Zimmermann booking campaign after campaign each season, every now and then it's nice to see casting directors taking a leap of faith in a newcomer. Valentino's campaign shot by the amazing Deborah Turbeville, features four of modellings up-and-coming talent; Bette Franke, Fei Fei Sun, Maud Welzen and Zuzanna Bijoch. Turbeville's enigmatic photographic style perfectly captures the romanticism and mysterious ethereal-like beauty of Valentino's Spring/Summer 2012 collection. Each of the four models is uniquely beautiful and possesses that indefinable star quality that is campaign worthy.

Maud Welzen, Zuzanna Bijoch, Bette Franke & Fei Fei Sun
Valentino - S/S 2012
Photographer - Deborah Turbeville
Source - fashiongonerogue.com

Hervé Leger enlists photographer Camilla Akrans to capture the exquisite beauty of former America's Next Top Model alumni Fatima Siad for its Spring/Summer 2012 campaign. Siad looks every bit the warrior goddess in a gladiator inspired bandeau dress whilst posing alongside a white horse. The Somali-Ethiopian model has more than earnt her stripes, having branched out on her own in the modelling world, turning heads at the recent Spring/Summer 2012 collections with appearances at Hermés, Dries Van Noten, and Andrew Gn.

Fatima Siad
Hervé Leger - S/S 2012
Photographer - Camilla Akrans
Source - fashiongonerogue.com

Chinese newcomer Xiao Wen Ju scores the campaign coup of the season with an only girl slot for Marc Jacobs. The designer enlists twenty year old Wen Ju to be the first Chinese campaign star for the prestigious label. The Xian native represented by IMG Model Management has been modelling for only a year and has already appeared in Love, American Vogue, French Revue de Modes, V Magazine and Interview. Wen Ju's wide set eyes, doll-like features and petite frame bring a freshness and an element of surprise to the Juergen Teller lensed campaign images. Wen Ju was hard not to notice at the Spring/Summer 2012 collections where she walked for the likes of Louis Vuitton, Loewe, Dsquared2, Missoni, Anteprima, DKNY, Rag & Bone, 3.1 Philip Lim, Cushnie et Ochs , Peter Som and of course, Marc Jacobs.

Xiao Wen Ju
Marc Jacobs - S/S 2012
Photographer - Juergen Teller
Source - models.com

It's Gonna be a Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays Everyone! I must apologise for my slackness with posting of late but I have just spent the past few days holed up in a lakeside cabin in Bavaria without internet access. Now don't get me wrong - I love nature and all, but there is only so much hiking and fresh air that I can take before I start to get a little stir crazy for a healthy dose of fashion and modelling. British Vogue gets 2012 off to just the right start with a gorgeous editorial lensed by Daniel Jackson and styled by Francesca Burns, featuring an eclectic cast of beauties. Veteran models Elise Crombez and Doutzen Kroes lead the charge alongside newcomers Kati Nescher, Emily Baker, Codie Young, Romee Strijd, Maria Bradley and familiar faces Ymre Stiekma, Vika Falileeva and Bette Franke. I love this editorial for its unpredictable line-up of girls and the fact that the models are allowed to imbue each image with a hint of their personality.

Romee Strijd

Maria Bradley

Emily Baker

Elise Crombez

Bette Franke

Codie Young

Ymre Stiekema

Kirsi Pyrhonen

Kati Nescher

Doutzen Kroes

Maria Bradley

Kirsi Pyrhonen

Vika Falileeva

Emily Baker
British Vogue - February 2012
Photographer - Daniel Jackson
Styling - Francesca Burns
Source - models.com

The Evolution of Bette Franke

Dutch model Bette Franke, who has been modelling since 2003, was the big surprise package of the Spring/Summer 2012 collections. Franke, a runway veteran at age twenty-two, left a gaggle of newcomers quivering in her wake during her, wait for it, 54 runway appearances for the likes of Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Chloé, Chanel, DSquared2, Alexander Wang, Proenza Schouler, Oscar de la Renta, Hermés, and Jil Sander amongst others.

Bette Franke
Australian Harpers Bazaar - January 2012
Photographer - Benny Horne

Australian Harpers Bazaar - January 2012
Photographer - Benny Horne

Australian Harpers Bazaar - January 2012
Photographer - Benny Horne
Source - fashiongonerogue.com

Over the course of her modelling career, Franke has not only been a regular fixture on the international catwalk circuit but has also gained significant editorial exposure in publications including British Harpers Bazaar, Italian Flair, W, V Magazine and in the Japanese, British, German, Italian and French editions of Vogue. Campaign appearances throughout 2006 and 2007 for Hugo by Hugo Boss, Max & Co., Celine, Blumarine, Oscar de la Renta, cK Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana and Lacoste suggested that Franke would continue to ascend the rungs of the modelling ladder.

US Harpers Bazaar - September 2011
Photographer - Camilla Akrans

US Harpers Bazaar - September 2011
Photographer - Camilla Akrans
Source - models.com

I have had my eye on Franke's evolution over the past eight years and have always thought of her as a beautiful, sweet looking kid. As happens all too often with models having started out so young, interest in Franke began to wane from 2008 and her editorial and show options slowly dwindled. In 2010, Franke took an extended break from the international show circuit only to reemerge at the Spring/Summer 2012 collections with a renewed vigour and a sensual, womanly allure that shed her in a completely new light.

Franke not only looks sensational but she also exudes a confidence and sense of knowing that perhaps this is now her time to fulfil her true potential. I am certain that in 2012, Franke will be turning up in blue chip editorials and campaigns everywhere as fashion editors, casting agents, stylists and photographers clamour for a piece of fashion's "newest" star.

Polaroid courtesy of Why Not Models
Source - thefashionspot.com

Roland Mouret - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Alexander Wang - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Barbara Bui - S/S 2012
Photographer - Alessandro Viero

Isabel Marant - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Nina Ricci - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Calvin Klein - S/S 2012
Photographer - Filippo Fior
All runway images courtesy of style.com

An Intimate View

Whatever your opinion may be of photographer Terry Richardson, there is no denying that he is one of the most influential and prominent figures in the worlds of modelling and fashion. Richardson's scope as a photographer can be witnessed in publications such as US Vogue, Vogue Paris, V Magazine, Vanity Fair, Harpers Bazaar, Purple, Industrie and i-D. Not surprisingly, Richardson's studio plays host to the who's who of modelling talent from iconic models Kate Moss, Daria Werbowry and Gisele Bundchen, to established stars Abbey Lee Kershaw, Freja Beha Erichsen and Lara Stone, and to a slew of young hopefuls. Richardson's studio shots as featured on terrysdiary.com, capture the raw, natural beauty of his subjects whilst depicting a unique intimacy and camaraderie between model and photographer. 

Freja Beha Erichsen

Daria Werbowry

Lindsey Wixson

Lara Stone

Erin Wasson

Bette Franke

Kendra Spears

Karolina Kurkova

Marloes Horst

Gisele Bundchen & Terry Richardson

Joan Smalls

Shanina Shaik

Candice Swanepoel

Marihenny Passible

Arizona Muse

Daphne Groeneveld

Sui He

Sasha Pivovarova
Photographer - Terry Richardson
Source - terrysdiary.com