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

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

Sensory Overload

French newcomer Aymeline Valade is fast becoming one of my favourite faces of the moment. Valade appears in two compelling editorials for Numero and Vogue China lensed respectively by Tom Munro and Camilla Akrans. Munro's feitsh inspired editorial for Numero, taps into Valade's sultry beauty and depicts her as a woman not afraid to show off her brazen sexuality. Aymeline's versatility as a model is demonstrated further as she reveals a softer, more winsome, romantic side for Vogue China's editorial. Akrans captures Valade in a sun dappled garden setting amidst cherry blossoms and hydrangeas. Valade looks simply divine wearing creations by Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Celine and Maison Martin Margiela. 

French Numero - Issue 125
Photographer - Tom Munro
Source - fashiongonerogue.com

Vogue China - July 2011
Photographer - Camilla Akrans
Source - fashiongonerogue.com