Crossing the Line

Former aspiring Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Jasmine Tookes emerged as one of the breakthrough faces during the Spring/Summer 2012 collections. Notching up an impressive 24 show tally which included appearances for Calvin Klein, Vera Wang, Jason Wu, Prada, Versace, Salvatore Ferragamo, Bottega Veneta, Missoni, Nina Ricci, Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu and Balmain, Tookes looked equally impressive on the runway as she does in a bathing suit. The California native made a splash in Sports Illustrated's 2011 online model search competition and has made the seamless transition from commercial to high fashion modelling, thanks in large part to her management team at IMG Models. 

Working it at Louis Vuitton
Source - thefashionspot.com

Wayne Sterling of models.com gives Tookes the nod of approval, listing her as one of the Top Ten Newcomers for the Spring/Summer 2012 season, and makes the astute observation that, "What is the dividing line between 'commercial' and 'editorial?' Whatever it is, Jasmine Tookes blasted past all limitations this season." Tookes has already been marked as  a model with mass commercial appeal with campaign appearances for DKNY, the GAP and Abercrombie & Fitch, and was recently photographed by Ellen Von Unwerth for Vogue Italia and by Thierry Le Goues for French Revue des Modes. 

Commercial never looked so good
Photographer - Unknown
Source - thefashionspot.com

Balmain - S/S 2012
Photographer - Monica Feudi

Prada - S/S 2012
Photographer - Monica Feudi

Calvin Klein - S/S 2012
Photographer - Filippo Fior

Bottega Veneta - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Versace - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Anthony Vaccarello - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos
All runway images courtesy of style.com

Powerhouse Agencies

V Magazine's model issue serves up a visual smorgasbord of modelling talent in its portfolio of New York's Powerhouse Modelling Agencies. IMG Models, Ford Model Management, DNA Model Management, Next Management, Supreme Models, Marilyn and One Management assemble a mixed bag of legendary faces, current stars and newcomers captured by Terry Richardson, Alex Cayley, Claudia Knoepfel & Stefan Indlekofer, Catherine Servel, Salvatore Morale and Rad Hourani. There's something to suit everyones taste, from the slick stylised Factory inspired DNA landscape shots, to the casual aloof vibe given off by the super IMG line-up, to the trademark Terry Richardson Marilyn portraits.

IMG Models
Photographer - Terry Richardson
Source - thefashionspot.com

DNA Model Management
Photographer - Alex Cayley
Source - thefashionspot.com

DNA Model Management
Photographer - Alex Cayely
Source - thefashionspot.com

Next Management
Photographer - Claudia Knoepfel & Stefan Indlekofer
Source - thefashionspot.com

Supreme Models
Photographer - Catherine Servel
Source - fashiongonerogue.com

Marilyn
Photographer - Terry Richardson
Source - thefashionspot.com

Marilyn
Photographer - Terry Richardson
Source - thefashionspot.com

Ford Model Management
Photographer - Salvatore Morale
Source - thefashionspot.com

Ford Model Management
Photographer - Salvatore Morale
Source - thefashionspot.com

One Management
Photographer - Rad Hourani
All images courtesy of V Magazine Issue 74
Source - the fashionspot.com

The Rebirth

Puerto Rican native Joan Smalls is patent proof of what stellar model management can do for a models career. The evolution of Smalls has been anything but an "overnight success story". Smalls first came under my radar back in 2008 when I spotted her in Elite's online portfolio of models and in a V Magazine spread on "Powerhouse Model Agencies" which featured Smalls as part of Elite's line-up. At the time, I can recall noting Smalls' promise and wondered why she was being relegated to banal appearances in Liz Claiborne ads, Nordstrom catalogues and less prestigious editorial exposure for the likes of Cosmopolitan. Smalls' runway appearances were limited to smaller shows at New York Fashion week for the likes of Benjamin Cho and Heatherette. Here was an incredibly beautiful girl with stunning features and dimensions, yet her career was stalling before it had even started.

The Last Magazine - F/W 2011
Photographer - Karim Sadli
Source - models.com

Paris Vogue - February 2011
Photographer - Mario Sorrenti
Source - models.com

Paris Vogue - February 2011
Photographer - Mario Sorrenti
Source - models.com

V Magazine - July 2010
Photographer - Mark Abrahams
Source - models.com

In 2009, Smalls switched representation from Elite to IMG Models and her management team set about revamping her portfolio with new test shots, repositioning her in the market as a classically beautiful girl with a distinct high fashion edge. The time and resources vested in their new protegé paid dividends with Smalls landing a Spring Givenchy couture exclusive in January 2010. Hoping to capitalise on the buzz surrounding Smalls' Givenchy exclusive, IMG set about promoting Smalls to the hilt, sending her on a round of go-sees to a wide-cross section of casting directors and stylists including Andrew Weir, Russell Marsh, Michelle Lee, Karl Templer and Melanie Huynh. Backed by a management team who recognised her true potential, Smalls delivered the goods, booking Anna Sui, Prada, Burberry, Gucci, Valentino, and Yves Saint Laurent amongst others in her pivotal breakthrough Fall/Winter 2010 show season.

Industrie Magazine
Photographer - Rachel Chandler
Source - industrie.nowmanifest.com

Smalls is now indisputably one of the fashion industry's most coveted faces, appearing regularly in blue chip publications including all international editions of Vogue, V Magazine, W, i-D Magazine, and in campaigns for Givenchy, Stella McCartney, Gucci, Roberto Cavalli and the GAP. In early 2011, Smalls reached the pinnacle of any model's career by signing a lucrative cosmetics contract with Estee Lauder, becoming a spokesperson and global ambassador for the cosmetics giant. Smalls success is a testament to her hard work ethic, perseverance, charming personality and to her management team at IMG. In an interview with the T Magazine, Smalls is asked whom in the (modelling) industry she most identifies with, to which she replies tellingly, "models who have worked their way to an admirable career and have taken their time to get there."

Thierry Mugler - S/S 2012
Photographer - Filippo Fior

Max Mara - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Gucci - S/S 2012
Photographer - Monica Feudi

Carolina Herrera - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Hakaan - S/S 2012
Photographer - Marcus Tondo

Donna Karan - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Givenchy - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos
All runway images courtesy of style.com

Last Days of Disco

Tsanna Latouche and Barbara Di Creddo turn into a pair of disco divas in an editorial for the Financial Times supplement, How to Spend It Magazine. Di Creddo and Latouche vamp it up for photographer Andrew Yee wearing designs by Gucci, Lanvin and Louis Vuitton. The contrasting looks of Latouche and de Creddo work in tandem for this editorial, with both models perfectly encapsulating the hedonistic vibe of the 70's disco era.

Represented by IMG Models, Canadian-born Latouche owes her exotic beauty to a mix of Jamaican and Indian lineage. Brazilian model Di Creddo has been modelling since 2005 and recently switched representation from IMG Models to Ford. Blessed with Victoria's Secret runway-worthy bodies and editorial-friendly faces, both models have up until now appealed to more commercial-end clients. I hope that this stunning editorial gets both models noticed by casting directors and designers in the lead up to the Spring/Summer 2012 shows in September.

Tsanna Latouche

Barbara Di Creddo & Tsanna Latouche

Barbara Di Creddo

How to Spend It Magazine
Photographer - Andrew Yee
Source - fashiongonerogue.com