Orient Express

Deciding which models and shows to highlight is in itself an almost impossible task. Almost that is, until I saw Australian model Shanina Shaik opening for Jason Wu's Chinese themed collection. Wu, who is in fact Taiwanese and immigrated to Canada at the age of ten, was inspired by a trip with his father to Taiwan. Asking himself "What is Chinese?", Wu came up with three distinct reference points; the military China epitomised by Mao jackets and shirts, the historical China of the Qing dynasty, and forties Hollywood version of China.

To fulfil this brief, Wu enlisted the services of casting director James Scully to assemble a line-up of models who could embody the many sides of Chinese culture as reflected in the collection. The challenge for Scully lay in casting models with strong enough looks and conviction combined with a womanly allure, to pull off the military style jackets, cheongsam dresses and silk tassel earrings. With the gonging of a cymbal, Shanina Shaik entered the fray via a strobe of red light signalling the beginnings of a visual feast. Red hot newcomers Katryn Kruger, Kati Nescher, Julia Frauche, and Marte Mei Van Haaster joined the procession alongside established stars Joan Smalls, Aymeline Valade, Kate King, Emily Baker and Candice Swanepoel. The line-up was one of the most ethnically diverse of NYFW with Cora Emmanuel, Jourdan Dunn, Anais Mali, Liu Wen, Tao Okamoto, Lais Ribeiro and Jasmine Tookes all landing coveted spots.

In the final moments before the show is about to start, Scully corals the models together for a pre-show motivational pep talk informing them, "It is the year of the dragon ladies at Jason Wu and you're his bitches, so make sure everybody knows. We want you confident, strong, gorgeous. I don't book you for your size, I book you because of who you are and you're all beautiful and never let anyone make you feel less than skinny or not big enough. You're all fucking gorgeous and I want you all to feel that way when you go out there and make the show happen." 

Jason Wu's Model Army
Jason Wu - F/W 2012

Shanina Shaik
Jason Wu - F/W 2012

Candice Swanepoel
Jason Wu - F/W 2012

Cora Emmanuel
Jason Wu - F/W 2012

Anais Mali
Jason Wu - F/W 2012

Katryn Kruger
Jason Wu - F/W 2012

Jasmine Tookes
Jason Wu - F/W 2012

Kati Nescher
Jason Wu - F/W 2012

Jourdan Dunn
Jason Wu - F/W 2012

Liu Wen
Jason Wu - F/W 2012

Emily Baker
Jason Wu - F/W 2012

Lais Ribeiro
Jason Wu - F/W 2012
Photographer - Monica Feudi
Source - style.com

Trendsetters

Each season, model pundits eagerly await BCBG Max Azria's line-up on Day 2 of New York Fashion Week for an indication of the new faces with the most breakout star potential. The BCBG casting is one of the most anticipated castings for any model hopeful. A favourable impression on head designer Lubov Azria can catapult a model into the limelight with possible appearances at anyone of the three presentations for BCBG, Hervé Leger and Max Azria. Last season, newcomer Karolina Waz opened for BCBG Max Azria, followed by a slew of gorgeous new models including Karo Mrozkova, Valerija Sestic, and Brenda Kranz, interspersed amongst faces of the season Kate King, Daga Ziober, Emily Baker, Zuzanna Bijoch and Fei Fei Sun. 

This season casting duo Barbara Nicoli and Leila Ananna, reveal to style.com that they are on the lookout for a straight-forward kind of beauty, or as Ananna refers to as an "eighties glamour - not the fragile quirky look anymore." Amongst the newcomers at the top of their ones to watch list are Katryn Kruger, Nadine Ponce, Josefien Nielsen and Appoline. The industry's finest were in attendance at the BCBG casting for a shot at the hottest ticket in town.

Sara Blomqvist checks in
Photographer - Craig Arend
Source - altamiranyc.tumblr.com

Time to kill
Source - bcbgmaxazriagroup.com

Fine Company
Photographer - Craig Arend
Source - altamiranyc.tumblr.com

Looking at you
Photographer - Craig Arend
Source - altamiranyc.tumblr.com

In the Bag - Kelly Mittendorf
Source - bcbgmaxazriagroup.com

Light Relief
Photographer - Craig Arend
Source - altamiranyc.tumblr.com

In the Line of Fire - Kelly Mittendorf
Photographer - Craig Arend
Source - altamiranyc.tumblr.com

Sissi Hou
Source - bcbgmaxazriagroup.com

Sui He
Photographer - Craig Arend
Source - altamiranyc.tumblr.com

Andie Arthur & Kate King
Photographer - Craig Arend
Source - altamiranyc.tumblr.com

Captive Blue

Vogue Russia assembles a quartet of fashion's most intriguing new faces for its February 2012 issue. Anais Pouliot and Ming Xi are joined by relative newcomers Karo Mrozkova and Kate King for an eye-catching editorial lensed by Patrick Demarchelier. Sporting cobalt blue lips, ragamuffin hair and contrasting white ensembles, the quartet looks simply sublime, regal and effortlessly chic. Demarchelier delivers an editorial which is fresh, unpredictable and visually enticing. The clever use of light and shade, contrasting colour and inspired casting result in an editorial which captivates and enthrals.

Anais Pouliot & Ming Xi
Vogue Russia - February 2012
Photographer - Patrick Demarchelier
Source - models.com

Karo Mrozkova, Ming Xi, Anais Pouliot
& Kate King

Kate King

Ming Xi

Anais Pouliot, Ming Xi & Kate King

Ming Xi & Karo Mrozkova

Anais Pouliot

Kate King
Vogue Russia - February 2012
Photographer - Patrick Demarchelier
Source - models.com

Coming on Strong

The Spring/Summer 2012 shows were dominated by a select group of second-season models, determined to prove that they are here to stay. Aymeline Valade, Sui He, Nyasha Matonhodze, Emily Baker, Josephine Skriver, Zuzanna Bijoch, Roberta Narciso, Kate King, Fei Fei Sun and Julia Nobis left a blistering trail behind them as they collectively eclipsed the runways of New York, London, Milan and Paris. In an industry which discards newcomers faster than you can say "exclusive", it's reassuring to witness a new generation of models who possess real potential staying power. This diverse group of beauties possess three common denominators; they are all distinctly beautiful, versatile in the looks that they are able to portray, and bring an energy and character to the runway that has been missing in seasons past. If you're looking to put the Super back into the modelling industry, look no further.

Josephine Skriver
Balenciaga - S/S 2012
Photographer - Monica Feudi

Aymeline Valade
Alberta Ferretti - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Fei Fei Sun
BCBG Max Azria - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Roberta Narciso
Akris - S/S 2012
Photographer - Alessandro Viero

Zuzanna Bijoch
Chloé - S/S 2012
Photographer - Alessandro Viero

Nyasha Matonhodze
Givenchy - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Emily Baker
Alberta Ferretti - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Sui He
Donna Karan - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Julia Nobis
Alberta Ferretti - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Kate King
Lanvin - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos
All runway images courtesy of style.com

Showstopper

Toronto native Kate King backed up her stellar Spring/Summer 2011 debut, amassing an incredulous 63 shows at the Spring/Summer 2012 collections. Listed by models.com and COACD as a Top Ten newcomer for the past F/W 2011 season, the auburn haired beauty snagged a Dolce Gabbana campaign in the process, alongside established stars Isabeli Fontana, Liu Wen, Constance Jablonski, Maryna Linchuk and Jac Jagaciak. Eighteen year old King recently switched representation from Elite to Ford Models and is being heralded as one of the most exciting prospects in recent times.

Backstage at Alexander Wang S/S 2012
Image courtesy of Interview Magazine
Source - thefashionspot.com

Championed by influential casting agent, Natalie Joos, who recollects in an interview with V Magazine, "When Kate King walked into my pre-casting for Fashion Week for FW11, my tireless attention shifted. She was this tall, mousy shy girl who reminded me of Ruby Aldridge. But she had a strong, rare kind of beauty, great hair and her walk was flawless." I couldn't agree more with Joos assessment of King. For me, King is a real standout and possesses an air mystery due in part to her olive skin tone, amber coloured eyes and angular bone structure. Looking at King, it's difficult to ascertain her heritage. It's this air of intrigue which makes her all the more alluring and memorable.

Mysterious Girl
Photographer - Craig Arend
Source - thefashionspot.com

Kate King
Photographer - Shirley Yu
Source - thefashionspot.com

In an interview with the Cut, King alludes to her mixed British and Guyanese lineage, when asked if there is anything about the fashion industry that she would change. "Being that I'm a medley of different races, I would love the runways to continue integrating different races and bodies." King is part of an eclectic group of second season girls who are stamping their mark on the fashion industry. Speaking with the Cut, King lists compatriots Sui He and Emily Baker as her tightest buddies, "Emily is so sweet...She's probably one of the girls I'm closest with. I also clicked with this Chinese model Sui He. She's 22, but she looks like a baby." One things for sure, King is certainly no cookie cutter beauty either and with her willowy 178 cm tall runway perfect proportions, is likely to be make an indelible impact in the years to come.

Alberta Ferretti - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Giles - S/S 2012
Photographer - Alessandro Viero

Michael Kors - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Hervé Leger - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Prada - S/S 2012
Photographer - Monica Feudi

Proenza Schouler - S/S 2012
Photographer - Monica Feudi
All runway images courtesy of style.com

Dolce's Girls

Stefano Gabbana and Dolce Domenico opt for multiple girl casts for their D&G and Dolce Gabbana Fall/Winter 2011 campaigns. Super photographer Mario Testino shoots an eclectic mix of new faces for D&G's vibrant and youth-oriented campaign starring Tao Okamoto, Aiste Kliveckaite, Marique Schimmel and Melodie Monrose. Shot in a New York subway tunnel, the diversity of the cast of models aptly refects New York's populace.

Continuing on its Fall/Winter 2011 androgynous boy meets girl theme, Dolce Gabbana's campaign lensed by Steven Klein, features Isabeli Fontana, Jac Jagaciak, Liu Wen, Maryna Linchuk, Constance Jablonski and Kate King alternately dressed as men and women. Wen, King and Jagaciak look super cute posing tomboyishly in pants, suspender belts, singlets and bowler hats.

D&G - Fall/Winter 2011
Photographer - Mario Testino

Dolce Gabbana - Fall/Winter 2011
Photographer - Steven Klein

D&G - Fall/Winter 2011
Photographer - Mario Testino

Dolce Gabbana - Fall/Winter 2011
Photographer - Steven Klein

D&G - Fall/Winter 2011
Photographer - Mario Testino
Source - models. com