sports illustrated: Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott

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Wednesday, February 8, 2012

In Love with Linda

One of modelling's most enigmatic faces makes another stunning comeback with a solo cover appearance and featuring editorial for Love Magazine. Shot by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott, grand dame Linda Evangelista illustrates why after more than twenty five years in the modelling game she is still one of the industry's most sought after models. Evangelista appears on the visually arresting fluorescent cover image channeling punk artist Jamie Reid. In the accompanying interview with Love, Evangelista candidly discusses her once famous quote, "I never get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day" by countering that "I was astonished by it. I still am, absolutely. It is the fee that is given for my services, my image, and not me as a person. It's Linda Evangelista."

Love - Spring/Summer 2012
Photographer - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Stylist - Katie Grand
Source - models.com

Love - Spring/Summer 2012
Photographer - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Stylist - Katie Grand
Source - thefashionspot.com

Love - Spring/Summer 2012
Photographer - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Stylist - Katie Grand
Source - models.com

Love - Spring/Summer 2012
Photographer - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Stylist - Katie Grand
Source - thefashionspot.com

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

La Coquette

At age twenty-one, Anais Pouliot is already a modelling veteran having been discovered when she was only fourteen. Pouliot initially began modelling locally in Montreal and in 2007, at age sixteen, signed to New York agency Trump Model Management to further her modelling career. Realising the potential of their young protegé, Trump Model Management took their time to develop Pouliot before unleashing the model at the Fall/Winter 2010 collections where she walked in a number of shows in New York and London before landing a Miu Miu exclusive in Paris.

Intermission - December 2011
Photographer - John Scarisbrick
Source - models.com

Pouliot's voluptuous pout, coquettish looks and curvaceous body are clearly distinguishable however it has only been on the past year that she has truly been able to make the most of those attributes. At the Spring/Summer 2011 collections, Pouliot's sophisticated presence made her the darling of the Milan and Paris shows where she walked for the likes of Prada, D&G, Marni, Versus, Missoni, Loewe, Nina Ricci, Yves Saint Laurent and Chanel. Pouliot's appeal on the runway has since translated into major campaign traction with appearances in the Fall/Winter 2011 Louis Vuitton, Nina Ricci and Sonia Rykiel campaigns.

Vogue Germany - August 2011
Photographer - Horst Diekgerdes
Source - models.com

Interview - September 2011
Photographer - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Source - models.com

Numéro - May 2011
Photographer - Sean & Seng
Source - models.com

American Vogue, Interview, Intermission, Numéro, German Vogue and French Revue de Modes all seem to agree, having recently featured Pouliot in decidedly more risqué editorials. I have to admit that it has only been in recent times that I have come to appreciate Pouliot's overall look and appeal. Or maybe perhaps, I felt uncomfortable seeing her portrayed from such an early age in such an adult light. No doubt Pouliot's brooding, sultry looks and natural feminine allure will only intensify as she grows and matures into a fully-fledged woman.

US Vogue - December 2011
Photographer - Steven Meisel
Source - models.com

Vogue Nippon - February 2011
Photographer - Daniel Jackson
Source - models.com

Vogue Italia - July 2011
Photographer - Steven Meisel
Source - models.com

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

The Five Faces of Calvin Klein

Proving that diversity is the key to attracting consumer dollars, Calvin Klein enlists the talents of five supermodels for its Spring/Summer 2012 campaigns. Dutch bombshell Lara Stone returns as the enigmatic face for Calvin Klein Collection alongside male model Tyson Ballou lensed by dynamic duo Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott. Stone partners up with Chinese model Liu Wen for ck Calvin Klein shot again by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott. English rose Lily Donaldson plays in the sun with Danny Beauchamp for Calvin Klein swimwear captured by Sebastian Kim. Last but not least, Stone scores a trifecta teaming up with German native Toni Garrn, Puerto Rican beauty Joan Smalls and Myles Crosby to produce plenty of sizzle for Calvin Klein Jeans again with Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott at the helm. It's a delight to see Smalls landing her first Calvin Klein campaign and also to witness the return of the Garrn who has yet to realise her full modelling potential.

Liu Wen
ck Calvin Klein - S/S 2012
Photographer - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Source - models.com

Myles Crosby & Lara Stone
ck Calvin Klein - S/S 2012
Photographer - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Source - models.com

Lara Stone
Calvin Klein Collection - S/S 2012
Photographer - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Source - models.com

Danny Beauchamp & Lily Donaldson
Calvin Klein Swimwear - S/S 2012
Photographer - Sebastian Kim
Source - models.com

Toni Garrn & Myles Crosby
Calvin Klein Jeans - S/S 2012
Photographer - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Source - models.com

Lara Stone, Joan Smalls & Toni Garrn
Calvin Klein Jeans - S/S 2012
Photographer - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Source - models.com

Lara Stone & Toni Garrn
Calvin Klein Jeans - S/S 2012
Photographer - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Source - models.com

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Campaign Gold

Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott strike campaign gold with Gucci's riveting Spring/Summer 2012 campaign images. Abbey Lee Kershaw and Karmen Pedaru embody the very essence of Super in the luxuriant visuals as captured by fashion's boy wonders. Sporting slicked back coiffed dos with bewitching, smouldering eye make-up, Lee Kershaw and Pedaru looked poised to devour male model Greg Nawrat. Pedaru and Lee Kershaw are two of the most enigmatic faces of the current generation of models consistently landing big money campaigns from season to season. Both models possess distinct looks, professionalism and endearing personalities which ensures favour with casting directors, designers and industry pundits.

Karmen Pedaru & Abbey Lee Kershaw
Gucci - S/S 2012
Photographer - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott

Abbey Lee Kershaw

Abbey Lee Kershaw & Karmen Pedaru

Greg Nawrat & Karmen Pedaru

Karmen Pedaru & Abbey Lee Kershaw

Gucci - S/S 2012
Photographer - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Source - fashiongonerogue.com

Sunday, October 16, 2011

That Fabulous Baker Girl

New Zealand model Emily Baker has consolidated on her stunning Fall/Winter 2011 debut with a 58 show tally at the Spring/Summer 2012 collections. The 178 cm tall, 17 year old Matamata-native graced the runways of Alexander Wang, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Prabal Gurung, Oscar de la Renta, DSquared, Chloe, Givenchy, Chanel and Lanvin. Baker's impossibly razor-sharp cheek bones, piercing blue eyes and chameleon-like beauty have landed her on the list of every influential casting director.

Following her Fall/Winter 2011 debut, Baker nabbed campaigns for Gucci, Dsquared and Tommy Hilfiger, making her one of the most bankable newcomers of the season. Baker's dream run is likely to continue, having been photographed in recent months by Steven Meisel for Vogue Italia, Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott for Interview, and Daniele Duella & Iango for V Magazine. MDC's Wayne Sterling puts it most succinctly "For me the girl posed to nab everything is Emily Baker. In the modelling sweepstakes she is the sensation."

All eyes on Ms Baker
Backstage at BCBG Max Azria
Source - stylebistro.com

Vogue Italia - July 2011
Photographer - Steven Meisel
Source - models.com

Interview - September 2011
Photographer - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Source - thefashionspot.com

W Magazine - June 2011
Photographer - Daniele Duella & Iango Henzi
Source - models.com

Max Mara S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Calvin Klein - S/S 2012
Photographer - Filippo Fior

Michael Kors - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Givenchy - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

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

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

A-List Talent

Lane Crawford, Hong Kong's premier specialist store enlists an impressive cast of top tier Asian models for its Fall/Winter 2011 campaign. Shot by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott, the cast includes Liu Wen, Shu Pei Qin, Fei Fei Sun, Ming Xi and Xiao Wen Ju. Stylist Marie-Amélie Sauvé decks out the Asian beauties in luxury looks from Haider Ackermann, Azzedine Alaia, Balenciaga, Givenchy, Celine, Alexander McQueen and more. What I find most refreshing about this campaign is that the models are not depicted in a way which fetishises their ethnicity. Sauvé deserves major kudos for presenting Liu Wen et al. instead as modern day beauties with mass market appeal.

Fei Fei Sun, Liu Wen, Shu Pei Qin, Xiao Wen Ju & Ming Xi
Lane Crawford - F/W 2011
Photographer - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Source - models.com

Shu Pei Qin, Fei Fei Sun & Ming Xi
Lane Crawford - F/W 2011
Video still - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Source - fordmodelsblog.com

Fei Fei Sun, Ming Xi, Shu Pei Qin, Xiao Wen Ju & Liu Wen
Lane Crawford - F/W 2011
Photographer - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Source - models.com

Ming Xi
Lane Crawford - F/W 2011
Video Still - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Source - fordmodelsblog.com

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Super Natural Love

Love Magazine strikes editorial gold yet again in it's Supernatural issue. Lara Stone, Maria Carla Boscono, Daphne Groeneveld and Kristen McMenamy pose alongside stunning new face of the moment Nyasha Matonhodze in this riveting beauty portfolio. Photographers Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott team up with the styling genius of Katie Grand and Panos Yiapanis for this mesmerising editorial. The natural beauty of Stone, Matonhodze, McMenamy, Groeneveld and Boscono's tear streaked visages are enhanced by the minimalist make-up and visually arresting head pieces adorning each model's head. The incandescent beauty, raw emotion and vulnerability conveyed by Matonhodze et al. resonates with each turn of the page.

Nyasha Matonhodze

Lara Stone

Maria Carla Boscono

Daphne Groeneveld

Nyasha Matonhodze

Lara Stone

Daphne Groeneveld
LOVE Magazine - Issue 6
Photographer - Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Source - fashiongonerogue.com

At First Glance

Estonian born Karmen Pedaru began modelling in 2005 after being scouted whilst at a theatre performance in her hometown of Tallinn. Pedaru was formerly an elite athlete competing for the Estonian national soccer team prior to being discovered. Pedaru has since hung up her soccer training boots for the equally rigorous runway circuit where she is now a permanent fixture. Pedaru's modelling career has been gradually building momentum and following more than six years in the industry, is set to hit overdrive. Pedaru is a firm favourite with Paris Vogue and British Vogue, and recently landed her first Vogue covers for the Portuguese and Greek editions of the publication. Pedaru also starred recently alongside Joan Smalls in Gucci's Spring/Summer 2011 campaign lensed by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott and appears in the current Fall/Winter 2011 campaign for Michael Kors shot by Mario Testino.

Photographer - Unknown
Source - bellazon.com

As a former athlete, Karmen compares her career to sport; stating that, "Modelling is kind of like a sport. You need a lot of endurance and focus." In an interview with Michal Figurski for reserved-fashion.blogspot, Pedaru elaborates "In this business you can't afford to be tired. It's really hard work. I fly about three times a week, yesterday I was in NYC, today I'm in Poland, tomorrow I'm flying to Paris. If I don't keep my energy and enthusiasm, I'll drop out. There's no work for tired models." Pedaru's sporting background puts her in good stead, "I played as a goal keeper for 6 years. I was well-built back then. You can still see my muscles here and there. I'm still quite fit, I play basket ball and roller skate."

As one of the most industrious and down-to-earth models in the industry, I am delighted to see Pedaru's strong work ethic paying dividends. Represented by Ford Models in New York, this statuesque 178 cm tall, olive green eyed beauty remains grounded in spite of her success. In the same interview for reserved-fashion.blogspot, Figurski poses the question; "Does being beautiful make life easier?", to which Pedaru replies, "It's a question of personality. If you're beautiful on the inside, then yes. Being beautiful only on the outside, you're nobody. I sense such people at first glance. There are many people like this in every business."