Cover Girls

I've got to say that I am a sucker for a great cover shot. Give me a gorgeous cover with a beautiful model as subject and I will gladly purchase a magazine without even peeking at its content. December 2012 is shaping up to be a particularly festive period, with a  slew of innovative covers featuring models hitting the newsstands. Kate Moss channels David Bowie for Paris Vogue, Karlie Kloss continues her winning streak for French Numéro, newcomer Marique Schimmel goes Indie for the hip Aussie publication Russh and Lindsey Wixson is Muse's December Golden Girl. For me, models and photographers have always played an integral role in fashion magazine's identity. I remember the days when the names of photographers such as Richard Avedon, Patrick Demarchelier, Herb Ritts, Peter Lindbergh, Gilles Bensimon and Steven Meisel were synonymously tied in with specific publications. I stopped purchasing US Harpers Bazaar (post-Liz Tilberis) and W Magazine when the covers began to resemble the latest cover of In Style. These days I anticipate instead, the arrival of the latest issues of publications including Paris and Italia Vogue, French Numéro, Russh and i-D. 

Kate Moss
Paris Vogue - December 2011
Photographer - Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin
Source - fashiongonerogue.com

Karlie Kloss
Numéro - Issue 120
Photographer - Greg Kadel
Source - fashiongonerogue.com

Marique Schimmel
Russh - December 2011
Photographer - Nick Dorey
Source - models.com

Lindsey Wixson
Muse - Winter 2011
Photographer - Will Davidson
Source - models.com

Imperfect Beauty

Often times some of the most stunning models fail to ignite or reach their full potential because they are held back by their looks and lack of versatility. Toni Garrn is a classic example of a model who runs the risk of falling into the "all too beautiful" category. I had almost given up on Garrn when I stumbled across Numero's Sean & Seng editorial featuring the German beauty. Sporting a short bob, bleached eye brows and a new brazen attitude, Garrn lights up Sean & Seng's lens with an intoxicating mix of allure and danger. For the first time Garrn is not overshadowed by her impeccable beauty and instead she exhibits a depth of emotion and expression in her face and eyes. The combination of strength, masculinity and sexiness in Garrn's poses has reignited my interest in one of modelling's most beautiful faces.

Toni Garrn
Numero - August 2011
Photographer - Sean & Seng
Styling - Franck Benhamou
Source - models.com

Mysterious Rose

Australia's latest modelling sensation Rose Smith appears in an alluring French Numero editorial lensed by photographer Anthony Maule. The series of black and white portraits feature a super elegant looking Smith in the latest finery from Loewe, Louis Vuitton, Lanvin, Alexander McQueen, Givenchy and Maison Martin Margiela. Smith is part of the wave of Aussie newcomers to have made an indelible impression at the recent Fall/Winter 2011 shows in February. Represented by Next Model Management in New York, Smith possesses gazelle-like proportions and an exquisitely delicate beauty paired with a level-headed maturity. I'm hoping that with her refined and ever so slightly off-kilter looks, that Smith will continue to lead the Aussie onslaught at the upcoming shows in September. 

Rose Smith
Numero - Issue 125
Photographer - Anthony Maule
Source - thefashionspot.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

Taking Lead

Jourdan Dunn illuminates the pages of Numero issue 124 in a luxe editorial lensed by Liz Collins. Dunn possesses an elegance, worldliness and refinement that places her in a league of her own and is one of my favourite faces amongst the current generation of models. Collins captures Dunn's luminous beauty as she poses alongside an equally majestic looking Doberman. 

Returning recently to modelling following the birth of her son Riley, Dunn has managed to retain her blue chip appeal with appearances in US Vogue, British Vogue, Vogue Italia, i-D Magazine and V Magazine in this year alone. Dunn most recently landed back-to-back campaigns for Burberry shot by Mario Testino. With Dunn appearing alongside Daphne Groeneveld in the Spring/Summer 2011 Prada Fantasy Lookbook, the rumour-mill has it that Dunn could well be making the move from runway to front of house at Prada. 

Jourdan Dunn
Numero issue 124
Photographer - Liz Collins
Source - nathalie-models.blogspot.com

Tribal Child

California girl Hailey Clauson shows her versatility as a model in this beguiling editorial shot by Sebastian Kim for Numero issue no. 124. Since her debut at the Spring/Summer 2011 shows where she walked for the likes of Calvin Klein, Gucci, Versace, Lanvin and Louis Vuitton, Clauson has continued to build on that momentum by posing for such industry heavy-weights as Patrick Demarchelier for LOVE Magazine, Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott for W Magazine, Terry Tsiolis for V Man, Ellen Von Unwerth for i-D Magazine, and Peter Lindbergh for Numero. Clauson had an equally impressive Spring/Summer 2011 campaign season, appearing in campaigns for Gucci, DSquared2 and Jill Stuart. Clauson's ability to combine wholesome all-American appeal with a sophistication belying her sixteen years of age is her trump card. Having recently switched representation from Marilyn to Next Models, I predict that Clauson will be a major force in the modelling world in the years to come. 

Golden Girl - Hailey Clauson
Numero - issue 124
Photographer - Sebastian Kim
Source - fashiongonerogue.com

Numero Uno

Aussie Mega model Abbey Lee Kershaw's latest appearance on the cover of French Numero renders me speechless. Photographed by Tom Munro for Numero's June 2011 edition, Kershaw looks flawlessly beautiful, wearing a figure hugging bodice with leather straps and a free flowing skirt from Lanvin. Represented by Next Models in New York, Kershaw began modelling in 2004 after winning the Girlfriend Model Search. Kershaw has since risen through the ranks to become one of the most sought after models working today and is an editorial favourite for the likes of Numero, Vogue Paris, US Vogue, Vogue Italia, Purple Magazine and V Magazine. Currently ranked at number 5 on the model.com's list of Top 50 models, Kershaw clearly looks like a woman in charge of her destiny and I am certain that the best is yet to come from her.

Flawless Beauty
Numero - Issue 123
Photographer - Tom Munro
Source - models.com

Numero - February 2010
Photographer - Greg Kadel
Source - models.com

Numero - December 2009
Photographer - Miguel Riveriego
Source - models.com

Numero - February 2010
Photographer - Greg Kadel
Source - models.com