sports illustrated: Russell Marsh

Showing posts with label Russell Marsh. Show all posts

Saturday, December 17, 2011

The Contender

Models like 19 year old Santo Domingo native Marihenny Rivera Pasible remind me of why I fell in love with modelling in the first instance. Rivera Pasible possesses a rare innocent, child-like beauty that is simply mesmerising in its purity. Backed by casting agents Michele Lee, Russell Marsh and Katie Grand, Rivera Pasible made an indelible mark at the Spring/Summer 2012 collections appearing in a total of 16 shows. The Dominican stunner who is represented by New York Model Management, was earmarked early on for success by influential casting agent Katie Grand who selected her to open the Giles show in London. The buzz generated paid dividends in Paris and Milan with Rivera Pasible walking for Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu, Loewe, Kenzo, Hussein Chalayan, Prada and Marni.

Introducing Ms Marihenny Rivera Pasible
Photographer - Terry Gates
Source - thefashionspot.com

With editorial appearances in V Magazine, Lurve Magazine, Teen Vogue and Nylon under her belt, as well as an up-coming British Vogue editorial lensed by Paolo Roversi, Rivera Pasible is fast becoming one of the most coveted newcomers of the Spring/Summer 2012 season. The interest in Rivera Pasible is evident with the Cut, models.com and Vogue Italia all featuring interviews with the elegant and articulate beauty on their websites. Watch for Rivera Pasible to dominate at the Fall/Winter 2012 collections in February where I am certain she will have the bounty of New York's designers falling before her well turned feet.

Photographer - Unknown
Source - models.com

Lurve Magazine - Issue 5
Photographer - Matteo Montanari
Source - fashiongonerogue.com

Photographer - Unknown
Source - interview.com

Photographer - Idris & Tony
Source - vogue.it

Ohne Titel - S/S 2012
Photographer - Filippo Fior

Hussein Chalayan - S/S 2012
Photographer - Filippo Fior

Prada - S/S 2012
Photographer - Monica Feudi

Rebecca Taylor - S/S 2012
Photographer - Alessandro Viero

Marni - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Top Shop Unique - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos
All runway images courtesy of style.com

Saturday, October 22, 2011

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

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

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Diamond in the Rough

It's no secret that the America's Next Top Model franchise has yet to produce a single credible model in its entire 17 Cycle run. Well all of that is about to change with 24 year old ANTM Cycle 10 reject, Fatima Siad, who caught the eye of casting director Russell Marsh at the Paris Spring/Summer 2012 shows. Marsh cast the Somali-Ethiopian model in the Dries Van Noten show alongside big name models including Karmen Pedaru and Sigrid Agren, and the effect snowballed from there with Siad landing appearances at Hermes, Andrew Gn, Moncler Gamme Rouge and Thierry Colson.

Surprise Package
Arise - Issue 13
Photographer - Itaysha Jordan

Arise - Issue 13
Photographer - Itaysha Jordan
Source - fashiongonerogue.com

Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, Siad had a particularly turbulent childhood, having undergone female genital mutilation at the age of seven. Siad's parents divorced at an early age, and she and her two siblings were raised by her mother. Siad and her mother fled to the US when she was thirteen, following the death of her two sisters at the hands of the Somali army during the civil war.

I'll admit that when I first noticed Siad at the Andrew Gn Spring/Summer 2012 show in Paris, I had no inkling as to her identity nor the ANTM connection. I was enamoured by her refined and elegant features and her immaculate skin tone. I'm hoping that the exposure garnered at the Paris shows will open doors for Siad in the seasons ahead as she possesses an exquisite beauty that deserves recognition.

Andrew Gn - S/S 2012
Photographer - Filippo Fior

Thierry Colson - S/S 2012
Photographer - Unknown
Source - thefashionspot.com

Hermes - S/S 2012
Photographer - Alessandro Viero

Dries Van Noten - S/S 2012
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Moncler Gamme Rouge - S/S 2012
Photographer - Marcus Tondo
All runway images unless otherwise
noted courtesy of style.com

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Fall/Winter 2011 New Faces Josephine Skriver

Danish newcomer Josephine Skriver has had a Fall/Winter 2011 season that can only be described as impeccable. Seventeen year old Skriver captured the attention of casting director Russell Marsh at the pre-show castings and consequently walked in only the most prestigious of shows including Calvin Klein, Prada, Gucci, Preen, Carlos Miele, Phillip Lim, Ruffian, Dolce & Gabbana, Emilio Pucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Sportmax, Etro and Just Cavalli. Represented by Marilyn Model Management in New York, Skriver stands at 177 cm in height and has cobalt blue eyes, flawless skin and a pillowy pout. Skriver is one of the most exciting modelling prospects that I have seen in recent times. Blessed with angelic features, Skriver has the kind of natural, healthy looks and glow that the industry has been yearning for. When I look at Skriver, I get the same feeling that I got when I first laid eyes on Natalia Vodianova, Karolina Kurkova and Liya Kebede. Mark my word, this girl is going to be Major!

The Next Big Thing
Photographer - Billy Kid
Source - fashionising.com

Photographer - Billy Kid
Source - fashionising.com

Best Behaviour S/S 2011 Campaign
Source - bellazon.com

Rough Diamond
Source - coacd.com

Preen F/W 2011
Photographer - Alessandro Garofalo

Prada F/W 2011
Photographer - Monica Feudi

Rag & Bone F/W 2011
Photographer - Monica Feudi

Calvin Klein F/W 2010
Photographer - Marcus Tondo

Carlos Miele F/W 2011
Photographer - Alessandro Viero
All runway images courtesy of style.com

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Make or Break

The casting for BCBG Max Azria drew an impressive line-up of over 500 model hopefuls who were sent through their paces under the watchful eye of casting director Russell Marshall. Three shows are cast for the BCBG group, namely BCBG, Max Azria and Herve Leger. Industry pundits can rely on the BCBG shows to forecast the most promising new models for the season ahead. Models of the moment; Arizona Muse, Celine Van Amstel, Andie Arthur, Linnea Regnander, and Samantha Gradoville, all appeared in BCBG's Spring/Summer 2011 show last season.

The lead up to the shows can prove to be an arduous time for models, often spent running to and from castings and fittings with little time to stop to refuel. BCBG shows a little love by providing survival kits at it's castings, complete with snacks, water, beauty products and tips to stay healthy throughout the runway season.

Judging by the images below, this could well be the season that the fashion industry embraces diversity. Spotted at the BCBG casting were an eclectic mix of models; Ajak Deng, Danica Magpantay, Crystal Renn, Samantha Gradoville, Hailey Clauson, Ornelia Edwards, Betty Adewole, Alice Burdeu, and Bambi Northwood-Blyth.