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

The Next Wave

Next Model's Sofya Titova is my pick to be modelling's next big thing. Judging by these test shots, the seventeen year old Russian newcomer has an stunning future ahead of her. The 177 cm tall beauty possesses a physique ready-made for the runway. Blessed with a wonderfully long torso and gazelle-like limbs, this beguiling beauty has already appeared in L'Officiel magazine and Russian Vogue. Miuccia Prada has Titova firmly in her sight, having featured the flaxen haired, blue-eyed ingenue in Prada's Resort 2012 collection. You can be guaranteed that Titova will be a strong contender at the Spring/Summer shows come September. Watch this face...

Sofya Tytova
Photographer - William Lords
Source - thefashionspot.com

Photographer - William Lords
Source - thefashionspot.com

Polaroid courtesy of Next Models
Source - pony-ryder.com

Photographer - Unknown
Source - thefashionspot.com

Photographer - Sam Hessamian
Source - thefashionspot.com

Next Comp Card
Source - thefashionspot.com

Photographer - Lesha Kremov
Source - thefashionspot.com

Photographer - Lesha Kremov
Source - thefashionspot.com

Colour Blind

Editorials featuring all-Black or all-Asian model casts have been all the rage since Vogue Italia's Black Issue hit newsstands in July 2008. US Vogue, US Harpers Bazaar, Allure, Interview, i-D Magazine, Vogue Italia, Vogue China and Russian Vogue have all since featured editorials with models grouped according to ethnicity. Whilst it is commendable to see a broader cross-section of racial groups represented in fashion publications, I am not convinced that editorials which segregate models based on their skin pigmentation is the solution to the on-going debate over the lack of diversity in fashion.

Is the singling out of a particular racial group in editorials a mere gimmick or does it signify real progress in the move towards a fashion industry that is more inclusive? If Chanel's recent Resort show is any indication, I would hazard a guess that the fashion industry has a long way to go towards understanding and embracing the concept of diversity. Out of the 74 looks featured in Chanel's Cruise collection, not a single black model was featured in the line-up. I look forward to the day when it is the norm to see fashion editorials and runway shows in which multiple ethnics groups are represented rather than just the odd token Asian or Black model amongst a cast of Caucasians.

Jeneil Williams & Aminata Niaria

Sedene Blake

Aminata Niaria & Jeneil Williams

Sedene Blake, Aminata Niaria & Reina Montero

Reina Montero, Jeneil Williams & Sedene Blake

Sedene Blake & Jeneil Williams

Shena Moulton, Jeneil Williams & Aminata Niaria
Vogue Russia - July 2010
Photographer - Terry Tsiolis
Source - thefashionspot.com