sports illustrated: Terry Tsiolis

Showing posts with label Terry Tsiolis. Show all posts

Friday, November 25, 2011

Tunisian Dream

With the constant influx of new models inundating the fashion industry each season, it's easy to become a little blasé about beauty. Every now and then though, a new face pops up who sends a shock wave through fashion circles. That very girl is twenty-one year old Tunisian, Hanaa Ben Abdesslem.

One of A Kind Beauty
Photographer - Elena Kechicheva
Source - IMG Models

Hailing from Nabeul, this exotic, androgynous beauty is a true stand out. Measuring at 179 cm, the statuesque Ben Abdesslem made her runway debut in the Vivienne Westwood Spring/Summer 2011 show. Three months later, Ben Abdesslem's modelling options kicked into overdrive with a career defining Jean Sebergesque haircut which garnered her the attention of Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci. Ben Abdesslem landed a Givenchy couture exclusive and has since been photographed by Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, Knoepfel & Indlekofer and Karim Sadli for Paris Vogue, Terry Richardson for V, Mario Sorrenti for Vogue Italia, and Terry Tsiolis for W.

Whilst some would be quick to pidgeon-hole Ben Abdesslem as a quirky androgynous type, there is no denying however that she possesses a delicate beauty, femininity and elegance which will translate to commercial viability. Lancome cosmetics appears to agree, having signed Ben Abdesslem to join its stable of beauties including Arlenis Sosa and Daria Werbowry, as one of the faces of its Fall/Winter 2011 Visionnaire campaign.

What I find most alluring about Ben Abdesslem is that hers is a beauty that has been untapped and unrepresented in the fashion industry. Aside from Moroccan model Hind Sahli, I am unable to recall any other models of North African descent working in fashion today. In an interview with US Vogue, Ben Abdesslem alludes to the divide between the world of fashion and her cultural background, "...seeking a modelling career has been a dream of mine for a long time. To me, modelling is an expression of freedom, a career choice that goes beyond the barriers of culture and tradition in my country." I for one, am delighted that Ben Abdesslem is fulfilling her dream and hope to see a lot more of this enigmatic beauty in the years to come.

Paris Vogue - March 2011
Photographer - Karim Sadli
Source - models.com

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

Photographer - Gilles Zimmermann
Source - thefashionspot.com

Sui He & Hanaa Ben Abdesslem
V Magazine - Issue 74
Photographer - Terry Richardson
Source - models.com

Glamour Girl
Paris Vogue - November 2011
Photographer - Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin
Source - thefashionspot.com

T Magazine - September 2011
Photographer - Danko Steiner
Source - models.com

Vogue Italia - October 2011
Photographer - Mario Sorrenti
Source - thefashionspot.com

Friday, July 22, 2011

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

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Class of 2011

V Spain highlights the newest faces in modelling for its June 2011 feature entitled "Back to School." Codie Young, Maud Welzen, Kate King, Ruby Aldridge and Marique Schimmel pose for Terry Tsiolis and demonstrate why they are currently under the radar of the most influential casting directors, photographers and magazine editors. Young, Welzen, Schimmel, King et al. eclipsed the competition at the recent Fall/Winter 2011 shows and are only just beginning to convert that exposure into real editorial and campaign traction. Schimmel appears in the latest D&G campaign shot by Mario Testino, and King features alongside established models Liu Wen, Isabeli Fontana and Constance Jablonski in the Dolce Gabbana Campaign lensed by Steven Klein.

Codie Young & Ruby Aldridge

Annabelle Tsaboukas & Kate King

Marique Schimmel & Ruby Aldridge

Hannah Noble & Ros Georgou

Maud Welzen & Kat Hessen
V Spain - June 2011
Photographer - Terry Tsiolis
Source - models.com

Friday, June 3, 2011

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

Friday, May 13, 2011

V Magazine's Asia Issue

V Magazine's Asia issue is due to hit newsstands on the 12th of May with Lady Gaga appearing on the cover photographed by Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. Ten percent of the proceeds of sales will go towards the Japan relief effort. The issue features a stunning editorial with the modelling's top Asian talent. Liu Wen, Fei Fei Sun, Shu Pei Qin and Tao Okamoto transform into modern day vixens under the masterful lens of Terry Tsiolis. Newcomers Ming Xi, Sui He and Bonnie Chen also appear in editorials shot by Nick Knight, Glen Luchford and Sebastien Faena respectively. It is truly amazing to see so many top models of Asian descent showcased in one issue. Let's hope that the recent smattering of editorials featuring all-Black and all-Asian casts is not just a gimmick and that models of colour become the norm rather than the exception in the higher echelons of the modelling world.