Prickly Rose

Australian modelling sensation, Rose Smith seduces in this visually enticing editorial shot by Steven Chee for fashiongonerogue.com. Smith transforms into a vixen in a series of come hither poses set amidst the grounds of a private country estate in looks from local and international designers; Ellery, Kate Sylvester, Therese Rawsthorne, Karen Walker, Miu Miu and Richard Nicoll. The sultry mood conveyed by Smith under the meticulous direction of Chee, coupled with the artful styling by Marina Didovitch, make for a breathtakingly, beautiful editorial. Smith transforms from ingenue into a fully fledged temptress, illustrating her incredible modelling range.

Rose Smith
Photographer - Steven Chee
Images courtesy of fashiogonerogue.com

La Isla Bonita

Rising star Joan Smalls continues her ascent in this gorgeous editorial for the June 2011 edition of US Vogue shot by legendary photographer, Peter Lindbergh. Smalls returns to her native Puerto Rico for a weekend sojourn with Grammy award winning singer Bruno Mars. Smalls looks resplendent in resort wear and relaxed evening attire from Donna Karan, Marni, Givenchy, Oscar de la Renta and Prada. Smalls has been a regular fixture within the pages of US Vogue over the past six months however this solo girl editorial marks the first in which she is given the star treatment she truly deserves.

Joan Smalls & Bruno Mars
Photographer - Peter Lindbergh
US - Vogue - June 2011
Source - thefashionspot.com

New Model Army

W Magazine profiles three of modelling newest stars in a beauty feature entitled "A Model U.N". Emily Baker, Sui He and Joan Smalls are photographed by dynamic duo Daniele Duella and Iango Henzi in a series of smouldering black and white portraits. 

Seventeen year old New Zealander Emily Baker had a killer debut season at the Fall/Winter 2011 shows where she appeared in a staggering total of 60 shows. Baker was the name on every designer and major casting director's watch list and is about to parlay her runway traction into major editorial overdrive. Standing at 177 cm in height and blessed with incredible bone structure and a beguiling presence, Baker is simply the complete package.

Emily Baker
Photographer - Daniele Duella & Iango Henzi
W Magazine - June 2011

Sui He hails from Whenzhou and is the latest modelling export to come out of China. Discovered four years ago in a modelling competition, He made history at the Fall/Winter 2011 shows by being the first model of Asian descent to open for Ralph Lauren. He possesses a versatile beauty that can veer from edgy androgynous one moment to sultry bombshell the next. Blessed with elegant, long limbs and exquisite features, He is likely to be a long-distance contender.

Sui He
Photographer - Daniele Duella & Iango Henzi
W Magazine - June 2011

Puerto Rican native Joan Smalls is already a bonafide modelling star having signed on with Estee Lauder in December 2010 as a spokesmodel. Whilst Smalls undoubtedly has the all important physical attributes and beauty to succeed, it is her personality, eloquence and professionalism that are fast earning her accolades in fashion circles. Smalls is a firm favourite with US Vogue, V Magazine, Italia Vogue and Paris Vogue and has appeared in three consecutive Gucci campaigns. 

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

Natural Resources

At the recent Fall/Winter 2011 shows, Australia emerged as a veritable goldmine for modelling talent with a slew of new Aussie models dominating the runways of New York, London, Milan and Paris. According to Wayne Sterling, the co-founder and editorial director of models.com, "clearly the modelling industry has fixated on Australia and New Zealand as an incredible new source for emerging faces. The results of great scouting speak for themselves and now Down Under stands as a Top 3 scouting resource alongside Holland and Russia."

Leading the Australian charge were established Australian models Abbey Lee Kershaw, Ajak Deng, Julia Nobis, Myf Shepherd, Bambi Northwood-Blyth, Annaleise Smith, Alice Burdeu and Lauren Smith. Newcomers Dempsey Stewart, Codie Young, Ruby Jean Wilson, Rose Smith, and Lydia Willemina Collins eclipsed the competition by landing exclusives left, right and centre, appearing in only the most blue chip of shows. Here is my rundown of five of modelling's most exciting new prospects.

Golden Girls
Codie Young & Dempsey Stewart
NY Times T Magazine - April 2011
Photographer - Angelo Pennetta
Source - models.com

Discovered while working in her mother's tattoo parlour, Sydney-sider Lydia Willemina Collins is represented by Ford Models and is of Dutch and Indonesian extraction. Collins has a cool, androgynous look that is as beguiling as her spectacular bone structure and piercing green eyes. Collins scored a Givenchy exclusive at the Fall/Winter 2011 shows.

Lydia Willemina Collins
Photographer - David Urbanke
Source - davidurbanke.blogspot.com

Photographer - David Urbanke
Source - davidurbanke.blogspot.com

Photographer - David Urbanke
Source - davidurbanke.blogspot.com

Givenchy - F/W 2011
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos
Source - style.com

Sunshine Coast beauty Codie Young amassed a staggering 39 shows in her debut season walking for  the likes of Chanel, Lanvin and Roberto Cavalli. Discovered at the age of sixteen whilst shopping with friends in April 2010, Young was swiftly signed to DNA Models in New York and landed a six month Australian Vogue exclusive. Young is now based in New York and lives with fellow DNA models Maud Welzen, Emily Baker and Jessica Clarke.

Calvin Klein - F/W 2011
Photographer - Marcus Tondo

Lanvin - F/W 2011
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Chloe - F/W 2011
Photographer - Marcus Tondo
Runway images courtesy of style.com

Australian Vogue - October 2010
Photographer - Nicole Bentley
Source - models.com

Hailing from Perth, Rose Smith of Next Models logged runway mileage at Chanel and Fendi and has already been photographed by Daniele Duella & Iango Henzi for V Magazine. In an interview for the Vine, Smith reveals that "I'm waiting for my American visa to be approved, and I'll be moving to NYC as soon as it is. In the meantime I am going to Paris to shoot an editorial. I'm definitely ready to make the move..."

Rose Smith
Chanel - F/W 2011
Photographer - Yannis Vlamos

Rose Smith
Fendi - F/W 2011
Runway images courtesy of style.com

Rose Smith
Photographer - Unknown
Source - chicmanagement.com.au

V Magazine - January 2011
Photographer - Daniele Duella & Iango Henzi
Source - thefashionspot.com

Rosemary Smith
Photographer - Unknown
Source - chicmanagement.com.au

Elite's Ruby Jean Wilson landed a trio of exclusives, appearing at Olivier Theyskens Theory in New York, at Giles Deacon in London and at Yves Saint Laurent in Paris, the latter for which she opened. Seventeen year old, Scottish-born Wilson caught the attention of casting directors Ashley Brokaw and Katie Grand, and is destined for a killer show season come September.

Ruby Jean Wilson
Yves Saint Laurent - F/W 2011
Photographer - Marcus Tondo
Source - style.com

Photographer - Unknown
Source - bonaelamour.blogspot.com

Australian Vogue - Unknown
Photographer - Nicole Bentley
Source - thefashionspot.com

It was Perth's Dempsey Stewart who was the standout star of the Fall/Winter 2011 shows, walking in a total of 41 shows including Prada, Burberry and Louis Vuitton. Represented by Wilhelmina Models in New York, Eighteen year old Stewart was discovered in a local modelling competition and modelled extensively in Tokyo before her career took off internationally.

Acne - F/W 2011
Photographer - Fillipo Fior

Prada - F/W 2011
Photographer - Monica Feudi

Philip Lim 3.1 - F/W 2011
Photographer - Marcus Tondo
All runway images courtesy of style.com

Dempsey Stewart
Photographer - Stef King
Source - fashiongonerogue.com

The Fashion Bible

I have been an avid collector of fashion magazines since the age of eleven. I can remember the first magazine I purchased being Vogue Italia and the feeling of wonder I felt as I was transported to a magical world of beauty, fantasy and creativity. I still have that edition in my possession. Back in the day I would purchase Vogue Italia, Paris Vogue, US Vogue, US Harper's Bazaar, Mademoiselle, W Magazine, Interview and Vanity Fair religiously each month. Nowadays with so many titles available on the market I have narrowed down my monthly mag fix to a select few.

If you are after an engrossing read which covers all aspects of the fashion industry, Industrie Magazine delivers just that. Self-described as "the world's first culture of fashion magazine", Industrie was founded in 2009 by Erik Torstensson and Jens Grede, and is published bi-annually. What I love about Industrie is that it's content is pure unadulterated fashion and it provides the reader with an insider's point of view of the machinations of the fashion industry. 

The magazine presents eloquent and thoughtfully written prose on all manner of topics ranging from fashion designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte fame, to legendary photographer, art director and editor of Interview magazine Fabien Baran. Industrie's second edition features interviews with three of fashion's power brokers ; mega-model agent Ivan Bart of IMG Models, Floriane de Saint Pierre (who is responsible for the appointment of perfect fit candidates such as Christopher Bailey to such high end fashion houses as Burberry), and lastly the President of the Federation Francaise de la Couture, Didier Grumbach.

Modelling's finest talent, Lara Stone, Daria Werbowry, Alessandro Ambrosio, Edita Vilkevicuite and Sigird Agren are also permitted to shine in editorials shot by Patrick Demarchelier, Solve Sundsbo, Camilla Akrans and Richard Bush. And as much as I love to see a model on the cover of a magazine, it must be said that Industrie's first three covers featuring Anna Wintour, Marc Jacobs and Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott, make for truly engaging cover subjects. 

Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Self Portrait
Industrie - Issue 3
Source - models.com

Ms Anna Wintour
Photographer - Unknown
Industrie - Issue 1
Source - models.com

Marc Jacobs
Photographer - Patrick Demarchelier
Industrie - Issue 2
Source - nymag.com

Held Captive

Anja Rubik demonstrates why she is part of a select group of models working today who regularly appear in blue chip campaigns and publications without running the risk of becoming over-exposed and whilst maintaining a cool edge. Vogue Nippon's June 2011 issue features Rubik in a  editorial shot by photographer Josh Olins. The editorial is elevated to a whole other level by Rubik's skillful, uncontrived posing and her ability to combine the perfect blend of tough punk chic and natural sex appeal. Rubik conveys an attitude and intensity in each frame which is captivating whilst donning looks by Balenciaga, Comme des Garcons and Miu Miu.  

Vogue Nippon - June 2011
Photographer - Josh Olins
Source - fashiongonerogue.com

Fabulous Five

i-D Magazine delivers another set of innovative covers for it's Summer 2011 issue featuring a diverse group of models truly worthy of the "Super" tag. Amber Valletta, Behati Prinsloo, Stella Tenant, Kristen MacMenamy and Daphne Groeneveld pose for Craig McDean, Matt Jones, Paolo Roversi, Josh Olins and Dan Jackson respectively sporting the trademark i-D wink. Prinsloo looks uber cool with ghoulish Joker style makeup covering half of her face and ends up bearing a striking resemblance to Elle MacPherson. Valletta works it to full effect with electrifying, neon highlights and a hair style which pays homage to Blondie whilst McMenamy looks positively regal with her now trademark silver grey tresses encased in a crown of thorns. Rounding up the covers are hippie chick Groeneveld and the fashion's perennial favourite Stella Tenant. 

Amber Valleta
Photographer - Craig McDean
i-D Magazine - Summer 2011

Behati Prinsloo
Photographer - Matt Jones
i-D Magazine - Summer 2011

Kristen McMenamy
Photographer - Josh Olins
i-D Magazine - Summer 2011
Source - models.com

Daphne Groeneveld
Photographer - Dan Jackson
i-D Magazine - Summer 2011

Stella Tenant
Photographer - Paolo Roversi
i-D Magazine - Summer 2011
Source - models.com