Focus On - Joan Smalls

 Joan Smalls

(Harper's Bazaar UK October 2012: Sebastian Faena - Photographer, Tom Van Dorpe - Fashion Editor/Stylist)

Agencies
New York - IMG

London - IMG London

Born on July 11, 1988 in Puerto Rico. Joan was discovered in 2007 when she left her homeland, moved in with her aunt in Queens, and signed with Elite Model Management. She has gone on to appear on the cover of  ELLE UK, Harper's Bazaar UK, i-D, V, W, Vogue Australia & Italian Vogue. She has also been in editorials for American, Spanish, Japanese, French & British Vogue, GQ & Muse & in ads for Calvin Klein, David Yurman, Chanel, Estee Lauder, Fendi, Givenchy & Gucci.

(David Yurman Spring/Summer 2011: Peter Lindbergh - Photographer, Unknown - Stylist)

I can’t believe that it has taken me this long to do this post; I think that Joan Smalls is a really talented model. She has such a great look and takes really beautiful pictures. She has amazing legs and I think that she is well known for her pout. Joan has the ability to draw you into her pictures, I always find myself staring at her photos even though she never really does any crazy poses her photos are simple and stunning.

 

 

 

(W July 2012: Steven Meisel - Photographer, Edward Enninful - Fashion Editor/Stylist)

I can’t remember when I first noticed Joan, she is one of those models that just kind of showed up and was everywhere. I know she has been modelling for a while now, but it’s just recently that people have really started to take notice. This photo shoot from V is one that I saw recently that actually reminded me that I needed to do focus on post for Joan.

 

 

 

(V September 2011: Sebastian Faena - Photographer, Carlyne Cerf De Dudzeele - Fashion Editor/Stylist)

Focus On - Anja Rubik

Anja Rubik

(Vogue Espana March 2011: Alexi Lubomirski - Photographer, Unknown - Stylist, Jon Kortajarena & Andres Velencoso Segura - Male Models)

Agencies
New York - Next Models NY
London - Next London
Paris - Next Paris
Milan - Next Milan
Hamburg - Modelwerk
Copenhagen - 2pm Model Management
Berlin - Seeds Management
Stockholm - Mikas
Barcelona - Traffic Models
Vienna - Next Company
Warsaw - D'Vision

Born on June 12, 1983 in Poland, Anja was discovered after enrolling in a local modelling contest. She has gone on to appear on the cover of French, Korean, Latin American, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, Australian, & German Vogue, i-D, V, Korean & French Numéro & W Korea. She has also been in editorials for Harper's Bazaar & American, Italian & British Vogue & in ads for Chloé, Elie Saab, Fendi, Armani, Lanvin & Gucci.

(Fendi Spring/Summer 2010: Karl Lagerfeld - Photographer, Unknown - Stylist)

The thing I love the most about Anja is her body she has a great body for high fashion because she is so tall and lean. I also love the way she transforms in her pictures, she looks completely different in most pictures I see of her.

 

 

 

 

(Vogue Russia Febuary 2011: Alexi Lubomirski - Photographer, Ekaterina Mukhina - Fashion Editor/Stylist, Sasha Knezevic - Male Model)

The first time I took notice of Anja was when I saw the May 2009 issue of Numéro. The pictures were so raw and so simple and she looks beautiful in them. I can’t even say much about these pictures I just have to let you see them.

 

 

 

 

 

(French Numéro May 2009: Josh Olins - Photographer, Charles Varenne - Fashion Editor/Stylist)

Focus On - Karl Lagerfeld

Karl Lagerfeld

(Chanel Spring/Summer RTW 2011 Show at the Grand Palais)

• In 1955, Lagerfeld was awarded a position as an apprentice at Pierre Balmain after winning second place, behind Yves Saint-Laurent 
• In 1958 he moved to Jean Patou where he gained couture experience 
• In 1963, he began designing for Tiziani, a Roman couture house founded that year by Evan Richards 
• In 1964, Lagerfeld began to freelance for French fashion house Chloé. 
• He then joined Fendi, but still worked with Chloé. His 1972 Deco collection for Chloé attracted worldwide acclaim. 
• In 1983, he became the head designer for Chanel. 
• In 1984, he created his own line Karl Lagerfeld.

(Toni Garrn in Fendi Spring/Summer 2009 Ready-to-Wear)

I have a lot of respect for Karl Lagerfeld. The fact that he is the head designer for three major fashion houses says a lot about him. He is constantly producing multiple collections for each season and the thing I find so fascinating is that he work never mixes. What I mean by that is he is able to keep a distinctive style for each collection he produces, you will never mistake a Chanel collection for a Fendi collection. He is so creative and does so much, he is a great artist and this is evident in his work as a designer and a photographer.

(Anna Selezneva in Karl Lagerfeld Spring/Summer 2009Ready-to-Wear)

Picking my favourite Karl Lagerfeld collection was difficult because I could not decide whether I wanted a Chanel collection or a Fendi collection or a Lagerfeld collection. I really had a hard time with this one so rather than picking my favourite collection I decided to go with a more recent collection that I really liked. That is the Chanel Spring/ Summer 2012 collection everything was so beautiful, elements of classic Chanel with a twist what more could you ask for?

Aline Weber - Spanish Vogue July 2012

This editorial for Vogue Espana features model Aline Weber in designs from Oscar de la Renta, Hermès, Fendi, Moschino, Lanvin and others, styled by Sara Fernandez and shot by Jason Kibbler. Kevin Ryan was the hair stylist on set and he created two remarkable looks. I thought this editorial was really striking; the contrast between the masculine black and white photos and the feminine colour shots is incredible, it does not look like the same person, the thing that gives Aline away is her amazing jawline. I like how soft the masculine styled shots were while the feminine styled shots were more wild and edgy.

 

Focus On - Natasha Poly

Natasha Poly

(Vogue Russia September 2011 Hedi Slimane - Photographer, Sarah Richardson - Fashion Editor/Stylist)

Agencies

New York - Women Model Management

Paris - Women Paris 

Milan - Women Milan
London - Select Model Management
Hamburg - Mega Model Agency
Copenhagen - Scoop Models
Gothenburg - Modellink
Barcelona -Traffic Models

Born on July 12, 1985 in Russian, Natasha was discovered after winning a model search competition in Moscow. She has gone on to appear on the cover of American, Spanish, Chinese, Greek, Japanese, Korean, French, Portuguese & Russian Vogue, French Numéro, V & ELLE & she has been in editorials for i-D, Muse & W. She has also been in ads for Dsquared², Fendi, Givenchy, Gucci & Roberto Cavalli.

(Gucci Spring/Summer 2010: Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott - Photographer, Unknown - Stylist)

Here is another model that has amazing cheekbones. But the things I like the most about Natasha is her ability to transform, whenever I see a picture of Natasha I am shocked by how she manages to look so different it sometimes takes me a minute to realize it’s her. Also her runway walk is something else. I love love love her walk it has to be one of my favourite. Every time I see her coming down the runway I can’t help to bop my head along to her walk (hope that makes sense). There is so much attitude and power in her walk I love watching her come down the runway. 

 

 

 

(Vogue Espana November 2011: Lachlan Bailey - Photographer, Géraldine Saglio - Fashion Editor/Stylist)

The first  time I really took notice of Natasha was on the runway, her walk blew me away. But the editorial that I recently saw which inspired this post was the Numéro 'Couture by Night' editorial. This editorial was so beautiful and it featured male model Baptiste Giabiconi. I love the concept of this shoot and Natasha looked stunning. Also she brings something different to every shot, she is so effortlessly elegant.

 

 

 

(French Numéro September 2010: Karl Lagerfeld - Photographer, Capucine Safyurtlu - Fashion Editor/Stylist, Baptiste Giabiconi - Male Model)