Modeling Journey

Pirelli enlists the remarkable artistic talents of Karl Lagerfeld and a cast of 21 models for it's Mythology themed 2011 calendar. The calendar features Lara Stone, Bianca Balti, Natasha Poly, Lakshmi Menon, Isabeli Fontana, Anja Kneller, Abbey Lee Kershaw, Freja Beha Erichsen, Elisa Sedanoui, Jeneil Williams, Iris Strubegger, Magdalena Frackowiak, Erin Wasson Daria Werbowry, Heidi Mount, Brad Kroenig, Garett Neff, Baptiste Giabiconi, Sebastian Jondeau, Brad Davies and actress Julianne Moore, each posing as different ancient Greek and Roman deities in varying states of undress. 

At the press conference for the unveiling of the calendar, Lagerfeld surmises "I wanted to do something different. I looked at all the other calendars," he said, adding that his had a message "of timeless beauty and youth." The 36 photos selected for the calendar, depict 24 different subjects, including gods, heroes and myths. Lagerfeld's series of black and white images take on a distinctly artistic slant with an emphasis on sculpture and form. Lagerfeld creates a luminous three dimensional quality to the images by contrasting stark backgrounds with light carefully positioned on the model's bodies. The resulting images are insanely beautiful and a welcome departure from the salacious pin-up style nudity of previous years.

What do you get when you combine the talents of Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott with a stellar cast of models including Joan Smalls, Abbey Lee Kershaw, Sigrid Agren, Emily Baker, Lenz Von Johnston, Anthon Wellsjo and Duco Ferwerda? Pure Magic. As the images below attest, glamour was the order of the day for Gucci's Fall/Winter campaign. The casting for this campaign is my favourite for the season. I absolutely adore Smalls who is back again for her third consecutive Gucci campaign. Also returning to the Gucci camp is Lee Kershaw who looks beguiling and mysterious. Rounding out the cast are Agren with a divine Rita Haywardesque hairstyle and newcomer Baker who was undoubtedly the standout star of the Fall/Winter 2011 shows in February. The clever use of projections and shadowed lighting create the illusion that the cast are being observed by their alter egos. 

25 Magazine features the cream of modelling's talent in an editorial lensed by Marcin Tyszka. Karlie Kloss, Anja Rubik, Maryna Linchuk, Karmen Pedaru, Abbey Lee Kershaw, Alana Zimmer, Shu Pei Qin, Constance Jablonski and Valerija Kelava demonstrate why season after season they are the girls ruling the runways and securing the coveted editorial and campaigns slots. Each model brings an individual energy, character and strength to the editorial whilst allowing Tyszka to capture the sublime beauty of this stellar cast to best effect. 

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.

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.

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.

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..."

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.

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.