Modeling Journey

British Vogue's September 2011 edition showcases the talents of Mario Testino in an editorial inspired by the 17th century Dutch masters, featuring modern day muses Arizona Muse and Freja Beha Erichsen. Testino captures Muse and Beha Erichsen as 17th century nemeses in ensembles by Valentino, Lanvin, Salvatore Ferragamo, Givenchy and Giles. The editorial has an ethereal, haunting effect and is a true example of when the worlds of photography, fashion and art collide with sublime results. British Vogue Editor Alexandra Shulman says of the editorial that it "earns its place among Vogue classics."

The modelling industry is like a magnet drawing beautiful women from all over the world in pursuit of fame, adulation and fortune. Every few years distinct modelling trends emerge reflecting consumer needs and demand, and the socio-economic climate. From the sexy Brazilians, to the androgynous Belgians, the ubiquitous Russians, and the current wave of models from Asia and Scandinavia, it's no wonder at times castings can resemble a veritable United Nations beauty summit.

Photographer Peter Farago and stylist Ingela Klemetz Farago celebrate the beauty of models hailing from Nordic and Baltic countries in their new photographic tome entitled Northern Women in Chanel. The photographic travelling exhibition and accompanying coffee table book features 46 of the most sought after models from Nordic and Northern Baltic states in archived Chanel collections from the past ninety years.

Over a period of a year the creative duo worked in close collaboration with Chanel, gaining unrestricted access to the fashion house's archives of haute couture collections. Helena Christensen, Carmen Kass, Louise Pedersen, Freja Beha Erichsen, Sigrid Agren, Iselin Steiro, Edita Vilkevicuite, Caroline Brasch Neilson, Kirsi Pyrhonen, Frida Gustavsson, Siri Tollerod and Suvi Koponen amongst others, pose for Farago amidst tundras, arctic plains and native forests in an epic visual story which melds together the worlds of photography, art and fashion.

Klemetz Farago's meticulous styling draws inspiration from dance, opera and art, whilst matching each model to a particular Chanel creation and setting. The resulting visuals are breathtaking and capture a unique universe in which timeless fashion is reinvented amidst ethereal and startlingly beautiful Scandinavian landscapes. The 384 page photographic book has a limited edition release of 2112 copies with profits of sales going towards the Save the Children organisation. The exhibition is currently showing at the centre of contemporary photography Fotografiska, in Stockholm, and will tour the world throughout 2011 to 2013.

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.

I woke up this morning to a bleak overcast Berlin day and my spirits were instantly lifted when I discovered these beautiful pictures of two of my favourite models, Arizona Muse and Freha Beha Erichsen on terrysdiary.com. Terry Richardson captures genuine, heartfelt emotion between the pair that is infectious and palpable. Muse and Beha Erichsen are two of only a handful of models whose strong personality and chameleon-like beauty combine to incredible effect. Each model possesses an innate sense of style, individuality and the elusive cool factor which keeps designers, photographers and magazine editors intrigued. Muse is the mother of a two year old named Niko and has only achieved success recently after initially being categorised as a catalogue model in the early stages of her modelling career. Beha Erichsen is one of the most beguiling characters in the modelling game and continues to impress with her versatile range which veers from androgynous rocker chick one moment to that of a woman whose delicate beauty is transfixing.  

The Fall/Winter 2011 campaigns continue to surface with Givenchy, Chanel and Versace delivering a veritable smorgasbord of delectable visual treats. The three fashion houses present delightfully modern and emotionally engaging images which will surely attract the consumer dollar in the months ahead. Karl Lagerfeld captures Freja Beha Erichsen perched inside a photo booth posing as a feline. Styled by former Vogue Paris Editor-in Chief Carine Roitfeld, the campaign's playful, youthful vibe is a welcome departure from Chanel's traditionally staid imagery.

Donatella Versace enlists Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott to capture models Saskia de Brauw and Sean O'Pry for it's Fall 2011 campaign. The dark, cinematic imagery is a distinct departure from Versace's trademark overtly sexy iconography. The selection of models clearly heralds a directional shift for Versace with Donatella revealing in an interview with WWD, "For me, it is expected to have the blond girl, the sexy girl, and this is what Versace meant recently, but I thought about how in the past, when Gianni used girls like Kristen McMenamy and Stella Tenant, everyone was always saying 'Wow, this is not a Versace girl, she is not blond.' Sometimes you need to renew yourself to work better and to make a little bit of a push."

The Givenchy Fall 2011 Campaigns pulls out the big guns with Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott teaming up with powerhouse stylist Carine Roitfeld to shoot some of modelling's most iconic faces. Naomi Campbell, Rob Evans, Natalia Vodianova, Kristen McMenamy, Maria Carla Boscono and Jonathan Marquez glare and scowl down the camera's lens whilst unleashing a lion's roar. The experience and emotional range exhibited by Campbell, Vodianova et al. elevates this campaign to a level that is befitting of the extraordinary talent assembled.