Last season we sawMark Fast use plus-size models to showcase his SS10 collection, thus attracting a flurry of media attention and even allegedly causing his stylist to walk out. Whilst this kind of positive runway publicity surrounding the size debate is obviously a positive one in the way of a healthier lineup on the catwalk, there's been an absence of acknowledgement from the big names in fashion, particularly with the likes of Karl Lagerfeld being so pro-size zero. After mixing up the model lineup by using street casting and members of his staff for his AW10 Marc Jacobs show, the influential American designer chose to take his stance on the use of 'real women' one step further, by casting a range of ages, shapes and ethnic backgrounds for the Fall Louis Vuitton show at Paris Fashion Week.
Amongst the range of models were Laetitia Casta, Elle Macpherson, Lara Stone, Coco Rochaand Noémie Lenoir, though in keeping with fairness to all sizes and shapes, Victoria's Secret Angels Alessandro Ambrosio and Adriana Lima also walked - with this being Lima's return to the runway prior to giving birth. "Designers are always talking about how they design for women, and then you look at our runways and there no girls over 20," Jacobs told The Guardianbackstage at the show. "This time, I set out to cast a variety of sexy women - younger, older, thin, voluptuous, from every ethnic background." They might have been from different walks of life, but each Louis Vuitton model was undoubtedly beautiful in her own right, and Jacobs succeeded in doing a fantastic job of showing the industry that differentiation on the runway doesn't mean sacrificing a stunning show.
As was rumoured before the Paris shows began, Giles Deacon had a lineup full of Victoria's Secret beauties, as well as an astounding amount of top models gracing his catwalk for the AW10 show. Opening the show with a perfectly coiffed beehive was Karolina Kurkova, whilst Alessandro Ambrosio closed the show, and the likes of Coco Rocha, Jessica Stam, Carmen Kass and Angela Lindvall walked in between.
Other Victoria's Secret Angels walking for Giles this Fall included Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Izabel Goulart and Ana Beatriz Barros, and whilst it was the super line-up of supermodels that caught most of the attention, amongst the perfectly toned (and endlessly long) pins of the models, Deacon sent a furry bag with eyes. If it wasn't the glamorous '60s-inspired clothes helping Deacon settle in amongst the tough competition away from home in Paris, the British designer's stellar line up of top models sure is.
New York's Time Square came to a stand still yesterday as the Victoria Secrets 'angels' made an appearance ahead of tonight's taping. Onlookers must have thought they had died and gone to heaven as the likes of Miranda Kerr, Alessandra Ambrosio, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Chanel Iman and Heidi Klum posed, pouted and blew kisses to by-standers. Other new angels, spotted in the VS throng included Elyse Taylor, Sessilee Lopez,Tatiana Kovylina ( a VS 2005 alumni), although it would seem that there are lots more surprises, in the form of new angels, to come (including confirmation that Anja Rubik and Abbey Lee Kershaw will also be making an appearance on the runway).
Fashionologie has reported that photos of the likes of Anna Maria Jagodzinska and Edita Vilkeviciute have been spotted on the casting board, but Emanuela de Paula will be taken off the line-up due to conflicting work schedules. Either way, it would seem that heaven will be missing many of its angels tonight as they strut down the VS runway. We are so excited it hurts!
