So it’s that time of the year again, Vogue Paris’ coveted calendar supplement is out with the magazine’s last issue of the year. So here we are, giving you a peek at the cover before you head out to get yours. Mario Sorrenti shot the months this time around at the Lido in Paris, and he didn’t disappoint. In fact, he’s made 2009’s pin-up girls look rather prim in comparison.
Sorrenti has portrayed hotness to the max with these sensual and atmospheric shots of the girls, who are flooded with vivid disco-light colours and the occasional wisp of smoke. And, far from last year’s collection of 14 models, only three have made the cut for 2010’s edition; Iselin Steiro, Natasha Poly and Raquel Zimmermann posed both nude and in lingerie (and in ropes), staring as Muses for each month. Now, go get your hands on a copy before they’re all gone!
Nick Knight has been one busy photographer of late. Having collaborated with Alexander McQueen for his S/S '10 show at Paris Fashion Week (pre-show film, starring Raquel Zimmermann), hosting live photoshoots at Somerset House (including shooting Natalia VodIanova two weeks ago), which are running until December, the noted fashion photographer has now taken on a new project. He has been set to task to create a special video for Lady Gaga's forthcoming Monster Ball world tour.
The video is to be unveiled during the tour and will be leaning heavily towards the animalistic feel, judging by the information Michael Howells offered through the ShowStudio blog, where he confirmed that they were "ordering up a veritable menagerie of animals for the shoot..." We aren't really surprised though as we have come to love Lady Gaga for her over-the-top ensembles and generally 'off the wall' facade she projects to the public.
Just as all the chaos and madness from the various fashion weeks begins to die down and editors and buyers begin to breathe again, designers unfortunately are not quite so lucky as they must begin to decide on who will star in the ad campaigns.
John Galliano at Dior was the first to reveal who his 'chosen one' will be for Dior's forthcoming ad campaign. Having opted out of the 'ad campaign festivities' last season, Galliano confirmed that this season, Karlie Kloss, who walked in pretty much every major show this season including Hermes, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Chloe, Alexander McQueen and John Galliano to name but a few, will be his girl du jour. Karl Lagerfeld also confirmed his choices for the Chanel ad campaign, and not one to do things by halves, has decided to keep his trio theme as seen on the Chanel runway earlier this month. He has chosen Freja Beha Erichsen, muse-of-the-moment Baptiste Giabiconi and supermodel Claudia Schiffer to front the campaign, which is to be shot in Buenos Aires. With rumours that Nick Knight and Raquel Zimmermann will also be collaborating on the campaign, the fashion houses can expect stiff competition from one another and we can expect to be blown away.
On Tuesday, Paris and the rest of the world were treated to Alexander McQueen's latest collection which was streamed live for viewers all over the world to enjoy. Opening the show with a video of a topless Raquel Zimmermann accessorised in nothing more than a snake, writhing around her, the collection, titled 'Platos Atlantis', was clearly intended to have an impact on the audience from the outset.
Heavy and strong prints featuring insects, snakes and owls, structured mini-dresses and skirts, cowl-neck details, bejewelled peplums, capped sleeves, cinched waists and the odd injection of asymmetric fringing detail, were all focal points of the collection. The real highlights of the show however, aside from the crimped and cornrowed hair styles and the prosthetics worn by the models under their eyes to make them look more alien-like, was the range of hoof-like shoes, which indeed very much stole the show. Models stomped down the runway in ten inch platformed creations which included two-tone mock snake skin, aqua and gold embellished and mock-croc ankle boots, before moving on to court shoes with a snake wound around the heel, in white, iridescent blue and black and finishing with a heavily bejewelled number created to match the finale outfit of sequin leggings and sparkly cinched waist, mini dress.
We can't wait to see how this will translate onto the high street. Expect the likes of Topshop and ASOS to produce their own take on the style very soon.
Have you noticed that there have been a few absences on the runway this season like Tanya Dziahileva, Raquel Zimmermann, Sigrid Agren and Catherine McNeil?
According to sources, Tanya D will be back in good form on the runway for the Paris shows this week but there's been no word about the others. Jessica Stam on the other hand, has been confirmed to be back in New York and will not be walking in any of the Paris shows due to sickness.
Raquel Zimmermann showed off her new blonde locks at the Met Ball this week with Proenza Schouler designers Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough. We've already seen models Daul Kim and Iekeliene Stange trade brown for blonde, and the only thing we can say is that summer is coming. Do you change your hair to follow the seasons?
Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin are set to shoot the Gucci campaign starring Jacquetta Wheeler, Raquel Zimmermann, Natasha Poly and Freja Beha. The duo will also shoot Christy Turlington and Andrés Velencoso for the Yves Saint Laurent campaign.
