Saturday, September 30, 2006

Showstoppers S/S 07: Versace

It's officially a miracle: I'm in love with a Versace collection. Usually I am near to appawled by the trashy and cheap attempts by Donatella Versace to produce a sexy line, or I am bored by her attempts to create a sexy approachable line. But this time, she nailed. The collection was sexy and actually wearable. Plus, it had some - for Versace standards at least - innovative twists. Just to immedtaily prove the sexiness of this collection, here's a drop dead gorgeous close-up of Tanya Dziahileva.

The collection, like many collection, revolved around the eighties. Both in shape, colour and in print. Prominent eighties volumes have been toned down for modern times and brown is making a return. Prints you could almost call simple, yet very present, definetly hinted the eighties and even the sixties in this Versace collection.


Another reference to the eighties and the sixties in one is the bathing suit. A corset like, very high waist psit of short with a very cute and simple bikinitop. It puts your body right back into shape, because you can clearly see the lines of construction in this ensemble.


Construction was something that was very recurrant in this collection. Such as in this really great, hotpink dress. There's a construstion that shapes up the breasts here. It looks a lot like the metal armor used in Galliano's latest couture collection for Dior, but actually, it weighs nothing: it's plastic. So you will look and feel great wearing this.


The last dress I am showing you has such a beautiful green colour. And it perfectly shows why this is not a Versace show built on cliches. What we know of Versace's dresses is that they are almost always exactly the same: plunging necklines, too much glitter and sequins and over the hill splits. Now, this dress does have the split, but the rest is all missing. Just like all dresses in the collection there are no sequins and just like most dresses, no plunging necklines. Yet, this dress is sexy as hell. Keep up the good work, Donatella!



Dale Mag 07, October 2006


October is acoming, so it is time for a new cover of Dale Magazine! This time, the honors go to Tiiu Kuik who is gracing the beauty issue that October will be. Fall has now officially started, so aside from a new wardrobe, it is also time to updat you face. The red lip is the talk of the town, so in the seventh installment of Dale Mag, this glamourous cover is all about Fall's Beauty: Million Dollar Pout.

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Feature: Model Hierarchy

There's been endless debate on how to define a certain model. Can we or can we not just label the next big thing with the title 'supermodel'? What makes a supermodel and what does not? Well, if you'd ask me, there araea whole lot more definitions of models than just the 'supermodel'. I've decided to create a Model Hierarchy: a ranking order that for me answers all the questions as to how we should label models with a title.

Rank 1: Super


The highest category in the modeling industry is the Super. Not the supermodel, no, just the Super. They are the biggest models to ever've reigned the modeling world. There are only a few of these girls around and they are the big names of the nineties. Linda, Naomi, Christy, you name 'em. Above we have Claudia Schiffer, a girl who is definetly one of the Supers. And with these looks, she certainly will stay one for a long time!

Rank 2: Supermodel



Second is the Supermodel. In these days, nobody can get any bigger than the supers, they will always be the highest ranked. So any model who is coming a tad close to the status that they had is defined a Supermodel. The world knows they're name and can put a face to it. Great example is Gisele Bündchen. This Brazilian bombshell is the biggest of the Supermodels if you'd ask me. Other names to add are Tyra Banks - yes, you read that right - and Heidi Klum.

Rank 3: Topmodel

After the supermodel we get the Topmodel. Topmodels are on their way to becoming institutions in the modeling world. Every designers knows them and wants them. Every magazine has had them on the cover and the world is slowly but surely starting to know her name. Topmodels only get the biggest ads and assignments. Ultimate Topmodel is Gemma Ward. Her angelic, alienlike beauty has created her to become an icon in the fashion world. Other names that fit this title are Daria Werbowy and even Angela Lindvall.

Rank 4: Established Model

The Established Models are models that, well, used to be at the sheer top of the modeling world but have now become the exclusive, elite models. These girls don't do castings or whatever. No, they get asked to do a show and they either say yes or no. They are established enough to be able to afford that. Erin O'Connor is my favourite Established Model. Others include Carolyn Murphy and a more recent addition to this rank, Malgosia Bela.

Rank 5: A-Lister

The A-Listers are models that are at the top of the game and do only the best shows and many ad campaigns. They are the girls that you see on the covers of the biggest magazine and of course inside of those mags. They have been around for a few - or many - seasons and have become famous within their own little world. A great example is Hana Soukupova. She's still around and this A-Lister is still doing only the best. More A-Listers are Caroline Trentini, Heather Marks, Eugenia Volodina and Natasha Poly.

Rank 6: It-Girl

The It-Girl is experiencing her second or third season and is being the talk of the town. She gets all the big ads, all the covers and does all the shows. After her second or third season - it depends - she gets promoted to an A-Lister and makes way for a new It-Girl. The number one It-Girl of the Fall-Winter 2006-2007 season has got to be Du Juan. She has got five very high-profile ads, has been on several Vogue covers and is doing many, many ads. More recent It-Girls are Coco Rocha and Hilary Rhoda. Some that have made way for them not to long ago are Freja Beha Erichsen and Sasha Pivovarova.

Rank 7: B-Lister

The B-Lister is a model that does do some or a lot of work and has been doing it for a few seasons, but never really gets to the real top. She does some big shows or work once in a while, but mainly, you'll see her at the medium, or smaller shows and in the smaller magazines. A good example of a B-Lister that does her work great is Asia Pulco. She is beautiful and occasionally does a big couture show or a high profile show, but she never reached the status of A-Lister. More girls to join the ranks of B-Lister are Guisela Rhein and also Sonny Zhou.

Rank 8: Emerging Model

The Emerging Model is the Hot New Face of last season and shows that she can last more than one season and even expands her resumé more. She is getting more shows than last season - some even get all, they are closer to It-Girl - and probably will get a lot of high profile jobs after this fashion week. Eventually she will become an A-lister or perhaps a B-Lister. The may or may not become an It-Girl. Daiane Conterato is a girl that is definetly one of the Emerging Models of this season. Others include Mariya Markina and Bette Franke.

Rank 9: Commercial Model

The Commercial Model is a type of model that hard to rank. Some are having great success by way of salary and high-profile commercial brands, while others just stick to catalogue. Because there are definetly Commercial Models getting the big bank I decided not to put them all the way down at the ladder. Also, some of them might even be just as well known as any Topmodel or Supermodel. Even without doing all the high fashion work. Someone who this might happen to is Selita Ebanks. The newest addition to the Victoria's Secret Angels, without having done any high fashion work.

Rank 10: Hot New Girl


The Hot New Girl is exactly what it says: she's new and she is hot! It's during fashion week when these girls pop up. They are experiencing their first or sometimes second season and are doing every single show. The girls that are the Not New Girl usually are the Emerging Models of the next season. There are a lot of Hot New Faces this fashion week, one of them being Olya Ivanisevic. Opening many high-profile shows in her first season and appearing in even more, she really is hot news. Other Hot New Girls of this season are Iekeliene Stange, Alana Zimmer and Bruna Tenorio.

Rank 11: New Girl


At the bottom, we find the New Girl. They are new and inexperienced and they might or might not eventually break through. The list of New Girls is endless, but if I had to pick one to show you, it will be Truus Hooiveld. She is completely new and has done almost nothing, but yesterday she was suddenly in the Prada show! And we all know what appearing in the Prada show means to your modeling career: only good things. I am guessing she belongs to the type of New Girls that will eventually break through.

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Feature: Potheads!

If you are tired of your old haircut and you want something new and trendy, then you need to take a bob. If we are to believe the modeling world, carrying the flowerpotdo is the next big thing. Here's a rundown on the biggest models with the bobbydo.


First of, we have got to start with the initiators of this look on the runway and in eds: Rachel Alexander (up) and Patricia Schmid. Patricia Schmid came with her full head of bobhair during the S/S 06 fashion week and she definetly gained some attention. When Rachel Alexander took to the F/W 0607 runway with a very skinny bob, it was clear that a trend has been made!


And there is enough prove to back that by now. Take the beautiful Heidi Verster. She cut it down to very sexy, long bob. She definetly started to catch my eye after her make-over.


Stunning beauty Juliana Imai took the dare as well and appeared on last week's NY catwalks with a new bob, too. And it looks very good on her. It just hangs over her eyes and makes her look extra sensual.


Cut down to the minimum is the bob of it-new-girl Cecila Mendez. She cut her hair to minimal lengths with of course a bob and suddenly she is taking over all the runways. Watch out for her cute face in Paris!


And last but not least, we have Allison Nix. She has the classic bob and she is working it to the max. Booking all the runways, Allison reassures us that the bob is definetly the new haircut to reign.



Friday, September 15, 2006

Top 5 New Faces Olympus Fashion Week S/S 07

With Olympus Fashion Week coming to an end, it's time to sum up my personal Top 5 of new faces in New York! No comments on the, I will comment on my final Top 10 after Paris, because you never know what Milan and Paris will bring us! Also, keep an eye on the honourable mentions, because those ten girl are no nothing as well. So here's the Top 5 in no particular order:

Cecilia Mendez

Bruna Tenório

Egle Tvirbutaite


Alana Zimmer


Giedre Dukauskaite

Honourable mentions to: Chris Reilly, Evgeniya Mandzhieva, Olya Ivanisevic, Magdalena Frackowiak, Chanel Iman, Eva Helene Skarvig, Daiane Conterato, Tayla Collins, Alyona Osmanova and Anna Mikhaylik.

Showstoppers S/S 07: Yigal Azrouël

Second up in the S/S 07 Showstoppers is Yigal Azrouël. He showed us a simple, modern collection of totally accessable and beautiful clothes.


Beginning with thise ensemble above, he immediatly introduces us his sleek silhouette, enforced by the calf-high skinny pants. Finished with a cute jacket and lovely shirt, this is a very modern look.


I think the above outfit is my favourite of the show. It's so very simple, but still it has this twist. It is just a simple t-shirt, but that purple chiffon overthrow makes me totally dig it. Gorgeous pants as well.


I'm in love with this jacket. It is just a jacket, but it is so modern and looks so light. Very cute dress as well. The pleads are what do the trick.


Highlight of the show was this sandcoloured floorlenght. Fantastic fabric. Love the folds and pleads. One of the best dresses of the week!

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Showstoppers S/S 07: Marc Jacobs

Yup, the fashion weeks have started already and before New York fashion week ends, it's time to anounce the first Showstopper of S/S 07! The honours go to Marc Jacobs, a collection that showed romantic luxury. Such as this shoe, which has a rhinestone for a heel and even more rhinestones for decoration.


Overal, the luxury returned as glittery glamour, metalics and more stones. A great example o the glittery glamour is the dress below. It has this Arabian Nights feel to it and the fantastic blue colours are just a dream. Note the details in the cropped rose on Vlada's left shoulder. How can you not like this look?


The romanticism was portrayed in a more simpler approach to embellishment and such. Basically the cut of the clothes delivered the romantic vibe, together with the soft white colours. Such as in this cute dress, with original types of folding and pleading. The grey stripes and the jewelry around the neck finish this look completely.


As for the metallics, Marc Jacobs showed us several jackets, bags, hats andcoats such as this one. It again looks very luxurious. The pants are great too. Some of the pants were cut to give you that Arabian feel again. Also, the scarf is very cute.


The main colour palette of this collection was black, white, brown and grey. Some greyish blue as well. Thsi white ensemble is one of the more romantic pieces in the collection and probably one of my favourites.


I had to show this one last because it is just so gorgeous. I love the shape! Also the slightly puffed sleeves are great. Worn with those pants this is a great look and Ekaterina wears it perfectly!