Fashion Models and the Hottest Designer Trends

Stylist Lucinda Chambers pulled together several of this season’s most vibrant, intricate, and futuristic pieces to showcase on 22-year-old Danish cover girl Freja Beha Erichsen of IMG, who recently opened for the Chanel couture show during Paris Fashion Week, is featured in an editorial entitled “Cyber Tribe” for the March 2010 issue of Vogue UK shot by photographer Josh Olins. With the spring collections, designers are creating collections that are more comfortable and colorful using sharper lines, masculine designs, and many details. Using a neutral-colored backdrop, Freja is shown in designs by Manish Arora, Giorgio Armani, Swarovski, Carianne Moore, Lucy Hutchings, Emilio Pucci, Alexander McQueen, Gucci, and Versace. My favorite look in this editorial is the Emilio Pucci silk dress with the Swarovski crystallized Manish Arora shoulder pieces and Snakeskin Alexander McQueen boots being quite eccentric and extremely colorful.

The March 2010 issue of Marie Claire UK features a layout starring 27-year-old Canadian True Blood star Anna Paquin, who won an Oscar at age nine being the second youngest actress to receive the award, shot by photographer Frederic Pinet set in a supermarket. Making the supermarket look fashionably chic, Anna is shown in a stretch Viktor & Rolf tulle and sequin dress with Pierre Hardy suede and Swarovski crystal sandals with a full shopping cart in the produce section, a Chanel tweed dress with Gianvito Rossi nylon shoes in front of a mountain of bottled water, Prada Plex Crystal dress and cotton top with a satin and Plex Crystal belt in the candy aisle having a Red Vine in mouth, Lavin blue silk dress under a red silk dress with black Jonathan Kelsey leather shoes holding a bouquet of balloons, a Josh Goot silk dress with Rock and Republic leather shoes leaning against the snack aisle, stunningly poised in an Alexander McQueen silk chiffon and diamante dress in front of the meat freezer, and looking intense in a Salvatore Ferragamo silk dress and Christian Louboutin studded leather shoes next to a tower of Duraflames. I really enjoy this layout of Anna showing her in a ‘normal’ everyday setting in an array of fabulous dresses with Viktor & Rolf tulle and sequin dress being my favorite.

For the March 2010 issue of Vogue Nippon is an 18-page editorial entitled “The Lonesome Highway” starring 19-year-old Russian cover girl Anna Selezneva of Silent Models, who was featured on the cover of Numéro February 2010, shot by photographer Mark Segal. Styled by George Cortina, Anna brings to life the simplicity of rural life in patterned pieces by designers Alexander McQueen, Louis Vuitton, Jeremy Scott, and Chanel with my favorite piece being the pink Jeremy Scott strapless bodysuit looking very young, fresh, and chic.

Vogue Italia February 2010 features an editorial entitled “Three Women” starring 26-year-old American model Jamie Bochert of Women Models, 37-year-old Irish supermodel Daphne Guinness, and 26-year-old British model Agyness Deyn of Viva Models for a high fashion-meets-rowdy-cowboys shoot by photographer Steven Meisel. These three lovely ladies are shown in designs by Karl Lagerfeld, Gianfranco Ferré, Alexander McQueen, Gucci, and Lanvin for a classic star studded editorial.

Alexander McQueen’s Lobster Claw shoes live on in spring fashion mags around the world. For March, 2010 Frida Gustavsson made an appearance in Vogue in a set of Lobster Claw stilettos.

16-year-old Swedish model Frida Gustavsson of IMG, who recently appeared in editorials for Vogue Italia and W, stars on the cover and in an editorial entitled “Style Stars” for the March 2010 issue of Vogue Germany shot by photographer Greg Kadel. Presenting trends for this season, Frida looks flawless in designs by Alexander McQueen, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Balmain, Dior, Roberto Cavalli, Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, Chloé, and Dolce & Gabbana from mixed patterns, denims, and structured pieces to afros, purple eyeshadow, and cat faces. My favorite trend for the season comes from Louis Vuitton combining afro chic with a maturing lolita look.

Why is that when a person dies, everyone suddenly notices how great he or she was? Alexander McQueen was an amazingly creative designer that has definitely impacted the fashion world in a large way, and with the news of his tragic death, everyone is chasing after his creations to keep his memory alive.

Since the first news of his death, McQueen’s iconic skull-print scarf has been “flying off the shelves” retailing for £200 having worn by the likes of Kate Moss, Liv Tyler, and Nicole Richie.

The Head of Press of the London department store Liberty Kate Brindley said, “The response was immediate. At about 4pm, just after the news broke, all of our Alexander McQueen stock started flying off the shelves. The scarf was such an iconic piece of his design.”

The second most popular item right now is the black shoulder-pad tee from McQueen’s summer collection. The Buying and Merchandising Director of Selfridges Anne Pitcher also said, “We fully expect customers to want to buy something by him – anything – to keep as a memento, but also as a genuine tribute to his craft and spirit.”

Doing her part to raise money for Haiti relief, 39-year-old British supermodel Naomi Campbell did what she does best by organizing the Fashion For Relief Haiti runway show on Friday, February 12th at Bryant Park’s The Tent in part of Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week hosted by 50-year-old Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson.

The show consisted of models and celebrities walking the runway in some fabulous designers threads styled by Rachel Zoe with celebrity models in the likes of Chris Brown, Fergie, and Kelly Osbourne. The show featured designers such as Diane von Furstenberg and Donna Karan with looks from Dolce & Gabbana, Ralph Lauren, Christian Dior, and Carolina Herrera to be auctioned online at at Net-A-Porter.com starting Monday, March 15th. Having held 950 guests and with tickets from $100 to $150 per seat, all the proceeds are going to CARE, an organization dedicated to rebuilding Haiti’s health-care system for women and children.

Although she rarely walks the runway nowadays, Naomi took three trips down the runway with her last look being dedicated to her good friend designer Alexander McQueen, who committed suicide just one day prior, in a thigh-high, multi-colored graphic print dress by McQueen. Along with Naomi, seven other models paid tribute to McQueen by showcasing his creations in a tribute set to Patti Smith’s “Because the Night” to close out the show.

For the finally farewell, Sarah Ferguson told guests, “Thank you, by being here you’ve made a difference.”

In the past, Naomi has also staged Fashion For Relief shows in New York after the Hurricane Katrina disaster as well as the massacre in Mumbai, India. To further benefit Haitian women, Naomi is holding a similar show this Thursday, February 18th during London Fashion Week.