Fashion Models and the Hottest Designer Trends

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.

Tragedy has struck the fashion world with the news of 40-year-old British designer Alexander, or Lee, McQueen having taken his own life yesterday in his luxury Mayfair flat in Central London. Known for his flamboyant and outrageous sense of style, he has designed creations for the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker, Rihanna, and Lady Gaga. Having lost his mother just days prior and his close friend and style guru Isabella Blow, who jumped start his career, three years earlier, it is said that Lee hung himself. Lee was also scheduled to show one of his lines, McQ, in New York this afternoon in part of Mercedez Benz Fashion Week.

In a statement from the designer’s company, they stated, “On behalf of Lee McQueen’s family, Alexander McQueen today announces the tragic news that Lee McQueen, the founder and designer of the Alexander McQueen brand, has been found dead at his home. At this stage it is inappropriate to comment on this tragic news beyond saying that we are devastated and are sharing a sense of shock and grief with Lee’s family. Lee’s family has asked for privacy in order to come to terms with this terrible news and we hope the media will respect this.”

Lee McQueen, born in the East End of London becoming the son of a taxi driver, started his career as an apprentice at age 16 in Savile Row making suits for Prince Charles. He was first discovered in the 90’s by Tatler fashion director Isabella Blow, who killed herself in May of 2007 after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, buying his entire first collection for £5,000. Lee was initially known as the “enfant terrible” in the fashion world sporting ultra-short hair and Doc Marten combat boots. In 1996, Givenchy appointed him as their head designer succeeding John Galliano and later joined forces with Gucci, who bought 51 percent of his company. Throughout his career, he was given many awards being named British Designer of the Year four times between 1996 and 2003, the International Designer of the Year at the Council of Fashion Designer Awards, and received a CBE, Commander of the Order of the British Empire, in 2003.

Not only was Lee an amazing designer, he was openly gay having once described himself as the “pink sheep of the family.” About his open sexuality, he once said, “I was sure of myself and my sexuality and I’ve got nothing to hide. I went straight from my mother’s womb onto the gay parade.”

In 2000, he married his partner and filmmaker George Forsyth on a yacht owned by the prince of Gambia in Ibiza with friend and supermodel Kate Moss as bridesmaid. With the marriage lasting for about nine years, as of last February, Lee was single and dating porn star ‘Mr. Stag.’

Moments following the news of Lee’s death, a statement was released on behalf of Kate Moss saying, “Kate is shocked and devastated at the tragic loss of her dear friend Lee McQueen. Her thoughts are with his family at this sad time.”

Editor of Vogue Alexandra Shulman said, “Lee McQueen influenced a whole generation of designers. His brilliant imagination knew no bounds as he conjured up collection after collection of extraordinary designs. At one level, he was a master of the fantastic, creating astounding fashion shows that mixed design, technology and performance and on another he was a modern-day genius whose gothic aesthetic was adopted by women the world over. His death is the hugest loss to anyone who knew him and for very many who didn’t.”

McQueen’s former CEO Sue Whiteley said, “This is devastating news. He was an unforgettable part of my life. He was a talent who was beyond others. People who worked with him would give 100 per cent and more because he was totally inspiring. This is an unimaginable loss for the fashion world. He was able to bring creativity to whatever he turns his hand to, from perfume bottles to every piece of clothing. It is a dark, dark day to hear this news. he was a British icon in fashion whose loss is unimaginable.”

The British Fashion Council sent their condolences saying, “We are deeply saddened at the news of Alexander McQueen’s untimely death. He was a unique talent and one of the world’s greatest designers. Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this sad time.”

The news of the death of designer Alexander ‘Lee’ McQueen has definitely cast a shadow on the fashion world today leaving us with two decades of his amazing art seen through his eccentric collections.

Sporting Alexander McQueen’s potentially dangerous ‘lobster’ platforms in every image is 24-year-old Russian cover girl Natasha Poly of Select Models alongside 27-year-old British male model Ollie Edwards of FM Agency in the pre-spring 2010 issue of i-D magazine shot by photographer Emma Summerton. Utilizing black and white imaging and a bright orange backdrop, stylist Edward Enninful outfits Natasha and Ollie in nude colors to create a neutral looking editorial entitled “Talk Dirty To Me. No Strings Attached.” Although bright colors were not used, the garments were very well designed creating clean sharp lines to focus on those massive Alexander McQueen platforms.

The March 2010 issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK features an editorial entitled “Blue Plant” starring 17-year-old Russian newcomer Anastasia Kuznetsova of Next Models shot by photographer Mark Pillai. Styled by Vanessa Coyle in a red rock valley of hills, Anastasia is shown in shades of blue by Burberry Prorsum, Ralph Lauren, Yves Saint Laurent, Hussein Chalayan, Haider Ackermann, Proenza Schouler, Michael Kors, Stella McCartney, Gucci, and Alexander McQueen. Anastasia looks like she is the blue princess on a new, red planet with an amazing sense of style.

Styled in designs from the spring collections of Alexander McQueen, Jill Sander, and Prada by stylist Darren Knight, German model Anne Sophie Monrad of Ford Models is featured in an editorial for the first issue of Glass magazine shot by photographer Felix Lammers. In an abandoned graffiti-filled setting, Anne Sophie brings a girlish charm with my favorite look being the teal tie-dye minidress with Alexander McQueen ankle boots.

I love the theatrics and therefore I love Alexander McQueen.

His men’s show was all about textures, layers and busy patterns. The color palette was missing most “color” and revolved around the sophistication of black.

However, with Alexander, black is never boring. The combination of shiny materials against camouflage patterns is eye catching as well as the play on lengths.

He took a break last season but returned with the style we crave.

His ambiguous collection is hit with camouflage, balaclavas, and drastic silhouettes with a rhythmic sequence of prints breathing life into a mysterious character bringing uncertainty and excitement. The result of these combinations brings us Alexander McQueen’s genius imagination while going along harmoniously with his more simple pieces. His collection this season is the perfect mixture of suiting and outerwear through prints with boxy cuts, textured inserts, and layered proportions.

From sequins and mega tall platforms to leather pants, V magazine’s ‘Shape’ issue brings us an editorial entitled “V Love U Just the Way U R” featuring 21-year-old Hungarian model Eniko Mihalik of Elite Model Management and 19-year-old French model Constance Jablonski also of Elite Model Management alongside 25-year-old Icelandic plus-size model Inga Eiriksdottir of Ford Models and model Elle King of IMG. The lovely ladies are showcased in pieces that match with black such as a black Dolce & Gabbana mesh bodysuit and dress, a glittered tan Louise Goldin bodysuit, Alexander McQueen’s ‘lobster’ heels in tan, a black coned bra dress by Jean Paul Gaultier, a floor-length black Salvatore Ferragamo evening gown, Balenciaga heels, and a black Dior leather jacket utilizing a plain, all white studio setting.