Fashion Models and the Hottest Designer Trends

24-year-old Czech supermodel Hana Soukupova of IMG, who recently appeared in Vogue Germany by Paola Kudacki, is featured in an editorial entitled “Wall Flowers” shot by photographer Regan Cameron. Shot on the streets with graffiti covered walls, Hana is showcased in Marc Jacobs nylon silk jack and leather belt with silk organza shorts, Gucci canvas jacket and cotton top with black pants, Chloé viscoe-linen-and-cotton dress and buffalo-leather belt with leather-and-suede Phi boots, Balenciaga leather-and-polyester-jersey-organza top with leather pants, a Burberry Prorsum gabardine trench, an Alexander Wang lambskin jacket with detachable cotton linen elastane skirt, and Louis Vuitton cotton shirt and skirt with Bottega Veneta Raffia sandals. Although I really enjoy the ensembles, backdrops, and hair in this editorial, I feel that the eye makeup on Hana was too dark overall. In my opinion, the makeup artist should have either given Hana a fresh, natural look or smokier eyes with less black eyeliner.

In the January 2010 issue of Vogue Brazil, 23-year-old Brazilian model Barbara Berger of Ford Models, who recently appeared in an editorial for Elle Italy by Cedric Buchet, is featured in an editorial entitled “Radical Chic” shot by photographer Jacques Dequeker. With a surfer girl theme, Barbara is shown in teal Le Lis Blanc shorts with yellow Ray Bans, a pink Balenciaga tank top, a striped Shop 126 dress, and a tie-dye Osklen mini dress. This editorial reminds me of a more preppy twist on the 2002 movie Blue Crush with actress Kate Bosworth without the surfer boys and entourage.

26-year-old Brazilian supermodel Raquel Zimmermann of DNA is featured in an editorial entitled “Field Of Dreams” shot by photographer Mario Sorrenti in the February 2010 issue of W magazine. Styled by Camilla Nickerson, Raquel is shown in a white MaxMara cotton and silk shirt, a tan Burberry georgette top with tan silk duchesse satin leggings, a white Armani Jeans cotton shirt with brown Dolce & Gabbana shorts, a white cotton crepe Bottega Veneta romper, a white polyamide and cotton Jil Sander top with white leather Nicole Miller leggings, a white taffeta Celine shirt, a white Gianfranco Ferré top and bra with lambskin Alexander Wang shorts and Balenciaga boots, a tan wool and cashmere Chloé top with tan Chloé leather shorts, a lavender Gucci cotton top with lavender cotton pants, and a silk gazar and chiffon Calvin Klein dress with white Burberry cotton briefs. Utilizing a desert scenery, the majority of the images emphasize the blue skies and the yellow grass making the whites and tans in the garments really stand out while Raquel uses many action poses.

Continuing with their summer tradition, the theme for Gap shoes this summer is all about “Brand Americana” with floral, folk rock, homegrown, and white-on-white styles designed once again by Balenciaga designer Pierre Hardy. The three-featured designs from the collection include scarf-tie wedges, cork-soled peep-toes, and lace-up denim platforms going for $98 per pair. The collection will be available at select Gap stores and at Gap.com starting May 4th.

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.

Balenciaga designer Nicolas Ghesquière has combined sporty with futuristic bringing us the pre-fall 2010 collection. The collection features many architectural silhouettes and volume, French industrial designer Charlotte Perriand-inspired shoes, bright yellow, red, and green tights, opaque and sheer sections, and some darling space suit looking gloves. According to Style.com, all the pieces will be sold for under $100 each if you could believe that!

The Balenciaga line has really changedin the last 60 years. From the very classical to extremely futuristic in the clothing designs seen on the runways, however the handbags have kept a bit of the original styling, well, maybe. The balenciaga shoes, ahh, those are always very interesting if not always wearable. I love some of the Balenciaga shoes, even though I may be too scared to try to walk in many of them. Either way, Balenciaga always amazes and pushes into the areas of fashion that many other designers will not roam.

Here are a few of the items from the Balenciaga collection of shoes and handbags. Very colorful