Fashion Models and the Hottest Designer Trends

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.

Camping out in turbans, trenches, and safari gear, 18-year-old California-native model Cassandra Smith is featured in an editorial entitled “Night At the Museum” for Tatler March 2010 shot by photographer Luis Monteiro. Styled by Chloe Beeny, Cassandra showcases the modern colonial look dressing printed harem-style or skinny pants with a safari jacket in designers such as Dior, Bally, Chanel, Salvatore Ferragamo, Burberry, Stella McCartney, Dolce & Gabbana, Ralph Lauren Black Label, Misa Hirada, and Bottega Veneta. Although I would have liked to see more interaction with the setting being in a museum, I really enjoy all the neutral colors in this editorial with my favorite piece being the tan Burberry suede trench dress looking very chic and mature.

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.

With bright, colorful eyes and bold red lips, 21-year-old Canadian cover girl Coco Rocha, who recently debuted her first look from her Rococo clothing line at the Grammy’s, is featured in a layout entitled “Hot Coco” for the March 2010 issue of Elle US. Shot by photographer Alexei Hay, stylist Christopher Niquet outfits Coco in a red Dior satin dress and bra with Diane von Furstenberg by H. Stern yellow gold bracelets, an organza coat and blouse by Salvatore Ferragamo with a Leah C. Couture Millinery ostrich-feather choker, a Ports 1961 by Tia Cibani silk/linen coat with brown Alberta Ferretti cotton stretch pants and bracelets by David Yurman, Valentino embroidered silk coat and lacquered lace pants with a green Dooney & Burke bag, and a Bottega Veneta canvas poplin cotton shirt with a Patricia Underwood felted rabbit-fur hat and a yellow gold watch with diamonds and a black satin strap by Dior Timeless. I think the makeup by artist Kabuki and hair by Kevin Ryan adds a great dramatic feel making the garments pop out of the bright white backdrop.

The eldest daughter of Duran Duran lead singer Simon Le Bon and model Yasmin Le Bon is 20-year-old model Amber Le Bon, who is featured in an editorial entitled “The Name’s Bon” for Tatler March 2010 shot by photographer Marcin Tyszka. Full of vibrant colors and bold prints, Hannah Teare styled Amber in a silk dress and underskirt by Emporio Armani, a Prada silk dress, a Moschino dress with beaded neckline, a silk sleeveless dress by Roberto Cavalli, a Dior silk-chiffon dress, and a Louis Vuitton silk dress. Utilizing a country home setting, my favorite look on Amber is the Moschino dress with a beaded neckline due to the bright oranges and lime greens looking stunning against Amber’s bronzed skin.

For the magazine’s monthly What’s Next spread, the March 2010 issue of Harper’s Bazaar US features 36-year-old Canadian supermodel Shalom Harlow of IMG in her gorgeous curly locks. Shot by photographer Glen Luchford in a ten-page layout, Stylist Melanie Ward showcases Shalom in this spring’s trends of denim, pattern, and neutrals by designers Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci, Ralph Lauren, Hermès, Versus, Alexander Wang, Yves Saint Laurent, Tommy Bahama, Chloé, Louis Vuitton, Moschino, Dior, Etro, Eres, and Roberto Cavalli. In this casual and classy layout, my favorite look is simply the pale green Chloé top and black Chloé shorts with a long, thin, silver Hermès necklace reflected in the mirror being very classic and glamorous.

For the second issue of the online publication The New Tough, American model Heather Sutton of Next Models is featured on the cover and in an editorial entitled “I Sold My Soul to the Devil” shot by photographer Robin Black. With a gothic touch, stylist Brett Bailey styles Heather in a jeweled dress by Jenny Packham with a Miriam Haskell pendant necklace, a mustard yellow Max Azria dress with a vintage Chanel necklace, a royal blue Olima satin dress with vintage jewelry by Dior, and a fuchsia Juan Carlos Obando satin blouse with jewelry by Miriam Haskell and Cartier. All the bold colors really make the ensembles look outstanding with my favorite being the Jenny Packham jeweled dress with the intricately made sequins.