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.

An editorial entitled “Belle Vue” is featured in the March 2010 issue of Vogue Deutsch shot by photographer Paola Kudacki starring 29-year-old Italian cover girl Mariacarla Boscono of Viva Models, who recently renewed her contract with Givenchy. Utilizing bright contrast, the editorial was shot in Paris, France with none other than the famous Tour Eiffel in the background and Mariacarla in designs by Dolce & Gabbana, Azzedine Alaia, Céline, Akris, and Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci. I really enjoy this editorial from the high contrast to the city of Paris in the back, the black long-sleeve Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci dress is my favorite piece with the sheer plunging v-neckline in the front.

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.

Presenting her fourth collection last Sunday, February 14th during Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week, 35-year-old singer-turned-designer Victoria Beckham has received a very positive response for her fall/winter 2010/2011 collection. The collection was focused on dresses and high platform shoes embodying her own personal style.

For a change, Victoria opened the show by greeting the audience, which designers normally only make an appearance on the runway at the end, and continued to comment on the designs as they came down the runway. She said, “I feel the clothes express how my own personal style has evolved, more relaxed, a little more slouchy, but still structured.”

The dresses are classy, chic, and sophisticated ready for any red carpet with the use of draping throughout the backs and necklines. Puffed hemlines were used to enhance the strict silhouettes and long slits were added along the sides to add a sexy touch. The range of dresses were inspired by the comic book detective Dick Tracy using deep reds, blues, greens, nudes, and a dazzling pale gold. With this collection, Victoria feels that the fashion world is finally taking her seriously as a designer and her dream is to open her own boutique within the next five years. As a designer, she says, “But, I’m still learning. I still feel I need to prove myself – all my life I’ve had to prove myself. Each season, I have to better myself. I really want to grow as a designer.”

About Victoria’s collection, WWD said, “The collection Beckham showed for fall … presented none of the neophyte awkwardness one might expect from a four-seasons’ new designer (and not just one with a pop star past).”

Lauren David Peden of British Vogue praised Victoria’s collection saying, “Beckham presented a very beautiful collection that evolved her body-con aesthetic while still leaving room – literally – to breathe, thanks to a new-found focus on draping and fluidity.”

Lisa Armstrong of The Times also said, “These clothes are not being churned out to make a quick buck (leave that to her jeans, perfume and sunglasses) – they’re extremely work intensive. I like the collection a lot, it’s just what I prefer wearing.”

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.

Teen Vogue is constantly striving to make fashion appealing to the younger generation. In the recent issue, 16-year-old Russian newcomer Kate Kosushkina of Supreme Models, who recently appeared in an editorial for W magazine by Craig McDean, is featured in an editorial entitled “Toy Soldier” shot by photographer Nick Haymes. Styled by Havana Laffitte in this quirky editorial, Kate is shown in sweet and colorful ensembles from spring collections by the likes of Toga, Holly Fulton, Proenza Schouler, Louis Vuitton, Missoni, and Billabong playing with marionettes, in a field of dried grass, and being surrounded by puppets on strings. Although it seems like Teen Vogue was attempting to create a cutesy editorial, the puppets they utilized were a bit dark and creepy which really took the cutesy aspect away.