HELLO Andres!

Andres Velencoso Segura for Vanity Fair Spain

Well Recycled

Photographer Raymond Meier is known for his strange hyper-color hyper-real images for many fashion clients. For his latest spread in American Vogue, it seems that he has recycled a concept from an August 2007 foray in the same publication. Even though it is a very similar theme, from two very different seasons, it is still well recycled.

'Dipping Below' from April 2010

'Swingers' from August 2007

WIDE Set Eyes

When the name 'Penelope Tree' is uttered, one instantly imagines her grossly wide-set and expansively large eyes. If you were to draw her face on a sketchpad, it would most likely look like an alien's, but Penelope took this unique quality of hers and made it her career, lasting through the late 1960s and early 1970s. Dubbed "The Tree," she became the American symbol of the 60s, as Twiggy became the decade's British symbol.

 Image from Ecelcticaaa.

Now, Argentinian model Milagros Margaria has eyes that remind me of Ms. Tree's, position and all. At only 14, she can go far with such eyes (Lily Donaldson and Gemma Ward both made a career with these coveted eyes). The only difference between the two is Penelope's sloped jaw, which make her eyes seem further apart than they are. I look forward to seeing what she has in store for us. Image from Models.com.

A Retrospect: YSL F/W 2008

If there was ever a figure in fashion in which I must have complete respect for, it is Yves Saint Laurent. Even though he is dead now, I must say my favorite collection of his name-sake label is the first one to hit boutiques after his death in June of '08.

Creative Director, Stefano Pilati's decisions to make the models highly ambiguous is personally my favorite aspect of the presentation. The various leathers, as well as the various heights of the boots are perfect. To this day,  they are still my FAVORITE shoe ever shown, in any show.

God Bless Monsieur Saint Laurent and his continued influence.

You can see Tim Blanks' (of Style.com) review of the collection here.

Forever 21's Genius

Mass retailer Forever 21 has managed to do something that all lower end retailers dream of doing: knocking off designer looks and making a fortune. From caged booties to Balmain-inspired threads, Forever 21's fashion directors and designers are such geniuses. You can also add their marketing department to the list of in-house-genius. Doesn't their logo look quite familiar to you? Images from Forever 21 and GlobalLuxuryFashion.com.

Who Loves Salieu Jalloh? ME.

I've always been waiting for Salieu Jalloh to really surprise me, in a way that would make me fall in love. He finally did it. See the full spread here, but below is a preview. Images from Red NYC.

Models on Another Level

In fashion, unless you working in the major cities, side-by-side with models and editors, members of the press and designers, you don't really get to know the people behind the job. You might hear them speak some words in a interview, but you don't REALLY get to know them.

Here are some clips of models, behind the fashion exterior. Most of them are several years old, but still great nontheless. (my favorite is Veruschka):

Click here for a special treat!

Soleil de Minuit

Natasha Poly (as shot by Inez and Vinnodh) on the cover of Vogue Paris for April 2010

Models.com posted to their website Natasha Poly's 6th cover of Italian Vogue (since her first one in 2004), and I must say that she looks great. Once can easily tell that she's gained weight since her first one, but who cares! She still has that same classic stare. The actual cover's concept and styling, reminds me of Charlize Theron's Vogue US cover back in October of 2007 (image from BRYANBOY).

Models.com then posed a question to its faithful readers: Which of Poly's six French Vogue covers is your favorite? I immediately remembered her March 2007 cover, also shot by Inez and Vinoodh. In fact, the entire editorial that it came from, which also featured model Freja Beha, was one of my favorite editorials from that year. These shots mark when I fell in love with this creature from Russia, and it further solidified my love for Freja Beha. Take a look for yourselves. Images from HTownShop and as layed out on tFS.

Behind the Scenes at 25 Magazine

For 25 Magazine's new editorial "Defragmentation of Beauty", the staff put together this video of some behind-the-scenes takes of the shoot. It's fantastically edited and it shows the models at their best, doing their best.

As models.com posted, "Watch as Karlie Kloss, Constance Jablonski, Abbey Lee Kershaw, Shu Pei Qin, Anja Rubik, Valerija Kelava, Maryna Linchuk, and Karmen Pedaru pose for photographer Marcin Tyszka and are transformed by illustrator Tomek Sadurski." Model Alana Zimmer is also featured.

McQueen's Last Collection

Images from tFS and catwalking.com.