Fashion does it better

How do you say... another lyrical skid

petitou — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:25:00 GMT

Kasia @ Next (Paris)

If we know Kasia... Our first answer was no. We didn't see the pictures at that precise moment, just heard the name then finally realised that we should improve our Polish pronounciation. From this brand new point of view, for sure we know Kasia. We know and we love. We clearly know we use and abuse of all kind of musical comparisons when it comes to describe models but once again it was hard to resist. Couldn't help. Seeing her polaroids makes us think about these unforgettable songs (unforgettable melody) where a little melancholic, unjustified and unexpected sound (just one) changes everything. And you can't get it out of your head. Same with Kasia, there is probably a detail (a little expression in her eyes ?) that makes her impossible to overlook. And ensures she will never fade away. Sometimes a quartet of bikini shots tells you much longer than anything else. Sometimes we talk too much just to describe. Writing too much, throwing the ink all over the topic. Maybe we shouldn't waste some more lines as we have no crusty rumour about campaigns, editorials or whatever. Maybe we should just have written... have asked how to say potential in Polish.

It's summertime yet cloudy but she's strawberry-blond

petitou — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:13:00 GMT

Annely @ Ulla Models (The Netherlands)

Even if we're quite impatient to see the leaves fall from the trees. Even if we miss the hectic rythm of a new season starting. Even if the quiet summer days are not our favorite moment in a year, we could still take benefit of july and august to look around and feature some handpicked models more often than usual. Taking our time to make some different choices, having a trip out of the beaten tracks and discovering new faces or incredible (yet sometimes underrated) girls we wouldn't have noticed in the non-stop rush. That's the way we found Annely. We already knew her but taking a the time to have a closer look to her book gave us the feeling she's perfect to open our summer series. Who else than this strawberry-blond beauty (also signed with SS&M Models in Spain) could have been our first choice, here where the redhead issues are... seasonless ?

Unexpected origami

petitou — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:46:00 GMT

Lenka Bozikova @ Ford (Paris)

Sometimes you need a funny story to notice a model. Sometimes. It doesn't mean Lenka wouldn't have been able to stand out by herself, we have memories of her as soon as we got her card in hand (well, we have memories since long before but this story starts with the compcard...) and she would have hit her target this way as well. But it seems things went differently and a little fold can be considered as the beginning of a deeper interest in her book. Our week in Paris was all in a rush and we're not sure we stopped running for more than a few seconds, from one place to another packing all the compcards in the handbag. At the end of the day, Lenka's card was the only one folded... Once again, it would have been important if she wasn't great herself. And even we don't really believed in signs we wanted to believe in that one: some random little thing brought our attention to a beautiful blonde with delicate freckles. We needed to dedicate an article to the underrated Slovakian (from Exit Models also mother agency of Zuzana Gregorova and Next NY's Rebeka Zuborova). Hopefully this will not be the last one as she has shot for one of our favorite magazines. As every year, we're just counting the days remaining until september. Lenka's next chapter will be this september. If she's not making some more edgy origamis in between.

Meet Nastya !

petitou — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:11:00 GMT

Nastya Sladkova @ Avant (Russia)

We had eleven pictures of Nastya. Usually that means we'll pick our four or six favorites but Nastya is so unusually eye-catching we finally picked ten of the initial eleven to make our feature. We would have put them all if we didn't need to pair them two by two. They're all good, all great, all worth a look and another look. She works the tomboy-ish outfits as brilliantly as the most girly looks, from straps to the orange glasses plus hood combo. Models are here to tell us stories yet some turn into fortunetellers rather than storytellers. Nastya's tests are already placing them among the latters but we won't say more, her ten pictures are worth ten thousands letters.

The article was almost ready to be released when we received a few more pictures of the stunning 18-years-old from Ulyanovsk. We could have added many others but thought that first, four ones in four moods were a wonderful bonus-track and then, we still can keep a few unreleased ones for some further updates on Nastya. So, here she goes again. Sitting down and standing up. And very hairy one, just the perfect way to close the post.

Fragile frimousse

petitou — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:58:00 GMT

Laura Halm @ Elite (NY)

Laura's appeal is somewhere between some cartoonesque features and an overall look that remains almost poised and closer to some more classic paintings. Halfway. The only obvious thing is she's more artistic than aristocratic and whatever the century or decade, she might be (and would have been) an inspiration for any kind of aesthetes. The combination of a sleek, thin and very definite jawline adding some extra sharpness to one of the most refined face of the moment and some unexpectedly cute ears, of this precious mix and vivid, expressive eyes that might make her so special. No wonder she did wonderfully well in her tests by James Mahon, no wonder she's taking some of the most intriguing, thrilling, captivating digitals. And we don't mind a little smile on the antepenultimate snap. Oh... we're not sure there is a proper translation for the french word "frimousse" in English. Would be something like "sweet little face". So appropriated.

Meet Vika !

petitou — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:49:00 GMT

Vika Safonova @ Avant (Russia)

We're a little bit focused on "classic beauties with a twist" these days. We love the idea or may we say the concept. It's growing on us, little by little, step by step. Day after day, face after face. When we saw Vika for the first time we felt this vibe yet it was just an impression, just a feeling based on a couple of polaroids. Now we picked four pictures, each one with its very own atmosphere, each with a different pose from a different angle. Even four different lightings. Meet Vika in every possible ways because there are many. And we think still many to come...

Yes Yes Yes

petitou — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:43:00 GMT

Edna Iordache @ Women (Milan)

Nobody can say no. She's an absolute yes. And yes, we're having another Romanian Rendez-vous today and we won't miss it. As we say no one could say no to Edna (from Yes Models, yes this makes three yes) and we obviously didn't since we saw her for the first time only a few times ago. Seems that she's completely blossoming these days and making some good material for her book in Milan. Worth another yes. Endless yes, actually.

Summer stories in New York City

petitou — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:12:18 GMT

Olya Omyalieva @ Trump (NY)

Irina Mastikhina @ Trump (NY)

Yes we know the first two pictures (from Olya's test book) are far more bucolic than the title of the post yet it's still all about summer and it's happening right now in NY. Two different faces, two different body types from Olya's quiet and iconic beauty to Irina's genius faces and expressions (also check her digitals on COACD). It makes us think that a good agency today is more about being able to find unique models and make them get on well together than simply promoting a specific look. Trump has been experimenting it with success as you can see Magalie Daignault (and her look is quite far from both Irina and Olya) this month in french Numéro and Paul Pavlovska is just back in town. Very different indeed (and you can add Kayleigh Hancock to the list as well if, like us, you need a redhead in the team). Sometimes things are simply funny as new polaroids of Irina came only a few hours after her previous article here. Good to see more Avant girl in NY. Good to see new Trump girls on the scene. From both front, it's not about to be the last news to be released... Happy ending of this story is the way Irina is described. Same echo everywhere. We've just told you about her attitude in backstage and just heard that "she is the sweetest thing EVER". Suitable ending.

Photomaton with Irina

petitou — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:03:22 GMT

Irina Mastikhina @ Women (Milan), Women (Paris)

Who wears a Mickey Mouse tee like she does ? Who ? You might tell us because for now no one beats Irina. Actually she wouldn't have had to wear to get noticed, it's just a little bonus to add to our Mastikhina frenzy. She's always been a polaroid queen and knows how to handle some very different atmosphere in her shots. We used to think of her as the cutest girl from Avant Models (Moscow) and we quickly changed our mind. She's not only cute, she's super cute and she's not only super cute, she's also amazing, surprising, astonishing. A real backstage darling and one of those girls that totally rocked the rooster-mohawk hairdo at Zucca f/w 08-09. Worth a Photomaton.

Baltic bias

petitou — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:09:00 GMT

Ave @ Ford (NY)

Here comes the next round on Ave ! We love her from the start and won't stop now that she's getting a very positive response in NY. We absolutely adore her latest test shots by Ruvan Wijesooriya (check out his porftolio, there are a lot of wonderful stories, especially his work with Malin). Ave is beyond expressive and just fits the description that we heard last week: she's the camera's best friend !

Elis @ Ford (NY)

Another Estonian in town, another one from EMA Models in Tallinn, another one getting a great response in NY. We don't have more tests from the Big Apple to show you now (as her book was already amazing) but these two are worth a full dozen and anyway we shouldn't have to wait to long to see her actual print work. You'll say we're totally biased with Estonians and you might be right. We have a few other striking cuties...

Shimmer and shine

petitou — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:28:00 GMT

Nina Reijnders @ Joy (Milan)

New cool cat ? New cool kid ? New girl with a dark bob for sure and maybe the last one these days able to make it works. And she works. After creating a buzz when she signed with Next in NY, she's also doing well in Milan. Coming from Ulla Models in The Netherlands (check out Danielle, Phylicia and of course another Joy girl, Nicole who should make her way at Next Paris soon). Nina's got the freckles and the attitude. Is there something she doesn't have, after all ?

Una, the one and only

petitou — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 12:27:26 GMT

Una Barkovic @ Angels (Paris)

She's finally in Paris and is with Angel. Following her career since we've noticed her from Talia Models in Croatia, we don't really need to tell how glad we are to see her in town and getting some work. Una might be even busier than us and we love a busy redhead. This is maybe going to turned into a beautiful story for this summer (we're just waiting for news and new material now) and we still have some campari left in the kitchen if we have to throw a little party when her first print works from Paris will be out. Well, we still have to wait a little before... and enjoy some polas before.

Dionisiaque

petitou — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:26:41 GMT

Dioni Tabbers @ Women (Milan)

Typo on purpose. Dionysiaque usually takes a Y yet this article being especially for Dioni we thought she's worth having her own I in it. If only she needs words to describe her, which is not a sure thing. From her very beginnings (we remember her in 10 magazine) to her current trip in Milan, we've always been in love with the sweetness of the dutch cutie (with Micha Models in Amsterdam) and we must say impressed by the way she looks expressive on her pictures. Honestly, much more than we would have expected first. We love good suprises, we love these polas. Just the way we love to see her, after all.

Meet Liza !

petitou — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 17:45:00 GMT

Liza Serpova @ City (Paris)

Dace Burkevica's new look is awesome and Yvonne Eriksen is doing better than ever (see her right now in Stiletto and Dealer de Luxe). And there is a couple of new faces that shouldn't be overlooked at City. Including one of our favorite young models from LMA (Russia) called Liza Serpova. Another unforgettable face, another unique look, another one eye-catcher that turns out to be so expressive in her poses. New tests are here to testify. Bonus: her hair. For sure, we won't mind another cutie with limtless blond curls after falling in love with Supreme's River Jensen. Ra...Ra...Rapunzel...

Meet Waleria !

petitou — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:56:45 GMT

Waleria @ Studio KLRP (Paris)

We said more soon. We promised more. Here we go. Red warnings keep on sparkling and Waleria looks even more stunning of these three new ones. You saw her raw. You see the drama now. Eyes that are telling stories, light expressions, delightful look. And delightful topic to write a few lines on her... it's like we're totally back on tracks, right to the point and true to our tastes. Redheads and new faces.

Sana

petitou — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:44:00 GMT

Sana Soegaard Belal @ Ford (NY)

After making her little storm in Milan (with Joy Models), Sana is currently making it again in NY. Everybody who worked with her loves her and this might keep on going as she can't take any bad picture. The hardest for us was to pick only a couple from the last ones she took... The young girl from 1st Option (Denmark, also home of IMG's most promising model currently in NY, Pernille Moeller and more to come) is what we would call a camera's best friend. Photogenic über alles.

Meet Tanya !

petitou — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:25:57 GMT

Tanya @ Angels (Paris)

One of the latest angel to fly down to Paris. Tanya's delicate face and features immediately caught our eyes. Ballerina look, slightly melancholic eyes and that serious pose on polas were enough to make a serious impression. Right in the line of our last years' icons, reminiscent maybe but in the same way as an unreleased version of an unforgettable song. In one word she's precious.

We adore and even more

petitou — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:28:16 GMT

Ave @ Ford (NY)

Could we wish something better for her than making her debuts in NY right now ? Probably no. We've spotted her not so long ago among the new faces at her mother agency EMA in Tallinn and immediately were captivated by the face AND the silhouette. News from her current development at Ford are more than promising and the actual depiction is more than cute. She's said to be slightly tomboy-ish and very natural, almost raw. But also to be able to turn into an inspired profession within a couple of second. The only condition is... she needs to be in front of the camera.

An afternoon with the girls

petitou — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:46:00 GMT

Juliane Stensrud @ New Madison
From: Norway
Mother agency: Team Models
Discovered: while shopping
In Paris for: Cathy Pill show
We said: Can't wait to see her back this fall
She said: Yes

Stephanie Vehrenkemper @ New Madison
From: Germany
Mother agency: Louisa Models
Discovered: she won a contest for a magazine
In Paris for: Elie Saab !
We said: Do you like german reality TV ?
She said: No !
We said: Your plans ?
She said: London and back again !

Pille-Riin Vihtre @ New Madison
From: Estonia
Mother agency: EMA
Discovered: sent some pictures to the agency then didn't come then sent some new ones and finally came
In Paris for: castings
We think: We're going to make a complete feature on her quite soon
She thinks: She can also make it big in Japan

Laura Kinsman @ New Madison
English, living in Ireland
Mother agency: First Option
Discovered: Shopping at Avoca last february
In Paris for: the first time and feeling good at castings
We said: Into it ?
She said: Into it !

Michelle Zwoferink @ New Madison
From: The Netherlands
Mother agency: Name
Discovered: sent pictures to the agency
In Paris for : castings
We said: Your favorite Dutch model ?
She said: Doutzen Kroes
We said: And Elianne Smit ?
She said: Of course too!
We thought: Michelle Zwoferink

Martyna Novicka @ New Madison
From: Poland
Mother agent: Yolanta Bernard who discovered her
Hometown: Zielona Góra
In Paris for: guess !
We know: She'll be in a book
We also know: She's writing her own story
We feel: Like another feature coming soon
We love: The attitude. Hats off !

What you see is what you get

petitou — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:10:00 GMT

Magdalena Fiolka @ d'Management (Milan)

Who do you see on the picture ? Magdalena Fiolka. Why ? Because she's on the picture. But sometimes you have to make this statement. A picture shows a model. Especially when it comes to tests. It's no scoop, there's no hype. It's simply all about the model. The model and only the model. The potential. A glimpse into the near future, a little step within the long process. Sometimes a fancy moment as tests can put the finger exactly where we hadn't expect. We say the model is blossoming. We see it. We get it.