Model Profile: Natasha Poly

NAME: Natasha Poly (Natalya Polevshchikova)
BORN: July 12, 1985 (25 yrs)
HEIGHT: 5'10"
MODELED FOR: Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Roberto Cavalli, Sonia Rykiel, Nine West, H&M, Printemps, Calvin Klein, Givenchy, Neiman Marcus, Jimmy Choo, MaxMara, Dolce & Gabbana, Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Versace
RECOGNITION: Current #1 ranked female model

Known for her chameleon-like ability to transform her facial expressions and her recognizable runway and signature pose, Natasha Poly has become the go-to model for both editorial and advertising campaigns. Poly was born in Russia and began her model career in 2000 (when she was 14 years old). After winning a model search competition in Moscow, Poly made her runway debut for Emanuel Ungaro in 2004. Since then, Poly has appeared in an impressive amount of runways, advertisements and editorials. Various fashion sources have ranked her as one of the top models indicating her strong presence in the fashion industry.

Balmain Show F/W 2010

Givenchy S/S 2011 (pictured far right)

Gucci S/S 2010

Blumarine S/S 2009

Model Profile: Sean O'Pry

NAME: Sean O'Pry
BORN: June 5, 1989 (21 yrs)
HEIGHT: 6'1"
MODELED FOR: Calvin Klein, Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, H&M, Marc Jacobs, Emporio Armani, Lacoste, American Eagle, DKNY, Fendi, Diesel, Zara, Bloomingdale's, Bottega Veneta

Discovered on MySpace by past America's Next Top Model judge Nole Marin, Sean O'Pry has quickly ascended as the second most successful male model in the fashion industry. O'Pry was born and raised in Kennesaw, Georgia. His debut runway was in January 2007 (when he was only 18 years old) in a fall Yves Saint Laurent show in Paris. In the following month, he walked the fall Diesel, Lacoste, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Narciso Rodriguez, and Zegna shows in New York. With an impressive resume and work history, O'Pry continues to stun audiences and attract designers all around the world. In a female-dominated industry, O'Pry has undoubtedly earned his place at the top.

Bottega Veneta F/W 2010

Bloomingdale's Men F/W 2009

Giorgio Armani F/W 2009

Zara S/S 2010

Model Profile: Emily DiDonato

NAME: Emily DiDonato
BORN: February 24, 1991 (20yrs)
HEIGHT: 5'10"
MODELED FOR: Guess?, Ralph Lauren, Maybelline New York, Calvin Klein, Giorgio Armani

As a recent high school graduate, Emily DiDonato has shot to the top of modeling in a short period of time. DiDonato was born and raised in a small town in Orange County in New York and is from Irish and Italian ancestry. The most impressive aspect of DiDonato is her quick rise to the top; she landed a commercial (1, 2) with Maybelline ("Color Sensational Lip Color" line) soon after graduating and with only a few months of modeling experience. Keep an eye out for her; it looks like she's still going strong and has no intention on stopping anytime soon.

Givenchy Spring 2010 Ready-To-Wear

Guess by Marciano S/S 2009

Maybelline New York Dec. 2010

Ralph Lauren Jeans F/W 2010

The Bold House

At the New York Fashion Show, House of Holland proved to be one of the most memorable collections, marked by vibrant colors and truly unique patterns. Drawing from the '70s, Henry Holland successfully orchestrated a show that left spectators in awe. His inspiration and creativity was impeccably reflected in his eccentric designs and patterns. Holland made the banana leaf large and bold on both tailored pastel jacquards and vivid green printed jerseys. Another recurrent trend present in his show was the use of fringe. Overall, this show effectively excited and interested all viewers.

Country Chic

Dolce and Gabbana brought the runway to a party in the garden during the Milan Fashion Week for spring 2011. The Italian duo brought a sense of nostalgia and set the mood as happy summer. The use of floral designs was pervasive - on dresses, platform shoes, hair accessories, etc. The collection was less of a prim and proper garden-party style and more of a peasant farm girl style, as evidenced through the use of gingham and pocketed aprons. Overall this collection showed a new perspective on country chic, characterized by the trademark spring season design - floral and a nostalgic addition - gingham.

Turn Up the VOLUME

Thursday: Designer Spotlight
by: Meena, TREND writerHair reached new heights at Richie Rich's spring 2011 runway show during the Mercedes-Benz fashion week in New York. Voluminous hair has been a style that has withstood the course of time and can convey different moods depending on the intensity. It is a style that can be easily mimicked and has proven to be incredibly versatile. Bold make-up was accompanied by large bouffants and colorful hair accessories in Rich's newly unveiled Popluxe collection. Overall, this show truly paid a homage to a hair style that NEVER goes out of style and inspires women to turn up the volume, throw in an eccentric hair accessory, and feel like a runway model.

Relax, It's Only Dior

Thursday: Designer Spotlight
by: Meena, TREND writer
When hearing the name "Christian Dior" many of us imagine extravagant pieces to match the undeniably high prices... but in the Spring 2011 runway show in Paris, head designer John Galliano proved all of us wrong. This collection displayed an impeccable mix of sailor fun with 50s pin-ups, resulting in a bright and colorful show. By bringing a sense of island pleasure to the Paris Fashion Week, Christian Dior successfully demolished any stereotypes associated with the glamor and intricacy of high fashion. This fresh nautical look with splashes of bright colors allows us to feel relaxed while in style.

Pish Posh

You may only recognize her as the wife of a world-renowned soccer star, but Victoria Beckham has certainly made herself a popular name in the fashion industry. Though her music career as Posh Spice was short-lived, Beckham has always been known for her subtly eccentric yet classy style.

Her Spring 2011 collection featured stylishly draped dresses in both nude and bright colors with a reference to the '60s with fabric, shape, and color. The make-up was inspired by Andy Warhol's bright portraits of Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. As pictured above, the eye make-up featured layering of purple shadows and a strong liquid line.

The big shocker was that only one out of twenty-six looks had a corset or waist cincher, both of which are well-known trademarks of Beckham's personal style. As Beckham said when narrating the collection, her style has loosened up quite a bit and her aim was for comfort. She also mentioned that she focused on shape and curve which stemmed from her primary inspiration drawn from the work of the Romanian sculptor Brancusi.

Overall the collection was well-edited, simple, heavy emphasis on beautiful spring colors including deep purple, blush pink, nude and juicy orange and focused on fit and draping.


This parachute silk dress in ultraviolet knotted at the waist exemplifies Beckham's more loose-fitting style.