We all remember Derek Zoolander, the fashion model movie character, played by Ben Stiller in Zoolander. The pleather- wearing character famous for his “walk” and outrageous poses is now scheduled to make another appearance in a sequel to Zoolander. The film will be produced by Paramount, and directed by Tropic Thunder writer Justin Theroux. Theroux will be attending Paris Fashion Week in order to get ideas, and some inspiration for the film. Fashion designers, forget Anna Wintour, Theroux will be making a scene, and using ideas from the shows for the Zoolander sequel. All of those lucky enough to attend Paris Fashion Week, just may be lucky enough to see Derek Zoolander as well, or in real life, Ben Stiller.

New York Fashion Week took place in the famous Bryant Park in New York City from February 10-18.  There were many brilliant shows throughout the week, featuring some of the industry’s hottest designers and models.  Below are some of the highlights of fashion week.
NOTE the runway fashion trends:- slicked back hair on the runway- nudes and beiges were a hit in every collection- nearly all of the collections featured white-hot designs- ruffles were key in many of the collections- shorts: both long and short are in this spring- mini dresses with a girly-chic flair were featured- rompers and jumpsuits were staples on the runway

Christian Siriano

Alice+Olivia

Alexander Wang

Charlotte Ronson

Ports 1961

Jason Wu

Chado Ralph Rucci

Diane Von Furstenberg

Rebecca Taylor

Carolina Herrera

Poor Agyness! Beautiful runway model Agyness Deyn took a tumble on the runway at Naomi Campbell’s fashion show for Haiti. While walking the runway for Naomi Campbell’s charity fashion show, model Agyness Deyn fell not once, but twice! However being the professional model that she is, Agyness managed to shake off her fall and take it in stride.  As you can see, even the best models in the business make mistakes on the runway.

A young and sexy looking Kate Moss poses in her new ads for Longchamp. After 20 years in the modeling business, Kate Moss proves she still has what it takes to be a supermodel.

Tuesday, February 9^th, Brazil celebrated Dia Nacional da Roupa de Baixo or National Underwear Day. Brazilian fashion mag Finissimo celebrated what they declared as the day dedicated to underwear. And from the pictures, it is no mystery why there are so many beautiful Brazilians on the runway, it appears as though everyone in Brazil is GOREGOUS!

images courtesy of Gustavo Froner, courtesy of Finíssimo

New developments have been announced in the death of beloved British fashion designer Alexander McQueen.  News out of London states that just a day before the funeral for his mother Joyce was to take place, Alexander McQueen took his life by hanging himself in his London flat. Those that were close to McQueen have said he wasn’t coping well with the death of his mother and the 10 days following her death he had locked himself away.  During this time, it is believed that McQueen spiraled into a deep and dark depression.

Last Thursday night, celebrities took the runway in New York for The Heart Truth’s Red Dress Collection 2010 Fashion Show in support of heart disease. Heidi Klum was there to support the cause and looked absolutely beautiful on the runway as usual.  Klum work a sexy gown designed by John Galliano.  Kim Kardashian also took to the runway in a Marchesa grown, an anomaly for this print model. Kimora Lee Simmons also made an appearance on the runway for charity, donning a dress she designed from her soon to be launched collection titled Kouture by Kimora.  Simmons’ appearance at the event leaves us wondering if she will be making a comeback in the modeling industry.

As we have previously heard, Vera Wang will be lending her creative talents to create skating costumes for the Winter Olympics.  On Tuesday, male figure skater, Evan Lysacek, wore one of Wang’s looks she designed for him. Lysacek recently revealed that he will be donning 5 total looks designed by Wang in Vancouver.

Kate Moss and her rocker fiance Jamie Hence announced that they are working on a play based on a model’s crazy drug infested life. A source blabs: “Jamie is addicted to playwriting and is always jotting down scenes. He mentioned the idea to Kate, based around the lives of her and her friends, and Kate leapt at the chance to get involved.”  However, others in the business worry that the play may reveal intimate details of the business that may upset others.

Kelly Osbourne spent last week modeling during New York Fashion Week in both Betsey Johnson’s show and in Naomi Campbell‘s charity runway show. Betsey Johnson decided to give the lovely Kelly Osbourne a mustache while she walked the runway during her fashion show this weekend.  We aren’t so sure what the mustache is supposed to represent, but we like Kelly’s fierce facial expression.

Dakota Fanning is growing up.  The soon to be 16 year old posed for a spread in the latest issue of Vogue Italia looking like a high-fashion model, complete with painted-on eyebrows!

Nina Blanchard, the founder of an internationally known Hollywood-modeling agency whose roster included Cheryl Tiegs, Christie Brinkley, Shari Belafonte, Rene Russo, Cristina Ferrare and Catherine Oxenberg, has died.  Blanchard died of cardiac arrest last week at the age of 81.  She was a onetime TV makeup artist, casting director, and modeling school executive director.  Blanchard started the Nina Blanchard Agency in 1961 on her own, booking talent for television commercials, print advertising, and runway modeling.  Her agency was described in the Los Angeles Times in the mid-80s as “the best-known and richest of its kind outside Manhattan.”  Eileen Ford, a close friend and founder of Ford Models, shares a similar sentiment stating, “There’s no question she was the best agent in California.”  Moreover, Shari Belafonte, daughter of singer Harry Belafonte, said Blanchard “was driven and she was tenacious, she was a force to be reckoned with.”  In 1995, Blanchard co-authored “The Look”, a tell-all novel about the modeling business.  Also that same year, Blanchard sold her agency to Ford Models and has remained a quiet contributor to the fashion and modeling industry ever since.

Lindsey Wixson began modeling at the age of 12 in her hometown of Wichita.  Then Steven Meisel decided to shoot her for Italian Vogue after seeing a video she’d posted of herself on Models.com. After walking for Prada and Miu Miu, she gained exposure and is now the face of Miu Miu’s spring 2010 campaign. At 15 years old. A press release about the campaign calls Wixson the “embodiment of a free-spirit on the cusp of womanhood.” And remember when looking at her career highlights, she has achieved all of this before she can even legally drive a car!

Lindsey Wixson’s Career Highlights:

1994: Born in Wichita, KS

2009: Signs with Vision Models in Los Angeles

June, 2009: Models.com features Wixson as a newcomer

2009: Rejected by IMG Models

2009: Signs with Marilyn Agency

2009: Books shoot with Steven Meisel for Italian Vogue

2009: photographs for the fall issue of Lula

Sep 2009: Debuts at the spring Cynthia Steffe show in New York and opens for United Bamboo and Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti

Sep 2009: Opens the spring Prada show in Milan as an exclusive, making her one of the season’s most-talked about newcomers

Oct 2009: Closes the spring Miu Miu show in Paris, as an exclusive

Oct 2009: Appears in editorials for Teen Vogue and Japanese Dazed & Confused

2009: photographs for the winter issue of i-D

Jan 2010: Appears in W editorial

2010: Becomes the face of Miu Miu

Miu Miu Campaign:

Other Editorials:

In an i-D editorial, winter 2009. Photographed by Daniel Jackson.

In a Lula editorial, fall 2009. Photographed by Damon Heath.

In a Japanese Dazed & Confused editorial, October 2009. Photographed by Stacey Mark.

Addison Gill

Canadian

Born in 1992, in Toronto

Best known for her eyes

Experience:

2008- won V Magazine model search

2009- debuted in Calvin Klein NY fashion week show, later walks in Walks the fall Gianfranco Ferre, Giambattista Valli, Louis Vuitton, and Valentino shows in Milan and Paris.  She appeared in a Teen Vogue editorial and walked for Doo.Ri, Jill Stuart, Nanette Lepore, Thakoon, and L’Wren Scott.

Amanda Norgaard

Danish

Born in 1993, in Denmark

Best known for Eyes

Experience:

2008: Appeared in Swedish Elle editorial

2009: Debuted at the Neil Barrett menswear show in Milan, appeared in the spring issue of Acne Paper, walked the spring Christopher Kane, Prada, Fendi, Marni, Alberta Ferretti, and Missoni shows in London and Milan. She also walked in the spring Chanel and Miu Miu shows in Paris, and appears in an Interview editorial.

2010: Appeared in Harpar’s Bazaar February editorial

Keno Weidner

German

Born in 1988, Moormerland Germany

Best known for his tattoos

Experience:

2009: He shot for the Versace lookbook, appeared in an editorial with Donatella herself.

2010: Walked at the Versace show earlier this year in Milan.

Taylor Kraemer

American

Born in 1992, in Ohio

Best known for hair and eyes

Experience:

2009: Debuted at the resort Oscar de la Renta show in New York.  She also walked for Calvin Klein, Carolina Herrera, and Diane Von Furstenberg, Oscar de la Renta, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Burberry, D&G, and Louis Vuitton shows in New York, London, Milan, and Paris.

Julius Beckers

German

Born in 1992, Dusseldorf Germany

2008: photographed for Abercrombie & Fitch

2009: Debuted at the spring Belstaff show in Milan. Also walked for Costume National, Prada, Dries van Noten, Lanvin, and Louis Vuitton shows. Later he is photographed for a Prada eyewear campaign and appeared in the magazine i-D editorial.

Keke Lindgard

American

Born in 1994, in Hawaii

Known for her Lips

Experience:

2009: Debuted at the spring rag & bone show in New York.  She also walked for Nanette Lepore, Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti, Tommy Hilfiger, and Vera Wang, Bottega Veneta, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Giambattista Valli, Lanvin, and Valentino shows in Milan and Paris.

Erik Johansson

Swedish

Best known for his hair

Born in 1988

Experience:

2009: he shot for GQ and numerous other campaigns

2010: plans to model in NY fashion week

Magdalena Rozanska

Polish

Born in 1992

Experience: very little experience, she just signed with her mother agency Gaga Models Agency just last week.  I think its fair to say that she will have many more campaigns booked in the near future.

Just this week, Sports Illustrated released that Brooklyn Decker was given the coveted position as the cover girl for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue for 2010.

Decker, who has appeared in every issue of Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition since 2006 graced the cover in a hot yellow bikini, shot in the water of the Maldives. Sports Illustrated shot in six countries this year including India and Chile, and even featured a few newbies such as Dominique Piek. But, Miss Decker managed to out-pose the others and make it to the cover.

Decker, originally from Ohio, and wife of tennis player Andy Roddick, has been featured in magazines like Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and even modeled on the runways for Victoria’s Secret. At only age 22, and 5ft. 9 in., this talented model only has more good things coming her way in the fashion world. Congratulations Brooklyn Decker!

Photo courtesy of: http://image3.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID17800/images/resized_sportsillustrated.jpg

McQueen in Design Studio

Thursday, February 11, 2010 Alexander McQueen was found died in his home in London, England; although the police did not directly comment on the death, the case is not being treated as a criminal act - according to The Associated Press. Mr. McQueen was an English fashion designer that accomplished many things is the fashion industry, including being one of the youngest designers to achieve the title “British Designer of the Year,” which he received in 1996 and three more times by 2003. During his time as a designer he was the head designer for Givenchy, held a partnership with the Gucci Group and designed for many other brands, including Puma.

“McQueen influenced a whole generation of designers. His brilliant imagination knew no bounds as he conjured up collection after collection of extraordinary designs,” said Alexandra Shulman, the editor of British Vogue. “At one level he was a master of the fantastic, creating astounding fashions shows that mixed design, technology and performance and on another he was a modern day genius whose gothic aesthetic was adopted by women the world over.”

In the weeks to come Mr. McQueen was set to premier his new collection at the Paris Fashion Week.

With so much technology available to photographers today it’s easy for them to be tempted to Photoshop their models into absolute, “Barbie doll -like” perfection. This great tool that was once used for small imperfections on models like blemishes or redness in the eyes is now being used to alter the bust size, waist size, and even length on limbs. Though Photoshop is great for photographers who shoot less than perfect models, it is now being so over used, and may I add…carelessly used, that few people can tell the difference anymore between the look of real models, or the real shape of a woman, and another botched photo shop job.

The beauty and appeal of real models is their slight imperfections, or unique features. These traits like a birth- marks, scars or even interesting shaped noses are what makes each person stand out from each other. By using Photoshop to alter distinct  features, many photographers are forgetting to embrace the out of the ordinary features on models, celebrities, and the average person. Photoshop reminds us that no one is perfect, and it is the odd, strange and surprising features on each person that makes him or her beautiful in his or her own way, even if they aren’t a model in the true sense of the word.

Look closely below at this example to see just how altered the photo of Faith Hill was for her “Redbook” cover shoot.

And in this picture, the model’s leg has been completely erased in a Photoshop error.

More often than not Lady Gaga is on the worst dressed list or is under media scrutiny for her fashion choices.  Despite the many critiques Gaga receives for her fashion choices, many praise her for her bold fashion statements. No matter how often Lady Gaga lands herself on “worst dressed” lists or is scrutinized for her fashion choices, she continues to fearlessly strut her fashion risks.  In fact, many designers such as Armani are even vying to create one of-a-kind looks for the pop star.   Lady Gaga definitely appears to be leaving quite the impression on the fashion industry, as we have seen from the latest Spring 2010 runway shows.  It appears as though the singer’s fashion trends are even influencing some of the world’s greatest fashion powerhouses.

Lady Gaga’s New York Fashion Week Body Suite

Chanel Mimics Gaga’s Hair on the Paris Runway

Armani likes Lady Gaga’s Bubbly Dress

Is Valentino inspired by this Lady Gaga Zoro-like ensemble?

Yves St. Laurent Borrows Lady Gaga’s Edgy Leather Look