Givenchy has become the Paris show to watch when it comes to eclectic casting. With its mix of re-discovered  favorites, fresh faces and house staples there was truly something for everyone. Whether you’re a 90s model fan enjoying the welcome shock of seeing both Michele Hicks and Kirsty Hume on the runway again or new faces watcher charting the course of fast rising star Antonella Graef there was excitement to be found. Riccardo Tisci’s graphic black and white collection shone on each and every model selected but there were a few girls in particular that grabbed our attention.

Antonella opens Givenchy

While Antonella Graef  (Top S/S 10 Newcomer) snagged the bulk of our attention with her second time opening Givenchy (she opened couture too) there were almost too many cool girls to count. Mirte Maas, Alla Kostromichova and Jacquelyn Jablonski continue to book only the best shows and top 10 newcomer Frida Gustavsson’s winning streak extended into Paris. Exclusives like the Elena Ivanova (WM Paris) and Nastya Karzan provided welcome surprises and Tisci favorites like Lily Donaldson, Iselin Steiro, Lakshmi Menon and Meghan Collison all made appearances - important to note given just how many established girls spent their S/S seasons away from the catwalk.

Gwen Loos (Marilyn). Emily DiDonato. Jacquelyn Jablonski.

One of the most continuously interesting things about Givenchy’s casting is that each season it manages to change our view of certain girls. Take Maybelline face Emily DiDonato for example. Pre-Givenchy and she’s the the definition of wholesome, All-American sexiness (witness OTM’s video interview with her)-  a little eyebrow bleach and matte lipstick later and she’s one of Tisci androgynously beautiful heroines. Same goes for Italian bombshell Bianca Balti and the sultry Elena Melnick. The way every girl transforms once they enter into Tisci’s world is really what makes this show as powerful as it is season after season.

The French Revue de Modes is back for the season with a fresh set of favorite girls on its collectible covers. Coco Rocha, Ali Stephens, Karmen Pedaru, Lakshmi Menon, Maryna Linchuk, Tanya Dziahileva, Kinee Diouf, Rachel Rutt, Constance Jablonski, Dree Hemingway, Melodie Dagault and Nika Lauraitis each gets a collectible cover by Thierry LeGoues and this season’s black and white theme is especially chic. Who has your favorite cover?

Cintia Dicker, Emily Fox with Supreme Management and Nataliya Piro with Women Model Management are the bathing beauties, the handsome lifeguard is Frederick Valentin at Front Management Miami. Pics courtesy of Greg Lotus. Casting by Julia Samersova.

On this balmy, beautiful day in New York, we give you some summery shots from the May Vogue Italia beauty supplement by Greg Lotus.

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If you still haven’t seen the CBS special on Anna, Grazia has video. And if you don’t have time to see it, read the best bits here on the Cut.

Nicola Formichetti posts the Uniqlo commercial for which he styled Agyness Deyn and Gabriel Aubry.

Calvin from Elite speaks to Jennifer Venditti about her new project with Coco Rocha.

MDC favorite Lakshmi Menon speaks about the lack of Asian, South Asian models (the Independent via the Cut).

JD Ferguson gets interviewed himself! Did you know he used to be an honest to god cowboy?

Michelle Alves blogs about her Met Ball experience. Her life is just a TEENSY bit more fabulous than ours.

Fashionologie has models at the Lifeball news. Amber, Anja, Kinga, Sessilee, Iris, Eliza and more all showed up.

If you missed our special interview with Rie Rasmussen whose film is at Cannes right now, click here to get a taste of this unique and talented beauty.

Jezebel has pics of the American Ballet Theater Gala. Check out Iman, Coco Rocha, Sessilee Lopez, Hilary Rhoda and of course Anna Wintour.

Lakshmi Menon is one of the few South Asian faces in high fashion and her unique beauty coupled the dynamic force she brings to every picture have made her a star at home and abroad. As the only model to ever snag an only girl cover of Vogue India Lakshmi stands out as being both an enigmatic model and an incredible representative of Indian fashion. This month Lakshmi graces her 3rd Vogue India cover and stars in a special editorial devoted to her status as a post-millenial supermodel. Joined by newcomers Preeti Dhata and Miriam Ilorah as she dances across white sands looking ravishing Lakshmi is an absolute knockout. Makes you wonder just why there are so few Indian faces within the industry.

Tank is a magazine that consistently surprises with it’s model selection so it was quite a pleasant thrill to see the striking face of Kangana Dutta on the latest cover. Fashion devotees may remember Kangana from the launch issue of Vogue India where she posed alongside fellow catwalkers Gemma Ward and Lakshmi Menon. For Tank the haunting beauty looks pensive in sleek creations from the likes of McQueen and Calvin Klein as photographer Tarun Khiwal shoots.

As the industry slowly but surely begins to diversify it’s refreshing to see models who truly look like no one else working right now.

Kangana by Tarun Khiwal for Tank

Vogue India Premiere Issue ph. Patrick Demarchelier.

Lakshmi Menon is on her way towards becoming a signature Vogue girl. After a smashing debut in the December  issue the beauty from Bangalore is back.  Mikael Jansson photographs Menon against the picturesque backdrop of Goa, India, capturing the scenic beaches and stunning architecture the state is known for. Menon looks as regal as she poses and exhuberant as she dances with local dancers. Each picture feels like a personal snapshot and the intimacy Jansson creates is truly engaging.

Lakshmi Menon keeps on bringing the goods some of the most original work we’ve seen in recent memory. The Keralan superstar shines on the cover of Dazed and Confused. Shot by Josh Olins and styled by Nicola Formichetti the image radiates power. The piercing gaze, the saturated colors, the expert use of Dolce S/S 09 - it all ads up to an image that is simply put, divine.

Riccardo Tisci’s uncompromising vision for Givenchy continues with the launch of the S/S campaign. Building on the look of the memorable fall series Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin tap quintessential Givenchy girls Lakshmi Menon, Mariacarla Boscono, Ana Claudia Michels and Lara Stone for a series of high contrast, high energy shots. The end result, a campaign that is pure Givenchy.

Though the collective star power of the female lineup is mesmerizing Tisci’s boys won’t be left behind. The unique menswear ads feature Simon Nessman, in his second season for the line and newcomers Pablo C and Jakob Wiechmann looking distinctive.