Daul Kim at Dave’s in Paris 2008. PH. Stephan Moskovic

We were very saddened today in the office to hear about the tragic death of Daul Kim. Apart from being stunned at the news there’s also a devastating sense that a bright, vivid and intriguing young girl has left us. I’m not even thinking about issues of her being a model or a chic young fashionista who might have grown up to be a great editor or stylist or actress.  I’m thinking about the specialness of this girl as a human being… the inspiring quality of her mind… her ambition… her joy when she went to work.  I’m saddened that her world as a human being became so despairing for her even as we assumed that life must have been magical and glamorous.  I’ve only really had two extended conversations with Daul but I remember very vividly the life-force and passion in her eyes when she talked about clothes and travel and art and the irony of her being famous. Our deepest sympathy to her family and  friends. And I truly wish that her spirit will find peace.

Tron-like dancers…wraparound projections of trains and ocean liners…a pink wonderland of cotton candy and candy cane and an enchanted forest featuring slow motion leaves falling..The VS 2009 extravaganza did not stint on spectacle and that was before the first model even hit the runway. Of course MDC’s Betty Sze was in the midst of the backstage frenzy capturing those close-up moments with all your favorite beauties. Feast your eye on this cornucopia.

Pictures by Betty Sze for MDC

Abbey Lee Kershaw

» Click here to continue reading VS 2009: Extravganza And Beyond.

Hailing from Flensburg,Germany -MODELWERK‘s Anne Sophie Monrad is the latest newcomer to nab MOTW. See details here..

Sedene. Pols courtesy of New York Model Management.

True elegance is serene. Contained but all the more compelling for it. That is a quality New York Model’s latest find Sedene boasts. Hailing from Jamaica this  sleek girl is being glossed and groomed for her Fall 2010 unveiling. OTM looks forward to that debut!

Tim Gunn. Ph: Betty for MDC.
There’s is nothing we like more than a great cause mixed with beautiful models. Monday night’s Fashion Forward event and fashion show hosted by GMHC (Gay Men’s Health Crisis), Saks Fifth Avenue and Bank of America had it all: fabulous clothes straight from the resort collections at Saks, amazing auction items like a Paris vacation package with 2 tickets to Karl Lagerfeld’s Fall 2010 show, many of our favorite models and as master of ceremonies, Tim Gunn (our fashion crush) all to benefit the fight against AIDS. (See videos and pictures below).

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One of Givenchy’s F/W 09 faces, Manuel Ramos is a sweetheart.

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Lee Kholafai gets oiled up.

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Dorian gives great hair
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Parker (new face with Red) may look tough but has the soul of an artist.

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The darkened backstage doesn’t dampen the compelling message of Mr. Gunn.

Givenchy face Manuel Ramos

Jimmy Paul works his magic on Kim Mccullough’s hair.

Michael Whittaker and Sharan Bala pose

Bryce Draper is channeling a young Tom Cruise here.

Travone Hill and Salieu Jalloh, 2 beauties.

The enterprising Niels Raabe just set up his own website.

Augustine, Request’s new face from Uruguay gives us a mischievous smile.

Dorian Cobb’s crowning glory.

DNA’s 2 new faces, Grayson and…

Simon Tham, Steven Didas, Creing (all up and coming faces with Major).

Augustine, channeling young Clive Owen here.

Parker’s colorful and symbolic tattoos.

Sporting a Diesel swim suit.

Industry veteran Andre Brown.

One of F.I.T’s students’ quick sketches of the crowd, on sale to benefit the cause.

Mr. Gunn gets ready.

One of our favorite sketches…

Calvin Klein S/S 2010. Ph Greg Kessler, courtesy of Calvin Klein.

The Spring/Summer look of Calvin Klein is simple, wearable and chic. At Tuesday’s seasonal presentation, creative director Kevin Carrigan, presented a series of uncomplicated pieces for men and women. Within each of the brand’s lines - Calvin Klein, Calvin Klein Jeans, accessories, eyewear, swim and underwear - Carrigan crafted a cohesive representation of the Calvin aesthetic. Effortless ensembles, styled by Jay Massacret, were the focus - from an unexpectedly elegant denim shift to a lighter than air linen suit.

Clothing aside, one of the most interesting things about the presentation was the model selection by Mark Foltz. From chiseled stars like Danny Schwarz and Ryan Koning showing off CK’s underwear line, to fresh faces like Debora Muller and Kate Kosushkina looking sweet in the spring separates, each model added something special. All together the group provided the perfect compliment to Carrigan’s cool vision for the new season.

Ph: Greg Kessler, courtesy of Calvin Klein

Ph: Greg Kessler, courtesy of Calvin Klein

The wonderful palette of colors for spring. Ph: Greg Kessler, courtesy of Calvin Klein

Some of our favorite looks on the models below. (All pictures below, Betty for MODELS.com)

Ryan Koning, Martin, Andreea Diaconu, Jamie Jewitt, Danny Schwarz in the bold new Calvin underwear line.

Ryan Koning

Calvin favorite Danny Schwarz

New face Josefin Hedstrom from Marilyn

wears the must have pant for spring.

Patrick Kafka effortlessy chic.

Mark Cox

Lucas Mascarini

New face with Next

Debora Muller in a timeless piece.

New face Kristina Boyko with VNY

Kate Kosushkina

Paolo Anchisi

New face

The muted palette on the models.

New face Whitney Coble

AJ Abualrub embodies sexy and tough.

Brightening up our spring

Classic and wearable.

Global creative director Kevin Carrigan, the man behind it all.

Reina/Supreme Management PH Paul Rowland

Reina in English translates to “queen” which makes it a note perfect name for Supreme’s latest entrant in the new model sweepstakes. Hailing from the Dominican Republic , Reina was glimpsed by OTM making the rounds at Dominicana Moda 2009. It’s going to be very exciting watching that presence on the FW 10 runways!

Anja Rubik chats with MDC.

Anja Rubik is one of fashion’s multi-faceted beauties. As a model she embodies the kind of easy going and elegant beauty clients like Gucci, Chloe and Armani adore but there is more to Ms. Rubik than just a pretty face. For the past few years she has also been an avid yoga practitioner, an interest that has lead to both inner calm and an intriguing new partnership. Following in the footsteps of high fashion yoga enthusiasts like Christy Turlington, Anja is now the face of the Nintendo’s Yoga for Wii game. The game provides an experience that allows users the chance to experience the benefits of a yoga studio right in their own home, an ideal invention for models on the go or for anyone else seeking the serenity and flexibility provided by yoga.

Given her personal experience with yoga - she calls it an “obsession” and her natural charm in front of the camera Anja was the perfect person to represent an art that is both timeless and modern. When asked about why she chose to be the face of this product at this moment her answer was simple “I can feel good promoting yoga because its something I’m passionate about and truly believe in.”

The lovely Anja. Ph: Betty/MDC.

Image from the Wii Yoga website.

S/S 10 was a whirlwind for fashion followers but no one had a more exciting (and hectic) time than the models who walked the shows. Four cities - hundreds of shows and millions of memories. We asked some of the season’s brightest stars to share the little moments that made fashion week memorable and here is what they had to say.

Alla Kostromichova
Image courtesy of WWD

There were so many different instances that I remember. One of the “wow” moments of this season was the first time I tried on my look and the shoes I had to wear for the McQueen show. From that moment on I felt that I was going to be a part of something very extravagant.

The Antonio Berardi show took place in the very old church in London. So, make up area was in the church basement with low arch ceilings. There was an amazing atmosphere in there.

I was really happy to get the Hermes show, but I was even happier when Jean Paul Gaultier asked me to play tennis behind the runaway after I walked my look. I love tennis - I have been playing it for years.  Hermes always creates strong theme and I really believe that soon all the shows will be more theatrical. All the small scenes help people get into the mood of the collection.

But the one thing that amazes me the most is the fact that I did 55 shows and managed to stay alive.

Jacquelyn Jablonski
Image courtesy of WWD

One of my favorite moments during this crazy fashion week was running from one show to the next on a motorbike. I remember one time in Paris hearing my name called when I was stopped at a traffic light with my driver. I look to my right and see a girl lift the visor up on her helmet and it happened to be my friend Keke who was running to the same show as me! I was so shocked because it was such a surprise to find a friend in the big city of Paris sitting next to me on a motor bike. What a coincidence!

Keke Lindgard (left)
Image courtesy of Style.com

“My most memorable moment from the shows was realizing that bleaching your eyebrows actually looks really cool. My brows were bleached for Prada then dyed back to the original color right after the show. The funny thing was that the following morning at 7am, the same make-up team from Prada was there at my next show to bleach them again! I laughed with them team since it was the same person that had dyed them the night before.”

Charlotte Di Calypso (right)
Image courtesy of Style.com

“It all happend so fast it’s hard to think of just one moment that really sticks out but if I had to pick it would have to be singing at Chanel with Lily Allen, that was an amazing experience!”

Frida Gustavsson (left)
Image courtesy of Style.com

“The craziness of riding to and from shows on motorcycles in Milan and Paris is something I will always remember.”

Lindsey Wixson (right)
Image courtesy of Style.com

“My most memorable moments were eating next to Lake Como Lago in Milan with my sister and eating at Hotel Principe di Savoia in the “Peacock Room” in Milan. And of course, opening the Prada show.”

Lisanne de Jong (left)
Image courtesy of Style.com

“There were so many memorable moments! One of my favorite moments was the day I did the Prada show in Milan. The show was really exciting for me because I was an exclusive.  After the show I went back to my agency, and my bookers surprised me there, we celebrated with food and champagne! The same night my boyfriend booked a ticket to come visit me in Milan, and we spent the weekend together.”

Patricia van der Vliet (right)
Image courtesy of Style.com

“It’s hard to say because everything was so memorable for me but in New York was seeing myself confirmed on all the boards of the designers meant the most for me because I never thought anybody would pick me. Closing Balenciaga was such an honor. I love Nicholas!! Doing Prada and seeing Karl Lagerfeld for the first time in person in Paris was huge and waiting backstage to open the show of Louis Vuitton too. These were moments I’ll never forget!”

Constance Jablonski
Image courtesy of WWD

“My most memorable moment in New York was when I met Zidane (editor’s note: referring to soccer player Zinedine Zidane) at the Y3 show. He is Europe’s most famous sportsman and the idea to make him shoot at the end of the runway was great! In London the last day we made a huge relaxing dinner with every girl and every booker from my agency. In Milan, I went to the finals of the Elite Model Look Milano competition and I was part of the jury. It’s very nice to be on the other side of the job, choosing models rather than doing castings! In Paris I loved my first time for Balmain, one of my favorite designers, just unbelievable!”

Snejana Onopka by Richard Burbridge for i-D

How many people can claim to be both a master photographer and master of disguise? Richard Burbridge knows a thing or two about skillful image manipulation and his impressive photography has long been at the forefront of au courant cool in magazines like Vogue Italia, i-D and Dazed & Confused. Christopher Michael catches up with Richard to find out all that goes into those unforgettable pictures -  find out more only in MDX.