Hyun Yi Lee Magazine Cover for Korea Harper's Bazaar, October 2008

Here is Hyun Yi Lee in Burberry Prorsum's feather jacket from the Fall 2008/Winter 2009 collection on the (additional booklet) cover of Korea Marie Claire, October 2008. You can watch the video of the runway show here.

Model: Hyun Yi Lee
Attire: Burberry Prorsum, Fall 2008/Winter 2009

Magazine: Korea Harper's Bazaar, October 2008

Photographer: Zo Sun Hee

Source: DCM Models

Sharina Gutierrez in Bloomingdales Catalog, October 2008

Model: Sharina Gutierrez
Catalog: Bloomingdales, October 2008
Photographer: Unknown

Source: Scanned by AMB

Lakshmi Menon Editorial for US Harper's Bazaar, October 2008

Lakshmi Menon, the breakout star of last season finally scored an editorial in the United States. This photo from US Harper's Bazaar, October 2008 accompanied a 4-page story on Ricardo Tisci and his ascend to the top as the designer for Givenchy. Lakshmi is one of Richardo Tisci's muses and has opened his show in the past.

According to The Fashion Spot, Lakshmi Menon walked a total of 37 shows this season, including 18 in NY, 10 in Milan and 9 in Paris. That is quite a feat for any model.

Models: Lakshmi Menon (far right) & other models
Editoral: What's Hot Now
Magazine: US Harper's Bazaar, October 2008
Photographer: Peter Lindbergh
Fashion Editor: Jenny Capitain

Source: Scanned by AMB

Gwen Lu Editorial for (French) Biba Magazine, October 2008

Model: Gwen Lu

Editorial: Humeur Vagabonde

Magazine: (French) Biba Magazine, October 2008

Photographer: Naomi Yang

Stylist: Alina Caraman

Source: Elite Models, Why Not Models & Naomi Yang

Hyun Yi Lee Editorial for Korea Marie Claire, October 2008

Hyun Yi Lee, the latest model to come out of South Korea, is steadily climbing up the ranks of the international fashion scene. After signing with Major Model Management in the US earlier this year, she appeared in 9 shows (can someone confirm that?) during her first season in New York City. Last month during the Spring/Summer 2009 season, she walked in 14 shows including an important opening spot for NY-based designer, Koi Suwannagate. In addition, she scored a big coup when she was listed as one of the up-and-coming models of the season in L'Officiel France magazine in May 2008. Added to her expanding portfolio are two Korea Vogue covers (May 2008, July 2008) with Han Jin and Daul Kim and recently, a solo cover on Korea Marie Claire (Oct 2008).

A lot of comparisons have been made on the careers of Hyun Yi Lee and her compatriot, Hyoni Kang, who won the Ford Supermodel of the World competition in January 2008. Both girls came on to the international scene at the same time. With her title, Hyoni Kang received a one-year ($250,000) contract with Ford Models and has since been living in New York City with occasional trips to Korea for fashion shoots. Hyun Yi Lee, on the other hand, is still based in Seoul, Korea and only comes over to New York City and Europe for work purposes. Because of that, Hyoni Kang has appeared almost exclusively with NY-based publications while Hyun Yi Lee appears mostly in Korean magazines. [N.B.: I think Hyoni Kang's Supermodel of the World contract does not allow her to work (too much) outside of NYC except during fashion week because her agency won't get as much money if she booked jobs through other agencies in Europe and Asia.]

Aside from the different career paths, both girls also have very different looks. Hyun Yi Lee has a more distinctive look -- lean and tall with the most amazing neck in the modeling industry, in my opinion. Her face and body are more suited towards high fashion editorial work. Hyoni Kang, on the other hand, has that classic Teen Vogue and Elle Girl look that appeals more to mass retailers and will therefore, do well in that market.

The future trajectory of both models remains to be seen as the next season approaches. Hyoni Kang will be giving up her title as Supermodel of the World in January 2009 and may lose the solid representation of her agency. Ford Models will undoubted keep her on their roster but the agent who supervised her career will have a new girl to groom and push out onto the international scene. Will her new agent be as successful as the one currently managing her? Hyun Yi Lee will probably continue to be represented by Major Model Management (unless a bigger agency comes along and pouches her away) but to what end will Major Model put its resources to push her career to the next level. Only the future can tell.

Now, let talk about the wonderful editorial below. I love the mood of the entire set here. Hyun Yi Lee did an excellent job conveying the darkness and the mystery of the clothes without losing herself in the photos. I mean, it's about the clothes after all but the model still needs to look like she's there in the photos. I have seen so many editorials where the crazy clothes and makeup eat up the model until there is nothing left of the girl to look at. [Example: see Han Jin's editorial for (British) Another Magazine, Fall 2008.] Conversely, the models can also be so distracting that nobody looks at the clothes anymore -- this happens a lot when magazines use Hollywood celebrities instead of professional models. Yes, Anna I'm talking about you.

That said, my favorite shots in the editorial have to be Photos #2 to #6. Hyun Yi Lee's facial structure is simply spectacular -- she can cut fabric with her cheeks and chin. I have to admit, I wasn't a huge fan of hers when she appeared on the scene during the Spring/Summer 2008 Fashion Week in New York City. The designers she walked for did not know how to use her body and height so she ended up looking like Big Bird on Sesame Street. But she definitely looked great on the runways this season. And she is one of my favorite new models right now. I'm really excited to see where her career goes from here on out.

Model: Hyun Yi Lee
Editorial: The Dark Knight
Magazine: Korea Marie Claire, October 2008
Photographer: Zo Sun Hee

Source: DCM Models

Xiaoyi Dai Magazine Covers

First off, I would like to say THANK YOU to Sabrina Dong from Beijing, China for e-mailing these high quality scans (the first three photos) of Xiaoyi Dai's magazine covers. Secondly, I will including the names of the designers/labels whose clothes are worn on the covers together with the other credits at the bottom of each photo.

Now let's talk about the magazine covers. I am so in love with the covers for (Singapore) Her World, September 2008 and (Hong Kong) Harper's Bazaar, February 2008. I even love the pink font used on the title of Her World magazine. The dress in Harper's Bazaar is awesome on Xiaoyi Dai. Does anyone know who is the designer of that red number?

The (Singapore) Style cover, on the other hand, is a little too polished and PhotoShopped for my taste. It isn't as original as the other covers, which is a surprise because (Singapore) Style is supposedly one of the best fashion magazines in Asia. I don't particularly like the (Singapore) Female magazine cover either. The girls were styled to resemble YSL's Fall 2008/Winter 2009 runway look while wearing (surprise!!) YSL -- how predictable is that?

I'm glad Xiaoyi Dai is getting the exposure she deserves. Let's hope the work in Asia will translate to bigger and better things out West.

Model: Xiaoyi Dai
Attire: Prada, Fall 2008/Winter 2009
Magazine: Singapore Her World, September 2008
Photographer: Unknown

Model: Xiaoyi Dai
Attire: Stefano Pilati for YSL, Fall 2008/Winter 2009
Magazine: Singapore Style, October 2008
Photographer: Unknown

Model: Xiaoyi Dai & Unknown Model

Attire: Stefano Pilati for YSL, Fall 2008/Winter 2009
Magazine: Singapore Female, September 2008
Photographer: Unknown

Model: Xiaoyi Dai
Attire: Marc Jacobs, Spring 2008?
Magazine: Hong Kong Harper's Bazaar, February 2008
Photographer: Unknown

Source: Photos 1-3 from Sabrina Dong and Photo 4 from Ryan Elite Models

Du Juan Editorial for China Vogue, October 2008

This editorial from China Vogue's October 2008 issue shows a very different side of Du Juan. Unfortunately, it is not the most exciting editorial by her. In fact, it is mediocre at best. The editorial is still highly stylized (complicated poses) but not as conceptual as the other high fashion shoots we've seen her done.

The look they have given her here is softer, sexier and very sultry. The hair stylist did a great job giving her bangs (is that a wig or did they cut her hair?) and setting them loose with the wind machine. However, if it wasn't for the new hair do, I would not have given this editorial a second look.

Model: Du Juan

Editorial: A Matter of Shape
Magazine: China Vogue, October 2008
Photographer: Liz Collins
Fashion Editor: Tina Laakkonen

Source: Aja via tFs

Ling Tan Editorial for Condé Nast Traveler, October 2008

Ling Tan, one of the first Asian models to make it big in the international fashion scene, has a stunning editorial shot in Bhutan for the October 2008 issue of Condé Nast Traveler magazine. She was undeniably one of two most prolific Asian girls (the other being Russian model, Irina Pantaeva) working in the late 1990s, appearing in numerous ad campaigns including Emporio Armani (perfume ad), Prescriptives (cosmetics ad), Ford Edge (TV commercial), Banana Republic, GAP, Old Navy, Guess and a host of others; there was also a music video for George Michael (Fast Love).

Ling Tan was the Han Jin of her time, walking in more runways shows than most models did during Fashion Week in NYC, Paris and Milan. According to Fashion Model Directory, she clocked in over 30+ shows in Fall 1997/Winter 1998 and Spring/Summer 1998, walking for top designers like Gucci, Fendi, Chanel, Dior, YSL and Valentino.

Prior to Ling Tan and Irina Pantaeva, there was Anna Bayle from the Philippines who walked almost exclusively on runways for Europe designers in the early-to-mid-1980s. But back then runway models rarely crossover to magazine editorials or ad campaigns and vice versa. The trend started with Gianni Versace in the late 1980s when he began using editorial darlings like Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington on his runway shows, thereby creating a frenzy over the girls and initiated the phenomenon known as, (gasp) supermodels.

Back to this editorial with Ling Tan for Condé Nast Traveler. I know someone will say, "Oh! There we go again -- another editorial with an Asian girl wearing Asian-inspired clothes shot on location in Asia!" Rightfully so, this is a bit cliché-ish, to say the least but would it be any different if they had used Linda Evangelista in this shoot instead of Ling Tan? [I use Linda E. as an example because she was the go-to-girl for many Asian-inspired editorials shot in Bali, Thailand, China, India, etc. for Vogue.]

Also, what happened to her eye brow?

Model: Ling Tan
Editorial: Flying Tiger, Thundering Dragon
Magazine: Condé Nast Traveler, October 2008
Photographer: Sheila Metzner
Stylist: Mark Connolly

Hair & Makeup: Dawn Jacobson @ Ford Artists

Source: Scanned by AsianModelsBlog

Lakshmi Menon Editorial for Vogue Paris, October 2008

After scoring a spot on the inaugural cover of Vogue India in October 2007, followed closely by the Spring/Summer 2008 ad campaign for Hermes, Lakshmi Menon's career has been fast-tracked to the top of the international scene. Her next one-two punch included a spectacular solo cover on Vogue India, April 2008 and a major ad campaign for Givenchy, Fall 2008/Winter 2009.

Ford Agency signed her up right before the start of the Fall 2008/Winter 2009 Fashion Week in NYC and the next thing we knew, Lakshmi was opening the couture show at Givenchy in Paris. Carine Roitfeld took notice and quickly added Lakshmi to her stable of models in Vogue Paris.

So here is Lakshmi Menon's editorial in the October 2008 issue of Vogue Paris.

Model: Lakshmi Menon
Editorial: Afro Disiaque
Magazine: Vogue Paris, October 2008
Photographer: Mario Testino
Stylist: Carine Roitfeld

Source: tFs and Models.com

Hye Park Editorial for UK Harper's Bazaar, October 2008

Here is an interesting but not necessarily exciting editorial with Hye Park in UK's Harper's Bazaar, October 2008 issue. It is definitely a big coup for her because UK Harper's Bazaar rarely feature Asian models, much less an entire editorial with only the Asian model alone. Most European and American magazines will feature an Asian model if she was paired with other non-Asian models.

The close-up photos are amazing but I wish the photographer had used a more diverse background or scenery. The first couple of photos were beautiful but then, after the same thing repeated over and over again, it just got boring.

My favorite is Photo #5. Hye Park has one of the most interesting faces in fashion today. And the cat-eyes makeup is awesome.

Model: Hye Park
Editorial: Wicked Ways
Magazine:'Harper's Bazaar UK, October 2008
Photographer: Kerry Hallihan
Stylist:Vanessa Coyle

Source: Northern Star @ tFs