Australia's next top models plot a New York Fashion Week takeover

elite via models.com

As far as frockwriter can ascertain, there is not a single Australian designer due to show during New York Fashion Week's Fall/Winter 2011 season, which officially kicks off on February 10th. Kit Willow Podgornik will shoot her Fall/Winter 2011/2012 lookbook in New York on February 9th, but that's a private event. This is a big change, of course, compared to five years ago, when up to seven Australian labels were showing their wares there. But this does not mean that there won't be any Australians on New York's runways. In fact, FW1112 is shaping up to be a bumper season for antipodian models in The Big Apple. The world number 5, Abbey Lee Kershaw, won't be among them, however, as she will skip New York Fashion Week this season. Although due to head to Milan and Paris, prior to those legs Kershaw will be tied up in London with a "personal music project" [telling her mother agency, Chic Management, this will involve a performance with "my band" - read Our Mountain, the band of Kershaw's boyfriend Matthew Hutchinson, with whom Kershaw has previously performed on stage). 

Seven out of the 25 models chosen by Elite New York for the agency's official Fall/Winter 2011/2012 show package, that is distributed to designers and casting directors, are Australians: Julia Nobis, Lauren Brown, Bambi Northwood-Blyth, Emily Wake, Ruby Jean Wilson and Australia's Next Top Model winners Amanda Ware and Alice Burdeu (above). After a short study hiatus, Burdeu dominated New Zealand Fashion Week's runways in September, great to see her back.

Joining them will be Australia's overnight modelling superstar Andrej Pejic, Jessica Hart, Annaleise Smith, Elyse Taylor, Codie Young, Emilia Skuza, Skye Stracke and potentially a number of others. 

Others still are due to join these names as the season moves on to London, Milan and Paris over the following three weeks. 

Myf Shepherd, for instance, who is also making a comeback after a study hiatus, is planning to head to the Milan and Paris legs.

Let's see who snags which shows. 
 

Summer blockbusters: Australians on the runways for SS11

Another international show season has wrapped. And as has been the case over the past seven years - since the arrival of Gemma Ward - Australian models continue to grab an increasingly large share of that runway real estate. Below is a list of all Australians on the Spring/Summer 2011 runways - updated from frockwriter's post three weeks ago, at the end of the season's first leg in New York. The list is ranked, top to bottom, by show numbers, but clearly, some shows eclipse others in prestige. Hence Abbey Lee Kershaw doesn't have the biggest show tally, but overall was booked for a higher volume of big shows. Unheard of this time last year, Julia Nobis walked in 43 shows, including some of fashion's biggest names. Ajak Deng and Lauren Brown also continued their ascent. Even Miranda Kerr, at five months pregnant, made an appearance on Balenciaga's runway. Who would have thought it possible two years ago? With Kerr recently lurching forward to the eighth position on models.com's Top 50 working models rankings - jumping seven places since we last profiled this list in July - that places three Australians in the world top 12.

And clearly, there is no shortage of new faces coming up behind them. Bambi Northwood-Blyth emerged from left of field to do 12 shows in her first international season, including blue chip names Balenciaga, Chanel and Emanuel Ungaro. 

The biggest mystery of the season was Catherine McNeil, who made what looked to be a very respectable return to the New York runways after a short hiatus, only to disappear off the radar at London Fashion Week after just one show in that city. There is as yet no word from McNeil's agency as to whether or not she may have been busy working. 

Many thanks to the model fans at TFS for keeping such close tabs on their faves, making the compilation of this list much easier. Feel free to add any details we may have missed.

Julia Nobis
Proenza Schouler (opened and closed)
Vogue's Fashion’s Night Out show
Narciso Rodriguez
Marc by Marc Jacobs
Rag & Bone
3.1 Philip Lim
Alexander Wang
Matthew Ames
Diesel Black Gold
Joseph Altuzarra 
Sass & bide (opened)
Daks
Margaret Howell
Richard Nicoll
Topshop Unique
Jonathan Saunders
Ance
Peter Pilotto
Erdem
Pringle of Scotland
Jaeger London
Burberry Prorsum 
Roberto Cavalli
Iceberg
Sportmax
Antonio Marras 
Balenciaga
Haider Ackerman
Hakaan
Sharon Wauchob (closed)
Roland Mouret
Pedro Lourenço
Gaspard Yurkievich
Rick Owens
Sonia Rykiel
Viktor & Rolf
Costume National
Chloe
Vanessa Bruno
Balenciaga
Chanel
Kenzo
Louis Vuitton

= 43

Ajak Deng
Matthew Ames (opened and closed)
Parkchoonmoo
Y-3
Vogue's Fashion’s Night Out show
Edun
Marc by Marc Jacobs
L’Wren Scott
Nanette Lepore
Lela Rose 
Mark Fast
Meadham Kirchhoff
Todd Lynn
Fashion East
Felder Felder
Twenty8Twelve
Michael van der Ham
Holly Fulton
Matthew Williamson 
Felipe Oliveira Baptista
Damir Doma
Haider Ackermann
Cacharel
AF Vandervorst
Vanessa Bruno
Moncler Gamme Rouge
Martin Grant
Manish Arora
Lanvin
Louis Vuitton

= 29

Abbey Lee Kershaw
Rag & Bone (closed)
Isaac Mizrahi (opened)
Donna Karan
Ralph Lauren
Anna Sui
Alexander Wang
Derek Lam
Proenza Schouler
Vera Wang
Carolina Herrera
Tom Ford
Preen
Jason Wu
Dolce & Gabbana
Ermanno Scervino
Etro (opened)
Fendi
Gucci
Versace 
Balmain
Chanel
Hermes
Isabel Marant
Lanvin
Miu Miu
Stella McCartney
Valentino
Viktor & Rolf

= 27

Lauren Brown
Joseph Altuzarra
Elise Øverland
Yoana Baraschi 
Burberry Prorsum
Erdem
Giles Deacon
Sass & bide
Topshop Unique
Emilio Pucci
Emporio Armani
Frankie Morello
Giorgio Armani
Jo No Fui
Marco de Vincenzo
Moschino Cheap & Chic
Chanel
Loewe
Paul & Joe
Shiatzy Chen

= 19

Jessica Hart
Gottex 
Christopher Kane
PPQ
Louise Grey
Emilio de la Moreno
Osman
Sass & bide
Julien Macdonald
Matthew Williamson
Antonio Berardi
David Koma
Giles Deacon
Jonathan Saunders
Charlie le Mindu

= 14

Georgie Wass
Tory Burch
Nanette Lepore
Mulberry
Band of Outsiders
Candela
Thuy
Halston
Bebe 
PPQ
Michael van der Ham
Charles Anastase
Fashion East
Amanda Wakeley

= 13

Bambi Northwood-Blyth
Diesel Black Gold (closed)
Rag & Bone
Jen Kao
Joseph Altuzarra 
Topshop Unique
Giles Deacon 
Balenciaga
Loewe
Emanuel Ungaro
Giambattista Valli
Chanel
Kenzo

=12

Annaleise Smith
Joseph Altuzarra (opened)
Carmen Marc Valvo
Monique L’Huillier
Love Sex Money
Krizia
Emporio Armani
Laura Biagiotti
Roberto Musso
Martin Grant
Kenzo

= 10

Ruby Jean Wilson
Dallin Chase
Lacoste
Karen Walker
Custo Barcelona
Imitation
Andy & Debb
Odd Molly

= 7

Catherine McNeil
Ohne Titel (opened)
Jason Wu
Carolina Herrera
Vogue’s Fashion’s Night Out show
Oscar de la Renta 

Matthew Williamson

= 6

Tallulah Morton
Amaya Arzuaga
Manish Arora
Cacharel
Marithé & François Girbaud

= 4 

Shanina Shaik

Project Runway

LAMB

= 2

Miranda Kerr
Balenciaga

= 1

Amelia Brown
Kimberley Ovitz

= 1

Megan Hind
Moncler 

= 1 

Andrej Pejic
KTZ

= 1







all images: style.com

1/ miranda kerr at balenciaga
2/ abbey lee kershaw at yves saint laurent
3/ julia nobis at rick owens
4/ ajak deng at haider ackerman
5/ catherine mcneil at matthew williamson
6/ bambi northwood-blyth at chanel
7/ lauren brown at burberry
8/ jessica hart at christopher kane
9/ annaleise smith at martin grant
10/ georgie wass at fashion east

Abbey road: Australians on the Spring/Summer 2011 runways (New York)

So we know how at least one Kiwi went at New York Fashion Week - Calvin Klein's exclusive Jessica Clarke (head to Isaac Likes for full documentation on NZ models in SS11) - but how did the Aussies fare all up? A pretty good effort. Congrats to all the girls. Abbey Lee Kershaw, not surprisingly, pulled off the most shows: 13 in total according to frockwriter’s calculations. Great to see the return of Catherine McNeil, although with just five shows under her belt (including several big names and opening one show), one might have expected to see her do a little better. According to (reliable) backstage sources, McNeil came very close to booking the blue chip Tom Ford presentation, but was cancelled at the last minute. Julia Nobis, Ajak Deng and Georgie Wass powered ahead. We’ve already talked about the expected/unexpected success of Bambi Northwood-Blyth. Although her mother agency, Chic Management, did report that Nicole Trunfio was heading to the event, beyond turning up in Michael Angel's front row, Trunfio did not, apparently, walk in any shows. Here are the show tallies. Anything we’ve missed, thanks for a headsup. On to London, Milan and Paris.  

Abbey Lee Kershaw
Rag & Bone (closed)
Isaac Mizrahi (opened)
Donna Karan
Ralph Lauren
Anna Sui
Alexander Wang
Derek Lam
Proenza Schouler
Vera Wang
Carolina Herrera
Tom Ford
Preen
Jason Wu 

Catherine McNeil
Ohne Titel (opened)
Jason Wu
Carolina Herrera
Vogue’s Fashion’s Night Out show
Oscar de la Renta

Julia Nobis
Proenza Schouler (opened and closed)
Vogue's Fashion’s Night Out show
Narciso Rodriguez
Marc by Marc Jacobs
Rag & Bone
3.1 Philip Lim
Alexander Wang
Matthew Ames
Diesel Black Gold
Joseph Altuzarra

Ajak Deng
Matthew Ames (opened and closed)
Parkchoonmoo
Y-3
Vogue's Fashion’s Night Out show
Edun
Marc by Marc Jacobs
L’Wren Scott
Nanette Lepore
Lela Rose

Georgie Wass
Tory Burch
Nanette Lepore
Mulberry
Band of Outsiders
Candela
Thuy
Halston
Bebe

Bambi Northwood-Blyth
Diesel Black Gold (closed)
Rag & Bone
Jen Kao
Joseph Altuzarra

Ruby Jean Wilson
Dallin Chase
Lacoste
Karen Walker
Custo Barcelona

Lauren Brown
Joseph Altuzarra
Elise Øverland
Yoana Baraschi

Annaleise Smith
Joseph Altuzarra (opened)
Carmen Marc Valvo
Monique L’Huillier

Amelia Brown
Kimberley Ovitz

Jessica Hart
Gottex


Images:
1/ Abbey Lee Kershaw, Ralph Lauren. Vogue Italia via TFS
2/ Catherine Mcneil: Ohne Titel, Dazed Digital via TFS
3/ Julia Nobis: Marc by Marc Jacobs, Getty via Daylife
4/ Georgie Wass: Mulberry, Dazed Digital
5/ Ajak Deng: Y3, style.it
6/ Bambi Northwood-Blyth: Rag & Bone, Getty via Daylife
7/ Ruby Jean Wilson: Karen Walker, style.it
8/ Annaleise Smith: Joseph Altuzarra, wwd.com
9/ Lauren Brown: Joseph Altuzarra, wwd.com

The Australian invasion of Joseph Altuzarra - Spring/Summer 2011

joseph altuzarra SS11 backstage/sonnyphotos

And this just in from the New York Fashion Week trenches. Backstage snapper Sonny Vandevelde tells frockwriter that no less than four Australian models just walked in the big buzz Joseph Altuzarra show: Lauren Brown, Annaleise Smith (second and third from the left, below, backstage with Altuzarra), Julia Nobis and Bambi Northwood-Blyth. Smith in fact opened the show. Twenty seven year-old Altuzarra, a Paris native, is one of New York's brightest new talents, dubbed a "boy wonder" by style.com last year. And 20 year-old Northwood-Blyth (above) is off to a cracking start at the event. Frockwriter mentioned that going into the season she had already caught the attention of several casting agents, in spite of what would normally be considered a major handicap - at 5'7", Northwood-Blyth is well under the standard height of most runway models. So far, she has done Jen Kao and Rag & Bone, the latter another high profile New York show. More photos to come.

@vogueparislive