Durand, Durand

There's a new girl in town: the beautiful Alma Durand - fresh out of France - just returned from a grand shopping spree with her booker, Head of New Faces at Elite London, Martina Kobesova (right), and is now out making us proud, hitting up castings all around town.

Elite London signs Matvey Lykov

And in friggin' awesome news of the week, Matvey Lykov has just signed with Elite London! Based in Paris and New York, Matvey - who's originally from St Petersburg - launched his career three years ago and shot the Jil Sander campaign for spring/summer 2008 (the legendary marble print collection) as one of his first jobs. It catapulted him into top boy stardom. Today, Matvey's one of the most recognisable and sought-after faces in the industry - this season alone he graces the H&M Divided and Wooyoungmi campaigns - and now a part of the ever-expanding Elite London men's board. Welcome on board, Matvey!

Party at 10

The other night we went to the launch of 10 Magazine and 10 Men's 'industry issues' celebrating the most important people in fashion. The surroundings of Il Bottaccio in Knightsbridge framed a swish setting for the super exclusive party, which saw 10 founder and all-round fabulous person Sophia Neophitou-Apostolou pose with balloons (the old BlackBerry unfortunately didn't react quick enough to get a picture) and 10 editors Antony Miles and Natalie Dembinska mingle with distinguished guests including Sam Ranger, Tim Blanks, the teams from A.I, Relative MO, Starworks, and Village Press and many more. (Above: photographers Nick Dory and Billy Ballard with Elite London's James Powell.)

www.10magazine.com

BLEACHED BOYS

New season means image overhaul, and even Elite's finest aren't getting away from the clutches of the bookers, who are living out their unrequited hair dreams on the unsuspecting models. In the chair today is James Ross, who sent us this cheery snap from the Vernon Francois salon where his chestnut locks are being bleached within an inch of their life. And our favourite Russian can look forward to the same next week... watch this space for updated polas of the boys showing off their new shock locks.

Postcard from Tokyo...

Weeks of paperwork, visa's and packing over and we finally sent Emily Smith to Tokyo to show Japan just what an Elite London girl can do! We couldnt resist checking in with Miss Smith two weeks on...

I came to Tokyo on Tuesday 12th October and was very excited but also a bit apprehensive. But.... no matter how many ups and downs I have had in my first two weeks here, the time has definitely gone too fast!

Hi Emily! So what are your first impressions of Tokyo?Everything about Tokyo is great - it's like it is in it's own little bubble and so different to the outside world, which I suppose it is. There are so many gorgeous, hidden little shops that I love looking in, and art museums ... down streets which are so small and narrow, it is like one big marble maze, and so confusing!

With no trusty London underground how do you deal with getting to and from castings?Luckily we get driven around for castings. When I did have to find my way to the agency, on the first day, and to fittings and jobs, I manage to get lost every time! However, the people out and about in Tokyo are always very helpful. They will happily point you in the right direction if you are lost, or even take your map and walk you there, which is lovely.

How's the work going?I am treated amazingly well on jobs. If I try to get my own glass of water or just walk across the room someone is up and offering me slippers on a blanket just in case I am cold!

The shoots I have done have been so much fun. My favourite one was when I had to wear a huge 'Alice in Wonderland' style petticoat skirt and lie down on the floor with it all around me, the photographer was also lying down taking the shots from a big wooden platform hanging from the celing above my head!

You're a long way from home, have you made any new friends?My room mate, Delphie, is amazing, she has made my first two weeks so enjoyable and has been so helpful - she has been showing me how to get around on the metro and giving me directions to the supermarket and really usefull stuff like that.
On my second weekend here we decided to go to Disney Land Tokyo! We had the best time, I have never laughed so much before. My favourite ride was The Tower of Terror, and I also loved the Cape Cod themed area of the park and the mermaid lagoon.

Egor does London - Day 6

 

It's been a busy couple of days for young Egor. After having shot with half of London's more prominent picture-makers, the lip-blessed one graced the office with his presence this morning and demonstrated how to eat an entire tube of Pringles in less than two minutes. Oh, to have a model's metabolism!

(Also, if any good folk at Pringles would like to sponsor Egor, he says to please get in touch with his people.)

Louis gets papped

Okay, so we have no idea where this came from or when it was shot ... but rock on Louis! The paps spotted Mr Galloway - he of Topman fame - strolling the streets of London in quite the Gaga-worthy getup. Of course, being Scottish and all, Louis is no stranger to a bit of kilt action. Wear it round the office more often!

Teddy Girl-Erjona Ala

It doesn’t take an Elite Model Look girl long to start making waves in the Fashion world...fresh off the final catwalk in Shanhai our new Nordic beauty is already taking on some serious editorials and has blown us away with this spread in the latest issue of D Magazine. Erjona succeeds in finding that perfect balance between exquisite femininity  combined with masculine styling and if this is only the start, we just can’t wait to see more...

GAP Girls

 

 

Ah, the GAP! Not only do they master the perfect cardigan, they certainly know how to whip up a good cast as well. Last night we attended the GAP's grand spring/summer 2011 presentation - orchestrated by Mr Russell Marsh - and got to catch up with a few of our top girlies: Anastasija Kondratjeva, Caroline Brasch Nielsen, Julia Saner, Maud Welzen, and Tasha Franken.

All the girls flew in for the one-hour static presentation at Southampton Row's Victoria House, which played host to the likes of Sarah Mower, Tim Blanks, Sophia Neophitou-Apostolou, and Sarah Harris. After the show, our ladies came out for GAP's light supper and showed little sign of exhaustion from standing under the warm lights for just over an hour. That's the Elite girls for you: the best in business.

www.gap.eu

Egor does London - Day 2

Following a most triumphant first day in London, Egor is back on morning duty and ready for another day of casting calls. Our lovely Karen was giving him a bit of map aid before he left the office, although the prying eye of the lens seemed to steal the young Russian's attention... Bless him. He knows a good model is never off duty.

Egor does London

Lock up your better looking daughters! Egor's landed in London - armed with a map and all. The Russian looker is doing the casting rounds and bringing a dose of that rad Doctor Zhivago accent to the English shores.

Super Saner

Grüezi miteinander! Switzerland's beauty numero uno is gracing London with her amazingly lovely presence for the day - sources confirm to Elite London that Julia Saner is walking a very exclusive show tonight... but more on that tomorrow.

First though - after Michelangelo pola'ed her - we caught up with Julia for a bit of what's-in-your-handbag. Here's what we found:

1. A BlackBerry (yep, Julia's BBMable)
2. An iPod (natch)
3. A wallet (Julia's friend brought it back from Africa)
4. A lipbalm ("To prevent from getting winter lips," Julia told us)
5. A bottle of Vittel (Euro chic)

Click here to see Julia on Models.com. Come back again soon, Miss Saner!

River goes to Holland

Last night we hit up Beyond the Valley's reception marking Henry Holland's collaboration with teen label extraordinaire, Roxy Heart (we say teen label, but what we really mean is that it makes you look young... so, you know, sold!). Guests included Elite dreamboat River Delfin, who was seen getting a light from Pixie Geldof, as well as the Preen team, most of the fashion scenesters and of course, a leather-clad Henry Holland. Follow the link below to see the collection.

www.roxy-heart.com

Getting our art on

Baroness Camilla and a fiery-eyed Lord Percival strike at pose at last night's swanky private view of the works of Nicolas Pol, hosted by Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld.

Carine's son invited Elite London over for art mingling (which is a lot like fashion mingling, only more people wear suits) and vodka on the rocks: the drink of the evening - no kidding! Way to get a party started, right? Congratulations to Nicolas, whose pieces shone and received many ooh and ahs throughout the evening. Happy London Art Week!

MADE IN LONDON

PAULA

Elite London had five of our most exciting new faces taking to the runway for Burberry's hotly anticipated SS11 collection last month, and the show marked the culmination of a number of exciting debut London seasons for our girls. Among the Elite girls showcasing Christopher Bailey's latest take on the trench were Fabiana, Ming, Pauline, Maud and 16 year old Paula, whose first London Fashion Week featured not only her turn for Burberry but also an appearance at another key show on the London schedule - Pringle. This exciting little group certainly made the capital their own this season - walking more than 30 shows between them in London alone. Good work girls!

MAUD

FABIANA

MING

PAULINE

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

So the dust has settled on another show season, and it's time to reflect on a month of catwalk success for Elite London. Our London highlight? Christopher Kane's unveiling of his fluorescent, futuristic vision. Of course we loved the miles of acid vinyl and prints inspired by Japanese gangster tattoos (well what else?) but mostly we were so thrilled with the opportunities given to our girls this season - no less than SEVEN Elite London girls rocked the runway, including campaign star Constance, season breakout Maud, and THREE of our homegrown girls - Charlotte B and the dynamic Hannah duo. With Elite London girls in every major show this season, we are delighted to showcase the top talent across both our main and new faces boards.

And as if Mr Kane hadn't had enough of Elite beauties cluttering up his studio, another young Elite star, Caroline Brasch-Nielsen, was chosen to show his cosmic-inspired resort collection. We ♥.

NYASHA'S DAZZLING DEBUT

While our crop of 2010 EML girls were preparing for the world final in Shanghai, last year's UK winner Nyasha Matonhodze was busy showing us all just how far an EML girl can go in 12 months - actually in just 4 weeks as she has only just finished school! After closing her debut London season with a turn for Jonathan Saunders, we were thrilled to see Nyasha turning heads in Paris for none other Loewe and Louis Vuitton. A dazzling debut!

Jonathan Saunders

Loewe

Louis Vuitton

Behind the scenes with Charlotte and Miles

A special shout-out to Miles Aldridge. FINALLY someone managed to create an honest visual depiction of everyday office life at Elite London - and he did it using the delectable Charlotte di Calypso at that. Thank you, Miles Aldridge! You know, through the years we've invited so many photographers round our little work pad in the pulsating tranquil surroundings of Angel Islington in the hope that someone would show the world how we take folders out of drawers, use the photocopier, lean against desks etc. But we really feel that this Vogue Italia Beauty cover and editorial capture our Mad Men-esque essence. And of course we all look exactly like Charlotte as well.

www.vogue.it / www.models.com

EML 2010: Shanghai Nights

 

We went on a little trip to Shanghai this weekend - as you do - to wave our flag of support for British Elite Model Look 2010 finalists Sasha and Emma, and to add a little London pizazz to the glitzy extravaganza (the Z is the new S) that was the grande finale. Congratulations to the beautiful Karolina Tolkachova from Ukraine, who got the first place tiara (see entry below) and to Erjona Ala from Norway and Karin Savkova from Slovakia, who won second and third place respectively.

So what happens now, you wonder? EML 2011 of course! Starting at the T4 Stars of 2010 event on 21st of November, casting will begin for yet another round of the world's biggest model competition.

www.elitemodellook2010.com

And the winner is...

There's a new Karolina in town! Congratulations to Miss Tolkachova from Ukraine, who just won the international Elite Model Look competition - held yesterday in Shanghai. As of today, Karolina is officially an Elite London girl and we couldn't be more delighted to have her. Just look at her SMIZE! Swoonsville.

www.elitemodellook2010.com

Elite in da Warehouse!

Last night, we called up a few of our special ladies, the UK Elite Model Look 2010 finalists - Grace McGovan, Jenni Lumb, Louise Dove, and Hannah Noble - and popped by our most favourite Warehouse in Argyll Street for the launch of The Exclusive 10: a unique collection of dresses designed by Warehouse for the UK EML 2010 finale show.

Don't forget to watch the international EML final on Sunday - live streamed on www.elitemodellook2010.com.

www.warehouse.co.uk