FASHION'S GOT HEART

Amidst the constant stream of celebs strutting down the catwalk for Naomi Campbell's Fashion for Relief show, nobody deserved their place in the line up more then Elite's very own Alizee Gaillard. After having spent most of her childhood in Haiti and with friends and family still living there, it seemed only right that Alizee was asked to take part in an event that would make a difference to a cause so close to her heart. We think she looks absolutely beautiful and almost outshines Miss Campbell herself in these exclusive backstage shots...it's that smile which make Alizee one of our top beauty girls!

SHES GOT STYLE!

Elite models are known for having fabulous personal style... we actually think most of them look as stylish running to castings as they do in the pages of magazines! EML winner Fei Fei Sun encapsulates cutting edge London street style (impressive for a non-Londoner!) when she was papped after the Christopher Kane show by Models.com wearing head to toe vintage.

Soon to be superstar Lizzy Burden always looks like she’s just stepped off the catwalk, even when popping in to the agency for a chat. When we quizzed her on her designer wardrobe we were surprised to find that she’s a bargin hunter... check out this amazing coat she found on London’s Brick Lane for teh princely sum of £10... now that’s street style at its best!

ANASTASIJA'S FASHION WEEK ROUND UP

From Vogue cover girl to queen of the catwalk both sides of the pond, Anastasija Kondratjeva is a success story wherever she goes! Anastasija is rounding up a spectacular London show season having walked for Betty Jackson, Matthew Williamson and Nicole Farhi to name a few. Always a favourite with casting directors and with Milan next on the itinerary, this is set to be another amazing year for our girl.

Betty Jackson

Matthew Williamson

Nicole Farhi

AN ELITE EXCLUSIVE!

A catwalk exclusive is always a major event so we were thrilled to be able to work with the fabulously talented Bora Aksu this season, supplying all 10 of the models for his Autumn/Winter 2010 show.

the finale

On the fashion front we loved the palette of neutral metallics and the combination of architectural silhouettes and proportions with pretty, delicate layers - and those shredded leggings are already being coveted by most of the booking desk (as well as the models themselves who had to be stopped from making off with them after the show!) and will definitely be seen in the Elite office!

Georgie Wass opens the show

But most of all we love the sight of our army of Bora beauties stalking down the catwalk in unison for the show finale – it’s an Elite takeover!

Helen McCusker

Special thanks to casting director Luke Foy for his support.

http://www.lukefoy.com/

Photos by Getty as seen on www.coutorture.com

Cupcakes...this season's must-have!

Christmas party cupcakes

We knew we were on to a good thing when hot pink elite cupcakes arrived for our elite Christmas party last year...especially since they somehow appeared on the front page of Topshop.com! With the launch of our Elite Model Look contest and fashion week fast approaching, The Artisan Cupcake company was first on our speed dial and look at the fabulous creations they came up with.

Hot pink icing, edible glitter (!) and EML logos make these the cutest fashion party canapés we’ve ever seen! So thank you cupcake friends... we insist you all get ordering fast and create your very own Elite-style tea party with the must-have edible accessory of the season.

Edible elite logo from cupcake on Bloggers Picks!

The Artisan Cupcake Company website

Fashion week/Look show EML mini cupcakes!

QUEEN VIV CROWNS EMILY!

Our Brit on-the-rise Emily Smith made her fashion week debut in style last night by opening for Vivienne Westwood... we're so proud! With an amazing Anya Hindmarch campaign coming soon and blistering out of blocks with her first editorials (Flavor, L'Officiel...) this is one English rose that looks set to bloom!

OLGA'S MARATHON SEASON

Aquascutum

When supermodel Olga Sherer touched down in London last week after a couture and NY season including Gaultier, Dior, Preen and Rodarte we knew that she was in for stellar season. In the 3 days Olga was with us she managed to fit in 9 shows, walking for the likes of Julien Macdonald, Todd Lynn and Matthew Williamson. Already en route to Milan to do looks for D&G, Olga is set to start racking up some serious editorials and campaigns following her incredible F/W season..fashion world take note!

Julien Macdonald

Todd Lynn

A NEW DYNASTY!

It's been a whirlwind fashion week so far, and we've been so excited at the progress of our fabulous Chinese girls Ming and FeiFei, who have been strutting up a storm down at Somerset House...

Ming for Hakan

Both girls were discovered through Elite Model Look and have already been racking up impressive careers - Fei Fei is the face of Shanghai Tang and has appeared on the cover of Vogue China and one of Ming's very first jobs was an exclusive trot down the Givenchy couture catwalk.

Fei Fei for Maria Grachvogel

And now they've excelled on their debut London seasons: Fei Fei's credits include Christopher Kane, Vivienne Westwood and a gorgeous look in the oh-so-elegant Maria Grachvogel collection, while Ming has racked up an unbelieveable 18 shows (gold star to her driver for making all of those! - ed) including PPQ, Matthew Williamson and Aquascutum - and we loved her Julien Macdonald look. Definitely ones to watch...

Ming for Juilen Macdonald

CHRISHELL HITS LFW

Amidst the madness of Fashion Week, Elite London is thrilled to welcome Chrishell Stubbs to the model family. This stunning half Caribbean beauty is already making a serious name for herself in the fashion industry and joins us in London following an outstanding show season in New York walking for the likes of Phillip Lim and Ralph Lauren. Not only that but she won the coveted title of Model of the Week on Models.com ( Chrishell on Models.com). Here’s hoping for a fabulous London show season!

Ralph Lauren F/W 2010

LONDON FASHION WEEK DAY ONE

Just as we expected Elite girls are already causing a storm on the London show circuit! Here are some of our favourites from London Fashion Week day one:

Barbora-Ashley Isham

Fei Fei-Maria Grachvogel

Ismini-Caroline Charles

Ming-Ashley Isham

WALK THIS WAY

With her eclectic rock chick style, eye for fashion find, and decidedly British sense of humour, California’s Cassandra Smith is one of our favourite adopted Londoners. And we’re not the only ones who rate her... after a busy holiday season including work for Tank, Grazia and a much admired Angel Jackson campaign shot by Tung Walsh, Cassandra is now building on the buzz from her appearance on Of the Minute (see the models.com story HERE) with a New York season including walks for Cynthia Steffe and Rachel Roy. After last season’s strutting for the likes of Vivenne Westwood here in London we’re looking forward to having her back this side of the pond.

LONDON FASHION WEEK: ONE DAY TO GO!

With a line up including some of the most sought after models around as well as a number of hot new faces we have the feeling Elite London is in for an epic show season! Models.com clearly agree...check out their fabulous write up of our steller show pack and watch those bookings come flooding in!

Elite London on Models.com

BEAUTY-LICIOUS

Elite’s glossy and gorgeous girls have been busy sending inner green eyed monsters mad over their flowing manes and flawless skin, and Ivana’s campaign for Vichy is the latest in a stream of enviable beauty adverts that will have us trying a little bit harder with that elusive beauty sleep…

ELITE GIRLS HIT DANISH FASHION WEEK

When you’re stuck in the middle of the mad build up to London Fashion Week it’s easy to forget that there are plenty of other Fashion Weeks going on... and we’re not talking New York, Paris and Milan either! Elite girls Adrienn, Claire, Ismini, Lizzy and Tracy flew off to take part in Danish Fashion Week in Copenhagen this week to walk for fabulous designers such as Ann-Sofie Black, Jil Sander and Louise Amstrup. Here are some of our favourites so far...

Claire for Noblesse

Helen for Spon Diogo

Ismini for Louise Amstrup

Lizzy for Pureheart

Tracy for Noblesse

BOOKERS vs THE BLOG - Part 1

Don't tell the models, but Elite London is more than just a model agency. We're lucky to have an amazing team keeping the wheels turning here in sunny north London, and we thought it was about time we introduced them to the world. Herewith our new weekly feature BOOKERS vs. THE BLOG, a peek behind the board in to the often peculiarly twisted and definitely slightly obscure minds of the bookers, agents and artistes that give the agency it's unique personality...

First up is new faces booker James - a would-be Texan cowboy doomed to hailing from Port Talbot. Partial to a tattoo, a good cup of builders tea and the occasioal dabble with double denim. But what's his karaoke song?

What’s your earliest memory?
My earliest memory is... I’m going to say either Sunderland home in the FA cup in 1988 or Christmas at my grandparents place

If you could erase one thing from your CV what would it be?
Retail!

What’s the best fashion freebie you’ve ever got?
I never get freebies (clearly we need to give James a lesson in blagging! - ed.)

LOVE magazine is James's pick of the week

How much is a pint of milk?
43p (only a penny out. He hasn't been fashion-ed yet! - ed.)


What’s your fashion week survival strategy?
Full fat Coke and takeaway food

Most played album on your iPod at the moment?
Tom Waits or the Collins Learn French tutorial :-)

If you could be anyone in fashion for a day, who would it be?
Anna Wintour

James acessorises his desk with the essential in booker nutrition - Creme Eggs

What’s your Starbucks order?
Ummm... I prefer builders tea in my Chelsea mug - which Janie broke

Proudest moment as an agent?
Booking the Agent Provocateur campaign

What would be your last meal?
Can I have two? It would either be my nan’s stew or my mum’s cheese and potato pie but I think I’d have trouble deciding whether I'd want tomatoes or beans with it
 

It wasn't a good hair day so James declined an official portrait

What’s on top of your SS10 wish list?
Chelsea to win the League (We meant fashion item but ok....)

If you had a million pounds what would you spend it on?
A house in Kensington...not that that would be enough. Maybe half a house.

So what’s your karaoke song?
Meat Loaf - ‘Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad!

COSTUME PARTY

We love to see our British girls doing Elite London proud, so this adorably quirky and fabulously big-haired editorial was a major hit in the agency this week. Jenny Chalmers and EML 2009 finalist Beth Leader are shot by Silvia Olsen in this doll-themed shoot for Costume magazine, showcasing the pair’s English rose appeal twisted with just the right dash of vamp. The perfect mix of sugar and spice!

Styled by Sol Watle

Hair by Cyndia Harvey

Makeup by Deborah Byrne

FASHION WEEK SURVIVAL: PART THREE

We're getting scarily close now..with just a few more days left of normal working hours we find ourselves turning to the lovely Dorothea for some words of wisdom. If this is what keeps this catwalk pro going during the four fashion weeks we may be tempted to invest in some goji berries and coconut water!

Part three: Dorothea Barth Jorgensen

What is your trick to staying energetic and healthy during the fashion month?: 

I try to eat a lot of vegetables and goji berries, drink water and coconut water and then as much sleep as I can! To take a break from the stress I get a massage, which help you recover from the stress :)

During the fashion month, you’re running from one show to the next. What is your trick to keeping your skin clear with so many constant makeup changes?: 

Skip the coffee and sugar!What do you normally eat during the fashion month? Are there any good snack foods that you keep in your handbag during the shows?: Nuts and dried fruit.

What are the top three beauty items you can’t live without during the fashion month?: Concealer, hair tie and water.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given about surviving a month of fashion shows?: 

To get a pair of extremely high comfortable heels!

How do you prepare for a month of fashion shows?: 

Walking and enjoy life :)

BEAUTYful Charlotte Di Calypso

Wow how about this for a risqué beauty shoot? Charlotte Di Calypso looks shower chic in Vogue Italia's Beauty supplement this month shot by Miles Aldridge. These looks are full on glamour (love those false eyelashes!) and a world away from Charlotte's fresh faced Ralph Lauren Campaigns. Looks like this EML girly is all grown up!

EGLE'S GOT CLASS

These campaigns just keep on coming! Check out catwalk regular Egle Tvirbutaite in the new Class Roberto Cavalli campaign. Only Egle’s super strong features could compete with such bold, graphic prints and heavy jewellery..we know we’re supposed to be looking at the clothes but we just can’t help ourselves!

Photographer Giampaolo Sgura