Australia's gearing up for summer - granted it is still July - but we all know once we are past the 15th, the countdown is on! Consequently, Sydney and Melbourne Spring consumer Spring fashion festivals are soon to be staged, and I thought it was high time I brought you some fashion forward posts. What better way to unveil the Australian summer of fashion, by taking a look back at some of our favourite unveiled high-fashion male models. The forthcoming selection have featured in some of the most influential fashion campaigns and editorials ever to grace our magazine covers, spreads, billboards and sometimes even the backs of our bedroom doors (or was that just me?)
Models.com release an annual top 50 male & female model list, which is largely based on who landed the most lucrative contracts for the year, and whichever campaigns received the highest acclaim: both artistically and commercially.
But I'm bit more relaxed about things here – whether they’re filling out a smoking jacket or just smoking hot, here are my top 10 international Male models for 2010:
1. Jon Kortajarena
Jon is an Espanol Senior with a weighty mess of hair, often shot with a 3 day growth and someone that exudes masculinity from every pore (he has to be one of my personal favourites). He has produced some heart wrenching editorial work for the likes of Guess, Tom Ford, Diesel, Versace and Pepe Jeans to name a few. Here is a shot of him which featured as part of a V Man editorial shoot entitled “How to wear denim” – thanks Jon. I now know.
2. Garret Neff
Garrett is an American model although his look in uncharacteristically so, or perhaps more vintage American than modern day. Arguably his most famous campaign was one he did for Calvin Klein Underwear in 2008 (photographed by Bruce Weber). This campaign was one of the first that managed to re-brand modern day masculinity by encapsulating both the heterosexual and homosexual market. See the money shot here:
3.Baptiste Giabiconi
Baptiste is one of the hottest new up and comers on the circuit at the moment. This year alone he has donned the cover of Vogue (Germany), Numero Homme and been the face of Chanel, Fendi, Karl Lagerfeld - even Coca Cola Light! His piercing eyes seem as if they could crack a camera lens. It is no wonder he has shot to be the #1 ranked model on models.com.
4. Mathias Lauridsen
Mathais hails from Copenhagen Denmark and has featured in numerous campaigns for high end brands like Gucci, Hugo Boss, Lacoste, Hermes. He has a distinguishing scar on his left cheek which only adds to his unique perfection. Here he is featured in a campaign for Gucci Pour Homme II back in 2007. Intense.
5. Eddie Klint
Eddie is another Danish model (there are some quality genes floating around in that country) although perhaps not as well known at Mathais, he had accomplished a lot for such a fresh faced 22-year-old scene-ster. The most famous contract he has landed is probably one for Prada Parfums in 2009 (the campaign featured) shot by Steven Meisel. It showed Eddie in a completely different light: boyhood to manhood in one frame.
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6. Noah Mills
The 6ft 2 Canadian born hunk of man has become a resident in recent years at Dolce & Gabbana, Versace and Michael Kors (he was even in Sex and the City 2!) and it seems his public profile is only on the up and up. He has done some amazing editorial campaigns but I think my favourite would have to be his one for Tom Ford Menswear 2008 (photographed by Terry Richardson) most of which is too racy to post! Actually all of which…here is a beautiful shot of Noah which was part of a larger campaign for Dolce & Gabbana Fragrance Anthology in 2009 (it ran through to 2010 it was so successful…I wonder why?)
7. Sam Webb
This London based British boy was recently named as Lindsay Lohan’s new beau (if only for a short stint based on totally unreliable sources) but it managed to get his name from the catwalk out into the celebrity stratosphere. He had been a star already however at Milan and Paris fashion weeks and is still a reasonably fresh face in the industry has already nabbed a D&G contract: featuring in both their Spring/Summer & Fall/Winter 2010 campaigns.
8. David Gandy
He got a massive schnoz and he totally owns it! That’s what I like to see. David Gandy has managed to cement himself as one of the favourite faces of D & G for over 3 years (what’s with all the D& G men you say – I think my choices are largely due to the work of Steven Klein’s amazing photography – but D&G sure know how to make 5 men holding each other in their underwear look incredibly manly). David is currently signed to DNA agency in NYC alongside Baptiste Giabiconi. His girlfriend is model Chloe Pridham (sorry ladies).
9. Evandro Soldati
Famous now for appearing in Lady Gaga’s Alejandro video, Evandro is a Brazilian born model with one striking brow-line. Above mentioned photographer Steven Klein actually collaborated with Gaga to produce the controversial video which may have had something to do with his appearance. He has completed campaigns for Louis Vuitton and Valentino amongst others but is probably most well known for being the face of Armani from 07/08. Here he is featured in one of their campaigns – he almost appears to be a rock-pool crustacean: the girl, his shell - such a fantastic image.
10. Jamie Dornan
Jamie is an Irish stew of striking features and musical talent to boot (swoon). You would recognise him from such fashion campaigns as Calvin Klein Jeans (probably most famously shot with Eva Mendes back in 2009 - who also looks incredible by the way!). He also appeared in Sophia Coppola’s “Marie-Antoinette” after Keira Knightly (who he also dated) introduced him to her agent. Aside from Calvin Klein he has also worked for Giorgio Armani and Aquascutum. His Irish folk band are called Sons of Jim, but hopefully he won't do away with modelling altogether.
