Whenever black models are scantily dressed alongside white models the blogosphere goes wild with stories about the photos being racist. The latest editorial to stir up allegations of racism is titled "Start Me Up" and was shot by Matthias Vriens-McGrath for Numero Tokyo and stars VS supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio, British model Rob Evans and TaeJahn Taylor. The shoot was styled by Masha Orlov and features designs  from Dior and Thakoon. The sensually charged editorial featured Alessandra with bleached hair wearing glamorous gowns while surrounded by two black male models wearing leather bikini cut undergarments. In one shot Alessandro has a chain around  Taejahn Taylor.

The risque and obviously was meant to shock and some bloggers and online commenters have already labelled the shoot as being racist. One commenter on Models.com wrote; "But, this oversexualization of black models in fashion, especially in editorials is really starting to annoy me. Out of the very little editorials featuring black models the majority of them have a emphasis on sex, or a ferine theme." and "I’m a little tired of seeing this perverse sexually objectified concept of blacks in fashion. It’s so one-dimensional, vulgar, and offensive. Don’t get me wrong, Rob and Tae look amazing just as David did in the Calvin Klein ad, but seriously…this song is played and tired. " However not everyone agreed that editorial was racist another user on Hurricane Vanessa wrote, "I’m sorry but am going to have to disagree with you. I don’t think its racist at all and its when we nit pick on every little irrelevant detail that problems arise. If it was two white males,you wouldn’t think its racism. So why think any differently now? This is high fashion. It's beautiful and I love this."

Hero #4 is out now and Prada runway star, Luka is the cover model of the issue. The cover was shot by Alessandro del Buoni and styled by Andrew Davis

The magazne features editorials by Fabien Kruszelnicki as well as an amazing trip through the Vivienne Westwood archive with photographer Stefan Heinrichs and fashion editor Ingo Nahrwold.

We were the first blog to bring you the news that Baptiste Giabiconi was working on a music album. Well now we have also heard that  Madonna's toyboy, Jesus Luz has  created the music for a video he did with VS Magazine. The video is of a shoot he did with Jorgen Ringstrand and was styled by Luke Day in London. The song on the video is 'Dangerous' by Jesus Luz & Alexandra Prince.... yes, Jesus produced the beats for the song.  Apparently the song has been around for a while but its the first time i've heard it. What do you think of his music?

"With Night Comes The Darkness" is an editorial from the latest issue of Vogue Hommes Japan. It was shot by acclaimed photographer Mariano Vivanco and if you have watched any of Lady Gaga's music videos (eg. Alejandro) then you should be able to tell that  this shoot was styled by none other than Nicola Formichetti ( Lady Gaga's personal stylist/BFF)

British Style Icon, Alexa Chung has returned to Pepe Jeans London to be the face of the brand for yet another season. The British It-girl/presenter is joined by male models Jon Kortajarena and Gaspard Menier in the Pepe Jeans Autumn Winter 2010 ads.

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L’Oreal has finally stopped running Cheryl Cole’s “Weak, Limp Lifeless” hair advert. You know which one i mean, the one where she sounds as if shes describing male impotency and she says and that L’Oreal will help it get its “Mojo back”.

L’Oreal is back again and this time they’ve got Slumdog Millionaire star, Freida into as the star of their hair ads. I love Freida, she’s so beautiful and shes so endearing,likable and unlike Cheryl’s ad there isn’t a dodgy script. In the Nutrigloss ad, Freida Pinto is seen walking through a room full of mirrors  and she is joined by Versace male model, Michael Gstoettner. The video was shot by Ivo Wejgaard.

SHOWSTUDIO recently posted some new photos of male model Jo Calderone. The images are from a Vogue Hommes shoot and were styled by Nicola Formichetti (Lady Gaga’s stylist) and photographed by showstudio founder, Nick Knight.

However, word on the blogosphere is that Jo Calderone is Lady Gaga. The first site to call out Jo as being Lady Gaga’s male alter ego was ONTD. Here is the proof that’s got us thinking Jo Calderone is Lady Gaga.

1. Jo is short for Lady Gaga’s real middle name, Stefani Joanna Germanotta

2. The images were styled by Lady Gaga’s stylist  Nicola Formichetti

3. Jo Calderone looks like Lady Gaga!!!

4. We have googled  Jo Calderone and can’t find any agency that the male model is represented by.

Do You think Jo Calderone Is Lady Gaga?

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VNY Models featuring Brit male models, Danny Schwarz and and Ollie Edwards

The 2010 World Cup is currently heating up,  but two weeks ago fashion and football collided when Vman held the first ever Vman Male Model World Cup. The event was the brainchild of  VMan editor Jacob Brown and model, Mathias Laurisden. Models from VNY, Request, DNA Models, New York Models, Major Models and Ford Models competed to see which agency had the best moves on the pitch. In the end the victors were Major Models, led by Oraine Barrett. The male model winners of the shoot will star in an editorial in the Summer issue of Vman.

Major Models

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Karlie Kloss stars in the fall 2010 Aquascutum campaign alongside 3 British male models. The boys in the campagn are  Matt Benstead, Jacob Coupe, and Tristan Knights. The Aquascutum campaign was shot by Willy Vanderperre.

“For the campaign Aquascutum wanted to capture the mood and atmosphere of the stormy seascapes of J.M.W Turner’s paintings and the aesthetic of ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’; both inspirations for the autumn/winter 2010 Aquascutum Collection,” – Belinda Earl told Vogue.

Hero issue 3 is out now. It features cover star, Issac by Doug Inglish and and is full of  male faces that will be dominating campaigns and runway this season. The issue is available from Hero Zine.

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After producing theatrical masterpieces for her music videos for Bad Romance and Telephone, Lady Gaga has released the music video for her third single, Alejandro. Alejandro follows the same formula. It starts out with a male model clad in fishnet stockings and stiletto heels While Gaga is dressed like an 18th Century high fashion Queen.
When i first saw the teaser video I was surprised that Lady Gaga was covered from head to toe. However halfway through video she is seen writhing around in bed with a male model while wearing flesh tone underwear and a whip. She also manages to single handedly offend loads of people around the world. wouldn't be surprised if this video gets banned in a few countries just for that dance move at 4:38. There's also a cameo from Brazilian male model, Evandro Soldati.

What do you think of the Lady Gaga Alejandro Music Video?

Later this week will be a rundown of the clothes Lady Gaga wore in the the Alejandro Music Video.

Initially, I was self-taught. I didn’t choose art at school, only academic subjects, although I felt my vocation was as a ‘creative’. So outside of my studies, I started drawing and painting. I also bought a camera and set up a darkroom in my parent’s house. I was then accepted onto the local foundation course at Cumbria College of Art and Design. I had a detour for a few years as a male model before eventually taking up my place there which led to me being accepted onto the BA course at Central St. Martins and afterwards the MA course at the RCA.

A wedding dress for a friend.

 

Jaeger is a brand with a rich heritage. How do you maintain that heritage while designing new collections?

Our heritage is extremely important to us and the emphasis is to use it to inspire our modern designs. We are conscious to keep progressing whilst retaining the strong spirit of our fantastic 126 years of heritage. Our aim is to combine creativity and innovation with desirability and wearability. 

Sam Way is just 22 years old and its hard to believe that his career began almost 7 years ago. At the age of 17 he had already landed a Topman campaign and been photographed by Bruce Weber alongside Kate Moss. I’ve interviewed a load of models and sometimes the answers start to become a bit predictable so I love when I Interview someone who is spontaneous, witty and quirky. Sam has also got lots of charisma, charm and breaks every stereotype about male models. Hailing from a town with a population of less than 7000 people,  Sam has gone on to become one of the UK’s most prominent face in fashion. Below is his interview.

Tell us a little about yourself – (where you grew up, your life – anything you wish to tell)

Okay! so…… I grew up in a small town called Crediton in Devon. The most exciting thing that ever happened there was the alleged birth of “St Boniface” the man who is accredited partly for the integration of the famed Christmas tree into our festive celebrations. So a pretty dull environment to grow up in on reflection.

How did you start modelling?

I went through school as standard, got into rugby, began playing for the county and then, on a trip up to London with my mum, got spotted by Models1 in the Oxford St, Topshop. I was 15 at the time, and didn’t know what to think of it. My mate Myles, who was there with me began spreading the gospel through school that I was now officially a model for TOPMAN.  Eventually M1 organised a test shoot and took me onto their books. The first few jobs were for girls magazines. My mum made the trip up to London every time and made sure I was suitably embarrassed for the duration of the shoot. The first big job I got was ironically for TOPMAN. From then on, I tried to balance school with modelling, sometimes un-equally, and decided after I’d finished my A levels, that I would do it full time for a while.

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Earlier this year you voted Sam Way as your favourite Briitsh model of 2009. Our next Interview is with Sam Way. I'll be unveiling his interview in the next few days but until then  here is my  portrait of him. Sam has had quite the meteoric rise to the modelling industry's summit, with campaigns  for Paco Rabanne, Diesel,  Topman and Pull and Bear he has become a prominent face in the industry and he is still only 22. It's probably one of my most interesting interviews yet. Sam comes across as the complete opposite to the archetype of a male model.  He's witty, grounded, smart and quite quirky as he isnt one to be typecast into any role. Stay tuned for his full interview on Friday.

Click here to see some of my other sketches of models.

On friday night, David Gandy  did an interview with late night talk show host, Jonathan Ross. I was quite surprised to see him on there becuase you dont usually see male models doing talk shows. He came across as quite intelligent  and down to earth. He also revealed to Ross that for the first few years  of his career he got told that he was "too good looking to be a model". Yes , you read that correctly. Sounds almost contradictory, aren't models supposed to be goodlooking?

David Gandy also talked about his plans for after modelling and being known as the "white pants guy" after his Light Blue commercial.

If you have never seen Max Rogers before then you must have been living under a rock for the past year. He has done campaigns for Lee Cooper, Agent Provocateur and D&G, the latter of which was plastered on every billboard and bus.  He has been photographed by Ellen Von Unwerth, Steven Meisel, Solve Sundsbo, Mario Testino and drawn by me (yes I couldnt resist throwing that one in there).  To top that it off  he was on the cover of Italian Vogue's September 2009 issue. Which is a huge feat for any model. In short, he's had a spectacular year and we got to ask him about it.

Everyone loves a good ol’ coffee table book full of pictures. The question is “How much would you pay  for one”…How about 400 pounds? Well that question will be answered soon as Kate Moss and Mario Testino are collaborating on a limited edition photographic book. The  128 page book is titled  ‘Kate Moss by Mario Testino’  and will retail at about £400 . The book will  released by Tachen this Summer and only 1,500  signed copies will be printed.

 
Sticking on the topic of Coffee Table Books, Photographer Dean Stockings has released a book called Sofa So Naked. Its a series of a nudes shot from a cross-section of the whole community – male, female, young and old (the youngest model is a few weeks and the oldest is 87 years old).  Each model appears naked on their own sofa, in their own home, with just one prop of their choice. The books sells  for £34.95 and is available by clicking here . So if £400 pounds is slightly outside of your price range then this book might just be perfect for you.

Some shots from Dean’s book are after the jump.

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Designer menswear store, Oki-ni is recruiting. They are looking for new faces to take on the role of in-house models, both part and full time. For a long time London DJ/ Oki-Ni Creative Assistant, Danny Mitchell was the only model at Oki-Ni.com then In February 2010 they added a second guy well now they maybe adding a third, a fourth and maybe even a fifth guy.

Model applicants must be unsigned and London based. To be considered, send a head and full body shot and height, chest and weight measurements as well as a CV and covering letter detailing what aspects of the business you could bring skill to, e.g photography, marketing, buying, topress@oki-ni.com

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