You already had a shot of the collaboration between Geanina and parisian photographer Tess Feuilhade when we published their story for Glamour recently, but that was just a teaser. Today’s topic includes the same main characters… and a different magazine. This time, we are talking about their common work for Elle, a dynamic and uptempo story with Geanina’s kinetic poses. The result is a mix of minimalism and expressionism, with every ingredient standing at the right place. The title of the story was a good choice, if you ask us — Weird Dreams. There is certainly some weirdness and a dreamlike atmosphere surrounding each page, but the weirdest (and greatest) is that we’ve never seen a series made of black and white outfits look so colorful. And a little exclusive bonus: a view from backstage, just below.

Memories from Paris and also a glance behind the scenes, all in one — that’s practically the topic of today’s post. We bet you haven’t forgotten the cover and story Alexandrina did for Elle at the end of 2011, shot in the City of Lights by the talented Gilbert François. And here we invite you to have a look at the atmosphere of the shooting, in typical parisian landscapes where our beauty seems to feel like a fish to water. Ease and poise might have been her secrets behind the amazing visuals she delivered once the magazine was released. Even if that short story sounds like a little flashback, we tend to think of it as a great sign for Alexandrina’s near future and can promise you some more scenes like these above as soon as possible.

Turn off the music and tune your eyes. The following lines and pictures are the backbone of some special post on Mandarina’s blog since we relaunched it at the end of 2011. Exclusive materials, shot in Chisinau by Paris-based photographer Tess Feuilhade, this extended review includes the most recent materials of Irina (that we introduced a few months ago), Ruxanda as you’ve never seen her (see her gaze above) and two brand new  Mandarina-girls with no released materials until today. We invite you to share our excitement to see Moldova’s finest in nine photographs and a few words.

Let’s start by a statement which has everything to be a visual shock. Meet Beatricia, the newest Mandarina-girl and a look you should keep in mind (though we don’t see how someone could forget that face). Still young and learning, this witty little lady probably has the greatest personality we have ever seen from a teenager. It’s just an early introduction but it’s quite a wise idea to keep track of her developement and next steps towards fashion.

And here she comes again, almost two months after we introduced her with some first tests made last summer. Irina has achieved some remarkable progress in the way she poses and gazes at the camera since her early modeling moments. Obviously getting more confident with exposing herself to the lense, she worked out this subtle combination of sweetness and understated sensuality like the pro she is quickly becoming.

You’re already familiar with Ruxanda’s grace and poise since you had several opportunities to see her work on this page, from Elle’s cover and story to her latest bridal gig in Morocco via Harper’s Bazaar. But even if you’ve been able to witness how she works out ethnic outfits or bridal gowns, a more natural touch like we share here surely doesn’t hurt since she looks absolutely ravishing –  either in black and white or delicate colors.

The post is coming to its end (which looks more like a beginning) and we have prepared a beautiful ending with the second previously unreleased model and last girl from this team of four aces: Sasha. Relying on her exotic looks and expressive eyes to make her marks, she adds a special note to these portraits with her peculiar beauty type.

]]> http://blog.mandarinamodels.ro/four-aces/feed/ 0 http://blog.mandarinamodels.ro/behind-the-sun/ http://blog.mandarinamodels.ro/behind-the-sun/#comments Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:50:24 +0000 anna.p http://blog.mandarinamodels.ro/?p=3782

We bet you can’t find anything fresher online this weekend. Backstage outtakes from a test shooting done yesterday, with a freshly signed model and introducing a new fruitful collaboration with a talented photographer. Such a nice mix and a good opener for our new features from behind the scenes. Daniela joined us at the end of 2011 and starts this new year with an intensive training since she arrived from Moldova to build her portfolio in Bucharest these days. It’s her first steps in actual modeling but also the first time (and sure not the last) we collaborate with photographer Mihai Bumbu, a young talent in town who rocked our saturday with his team.

Marina, The Origins. Could have been the title of the post since the story was shot a few meters from Marina’s home when photographer Ionut Staicu was on trip to Moldova. Portrayed in her natural element, in a series that goes halfway between high fashion and romanced documentary, the photographs reveal various moments of one day in Marina’s life without unnecessary effects or overplayed drama. The genius idea of the concept was to capture her off-duty to show how modelesque she is, no matter the situation. It seems she doesn’t really care if she is posing in a forest at the beginning of the winter or in a studio, class and poise remain regardless of the location. And besides the awesome atmosphere of such untouched places, the must with these pictures could be that you have in front of your eyes an opportunity to watch Marina the way she is (delicate and perfect skin without enhancement). As real as on digitals but as sophisticated as in high fashion glossies.

The plot is original to say the least: shooting a wedding story with a young lady from Moldova in a hotel in Morocco for the japanese magazine 25 Ans. The result is quite beautiful as well when Ruxanda pulls off the performance in that gracious manner we are used to with her yet never get enough of. Bridal stories get easily repetitive and sort of boring unless you find an original concept, a great location to enhance the outfits and a great character to bring these dresses to life. That’s pretty much what happened in Marrakech when Ruxanda landed there for her direct booking. A pure international sensation that turned into a world-class showcase of style as soon as it got printed. And, believe us, the fact we published these pictures on Valentine’s Day is only due to a lucky trick from the calendar. Even if it looks like a sign.

Who said fashion has no sense of humour? Certainly neither Madalina nor photographer Marc Hibbert who shot this lovely and rather funny story for C-Heads Magazine. Far from all the clichés usually displayed in fashion stories or even sometimes turning them on a twisted mode, the editorial reexplores themes like fierce gazes, sad eyes or sensual poses in a way you don’t find at every street’s corner (or for that matter, on every glossy page). Sometimes dramatic — even when it comes to parody, sometimes just beautiful  and often both at once from bunny ears to charcoal eyes, this is no ordinary spread, from a visual point of view and when it comes to the concept behind the imagery.

Wild hair and sleek make-up can get on well together. If you had some doubts about that fact you should have another look at the pictures above. Mix of wilderness and wisdom, in right proportions. Balance is no recipe, it’s a result. Of the right ingredients at the right place (and the right moment), it takes talent and luck of course but also the right dose of smart management to foresee the future of fashion come. Halfway between easy-going commercial visuals and fully fashionizing fixture, Ana Gilca, by Jeffrey Sales, proved one more time how one girl nowadays has to deal with both sides of modeling. Sometimes, the two of them at the same time.

Hot and fun says the teaser, they could have added classy to these two words since the story shot by Tess Feuilhade for the newest issue of Glamour is more about subtlety and understatements than flashy stuff. The concept of the editorial is rather a matter of suggesting sexiness that the usual in-your-face pictures you expect to see when you read “bring sexy back”. Sure, it does bring it back but in a gentle manner that leaves more place to the model’s performance and the viewer’s imagination, and no room left for any sort of tackiness. Talking about the model, Geanina did a bloody good job with these soft yet strong expressions and fluid body language that reveals a slim, leggy silhouette no matter what the outfit is.

We live at a time when digital photography (among other tricks) has changed the visage of photography and fashion. And the number of new faces waiting for a momentum is getting bigger and… bigger. The only answer to this lame situation is patience. And hard work, of course. That’s how we went to put Ana Gilca as one of the best examples. In a fashion wold that glorifies overnight sensations as an unjustified myth, she embodies the hard working lady that will get results through efforts and diligent management while others will fake a moment of five-minute-celebrity through any kind of exclusive or show-off job. Ana and us by her side, believe in values such as smart efforts and team work and strongly believe this recipe will pay back in time. Strategy, wise international placements from asian markets to high fashion places, the combination is the key. More than ever. And while we are talking about theory that translates well in practise, gorgeous polaroids are the best way to illustrate our point of view. Meet Miss Gilca once again, as natural as natural can be.

We closed last week with the moody and melancholic atmosphere of London so we thought it would be a good idea to balance it with something more cheerful and lighthearted. That’s how we decided to start this one with a cover of Florentina, made in Singapore. Bright and colorful, uptempo and full of energy — the visual is a perfect match with Florentina’s sunny personality. Pretty in pink and working out the swimsuit with a sculptural silhouette and mesmerizing pose, it’s with that kind of performances that she conquered the asian market from coast to coast.

Mixing a flower-power imagery and visual effects with a melancholic mood was probably a gorgeous idea. And who else than Valeria could channel this atmosphere with this half-upset, half-laid-back gaze of hers? Probably no one else in London would have been able to pull this off and the result screams awesome from page to page. Shot by Hayley Louisa Brown, the story has this british vibe on every picture — a mixture of superannuated and modern elements that create all the charm of this editorial.

Fashion insiders might be familiar with the idea of digitals (formerly known as polaroids) but an aspiring model is probably less informed about this standard practise in modeling. The role of these digitals and the basic rule of no make-up, no retouch can sometimes surprise a young lady that wants to try her luck as a model and sends pictures of herself to an agency. Actually, nothing is as useful as digitals when a model starts, as they were taken on purpose to show how she looks like in a totally natural way. It’s essential for the clients as well, especially in high fashion markets to showcase all possibilities a face may have. How the girl poses, what her features actually look like and what a photographer can do with them. As you may understand, this is a very important part of the whole process and every mother agency (or at least every mother agency that really cares) has to produce the best digitals possible of its models in order to promote them the right way and enhance their career’s perspectives. We thought one of the best examples of good digitals was Madalina’s most recent set. Here you can feel the poses, have a clear idea of what a high-level model looks like without any make-up or special hairdo. For the newcomers, this post looks like a real glimpse into the actual modeling world. For the others, this has to be taken as a reminder of how gorgeous our Madalina is, au naturel.

There is not one girl with the same career pattern as another. Some models will make their best moves in one city, others will do the exact opposite. The differences between the markets and the looks each of them is striving for are the most common explanations to this situation. In Olga’s case, her stay in Paris was definitely one of the most fruitful she had so far. Her look is definitely on the edgy side and her slim, leggy silhouette is well-known for being much appreciated in the City of Lights. After securing her status as a favorite of Maison Martin Margiela, Olga also proved she has all it takes to impress in print works. The latest example is right above and we must say she rules this rock chick themed story like a boss.

British press call it a historical moment. We should also, celebrating the first large exposure of our Bianca modeling for an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The press talk about the hand-embroided cape made of Golden Orb spiders silk, we’d rather tell you how she brought the garment to life with grace and poise. It’s said it took years and years to create the outfit and judging by the quality and details, we have no doubts regarding the extremely hard work behind such a wonderful result but it didn’t take so long to Bianca to use it like a second skin to glow in London and make her marks since she landed in UK under the wings of FM Model Management. Solemn and serene, posing in that delicate manner of hers, our lady in yellow can be proud of her first golden moment. The rest is history, of course.

Her first trip abroad was in London and was her first success. Tanea didn’t only increase the number of great visuals in her portfolio, she also had a more than decent season at the shows there last fall and consider it’s getting tougher and tougher for newbies to breakthrough since the city is back on the map of fashion weeks to watch. But the high concentrations of stars in town has never prevented a rising one to leave her marks and Tanea certainly took the opportunity to do so while she was on stay with First Model Management. Image wise, she gave the best of her fluid body laguage and natural poise t deliver this kind of sober yet glossy materials that is so coveted to start an international career.

Yesterday we showed you how to rebuild a model’s image, today we’re focusing on the results. And one of the first tangible results since she changed management in Paris, besides walking for Hermes during the last round of shows, is her shot in the newest issue of Velvet (one of the remining italian publications that hasn’t given up on quality). Photographed by Takay for a topic on the models to watch carefully right at this moment, the storyline oscillates between a certain idea of minimalism and some frankly glittery items going from the shiny outfit to expensive wine bottles. Could be a message that luxury and class are all about balance. Or in other words: about balance in the image.

One of the key points in high fashion is to sell dreams because it’s big dreams that sell expensive clothes. And to create such dreams you need images that stick in people’s mind, hence the importance in a city like Paris to have a portfolio that reflects this dreamy point of view. Since she signed with Oui Management, Alexandrina had the oportunity to totally remaster her book which has reached a point where it really reveals her class and level. Shot in black and white by some of the finest lensemen in town (including Gilbert François), the photographs look like modern versions of old movie scenes and spell timeless beauty from page to page. The result is astonishing as a visual symphony that carefully mixes glossy sensuality with parisian refinement.

She is Romania’s next woman to watch, next girl on the go. She is ready to fly and the best we could offer her to help spread her wings is one test session with Paris-based wunderkind Tess Feuilhade who revealed her potential about to blossom. She displayed in front of his lens a perfect blend of raw androgyny and pure feminity, in a subtle way that could drag any eye to look at her. With a name that reminds you of an opera and a look that spells rock’n'roll, it’s pretty hard to overlook Aida. This time the (real) fashion world will go her way. Stay tuned, countdown has begun.

It’s in a retro atmosphere, which has nothing to envy to several international publications, that the book was shot. And it’s quite a special story for us since it combines our favorite romanian photographer Ionut Staicu with our favorite romanian designer Andreea Badala. (Please make sure you had a look at the website of her brand, Murmur. Not only for the clothes but also for the very well written presentation of the brand, a true vision that sounds more than refreshing compared to the usual and stereotypical babble many internationally recognized designers can say in interviews). To complete this heavenly combo, Natalia embodies the main character in this one-woman show, displaying the best of her skills to bring these body-conscious outfits to life.