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

A.P.C. Quilts: How to Make a French-American Quilt

I love everything about A.P.C.'s quilts. I love that they remind me of the quilts my mom made when I was growing up. I love the classic American craft patterns. I love that the simple blocked patchwork feels decidedly modern. I love that A.P.C. can mix heritage, their archive, and history and actually feel sincere. I really love how cozy it would be to cuddle under one.

Finally, my years of going to quilt fairs feels a little cool and the sewing machine in my closet might get some use.

Via A.P.C.

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...