Hannah Murray is a make up artist based in London. I had the opportunity to work with her on the Jaeger show SS/09. She designed the prettiest look using pastel pinks on the cheeks that went up into the temple. As well as being a regular key make up artist at London Fashion Week, Hannah’s work is often seen in some of the industry’s best magazines: British, Italian and French Vogue, Dazed & Confused, i-D, AnOther and AnOther Man.

Hannah Murray is represented by Julian Watson Agency

Shu Pei has walked the runways of all the big shows in every major city from New York to Paris. This past season Spring 2010, Shu Pei became one of the few Asian models to walk the runway for Prada. Since she signed with Next in 2007 Shu Pei’s resume has been getting longer with editorials in Chinese Vogue, W, Teen Vogue, Chinese Elle, and British Elle. I spotted her at Christopher Kane last season. She has sort of an innocence about her, but she’s provocative at the same time. Great eyes, full lips, and striking bone structure she has a long career ahead of her.

The fashion industry was beyond shocked yesterday by the tragic news of Lee Alexander McQueen’s passing. It’s so devastating that such an amazing talent will no longer create what came to be the most anticipated collections of every season. McQueen was without a doubt a creative genius. The architecture of his work blew minds. I never had the chance to attend one of his shows, but I hung on every word that was described to me by those who did. McQueen’s shows were theatrical productions with so much back story. It was hardly ever just about models walking down a runway.

In 2005 I watched Val Garland recreate the look she had done for McQueen’s Fall 2004 show. In 2007 my friend who worked backstage at the Spring show, told me how beautiful it was when the model walked in the dress made of roses, and how they fell in a train behind her. The Fall 2007 show was very dark and disturbing. McQueen had taken a trip to Salem and discovered he had ancestors that were witches. Charlotte Tilbury was inspired by the make up of Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra. This became the look for the show as well as a product collection for MAC.

There will be a huge void left in Paris fashion week this season, and for years to come. There was only one McQueen and he will be greatly missed.

Images from style.com

French fashion and beauty photographer Gyslain Yarhi has shot for a long roster of clients and magazines including Elle (French, Russian, Norway), Glamour (Italia), Gloss, Harper’s Bazaar (UK and Singapore), Madame Magazine (Germany), Marie Claire UK,  Surface, Sunday Time, Tank, Vogue (Australia), Vogue Joyas. Check out his beautiful portfolio.

Former New York club kid and one time model, Kabuki is one of the most phenomenal make up artists in the industry. What I find most intriguing about Kabuki is the diversity of his work. From creating the make up looks for the early seasons of Sex and the City to outrageous fantasy looks for Lady Gaga. I once saw him create this beautiful alien mask on a model, with wing like lashes that he’d made out of construction paper! I always say in this business the more you know, the more you work, and Kabuki is a testimony to that.

Images from kabukimagic.com

Georgia May Jagger, daughter of Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall she inherited some of their most recognizable traits-Dad’s lips and Mom’s legs and hair. Recently she was honored as Model of the Year at the British Fashion Awards in London. Interview magazine thinks she’s the next big thing, and I am inclined to agree.  The gap in her teeth is reminiscent of another successful model from years back. She’s got that cool, easy style of many famous Brits. Georgia has contracts with Hudson Jeans, is the face of the latest Spring Summer Versace ads, and joins Coco Rocha in the new Rimmel cosmetics campaign. It looks like at 17, Georgia is well on her way to an amazing career.

Images from style.com, elleuk.com, & vanityfair.com

Check out German fashion and beauty photographer Monika Robl’s stunning portfolio. She has shot for German Vogue, Italian Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Marie Claire just to name a few. Trained both in photography and art/design, her work has a real graphic quality to it.

Topolino is Italian for Mickey Mouse, and the name of one of the most extraordinary make up artists I’ve ever met. Hailing from Paris France, Topolino has been in the industry for over 27 years. He’s very petite, smokes like a chimney, and has the tiniest kit ever, basically the size of a handkerchief. His work spans from designing looks for shows like Frankie Morello in Milan, and ad campaigns for Thierry Mugler in Paris. What I find most fascinating about Topolino are the quirky characters that he creates like those above. These pictures were taken a few years ago at a master class in New York. The “chesire cat” smile is one of his standard designs. Using just a few basic products he works with such precision to create perfectly defined lines, and matte skin.

In his heavy french accent, he shared minimal information to the slew of questions that everyone in attendance bombarded him with. He favours primary colours, black white and sometimes silver. Doesn’t care what brand the tools and products he uses are, with the exception of Vaseline-it must be American. The consistency is better for glitter adhesion. To achieve the glitter princess Topolino rubbed Vaseline all over her face, neck and chest. Then poured large particle glitter into his hands and blew! As you can see the results are amazing. Topolino is a true artist.

For more information check out Topolino’s book Make Up Games

Abbey Lee Kershaw is the latest Australian beauty making a name for herself in the fashion industry. Winning a modelling competition set the wheels in motion. A few years later in 2008, Abbey’s big break came when she shot an ad campaign for D&G . The road to success has not been without it’s obstacles. There was the fainting at McQueen due to a corset being too tight at the SS 09 show. Unrelated, but equally problematic was knee surgery, to remove damaged ligaments! Despite these setbacks Abbey has bounced back and judging from the lucrative campaigns (Gucci Flora fragrance), and magazine covers (Dazed & Confused Dec 09) this doll like face is destined for success.

Images from style.com and models.com

Jamie Nelson is a New York based fashion and beauty photographer with work shown in numerous international publications including Harper’s Bazaar En Espanol, InStyle Germany and Nylon. What I really enjoy about this portfolio is the creative use of makeup. From what I’ve read Jamie Nelson often works with the New York based makeup artist Lottie who is responsible for many of these great makeup looks.

Aaron de Mey has some of the most beautiful, detail oriented make up around. A few years ago, backstage at the Haider Ackerman show in Paris, I saw first hand Aaron’s precise work. One look at the images above and you know what I’m talking about. I’ve been a fan ever since Paris. Now Artistic Director for Lancome, his work is showcased not just in magazines and on the runway but around the world at every Lancome counter.

After eight years of assisting the high end fashion photographers in New York, Joel Rhodin has made an explosive career in Sweden. With a passion for challenges Joel approaches each commission with an open mind, always tapping into contemporary currents. Renowned for their bold edge his images express a quality both crude and elegant. Stiff perfection is never the goal for Joel who fancies the peculiar detail. His charismatic persona colours both set and process – Joel is highly appreciated for his decisive clear vision and capacity to pull it off.

Joel Rhodin was born in 1975. Established as one of the top photographers in Sweden, with Elle, Lindex , H &M and Mini Rodini among his clients, he is now on the starting blocks of an international career.

Jourdan was spotted at the age of 16, where many 16 year old British girls can be found — at discount fashion superstore Primark. A few years later and she’s gone from Primark shopper to British Fashion Council’s “Model of the Year” in 2008. Jourdan was also on the cover of Italian Vogue in July 2008 with the entire issue celebrating Black models. Her most recent cover was Teen Vogue’s November issue. There have been countless runways from Louis to Prada, and campaigns for Calvin Klein, YSL, and Topshop to name a few. Her feline features are truly captivating, it’s no wonder this girl is a star.

Images from models.com, style.com, and teenvogue.com

Notoriously charismatic, Gabor Jurina is best known for his innate ability to create equally charming and striking fashion and beauty photography. His personal appreciations for beauty and form have created a strong portfolio of feeling photos that immediately engage the viewer. Working since the mid-nineties, he’s developed a hallmark style that’s graphic, warm, crisp, alluring and unmistakably luxurious.

His work has appeared in Esquire, Oprah, and Fashion Quarterly and he is a regular contributor to Fashion Magazine, one of Canada’s leading style bibles. You may also recognize him as the photographer from the Dove Evolution video in the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. Gabor’s commercial clients include L’oreal, Proctor and Gamble, Dove, Lubridern, MAC Cosmetics and Holt Renfrew. No stranger to celebrity photography, his roster of star sittings include Rosario Dawson, Rihanna, Shania Twain, Kate Hudson, Sandra Oh, and models Coco Rocha, Jessica Stam, Daria Werbowy, Lisa Cant, Julia Dunstall, Heather Marks and Noot Sear.

Alex Box has a wild imagination. Her creations are so incredible they have graced the pages of numerous magazines, and walked many runways. She is responsible for the much talked about Gareth Pugh SS 2010 make up. Alex uses the face as a canvas and pushes the limits of conventional make up to a world of fantasy. So it comes as no surprise that Alex is also the creative director of Illamasqua cosmetics. Illamasqua products are very intensely pigmented and inspired by theatrical make up. I have yet to try anything from the brand (currently not available in Canada) but from what I’ve seen it looks pretty amazing. Earlier this month Alex Box launched her first book entitled The Make Up Artist that showcases her phenomenal work.

New to the scene and already making a name for herself is Ranya Mordanova. She’s already been dubbed as a “rising star” and one of the “top ten newcomers” by several industry insiders. Since debuting in New York this February, Ranya’s managed to score editorials in French Vogue, W and V magazine as well as a lucrative ad campaign with Givenchy. And that’s just to name a few!

During London Fashion week in September, I worked with Ranya at Christopher Kane and Jonathan Saunders. Intense eyes, severe bowl cut, poreless pale skin, and the most adorable pout. A guarantee that she stands out in a crowd.

Images from style.com and models.com

About five years ago I watched Francesca Tolot do a master class. Her demeanor was so sweet as she shared her tips with a quiet Italian accent. With her portfolio that included editorial pages from Italian Vogue and Glamour, her career in the USA started with a music video for Madonna. Since then she has worked with numerous celebrities: Christina Aguilera, Eva Longoria, Catherine Zeta-Jones, to my favourite Beyonce. The two have been working together for a few years, and Francesca can be accredited for some of Beyonce’s best make up moments. Beyonce’s latest videos and CD cover for I Am Sasha Fierce, as well as the stunning looks in the movie Dream Girls, are all the work of Francesca Tolot.

http://www.francescatolot.com/

I first met Alla Kostromicheva this season in London at Christopher Kane. I did her make up again the next day at Jonathan Saunders, I thought to myself I like this girl she’s down to earth, easy to chat with and most importantly has striking features. She’s walked a ton of runways for Spring 2010 from Alexander Wang in New York to Balenciaga just yesterday in Paris. Alla’s pictures in the latest issue of 10 magazine are nothing short of amazing-she is for sure my model of the moment.

Images from style.com and models.com

Chris Nicholls is a fantastic fashion photographer that works out of Toronto and New York. No doubt you have seen his photos in Elle, Flare, and Fashion. He was also a featured photographer on an episode of this past season’s Canada’s Next Top Model. His lighting is amazing and always makes the model’s skin look so luminescent. How beautiful!