Stefanel Spring Summer 2010

The Stefanel ads that we have long been awaiting have just been released. Daria replaces Gisele Bundchen as the face of the Italian brand but it seems as if with Gisele's departure a sense of the brand has been lost. 

Stefanel campaigns are known for Gisele and her obvious sexiness - after all she has been the face of the brand for the past six seasons. And try as Mario Testino might I don't think he will ever be able to capture Daria's unusual beauty with such obvious poses and settings. 

Stefanel Spring Summer 2010: Daria by Mario Testino

It is interesting to note that Daria replaces Gisele in the Stefanel campaign, just as she did for Vogue eye wear back in 2008. They seem like such different models to me so I find it random that the fashion industry considers them of the same caliber (and I say this with no offense to Gisele or Daria. I love them both but they are quite different).  However there will be more images in the campaign to look forward to so I'm not going to base my opinion on just one shot.

On another note, it seems that the Go West editorial isn't Daria's only appearance in Vogue this month. If you head over to Vogue.com, there is a Best Dressed of the Decade poll and Daria makes an appearance along with the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Sofia Coppola. Her Balmain LBD she wore to the Costume Institute Gala is one of the choices for 2009. Needless to say, I think you know who I voted for!

image credits: scanned by fujiko at tFS

Vogue US January 2010 : Go West by Patrick Demarchelier

"Go West", Daria's editorial in the January issue of Vogue US, heralds the start of a new decade in fashion and a new decade in Daria's career. I had high hopes for this editorial and it didn't leave me disappointed. It's a refreshing take on the Vogue travel editorial and Demarchelier lends his lens to a visionary American locale.

Go West
Vogue US January 2010
Daria Werbowy by Patrick Demarchelier


Go West was shot in Lake Powell, a stunning reservoir in Utah and the location lends its unique serenity to the pictures. Maybe it is the National Geographic subscriber in me (I am quite biased when it comes to travel editorials) because I love this. The opening shot is particularly great as is the portrait of Daria in a head piece. As is the shot with the horse ... and the Balmain on the bike ... and ... I could go on and on but you get the idea. There is actually nothing bad I can say about this other than that I wish it was a few pages longer. It is also a great thing to see Daria still appearing in issues of Vogue - it is one of the few magazines that stays loyal to their favourite models. I hope this loyalty continues throughout 2010 ... Tigerrouge at the Fashion Spot said it best- this is one issue of Vogue US that I will not miss out on!

source: scanned by Luxx at the Fashion Spot

Balmainia Continued ...

It seems that I was wrong on Balmain's seeming exclusivity. I had lamented on the fact that it was so hard to find any pictures from behind the scenes, but I've recently stumbled upon quite a few. You may have seen the same set ups from previous posts but albeit these are at different angles. There are some new shots as well including Daria and Balmain designer Christophe Decarnin ... I'll find it quite hard to believe if Daria doesn't end up with the Balmain campaign!

There is also something else to add. Daria has her first editorial of the new decade (funny how the fashion world is already a month ahead of the real world!) in the January 2010 issue of Vogue US. It is entitled "Go West" and the man behind the lens is photographer Patrick Demarchelier. If you can recall, earlier this year Daria appeared in Indian Summer in Vogue UK . Judging from the title of the Vogue US editorial and Patrick Demarchelier's penchance for travel editorials it might be another location piece. But Demarchelier is also known for his studio work at Vogue so it could go either way.

A Look at Things to Come

It's been confirmed - Daria will be the latest face of DSquared in the Spring Summer 2010 campaign. And since news is lacking I might as well post a few of my predictions on the campaign ... we had heard that Daria was shooting the campaign in Morocco a few weeks ago, and now there is more news. 

Mert and Marcus are reprising their roles as campaign photographers after the Fall Winter 2009 campaign with Lara Stone. And if that campaign is any indication of what is to come, and the fact that the shoot took place in the colorful city of Morocco then I believe we can expect a few elements of hedonism ... 

Daria isn't the only model to star in the campaign. Brazilian Arthur Sales and American model Kyle Ledeboer, both of whom can be seen above. It was honestly impossible to find a picture of these two with a shirt! It will be interesting to see how this dynamic turns out, with these two relative newcomers and Daria, the veteran.

I have to say that I am a bit apprehensive to hear that Mert and Marcus shot the campaign. I feel as though if you see one of their editorials, then you've seen them all. Although I can appreciate their stylized take on women I always feel that their shoots are a bit lifeless ... it is odd that when they want to depict a strong women they often come off looking like cyborgs. However, if the Longchamp campaign of FW09 is any indication of what the DSquared campaign will look like, then I do have high hopes!

Spring Summer 2009: Lara Stone by Mert and Marcus
I was hoping that the campaign would have been shot by Steven Meisel, but I think this is impossible now. Meisel hasn't worked with Daria in years for what reason I am not sure ... but for your time, some campaigns shot by Meisel. The SS09 campaign with Linda and Naomi was legendary!

In the Midst of Chaos

Trust Daria to walk in the most elusive show of Paris fashion week. In fact, I think Balmain is the most guarded presentation of all fashion weeks, save maybe for Maison Martin Margiela. What I mean to say is that pictures from Daria's appearance have been very hard to find. It seems that every backstage photography site that I come across has every show's images uploaded except for Balmain. In fact, the backstage images took a few weeks to surface! That is why, when visiting a favourite site of mine today it was quite the treat to come upon a beautiful image like this:

Daria was captured through the lens of Delphine Achard, a talented French beauty photographer who manages to capture great portraits amidst the backstage chaos. If you have time visit her site at www.delphineachard.com . I've written about backstage photography before but I will say it again - I love how photographers like Delphine manage to capture the little secluded moments in the busiest of times ...  Hopefully there are more images like this but for now I think we can be pleased! And if that image isn't enough to intrigue you take a look at more of Achard's images below.

P.S. Daria's appearance in a SS10 DSquared campaign is all but confirmed ... but more on that later!

La Mamounia ... Candids

As you may well know, Daria was at the reopening of the La Mamounia hotel in Marrakech, Morocco this past week. And though I thought that the excitement over that sighting had died down, there are now new pictures from this event (and then some!). 

Vogue columnist and party fixture Derek Blasberg posted a few candids on his twitter as well as the style.com blog. His reports make this sound like an interesting time ... "Every night ended at the leopard-heavy downstairs lounge, the Churchill Bar, where Daria Werbowy, Matthew Williamson, Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, and Carine Roitfeld belted out everything from Grease show tunes to Sarah McLaughlin. “Leopard carpet, cognac, and a piano? I think I found my new favorite bar ever,” Werbowy said." 

My thoughts are going wild imagining Carine and Daria singing a duet together! I've always heard that the fashion world is brutal, but this is quite hard to believe when you can find a Vogue editor, photographers, a designer and a model belting out music from seventies movies ... something makes me think that Anna Wintour would not be as up for it ...

Daria and Matthew Williamson ... look familiar?Jacquetta Wheeler, Daria Werbowy and Derek Blasberg. I love Daria's laidback style!

AIDS International 25th Anniversary Dinner

It is Daria overload as of late! It seems as if our favourite model has racked up quite the number of flyer miles this year. Right now I can recall events in Milan, Toronto, New York, Paris (and New York again!) just in the past few months! Just on the 26th of November Daria was present at the La Mamounia hotel inaguration in Morocco, where it is rumored that she shot a DSquared campaign. 

Apparently, that isn't the only work that she did while in the beautiful country ... rumors abounded that Daria shot an editorial for an upcoming issue of Vogue Paris with (who else but) Inez and Vinoodh. I guess there really is no such thing as rest and relaxation in the modeling business - it is clear that models often mix work and play together! A plane flight and a few hours later Daria was in Paris for the AIDS International 25th Anniversary dinner. 

It is quite surprising to see Daria at such a large number of events this year - she was virtually non-existent on the part circuit all throughout 2008 and 2007! But when it is for a such a good cause then I can really appreciate it ... plus, any event with a performance by Jane Birkin and I would be there as well! Hmm ... and Daria is wearing Balmain SS10 ... I hope this means an ad campaign in the near future!

Behind the Scenes of Vogue Nippon

If you've been reading this blog for a while (maybe even the past few days) you will probably know that I always gravitate towards candid shots rather than a finished project. This is one of the many reasons why I love Vogue Nippon - a covergirl always gets a "making of" feature in which one can see the goings on in making a cover. And it's always interesting to see a before and after!

I've also made this post as an update to readers ... you may have come across new pages and some differences in the site - I'm trying to build up the archives in what little free time I have. Hopefully with the holidays I can post some more images and extras, but for now I've updated the cover section, added a Lancome page as well as a Photographers page (I love this idea as a means of showcasing Daria's work with singular visions). For now I've decided that the editorials I do add to the site will be either my top favourite works of Daria's career or images in very high quality, so you will see images interspersed with links. As always, enjoy and keep checking back!

Vogue Nippon covers so far ... hopefully there will be a sixth!
sources: Before and After compiled by The Daria Files, Vogue Nippon scan by a.t. at tFS, cover collage images via fashion-iconography.net

La Mamounia Hotel Inauguration ... Daria in Morocco

Along with a bevy of Hollywood party goers (Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow) Daria was on hand at a party for the re-opening of La Mamounia Hotel Morocco. Like any person spending Thanksgiving in Morocco I'm sure she had a good time!

Daria arrived with fellow Canadias Dean and Dan Caten, designers of Italian label DSquared (I am sure you remember them). The group was in town to shoot the Spring Summer 2010 DSquared campaign. A news article hinted that Daria would be the new face of the campaign and it would make sense considering Dean & Dan were in Morocco, but this isn't 100% confirmed. If it is true though, that would be two campaigns for the springs eason ... Stefanel and DSquared!

Apparently other party goers weren't as enthusiastic at the event (Daria finally smiles!) ... despite urging from the crowd Brian Ferry of Roxy Music fame declined to sing karaoke at the fete. I guess its like a psychiatrist being asked to diagnose everyone at a cocktail party - the requests must get annoying! 

Vogue Nippon January 2010 : Going Nomad

The Vogue Nippon cover was posted at theFashionSpot and I am pleasantly surprised. It is quite a departure from Daria's previous cover for January 2009. The styling is more relaxed as is the pose and I think this pertains to Daria style much more. And albeit the fact that the omniprescent "G" is still there, it is not as distracting as January 2009 ... in fact I've become quite used to it! As is habit with Vogue Nippon covergirls, there is no editorial inside, but hopefully a "Making Of" the cover story scan will be posted! Which do you prefer? January 2009 or January 2010?

image scan: a.t. at tFS

Vogue Nippon January 2010

It seems that Vogue Nippon is establishing new traditions ... Daria will be on the January 2010 issue of Vogue Nippon! This comes a year after her Vogue Nippon January 2009 cover which can be seen below. Hopefully, this latest cover will not be as layout-challenged as the last cover was - I think we all remember the hate that oddly placed 'G' stirred. The majority of Vogue Nippon cover girls don't get an editorial but hopefully Daria will be the exception. After all, she did have her top editorial of the year in this Japanese magazine. And the cover is shot by Inez and Vinoodh ... all signs point to something great.


image credits: scans by magstyle at theFashionSpot

Behind the scenes of the Vogue Nippon January 2009 cover ...

I'd also like to write a few words on an unfortunate event that happened late last week ... I am sure a few of you have heard of the untimely demise of Korean model Daul Kim. This news came as a shock considering that Daul was a brilliant personality and always seemed full of vivacity. She was a beautiful model and who's career I followed closely. To hear of her death was a surprise but yet again a reminder of the harshness of the fashion industry. Daul, I just want to say that you were amazing and you will be missed. Stay gold.

Happy Birthday Daria!

Today is Daria's 26th birthday! I want to make a post just to say happy birthday Daria (who knows - maybe you've come across this site once), and many more to come! I also want to make a quick shout out to all the readers of the site - thanks for coming everyday and bearing with my odd musings here and there. It's always a nice surprise to see a new follower or a comment.

The Age Issue
Vogue US September 2004
Ph by Steven Meisel

And also, a thank you to Daria who keeps inspiring me to run this site. Ever since I first became interested in models and fashion Daria was the first model I really noticed. She has managed to remain the most beautiful and interesting of the bunch! And because no post is ever complete without a picture I wanted to include this editorial. It was the first time I learned of Daria the model, and coincidentally this editorial was also the first issue of Vogue that I bought. It was the Age issue and I remember devouring every article ... particularly one feature in which Daria talks of her modeling experiences so far, and her life as a twenty year old woman. Who knows, maybe one day she'll be featured in the "Thirties" section! But for now enjoy your birthday D!