This is why she's one of the top models

I was recently asked who my favourite model is and I had no trouble answering. Natalia Vodianova. This editorial from June's British Vogue is a great reason why I love her and why she is considered one of the top models in the world.

Wino forever

The last time I think that Winona Ryder made the cover of a major fashion magazine was Vogue in August 2007. Back then she addressed her 2001 arrest over that little shopping spree at Saks and claimed it was due to drugs. I thought that the cover would boost her profile a bit and get her onto the big screen again but unfortunately I was wrong.

Wino has kept it low key, appearing in indie movies and playing small parts (she plays Spock's mother in the new Star Trek movie.)

I used to be a huge Winona fan back in the day. Some of my favourite Wino films are Heathers, Little Women, Edward Scissorhands and The Crucible. She was (and still is) incredibly gorgeous in a quirky pixie-like way. Those big eyes make me melt.

Now she's on the cover of the July UK Vogue and she looks so beautiful. I swear that woman doesn't age (she's 37.) She's promoting her new movie The Private Lives of Pippa Lee which also stars Keanu Reeves, Julianne Moore and Robin Wright Penn.

Will being on the cover of a major fashion magazine boost her career? I'm not sure but I really hope it helps. It's been almost 20 years since she made Scissorhands and dated Johnny Depp. She needs a major comeback. At least for my sake. Do it for me Wino!

I think one of her biggest lures for me is that she is the interminable outsider; she doesn't fit into the Hollywood mold. She has always been a little dark and quirky. Which makes sense when she says:

"I thought it was cooler to be interesting than to be pretty. I must have got that from my parents, who felt strongly about being an individual and being your own person and that looks aren't everything. I always knew that I wasn't, you know, beautiful. I never wanted to be beautiful, I never wanted to be a cheerleader."

Natalia

From the May UK Vogue.

I love how in some of the photos Natalia is posing beside the gowns or halfway out of them with her underwear always peeking out. It's hard to know where to look- at the gorgeous couture or at Natalia. I still can't believe that she's given birth to three kids and still has that body.

Maybe Karlie Kloss isn't the best

This spread is from UK Vogue's November 08 issue. Here we have one of my favorite newbie models, Karlie Kloss, dressed up in clothes that only women twice her age should be wearing. But nevermind that. While I think Karlie has a great look, her facial expressions here are repetitive and boring.

Like this one. Her smile looks so forced and unfriendly. It actually scares me. Get those baby teeth away!

And this one. Her face looks like it was photoshopped on from the previous photo. Aren't models supposed to diversity their looks? Didn't they learn anything from America's Next Top Model?


And then there's this. Typical pouty face that just doesn't convince me. I want to believe that you are mad to be in this $3000 dress but the face fails to possess any emotion.

I'm sorry but only Coco Rocha can do the open mouth crazy pout. Learn from the pros, Karlie.

Did Karlie mistake this for a Teen Vogue spread?

Please stop using these dresses

I am so sick of seeing the painted Dolce and Gabbana dress and the armour-like Balenciaga dress in every magazine for the past couple of months. Yes, they are both beautiful and fashion-forward, but do we have to see them in every edition of Vogue, Harper's and Elle? How about some diversity? I realize that the dresses are from the S/S 2008 collection and it is Spring now but I wish magazines would be a bit more creative and stop copying each other. I'm tired of seeing the same designers in every magazine. How about something new? Just because UK Vogue is showing the D&G dress doesn't mean every other Vogue edition should feature it so that they fit in. It is a bit disappointing to see the same thing in every issue. It's hard to imagine that the editors love the dresses that much. Or are they running out of new ideas? Maybe they should start looking to the streets to get inspiration and not from each other. (Photos: Style.com, Vogue)

Natalia! Vogue! Testino!

I am obsessed with fashion magazines. I am also (almost) obsessed with model Natalia Vodianova. So when I found out that Natalia was going to be on the cover of British Vogue and shot by one of my favorite photographers, Mario Testino, I almost died of fashion-obsession overload.

I know there are a lot of people who aren't fans of Natalia. Unfortunately for those people, I will never be their friend. Natalia intrigues me not just because she has a beautiful, haunting face, but her personality is so endearingly sweet and her life story is a real-life rags-to-Cinderella.

Natalia grew up in the Russian industrial town, Nizhni Novgorod, where she helped her mother sell fruits and vegetables in a street market. Her family was very poor but when she started going to the local theatre group she met a modeling scout from Paris. The scout told her to learn English (she did) and he took her to Paris and she is now one of the top models in the world. But her story doesn't end there! She also met Justin Portman, an English aristocrat and one of the wealthiest men in Britain. She has given birth to three children and she still has the body of a 16-year-old waif. Jealous yet?

The issue also features a spread of Jessica Stam and Siri Tollerod. But who cares about them? (Sorry Stam and Siri lovers)

I also have included a video of Natalia from Style.com just to show you how awesome she is! We want her on more covers!



So here is the gorgeous Natalia on the cover of the May 2008 British Vogue. No need to thank me. (Photo: The Fashion Spot)