Top 20 fashion names to watch in 2012

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2011 was a year marked by weddings (royal and otherwise), anti-Semitic slurs (care of the now disgraced John Galliano) and ubiquitous (in Cathy Horyn’s circles, at least) Miu Miu glitter pumps. We sprinkled some of our own glitter and peered into a crystal ball to see what lies ahead for 2012. Here’s our pick of the models, designers, magazines, photographers, stylists, events, bloggers and street style stars worth keeping tabs on. 
 
MODELS



Elle Fanning 
Elle Fanning is technically an actress. But, like Hailee Steinfeld, Chloe Moretz and Elizabeth Olsen, she’s young, pretty, and has serious fashion cred to boot. She starred in a shoot for US Vogue, was the face of Marc by Marc Jacobs, and sat front row at a Rodarte show — all before starting high school. Big sister Dakota says Elle’s the more stylish sibling; and Elle can count Alexa Chung as chief among her fans. We’re keen to see how the willowy 13-year-old’s self-described "Virgin Suicides meets Twiggy" style develops over the year.
 
Alice Dellal
With a half-shaven head, a leather jacket for a uniform, and a stint as a drummer in a death metal band, Alice Dellal isn’t your typical Chanel cover girl. But the model and sister of shoe designer Charlotte Olympia is Karl Lagerfeld's latest muse. She stars in the 'Boy' handbag line campaign, which hopefully means we’ll be seeing her rock star ‘tude shaking things up at the Kaiser’s couture shows. 
 
Olivia O’Driscoll 
In 2008 Olivia O’Discoll was one of New Zealand’s most promising models. She walked in four Paris shows, and featured in editorial for French Elle, German Vogue and AnOther Magazine, amongst others. And then, just like that, she was gone. Turns out she fell pregnant. Now, as a single mum, she’s attempting a comeback. She joins models Jourdan Dunn, Arizona Muse, Natalia Vodianova and Cassi van den Dungen — all took time out under the age of 20 to have children.
 
Codie Young
In March last year Aussie model Codie Young was accused of being anorexic after appearing in a campaign for Topshop. The British retailer removed the offending images from their website and Young hit back on her blog, saying, “I am naturally skinny . . . For someone... to say it’s not okay for me to be this thin (which is how I was created) basically says it’s not okay for me to be who I am.” As well as having balls, Young proved she’s got what it takes to make it on a worldwide stage. She emerged from her first international Spring/Summer circuit having walked a staggering 40 shows. She opened for Marni and starred in everything from Lanvin to Chloe. 


DESIGNERS


 
Patrik Ervell
If you haven’t heard of New York designer Patrik Ervell, you’re about to. Having launched his eponymous menswear line in 2008, he quickly emerged as a name to watch. Last year he was a CDFA nominee for best menswear designer, before making a successful foray into women’s wear. An Opening Ceremony favourite, his tailored and often neutral-coloured collections always feature quirky details — watercolour print shirts were paired with military jackets for Spring 2012, and opaque capes with socks-and-sandals for Winter 2011.
 
Thomas Tait
In 2010, at 22 years of age, Thomas Tait became the youngest ever graduate of Central Saint Martins’ grueling MA program. He captured the attention of Stephen Jones, Daphne Guinness and Manolo Blahnik, who awarded him the Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize. The Canadian-born designer was one of the most talked about at London Fashion Week last year, where he debuted a smart, sculptural, somewhat monastic collection. Oversized lab coats were worn with goggle-like sunglasses, and models dragged their feet along in puffy sneakers.
 
Emma Mulholland
Last year Sydney-sider Emma Mulholland was selected for inclusion in the TAFE Innovators show at RAFW. Care of bright colours and bold prints, her collection, Queen Aurelia, was a stand-out. Referencing 90s surf and rave culture, the range had a Romance Was Born like aesthetic — it was an irreverent mish-mash of sequins, crochet, mesh, neoprene and tie-dye. Clamshells adorned belts; plastic crustaceans hung from necks as statement pieces. Inspired by a trip to Bali, there were handmade friendship bracelets and tribal patterns, too. 
 
Jamie Lee Major
In 2008 Jaime Lee Major graduated from Perth’s Central Institute of Technology with an Advanced Diploma in Fashion and Textile Design. The same year she won the X-Press Emerging Designer and Minter Ellison awards. The collection she debuted at RAFW last year, Pollination, created a huge buzz — not least because bees inspired it. Painstaking attention was paid to detail — dresses featured hand-made embellishments and shoes were covered in a honey-like resin. Major also designed the sequined costumes worn by Kimbra to the 2011 ARIA awards. 
 

MAGAZINES

 

ELLE Australia
Print is not dead. At least, it isn’t in the eyes of ACP Magazines, who are set to launch an Australian edition of ELLE in autumn this year. It’s been ten years since Pacific Magazines folded the original ELLE Australia, but ACP’s managing director, Phil Scott, is adamant the publication will be a success. "It uniquely covers women’s fashion, beauty, health, lifestyle and entertainment from an inspirational and achievable perspective,” he said. “Its mixed and balanced content is accessible from both a global and local perspective."
 
Garage Magazine
Launched late last year, Garage has former POP editor Dasha Zhukova at the top of its masthead. The publication’s first cover caused controversy (it was banned by a number of British newsagents) — a model’s vagina was tattooed with a Damien Hirst-designed butterfly, which was then photographed by ex Dior Homme creative director, Hedi Slimane. Blurring the boundaries between art and fashion, and with a distinctly provocative edge, Garage is one of the more interesting magazines to emerge in recent years. 


STREET STYLE STARS