Who are the models that ruled SS22 Fashion Weeks

The fashion weeks dedicated to spring-summer 2022 have just ended. In a month we have discovered not only what we will wear in the coming seasons, but also that, after months of pandemic and social distance, fashion feels like a new beginning. Between nostalgia of the early 2000s, sexy garments and special collaborations, designers have brought their creations to the runway and hired iconic models like Naomi Campbell or Kate Moss, it-girls like Gigi Hadid and Dua Lipa, but also many new faces that could become stars in the coming seasons. 

G-club reports on which models ruled SS22 Fashion Weeks.

The comeback of Gigi Hadid

Gigi Hadid for Moschino @voguegermany

Gigi Hadid for Moschino @g_besodivino

Gigi Hadid for Proenza Schouler @voguemagazines

Gigi Hadid for Coperni @voguemagazines

Gigi Hadid for Coperni @myqueengigi

Gigi Hadid for Versace @versace

Gigi Hadid for Versace @hfashionnn

Gigi Hadid for Versace @hfashionnn

Gigi Hadid for Fendace @versace

Gigi Hadid for Versace @versace

Gigi Hadid for Brandon Maxwell @voguemagazine

Gigi Hadid for Tom Ford @hfashionnn

Gigi Hadid for Tod's @tods

Gigi Hadid for Max Mara @yasgarl

Gigi Hadid for Max Mara @myqueengigi

Gigi Hadid for Michael Kors @fashion_style_images

Gigi Hadid for Michael Kors @fashion_style_images

Last March, Gigi Hadid surprisingly opened Versace's FW21 show with a new hair color, a small cameo breaking more than a year-long pause in which the 20-year-old had spent time with Khai, the daughter born in 2020 from her relationship with Zayn Malik. Her real comeback, however, was in the last fashion weeks. If you have looked at the pictures of the latest collections, it is impossible that you have not noticed her among the other models, because Gigi's schedule has been very busy, especially during MFW. She wore a total black dress to Michael Kors SS22 show, a denim miniskirt and bandeau top to Max Mara show, she played with a baby bottle at Moschino, she was covered in sequins at Tom Ford's, she showed her sporty-chic side at Tod's, she wore a latex dress at Versace and an orange top with a bling-bling midi skirt for Coperni show. A great comeback, unfortunately, overshadowed by a shower of social attacks accusing her of being too out of shape to be a top model. According to the haters, Hadid should not have walked the runway because she was too curvy and, if she did, it was only because of her surname and her fame. It doesn't matter for this group of detractors that Gigi is beautiful and is a new mother, they scream at nepotism and have no hesitation in continuing with the body shaming. Comments about the model's physique, first too curvy, then too skinny and again too soft, have followed her since the beginning of her career so much so that after the 2015 PFW she answered those who thought she was inadequate compared to her colleagues in this way: 

No, I don’t have the same body type as the other models in shows. I represent a body type that wasn’t accepted in high-fashion before, and I’m very lucky to be supported by the designers, stylists and editors that I am: ones that know this is fashion, it’s art. […] It doesn't matter if people are saying you're anorexic or too fat. It's just that people are bullies. I was just kind of hoping that it would spark conversation. At first I did it for myself, but I think that a lot of people are scared to comment on the industry that they're in and they feel like they're not allowed to have a voice.

Paloma, Precious, body positivity and inclusivity

Precious Lee for Fendace @Fendi

Precious Lee for Versace @versace

Precious Lee for Christian Siriano @voguemagazines

Precious Lee for Michael Kors @preciousleexoxo

Precious Lee for Lanvin @lanvinofficial

Precious Lee for Christian Siriano @lofficielusa

Precious Lee for Moschino @driinunes

Precious Lee & Paloma Elsesser @morganemaurice

Paloma Elsesser for Michael Kors @michaelkors

Paloma Elsesser for Brandon Maxwell @hfashionnn

Paloma Elsesser for Coperni @palomija

Paloma Elsesser for Eckhaus Latta @palomija

Paloma Elsesser for Chloé @commandamentsmag

Paloma Elsesser for Gabriela Hearst @palomija

Paloma Elsesser for Lanvin @kostimodels.fn

Paloma Elsesser for Fendace @Fendi

Paloma Elsesser for Maryam Nassirzadeh @curves_day

Jill Kortleve for Coperni @hfashionnn

Jill Kortleve for Max Mara @hfashionnn

Jill Kortleve for Altuzarra @voguemagazines

Jill Kortleve for Michael Kors @thedutchmodels

Winnie Harlow for Moschino @hfashionnn

Aaron Philip for Moschino @hfashionnn

Model at Marco Rambaldi show @marcorambaldi_

Model at Marco Rambaldi show @marcorambaldi_

Model at Marco Rambaldi show @marcorambaldi_

The violent body shaming following Gigi Hadid's comeback clashes with the aim of making fashion shows and the fashion system more and more inclusive and even sounds ironic if you think that, together with the new mother, the other two models who ruled the last fashion weeks are Paloma Elsesser and Precious Lee. Precious is 31 years old, the daughter of a hairdresser and a teacher and was the first black plus-size model to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. Paloma was born in London in 1992, but grew up in Los Angeles and her fashion career began almost by accident after make-up artist Pat McGrath noticed her Instagram profile and chose her for a major campaign. In a few years, the two models have become stars of the fashion scene, conquering more and more covers, advertising campaigns and catwalks, ending up being the two most popular names of the spring-summer 2022 collections. On one side, their presence is undoubtedly the mirror of a society apparently tired of an unreachable and stereotyped idea of beauty, which would like to see heterogeneous casting with a sort of human democracy made up of people very different from each other in ethnicity, size and style. On the other hand, it is very often a smoke and mirrors, a little something done by brands to be able to say they have checked the diversity box, as explained by Mariavittoria Salucci in her article on Body positivity and as Vanessa Friedman has recently confirmed in the New York Times. In her article entitled Fashion Is Not Only for the Young and Skinny, the journalist highlights how in Milan Fashion Week the diversity is not yet plural enough, especially if we consider the extreme thinness of the models who walked the runway for Blumarine or Missoni. Although there is clearly still a long way to go regarding inclusion and diversity, there are positive examples of heterogeneous casting such as those of Marco Rambaldi, Moschino, Marni, Versace or Fendace.

Guests and super top

Dua Lipa for Versace @dualipa

Dua Lipa for Versace @dualipa

Naomi Campbell for Versace @versace

Kristen McMenamy for Fendace @Fendi

Amber Valletta & Kate Moss for Fendace @tatlersingapore

Lila Grace Moss for Fendace @versace

Mariacarla Boscono for Fendace @versace

Emily Ratajkowski for Fendace @versace

Naomi Campbell for Fendace @versace

Vittoria Ceretti, Kendall Jenner & Gigi Hadid for Michael Kors @peopleoip

Michele Lamy for Rick Owens @gathering.references

Naomi Campbell for Lanvin @inside_runway

Naomi Campbell for Balmain @zeenagemag

Adut Akech for Balmain @ellefr

Milla Jovovich for Balmain @ellefr

Mariacarla Boscono for Balmain @ellefr

Carla Bruni for Balmain @ellefr

Karen Elson for Balmain @ellefr

Irina Shayk for Etro @irinashayk1986

Irina Shayk for Burberry @irinashayk

Irina Shayk for Boss x Russell Athletic @irinashayk

Vittoria Ceretti for Fendi @vittoriacerettibrasil

Vittoria Ceretti for Courreges @vittoriacerettibrasil

Vittoria Ceretti for Givenchy @vittoriacerettibrasil

Vittoria Ceretti for Chanel @elle_italia

Vittoria Ceretti & Gigi Hadid for Versace @vittoriacerettibrasil

Gigi Hadid & Vittoria Ceretti for Versace @versace

Azealia Banks for Kim Shui @kimshuistudio

The last fashion weeks have been full of special guests, not so many celebrities such as singers or actresses, but real top models who came for their favorite brands. At Balmain, which was celebrating Olivier Rousteing's 10 years as creative director, we could recognize some of the iconic faces of the 90s and early 2000s such as Naomi Campbell, Milla Jovovich, Carla Bruni, Karen Elson, Natalia Vodianova, Lara Stone, Mariacarla Boscono, Adut Akech and Natasha Poly. An equally cool and numerous fashion squad is the one that wore the collection born from the collaboration between Versace and Fendi. Some names? Kate Moss with her daughter Lila Grace, Emily Ratajkowski, Irina Shayk, Shalom Harlow, Amber Valletta, Kristen McMenamy, Vittoria Ceretti, Precious Lee and many other models who also participated in the Versace show together with Gigi Hadid and Dua Lipa. The singer with Albanian roots is perhaps the most interesting and admired guest spotted during these fashion weeks, perfectly comfortable with the sexy outfits designed by Donatella Versace. Not as surprising, but certainly charismatic, was the presence of Michelle Lamy who opened the show for Rick Owens or that of Asia Argento who walked the catwalk for Lanvin, while a bit underwhelming was Azealia Banks who made her debut as a model in a long dress covered in roses by Kim Shui.

New faces

Quannah Chasinghorse for Chloé @milkxtaiwan

Quannah Chasinghorse for Mahsi @quannah.rose

Quannah Chasinghorse for Prabal Gurung @quannah.rose

Quannah Chasinghorse for Prabal Gurung @quannah.rose

Quannah Chasinghorse for Chanel @

Mona Tougaard for Lanvin @monatougaardfans

Mona Tougaard for Chanel @mings.hk

Mona Tougaard for Versace @mings.hk

Mona Tougaard for Prada @mings.hk

Mona Tougaard for JW Anderson @mings.hk

Mona Tougaard for Ann Demeulemeester @monatougaardfans

Mona Tougaard for Valentino @monatougaardfans

Mona Tougaard for Isabel Marant @monatougaardfans

Mona Tougaard for Max Mara @monatougaardfans

Mona Tougaard for Miu Miu @softoffice.memes

Devon Ross for Yuhan Wang @devonross_

Devon Ross for Yuhan Wang @devonross_

Devon Ross for Simone Rocha @simonerocha_

Devon Ross for Simone Rocha @devonross_

Devon Ross for Valentino @flairmagazin

There are many new faces that have been featured in the latest fashion weeks, models whose names are still unknown to many, but who could soon become beloved it-girls and superstars like Vittoria Ceretti or Mariacarla Boscono. We have selected three on which we bet: Quannah Chasinghorse, Mona Tougaard and Devon Ross. Quannah Chasinghorse was born and raised in the Gwich'in tribes of Eagle Village (Alaska) and Sicangu/Oglala Lakota on the Rosebud reservation (South Dakota) and the first brand she worked for, shortly after signing a contract with IMG Models, was Calvin Klein. She debuted on the runway for Prabal Gurung during NYFW and also took part in the shows of Chloé, Chanel and the tribute that many designers did to the late Alber Elbaz during PFW. The most keen observers will have noticed her among the guests at the Met Gala 2021 in a lamé dress by Peter Dundas. Devon Ross has big blue eyes, raven hair and a dark rock attitude that makes her special and that she probably inherited from her parents, Anna Bauer and Craig Ross (guitarist in Lenny Kravitz's band). She has been modeling since she was 16, loves Taxi Driver and Trainspotting and is engaged to Earl Cave (young actor and son of the iconic Nick Cave and former model and designer of The Vampire's wife Susie Cave). Mona Tougaard is definitely the most popular of the three. She was only 15 when she won Denmark's Elite Model Look competition and since then, thanks to her unique mix of Somali, Ethiopian, Danish and Turkish origins, she has been modeling and creating campaigns for Chanel, Max Mara, Louis Vuitton, Loewe, Versace, Valentino and Dior.

Models who did not attend FWs

Kendall Jenner for Michael Kors @michaelkors

Kendall Jenner for Michael Kors @michaelkors

Kendall Jenner & Gigi Hadid for Michael Kors @michaelkors

Despite the many top models we have seen in recent weeks, there are many who have noticed the absence of Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner. Although there are no official statements, it seems that both are too busy developing their new businesses. Bella, in particular, is focusing on several advertising campaigns and on Kin Euphorics, the non-alcoholic adaptogenic drink she has recently launched on the market. Regarding Kendall, however, the situation is slightly different. Sure, the model is busy with her new role as creative director for luxury e-tailer FWRD, but that's not all. Miss Jenner has long since decided to take part in only a few shows, without being a slave to the frenetic schedule that dominated her past fashion weeks. The choice is dictated by a small to the general fashion system and its frenzy in producing and exploiting clothes, trends and characters, but also for health reasons. Kendall, who during this NYFW walked the runway for Michael Kors, suffers from anxiety and panic attacks that the typical stress of the fashion month exacerbates.