Anja Rubik Style Photoshoot

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Anja Rubik was born on June 12, 1985, in Czestochowa, Poland. Anja Rubik spent the majority of her childhood moving from country to country, with her family, at one time or another, calling Canada, South Africa and Greece home. Anja Rubik’s childhood dreams of becoming a model were fulfilled after she entered a local contest in 2000, and ultimately walked away with a contract from a Parisian modeling agency. Later that year, Anja Rubik made her professional debut with a series of appearances on the catwalk for such esteemed labels as Givenchy and Nina Ricci.



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Unlike the majority of her modeling colleagues, however, Anja Rubik -- in an effort to complete her schooling -- relegated modeling gigs to her days off and holidays. Her educational endeavors completed, Anja Rubik took her first steps towards devoting herself full-time to a career within the fashion industry by moving to New York City in 2002. She had only been there for a few short months when Burberry, Stella McCartney, and Jil Sander enlisted her to walk their fall shows in Milan and Paris, and there’s little doubt that her career received a significant boost after Style.com named her one of 2005’s Top Ten Models (alongside Hye Park and Marina Peres).



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Anja Rubik’s burgeoning status within the industry resulted in her being named the new faces of Emporio Armani, Jimmy Choo and Emanuel Ungaro, and she could soon be found within the pages of such esteemed fashion mags as Vogue, Elle and Harper’s Bazaar. Though far from a household name, Anja Rubik had reached a place where she was receiving more offers than she could possibly fulfill, which essentially forced her to become more choosy and discriminating in terms of accepting work.



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Nevertheless, Anja Rubik’s profile continued to rise as the months progressed, with 2006 being a particularly lucrative year for the model. In addition to signing with Estee Lauder, Anja Rubik also shot a spot for Dolce & Gabbana, opened Valentino’s spring show and graced the cover of international fashion magazine Numero. 2007 proved to be just as busy for Anja Rubik, as she kicked off the year and signed a fragrance contract with Estee Lauder Beautiful as well as became a fixture on the catwalk and within the pages of high-profile magazines.



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Anja Rubik, who became engaged to longtime boyfriend, model Sasha Knezevic, last December, has hammered out a few details on her wedding, she said today: “We’re getting married in July, so we’re in the middle of preparing everything. It’s a little stressful because we want it to be perfect but it’s going to be small — close friends and family in Europe.” As for her dress? “I’m really excited because Peter Dundas from Pucci is doing my dress. I saw a few of his sketches already. And I work with [Giuseppe] Zanotti a lot, so they’re sending me a lot of shoes to pick from!”



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Anja Rubik is the September issue’s hippie icon. Melanie Ward’s styling does its best to embrace every possible bohemian free-loving ’70s cliche in living memory, from cossack hats to suede fringing, high-waisted denim to all kinds of luxe fur coats. But there’s also a kind of modern softness that forms in floating white sunday pleats and sophisticated cuts.



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Anja Rubik has a knack for pulling off the damn near impossible. She made wearing a see-through practically non-existent skirt in broad daylight look like a stylish walk in the proverbial park. And her next feat: a dress that’s both gapingly open-weave and body consciously skin tight. Once again Anja paints over a revealing dress with the smooth brush of sophistication. And once again it’s her long legs and elegantly lanky frame that allow her to do it so effortlessly; not to mention that ever-important air of confidence. Without that, her ensemble just wouldn’t reach the same high score. Karl Lagerfeld seems to be consistently hitting bullseye whilst putting the phrase ‘third time lucky’ to shame. The man has articulately captured Anja Rubik for the third consecutive season in Fendi’s fall 2011 campaign. The sultry images see Rubik playing an artist’s muse to male model Brad Kroenig. Even though on a normal day you’d keep your treasured Fendi clothes and accessories far, far away from a room full of paint-splatter. The rusty room crowded with canvases, paint buckets and old rugs bring out the raw essence of this new collection… a fur-filled wardrobe with knits, tweed and wool in dark and mysterious shades of green, maroon and browns.



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No-one can work a super-skinny silhouette quite like Anja Rubik can. So if you’re going to do an editorial that takes the glitter of Ziggy Stardust and crosses it with the rock-star attitude (and leather pants) of Jim Morrison, you’re doing well to cast her as your model. And aside from the general visual appeal of Anja’s shoot, which is mostly black and white in true Hedi Slimane style, that’s probably the one big practical takeaway: carrying off some of these ultra slim silhouettes can be difficult if you don’t have Anja’s arachnid limbs. So for the rest of us the key to making it work is to keep a balanced silhouette, keep lines as straight as possible and cuts flattering to your shape. And then do as stylist Melanie Ward does in this photo series: accessorise, accessorise, accessorise.



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If ever there was any doubt that milkmaid braids and white lace are a match made in heaven, let’s dispel them now. And in this context the match-making analogy is a particularly fitting one: with the shoot being from Vogue Brazil Brides magazine. While the theme of bridal wear made sexy, and specifically with a rustic, milkmaid bent, is far from new (Anja Rubik’s barnyard bride springs to mind) it’s a shoot concept that – when done well, as this one certainly is – never tires.



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Balenciaga’s flat cut-away boots could quite easily be dubbed the defining piece of footwear for 2011′s interpretation of punk. Hence why they proved the perfect opener for Vogue Nippon’s June 2011 When Punk Meets Funk shoot starring Anja Rubik, purposefully thrust atop a chair and into the frame. But further into the shoot we’re reminded that a pair of flat loafers can work just as well (and, realistically, are more classic hence will outlive the Balenciaga trend piece). Either way it’s part of the beauty of the punk trend as it currently stands: its based in the masculine, so heels will never have the same hard effect. A saving grace for one’s feet, at least. Vogue Nippon’s punk look is rooted in skinny jeans and leather jackets that give shirts and ties and anti-establishment twist. It’s styling inspiration for a look that’s tough but not rough.



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Paris by night with all the glamour spirit is the location of the Pleine Lune editorial for Vogue Paris’ May issue. Model Anja Rubik captured in the lens of Mikael Jansson takes a lonely walk through the dark Parisian streets. Presented in two juxtaposed openings the editorial splits into two different stories: black and white street style images contrast with paparazzi shots coloured with the blurred city lights and bold coloured flamboyant evening dresses straight from high fashion houses like Gucci, Lanvin or Louis Vuitton.



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Polish magazine Viva! Moda work hard to make themselves the standout magazine for Poland’s tastemakers. In the past, that’s seen them as the first Polish magazine to interview designer Karl Lagerfeld, and work extensively with Polish model Anja Rubik. With each issue they look to land the biggest, the best, and the most talked about names in the industry. Their latest catch, Andrej Pejic, certainly fits into the latter category – being much talked about for his androgynous look and popularity on womenswear runways. Viva! Moda’s shoot doesn’t shy away from his strengths, either. Titled ‘Mr Unisex’ Andrej models spring 2011 men’s and women’s pieces including Burberry’s much coveted studded biker jacket.



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If I told you this shoot featuring Anja Rubik was commissioned by the Australian Tourism Board, you’d probably believe me. But, in fact, for all its Sydney beaches, views of the Opera House, and cuddly kangaroos, this is not a shoot promoting Australia. Nor is it even a shoot promoting an Australian brand. No, it’s the 2011 campaign of Polish jewellery label Apart, for whom Rubik acts as Ambassador. The Sydney locations are vibrant and beautiful, and Marcin Tyszka’s photography makes Anja look as if she’s on some exotic holiday. The only downside for Apart is that it’s easy to lose focus on the jewellery because everything else steals the show.



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We don’t know for sure if the issue’s beckoning headline of more clothes inside is a genuine offer or a tongue in cheek jab at the predominance of the fusion of fashion and nudity, but we suspect it’s neither. Instead we think it is as it is: fashion represents many a thing one of which is liberalism, and liberalism can often be translated into exhibitionism. Hence the spring 2011 issue of i-D magazine takes to the news stands with multiple covers and an exhibitionist by-line, but first it takes to the internet with a behind the scenes video featuring one cover’s star, Anja Rubik.



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Best of 2010: As we leave 2010 behind us, we take a glance back at some of the most popular, most inspiring and most talked-about content from Fashionising.com over the last 12 months. This article was first published on 28.01.2010. In theory, everything about this shoot should scream innocence and purity: the country backdrop of rolling hills and haystacks; the virginal white dresses and veils; the Blakeian little lamb. And yet, the sexuality of Anja Rubik blows all that away… which, I guess, is why it works so darn well.



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H&M are still churning out the military themed pieces – as their Fall 2010 campaign starring Anja Rubik shows. But as the trend has moved on, so has the High Street fashion giant, with military pieces taking on softer and less embellished forms. Knit cardigans with military buttons, army green tights (perfect for pairing with brown boots), a shearling-lined aviator jacket… all paired with soft pastel ruffles.



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Sometimes nudity in fashion shoots is purely incidental, while at other times a dose of bare skin adds heightened sensuality. But where the trend disappoints a little, it’s because a shoot gets by on the strength of nudity alone. Anja Rubik in Purple slips towards being one of those times, with thickened eyebrows and ’80s hair giving the normally gorgeous Anja a distorted, early Madonna-esque feel in some of the pictures. Glen Luchford‘s photos are none the less striking, but it’s not really a beauty look we’d recommend for the sophisticated fashioniser.



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The dynamic pairing of photographer Camilla Akrans with model Anja Rubik can do no wrong. Add some of our favourite Fall 2010 fashion trends – including the must have aviator jacket – along with some prancing horses, and I’m one happy viewer.



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Camilla Akrans at her best makes every photo look like it was painted with the silvery light of dawn on a canvas of cloudy sky. Anja Rubik is a frequent subject of Camilla’s, with this shoot – Plein soleil (Blazing Sun) – being simultaneously strong and soft. The bold makeup is magic to be inspired by.



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Remember when Anja Rubik was sprawled across country haystacks in virginal white gowns and floral garlands, clutching a darling little white lamb – and yet somehow looking like the absolute sex? If your answer is no, then you may take a slight detour to Rubik’s shoot by Camilla Akrans, before coming back to view this remarkably similar concept by Mark Viszlay for Glamour Hungary. Haystacks, pretty all-white outfits, yes there’s even a lamb. But interestingly, Eniko Mihalik differentiates by sticking to sweet and not venturing into the sensual.



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Far from the wintery boots we saw as part of her previous collaboration with Quazi, Spring 2010 sees zebra prints and white leather as the focus of Anja Rubik‘s accessories collection for the brand. It’s pretty hard to even notice the accessories mind you – when Anja’s ridiculously long legs and toned body are the more prominent features of the shoot.



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We loved it on Karlie Kloss, with her sultry look and svelte pose, when she wore it in Numero Magazine. But you can never fault Anja Rubik either. The short, side-parted hair and platform heels adds a 70s retro feel to the dress. Anja’s photo comes from the Spring 2010 campaign from Saks Fifth Avenue, showcasing outfits from pretty much every big name designer you could think of – and Anja, transforming from look to look to match each outfit, is gorgeous as always.



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We’ve had Tsarine Daria and Comtesse Natasha; now Hedi Slimane hits us with his most extravagant, glamorous photographic personality, bringing us Baronne Anja. Styled by the fabulous Emanuelle Alt, Anja Rubik looks sensual in all black outfits including luxe furs, Lanvin’s draping jumpsuits, and masculine black suiting. And these days such a shoot wouldn’t be complete without a bit of nudity – so do be warned, the shoot is NSFW.



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Want to sport the patched jeans look as worn here by Anja Rubik in the March edition of Russian Harper’s Bazaar? The Chloe pair that Anja is wearing mightn’t be to your liking, but you’ll find the trend all up the high street starting with H&M.



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This shoot for W Magazine plays with the bondage themes that have been so strong in recent pictorials; only gone is the black leather and course knotted ropes. Instead Anja Rubik is softly photographed against a backdrop of clouds, lightly blindfolded by Louis Vuitton.



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For a seductive mixture of bold military, 70s hippy, and luxe bohemian, who better to look to for inspiration than the late, great Jimi Hendrix? In some phenomenal styling Anja Rubik models some very now updates on the above mix of styles; with lots of intricate layering and on-trend accessorising to boot.



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We find that Anja Rubik has a somewhat addictive quality. Yet that quality can work both ways. It saw us include her amongst our top 10 models for 2009, though inversely it meant that her shoot for Glamour Poland was nothing but a disappointment with its weak 1980s feel. All that is forgiven with her work for Korean label ab.f.z‘s Spring / Summer 2010 campaign.



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It may have been a stroke of creative genius for stylist Veronique Didry to drape a real python alongside the snaking statement jewellery we admired in Lanvin’s Spring 2010 collection; but it was the seemingly unflappable Anja Rubik who cooly posed to make the shoot a reality. Anja wears her unusual live accessory alongside snakeskin bangles, boldly exotic and tribal jewellery, and one of Alexander McQueen‘s uniquely patterned alienous pieces. And to really play up the exotic sensuality of the situation, there’s also a bit of nudity, making this one a tad NSFW.



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In an era where there is little between nudity and fashion, it’s not surprising to find that a good portion of the current top models seemingly have more sexual confidence in their little fingers than most people will encounter in their entire lives. Unsurprisingly Anja Rubik is on that list.



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Well before Anja Rubik got all erotic for Man About Town, heralding in a new tangent for fashion editorials for coming years, she posed in a provocative and near equal editorial for Vogue Paris. In this issue Anja, without her trademark short hair, is snapped in seductive photographs with Tyson Ballou. Yet for all the sensuality, nudity is scarce. You expect it of a French title of course, yet in only a few years (this shoot is from 2005) nudity would become the hallmark of most fashion pictorials.