Aymeline Valade’s success can pretty much be attributed to Alexander Wang. The designer scooped her up for his first-ever “image piece” (remember, don’t call it an ad campaign) for spring 2011, shot by Craig McDean and styled by Karl Templer. Then, with casting director Anita Bitton, he selected the French Valade, 26, to open his fall 2011 show. This triggered a domino effect in her runway bookings, as she later walked for Gucci, Chanel, Balenciaga, and scored the opening slot at Louis Vuitton on the last day of Paris Fashion Week. Lately, Valade has been busy shooting with the likes of Steven Meisel and Greg Kadel for publications that include W magazine and various international versions of Vogue. We talked to Valade about her rise in the industry, working with Wang, and her guilty pleasures.
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