Milan Fashion Week might have infringed upon London’s model castings, but that didn’t stop top models like Abbey Lee Kershaw and Anja Rubik from making their first appearances of the spring 2012 season. Twenty-four-year-old Abbey Lee bookended John Rocha’s show and opened Alistair Carr’s first collection for Pringle of Scotland. Meanwhile, seasoned veteran Rubik opened and closed for Matthew Williamson. But it’s 16-year-old Erjona Ala who trumps the vets overall: The designers at Clements Riberio, Daks, Margaret Howell, Marios Schwab, and Temperley London all looked to the Norwegian’s dark, brooding features for their opening looks; she closed for Topshop Unique, too. At this rate, Ala — who has walked in an exhausting 38 shows in New York and London alone — will surely become one of this season’s major breakthroughs. See her top looks in the slideshow ahead.
