Meet Fashion’s New Kids on the Block

Last year the fashion industry managed to finally shake off the idea that it functions solely on the lifeblood of the young. A desire for newness will never fade but real diversity did rule campaigns, runways, collections and styling. We saw the hippest octogenarian Joan Didion front a Céline campaign. The powerful ‘plus size’ retail faction was endlessly—and rightly—debated over but also better catered to with new and established brands stepping up to the bar. Normcore became so normal the word almost endangered itself. Transgender models rose to the fore and relatively mainstream brands got on board with gender fluidity—& Other Stories created a high-street capsule collection purpose-built for both sexes.

So what’s the mood for spring 2016? Well, we’re only at the early stages of editorials and campaigns for the year, but it would appear that young—super young—is back on the agenda. And diversity is diversity after all, so who are we to exclude them? 

meet-fashions-new-kids-on-the-block-1612676-1452016884

(Image credit: Juergen Teller/Louis Vuitton)

Jaden Smith in Louis Vuitton's latest campaign.

Louis Vuitton snared Jaden Smith, son of Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith and modern-day Instagram favourite, to model alongside a pink-haired robot called Lightning that was digitally crafted to match LV’s cyber vibes for the S/S 16 collection and is technically even younger than the models.

Meanwhile, Chanel favourite Lily-Rose Depp has bagged the cover of Love magazine and 17-year-old American model Lucky Blue Smith joins Kylie Jenner on that top spot at Elle.

meet-fashions-new-kids-on-the-block-1612679-1452017045

(Image credit: Elle)

Kylie Jenner and Lucky Blue Smith in Elle magazine.

It’s a good time to be a teenager in fashion land, whether you are well-connected offspring or not. Here is who we'll be watching this year…

meet-fashions-new-kids-on-the-block-1612683-1452017085

Lily-Rose Depp
(Image credit: David Fisher/Rex/Shutterstock)

Like her singer/model mother (Vanessa Paradis), Lily Rose is already somewhat of a Chanel ambassador. With Johnny Depp as her father, incredible cheekbones, perfectly insouciant glares, an excellent girl squad and a much-watched Instagram account, her divinity is not to be questioned.

meet-fashions-new-kids-on-the-block-1612681-1452017082

Lucky Blue Smith
(Image credit: Katie Jones/Rex/Shutterstock)

The 17-year-old Utah-born, peroxide-blond Lucky Blue has been voted as Models.com Male Model of the Year, can boast a huge social media following and takes up the cover slot of Elle magazine alongside Kylie Jenner this month. He was first scouted aged 10. Google it. 

meet-fashions-new-kids-on-the-block-1612682-1452017085

Ella Purnell

Ella, 19, is a British actress making moves for the big time with three major titles coming up this year, including a new Tarzan flick. Teen Vogue staked their claim early on, shooting her in a fashion editorial of young Hollywood stars in 2010.

meet-fashions-new-kids-on-the-block-1612684-1452017086

Kaia Gerber
(Image credit: BFA.com/Rex/Shutterstock)

Her name may not give it away but the genetic signatures might... This ridiculously good-looking 14-year-old is supermodel Cindy Crawford's daughter (her father's name is Rande Gerber, see?). She has already picked up the campaign baton from her mother, becoming the face of Young Versace, and, of course, she made her Teen Vogue debut—a year ago. 

meet-fashions-new-kids-on-the-block-1612685-1452017086

Anya Taylor Joy
(Image credit: Laurent/Vu/SIPA/Rex/Shutter)

Argentine-Anglo-American Anya, 18, was the talk of last year's Sundance festival for her debut role in The Witch. She has already been invited to the Miu Miu FROW and duly decked out in Miu Miu to boot... so could a brand campaign be around the corner? The brand does hold an impressive track record for featuring the next big thing.

meet-fashions-new-kids-on-the-block-1612686-1452017087

Ruth Bell
(Image credit: Catwalking/Getty Images)

With her blonde buzzcut—created initially for an Alexander McQueen job—it was impossible to miss the striking beauty of British model Ruth Bell,19, during the last round of fashion shows. All of the major houses booked her to walk and she's since been in a Saint Laurent ad, which is basically as close to an official stamp of coolness as you can get.

meet-fashions-new-kids-on-the-block-1612687-1452017087

Jaden Smith
(Image credit: Getty Images)

As previously mentioned above, Jaden, 17, has just nabbed himself the pretty prime spot of being in a Louis Vuitton campaign. The rapper and actor is very close to America's most powerful fashion family—the Kardashian-Jenners—and his quirky sense of style is well documented across the Internet.

meet-fashions-new-kids-on-the-block-1612688-1452017087

Poppy Okotcha
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Nineteen-year-old British model Poppy has been called out by CR Fashion Book as a top new face, Models.com has her sitting pretty in their Hot List, she has become something of an obsession over at ASOS HQ and we very much enjoyed seeing her during the Shrimps presentation at London Fashion Week. Cute. Cute. Cute.

Feeling inspired? Then check out and shop the major new label crushes that ruled 2015.

Hannah Almassi
Editor in Chief

Hannah Almassi is the editor in chief of Who What Wear UK. Hannah has been part of the the Who What Wear brand since 2015, when she was headhunted to launch the UK sister site and social channels, implement a localised content strategy and build out the editorial team. She joined following a seven-year tenure at Grazia magazine, where she led front-of-book news, fashion features and shopping specials as fashion news and features editor. With experience in both print and digital across fashion and beauty, Hannah has over 16 years in the field as a journalist, editor, content strategist and brand consultant. Hannah has interviewed industry heavyweights such as designers including Marc Jacobs and Jonathan Anderson through to arbiters of taste including Katie Grand and Anna Dello Russo. A skilled moderator and lecturer specialising in the shift to digital media and e-commerce, Hannah’s opinion and work has been sought by the likes of CNBC, BBC, The Sunday Times Style, The Times, The Telegraph and MatchesFashion.com, among many others. Hannah is often called upon for her take on trends, becoming known as a person with their finger of the pulse of what’s happening in the fashion space for stylish Brits.

Hannah currently resides in Eastbourne with her photographer husband, incredibly busy son and highly Instagrammable cat.