Tyra's newest crop of "high fashion" models

This week, fashion will see debut after debut with the unveiling of designers†Spring 2011 (how is it almost 2011 already?) collections. Editors are spewing live streams from shows and events like mad as we speak, so to avoid fashion week runway show overload, we decided to give you a break and talk about a different debut that also took place this fashion week.

Wednesday night was the premiere episode of the 15^th cycle of Americaâ€s Next Top Model, and the first look at a season that creator and host Tyra Banks promises will really launch the show into high fashion. For real this time.

Tyra reminded the audience numerous times throughout the episode that this seasonâ€s winner would truly be a high fashion star. It seemed like she thought if she said it over and over again we might actually believe it before we see it.

Past winners of ATNM have gone on to be virtually nonexistent in the fashion biz, so weâ€re going to need to wait for the proof before we are convinced that the 15^th winner will be the next Lara Stone.

Besides Tyraâ€s constant reminders that this season is all about high fashion and Italian Vogue, last nightâ€s episode consisted of basically the same old same old. The show always seems to end up with certain “characters” among the top contestants that appear every cycle and this one proves to be no different. Thereâ€s the struggling single mom hoping to fulfill her dreams and make a better life for her baby, the introverted outcast girl whoâ€s awkwardness works for fashion up to a point but will likely end up being her undoing, the girl who didnâ€t make it last season and the Ivy league princess who will end up being just too darn smart to be a model.

We do however have to say that this season looks to have more potential than any before to produce a successful winner. Besides offering a contract with IMG and a spread in Italian Vogue to the winner this cycle, the premier episode featured an appearance from designer Cynthia Rowley, and Tyra and co. will be bringing in such fashion legends as Patrick Demarchelier and Diane von Furstenberg to work with the contestants. Add to that Andre Leon Talleyâ€s continued presence on the judging panel and Ms. Banks could finally be looking at a Bankable top model winner.

Here, however, is the biggest challenge for Tyra this cycle: ANTM wants to produce a high fashion model, and the CW wants the show to be popular and bring in ratings. The popular masses tend not to really, completely understand high fashion modeling. In fact, in order to mold a fashion superstar while remaining relevant in television, Tyra would need the winner to be a model like Gisele Bundchen, Cindy Crawford or Heidi Klum – those that were well known outside the fashion industry last decade.

These days, models are not big celebrities like they once were. A video exists on YouTube in which an interviewer stops random people on the streets and asks them who Karlie Kloss is. Most have no idea, and Karlie is one of the top models in the industry right now.

The single ray of hope in this situation is the success of Bravo’s Project Runway, which has remained popular while focusing on fashion design.

So, Tyty, your 15^th cycle has potential to finally bring the show some credibility in the world of fashion. The question is whether you can also maintain appeal with your television audience.

When Huggies launched their line of denim diapers, complete with catwalking (or should that be kittenwalking?) toddlers, we thought it was the natural progression/regression of the designer collaboration trend.

Pampers and Cynthia Rowley recently announced a collaboration that’s scheduled to hit Target in mid-July of this year. We’ve seen the rise in popularity of pantlessness for adults. It only seems fair that the under 2 crowd – really the only ones who should try the look if not performing in concert, now has a wider array of style options when running around in their undies.

There will be 11 styles in total, so far photos of 2 floral prints and a blue madras have been released.

“As a mom, I wanted other moms and dads to have more options in every part of their lives — even diapers.” It’s the first piece of clothing your baby will ever wear, and it should be special.” – Cynthia Rowley {Luxist}

As long as parents promise to not make this one of those fashion choices that they try to match to their children, it seems like a good idea that’s wide open.

With Stella McCartney expecting her fourth child, and a recent slew of model moms – Giselle Bundchen, Jourdan Dunn, and Adriana Lima to name a few, it would only be surprising if this were the last of the premium diaper collaborations we hear about. McCartney’s already done collections for Gap Kids, so cloth diapers for Baby Gap wouldn’t be impossible.

And if Target decides to bring children’s items into their capsule collections, we’d bet Liberty print diapers would sell out as quickly as any of their other items.

If none of those come to fruition though, there are still plenty of choices for babies (and parents) bored with minimalist white diapers, and too directional to be seen in cartoon character prints.

Another new collaboration to be excited about is the Cynthia Rowley for Roxy line. Thatâ€s right surfers: get ready to catch the fashionista wave. Roxy and Cynthia Rowley have teamed up to create a 40-piece sportswear collection that will be arriving at Barneyâ€s New York in March. From stylish wetsuits, to casual weekend wear, the duo will have you designer-surf chic in time for summer.

Read more {nymag.com}

Read more {wwd.com}