This month, British Vogue’s cover features the stunning Natalia Vodianova, as shot by Nick Knight. Natalia rose to fame more than a decade ago with her Calvin Klein campaigns, and she used to be everywhere. Ever since she got married and had three children, though, she has slowed down (who wouldn’t?) and is now more selective about which projects she takes on. Which now basically means that if you see her anywhere, first, you’re in for a treat — photographs of her tend to be the kind that burn into your mind for years — and second, she’ll generally be promoting a good cause.
Once again, she hasn’t disappointed. British Vogue’s feature is titled “Under her Spell,” and throughout the iconic shoot (iconic photography being something of a Nick Knight specialty), Natalia wears a series of dresses she asked 40 designers to create based on a “fairy tale” theme. The shots — and the dresses — are stunning (Prada, Chanel and D&G were among the contributors), and in April all 40 will be auctioned to benefit a great cause: The Naked Heart Foundation.
Naked Heart, which provides playgrounds for children in Russian cities, is a charity I’ve loved for a long time, and I’m always overjoyed to see it receive any press (with a supermodel at the helm, of course, that’s inevitable). I’ve traveled all over Russia — Natalia’s native country, which makes her the perfect ambassador for Naked Heart — and among the many things the country desperately needs are safe places for children to learn, play and be inspired. Although most of the play areas are in public parks, some can be found in orphanages, children’s hospitals and child rehabilitation centers.
