Animale

For the average American, Brazilian fashion might mean flip flops and bikinis, but upon arriving in Sao Paulo it becomes clear that the industry here is so much more than that--and many designers are content on leaving behind the cliches and stereotypes, and embracing a more global aesthetic. One such label is Animale, whose fall/winter 2012 collection was inspired by Russian czars and aristocrats, of all things. It was fitting then, that for this show the brand's spokesmodel of seven years in the running, Brazilian Raquel Zimmerman, was replaced by it Brit Rosie Huntington Whiteley, who opened the show. It's a pretty big deal since Rosie has been taking a break from modeling recently, while she films new movie Transformers. She even missed fashion's tour de force--the Victoria's Secret fashion show--because she was "busy."

• By Hayley Phelan
  Jan 20, 2012