Erin O'Connor

Erin O'Connor's star is on the rise once more. The 34-year-old British model had been snaking in and out of fashion for 15 years before making strong showings in Zac Posen's Resort 2013 lookbook this June and again in Jean Paul Gaultier's Fall 2012 Couture show this July, and now she's here to stay.

"I'm recarving my career yet again, because aside from missing the people I've built relationships with in fashion, I miss posing the most," O'Connor said in an interview with Style.com. "I love the physicality of my job and how my mind and body are most happy when I'm expressing and moving. My face was always secondary to body alignment and the dynamism of making a moment come alive."

Does that mean she'll be creating memorable moments during Fashion Weeks in New York and abroad next month? If so, then she's already well primed for the runway. Gaultier reportedly assigned each of the models in his Couture show a famous woman of the past — like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn — to impersonate on the runway. But he told O'Connor, "You're just going to play yourself. You are already an absolute diva."

Photo courtesy of Zac Posen

• The Spring magazine cover war results: Prada wins with 77 — Fashionista
• Elle Fanning on attending her first couture show in Paris — Vogue Daily
• Found! Pippa Middleton's striped dress — InStyle
• Erin O'Connor's return to modeling — Vogue UK
• Forget the It Bag; this Summer is about the It Bike — Interview
• Anna Wintour receives the Legion d’Honneur from President Sarkozy — The Cut
• Tom Ford thinks 'Americans are too fat' — Jezebel
• Slouchy? Structured? Be&D can go either way — Purse Blog
• Luv AJ's Amanda Thomas shares four fab outfits — Refinery29

Never mind who the cutie is standing alongside Erin O'Connor (if you must know, it's Daniel Stewart), check out the amazing funky foliage necklace she has on. The fluffy silk organza petals add major dimension and texture to her 'fit, but if that's not your thing, fresh floral options also come in silver, gold, and mixed metals. Here's a cool DIY tip: purchase a couple of small silk flowers from your local craft store and glue them on to your existing stash of pearl or metal chains. Done and done.

>> INSIDER WIRE —Days after British Vogue's editor Alexandra Shulman advocated against size zero models and sample sizes, two models have joined Erin O'Connor in supporting Alexandra's letters to design houses: Helena Christensen and Crystal Renn. Helena went on record saying: “It’s about time somebody takes action. Obviously I am of the same belief…aren’t we in a business that is supposed to explore all kinds of shapes and silhouettes?” Crystal, too, applauded Alexandra's move: "This will hopefully serve as another critical step towards having better representation of women throughout all categories in fashion." [WWD]

>> Although London Fashion Week is at risk of being squeezed out by New York and Milan next season — Diane von Furstenberg is in town to discuss the matter — Harold Tillman, chairmain of the British Fashion Council, had a more positive announcement to make last night.

Britain's largest-ever emerging talent fashion fund — modeled after the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund — is being launched, with backing from Topshop owner Sir Philip Green and Erin O'Connor, who is vice-chairman of London Fashion Week.  The first awards will be given out next year — and considering the forward-thinking talent pool that comes out of London, I can't wait.
*image: source