I talk a lot about fashion designers, runway shows and celebrities in this column, but I rarely talk about one of the most vital parts of fashion in general: Models. WeâÄôre not going to get into the whole âÄúskinny models propagate eating disordersâÄù debate here, though we can if youâÄôd like to in a later issue. I have a lot of thoughts on the issue. But no, my dear students, today weâÄôll be doing a small lesson I like to call âÄúModels 101.âÄù Models are incredibly important tools in the fashion industry. Sometimes they are nameless, faceless bodies on which to hang clothing and display it, but more often than not a select few become superstars, even household names. (Think Gisele Bündchen , the âÄò90s supermodels like Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell and Amber Valletta. ) They walk the runways, shoot campaigns for major houses like Dior and Dolce and are becoming style icons in their own right. I donâÄôt want to make this âÄúKaraâÄôs Top 10 Model Favorites,âÄù so I asked a few Twin Cities fashionistas who their favorite catwalkers are, too. Jane Belfry is a globetrotting local stylist (sheâÄôs in Paris for couture/menswear right now) and super-sweet vintage store owner. She and I love Lara Stone . This Dutch beauty recently landed a cover blub in Vogue for being a size 4 âÄî she is constantly referred to as âÄúvoluptuous,âÄù but I just think sheâÄôs gorgeous. HereâÄôs what Jane has to say about the lovely Lara: âÄúShe’s unconventional but classic at the same time, beautiful and ugly.âÄù Lara has been a major fixture on the scene for a while now, opening shows like Balmain and doing campaigns for everyone from H&M to Givench y. IâÄôm a big fan of Canadian beauty Jessica Stam . SheâÄôs so well-known in the industry that sheâÄôs often referred to simply as âÄúStam,âÄù sort of like an NFL star or something like that. Marc Jacobs even named a bag after her , which in my book is the utmost of cool. Stam does work for high fashion houses like Chanel, but she also walks in the VictoriaâÄôs Secret show. Local trendsetter Marina MariÄá, whoâÄôs always getting her picture snapped for fashion blogs and who owns the House of Holland garter tights IâÄôm lusting after, likes short-haired models like Anja Rubik. SheâÄôs Polish, lethal and has been a fixture for quite a few years now. My favorite of the moment is without a doubt Georgia May Jagger, daughter of Mick and âÄò70s Texan supermodel Jerry Hall. âÄúI love a girl who can work a gap!âÄù Jane says, and I agree. Georgia is stunning, and even though sheâÄôs just turned 18, sheâÄôs done high-profile work for Hudson jeans (check out their ads to see Georgia oozing sex) and Versace. She channels a young Brigitte Bardot and I love her for it. Another model with famous roots is Dree Hemingway, great-granddaughter of famous scribe Ernest. Dree has become a mainstay of the âÄúeffortlessly cool girlâÄù scene, palling around with hipster designer Alexander Wang and getting hot-pink highlights in her blonde hair. (I like to think sheâÄôs copying me last spring, when I had hot pink in my own blond locks.) You canâÄôt talk about models without mentioning the great Kate Moss, of course. Does anyone not adore Ms. Moss? Even though sheâÄôs petite and getting up there in years at 36, sheâÄôs working constantly, most recently becoming the face of YSLâÄôs new fragrance Parisienne. My favorite Kate moment? Her role in the White StripesâÄô Sofia Coppola-directed video for âÄúI Just DonâÄôt Know What to Do with Myself,âÄù where all she does is slink around a stripper pole. HOT. Karlie Kloss is only 17 years old, but sheâÄôs already landed a major campaign (Marc JacobsâÄô Lola perfume) and gained notoriety for her signature runway stomp. I saw her at Avenue when I was in New York a few weeks ago. Natalia Vodianova is an evergreen choice and one of my enduring favorites. This Russian model truly lives a fairytale life; she moved from a poor area of Russia to Paris at age 17 and quickly become a fashion favorite. She married Justin Portman , a super-rich real estate heir and they had three adorable children who are often photographed alongside their mother for features in Vogue. Then you have the doll-faced girls, like Lily Donaldson, Lily Cole and and Gemma Ward. Both Gemma and Lily Cole have taken some time off from modeling to act (see them in âÄúThe Strangers âÄú and âÄúThe Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus,âÄù respectively) but have not forgotten their modeling roots. I love Lily D. for her laid back off-the-runway style. And last, but certainly not least, is Daria Werbowy, who you may recognize as a face of Lancôme cosmetics. SheâÄôs also Polish, and in 2007 she was one of ForbesâÄô top-earning models; her cohorts on that esteemed list included Heidi Klum and Natalia Vodianova.