CHECKER CHIC

We’ve been seeing a lot of Marc Jacobs’ mod influenced collection for Louis Vuitton, so it is no surprised to see it showing up on the covers of two stylish publications this month. Numero‘s sleek image by Sebastian Kim gives you two sides of of Nadja Bender, while Vogue Japan offers a girlish take on Jacobs’ designs with a coquettish image of Lindsey Wixson by Patrick Demarchelier. Both pictures present a compelling fashion moment, so it really boils down to whether you prefer your Vuitton girl seductive, or syrupy sweet.

NADJA ON NUMERO OR LINDSEY ON VOGUE JAPAN – WHICH VERSION OF VUITTON DO YOU PREFER?

TEASER PLEASER

Dansk returns with two images designed to whet readers’ appetites for more of the famed Danish magazine’s blend of art and fashion. Nadja Bender shows up again (there isn’t a magazine you won’t find Nadja in these days) looking effortlessly cool in Hasse Nielsen‘s black and white shot, but the image that grabs our attention is that of the aptly named Adonis Bosso taken by Raf Stahelin. Dressed in a debonair fedora and head to metallics, Bosso cuts an impressive figure – we can’t wait to see the accompanying editorial.

NADJA OR ADONIS – WHICH DANSK TEASER CATCHES YOUR EYE?

BRAZILIAN BONUS!

Giampaolo Sgura and Anna Dello Russo are at it again! This time the duo creates four wildly different covers for Vogue Brasil featuring Magdalena Frackowiak, Izabel Goulart, Bette Franke and Mirte Maas. Each cover captures a completely different mood within the sexy & chic theme: from the all out glamour of Magda’s shot, Mirte’s full on Dello Russo eclecticism, Izabel’s vibrant  cover image and the purity of Bette’s Prada collection image. Each cover has its merits, but we can’t help but think that Bette’s austere Miuccia madness feels freshest.

BETTE? IZABEL? MAGDALENA? MIRTE? WHICH VOGUE BRAZIL COVER GETS YOUR VOTE?

Appealing new ads from fashion’s young, innovative designers.

PROENZA SCHOULER

The S/S ads from Proenza are all about a dreamy mood and David Sims‘ imagery featuring the cooler than thou duo of Julia Nobis and Irina Nikolaeva creates a strong, yet ethereal vibe that goes well with the brand’s eclectic Tumblr influenced collection. The mismash of visual styles and inspirations found on the social media site are mirrored in Sims’ colorful, collage approach to the campaign.

THEYSKENS THEORY

Even before Olivier Theyskens took the helm at Theory the brand was about the kind of effortlessly beautiful clothes that girls want to wear. Now that Theyskens is heading things, the famed designer has added an appealingly cool vibe to the collections and the line’s seasonal imagery. Girl of the moment, Wylie Hays is front and center in Willy Vanderperre (Paris: Management + Artists, New York: Management + Artists)’s stark shots as is a highly covetable new Theory handbag.

3.1 PHILLIP LIM

Phillip Lim hits the streets with a stylish campaign that shows you just how much his designs stand out. Katryn Kruger and Franzi Mueller strut down crowded NYC sidewalks in head to toe Lim working those chic Spring patterns and bringing the punky 3.1 look to life in Alessio Bolzoni‘s ad images.

BALMAIN

Balmain keeps it simple with a beautiful David Sims campaign featuring Manon Leloup. When you have a beautiful girl and the intricately decadent designs of Olivier Rousteing, you don’t need much more to entice your audience.

What would the fashion world do without the one and only Kate Moss? The always in demand Miss Moss is back and better than ever, racking up campaigns and editorials with an ease befitting her legendary status as the defining model of the past two decades. No one does it better, so kick back, relax and just take in the plentiful Kate goodness. Whether she’s looking lush on the cover of Love Magazine latest issue, or showing off her natural beauty in pared down ads for Vivienne Westwood and Rag & Bone, Kate looks stunning, it’s easy to see why the biz is still infatuated with Kate after all these years.

Look for a special Kate Moss surprise coming soon to Models.com!

Kate by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott for LOVE no. 9, fashion editor Katie Grand

Kate by Tim Walker, fashion editor Katie Grand

Kate by Kate for Rag & Bone

Kate by Juergen Teller for Vivienne Westwood

Kate for Givenchy by Mert & Marcus

Kate by Mario Testino for Stuart Weitzman

Kate by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott for Versace

By its very nature, fashion is in a constant state of change, but the industry has a way of rehashing the past every few seasons with collections that draw inspiration from key moments in fashion’s history.  Nostalgia was the predominant fashion mode of the aughts, and it saw  designers revisiting everything from 1920s flapper fixtures, to ’80s powerdressing and (gasp) ’90s grunge redux. We may have just entered into 2013, but when it comes to manufacturing clothing that looks awfully similar to styles that could have been worn generations earlier, designers show no signs of stopping.

Case in point, S/S 13′s mod moment, which saw a wealth of graphic prints invading the runway. Checks, stripes, and houndstooth patterns  made appearances on the runways of labels like Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Michael Kors and Dolce & Gabbana, offering a pleasant alternative to spring’s tried-and-true florals and providing a bit of deja vu. Granted, these design elements are timeless, but fans of ’60s style will recognize the cuts and patterns that make up these new designs as the hallmarks of mod innovators. Take a look at  the work of Pierre Cardin, Mary Quant, André Courrèges, and Ossie Clark,  and you can’t help but see where Marc Jacobs and co. took their lead from.

With the very same designs getting major play in the pages of this month’s magazines, editors have been showcasing these looks in a variety of ways. Most choose to play up the retro appeal inherent in these collections by creating stories reminiscent of days past: what says ’60s more than an angular Vidal Sasson bob or an oversized bouffant? Others focus in on the graphic element, shooting the pieces against white backdrops and playing up the contrast.

PAST

Designer Ossie Clark and one of his creations

Models in Who Are You Polly Magoo, 1966

Houndstooth Coat, Ph. Art Kane, 1966

Designs by Andre Courreges,

PRESENT

Vogue Japan | Ph. Emma Summerton | Styling Patti Wilson | Model Aymeline Valade | Makeup Dotti

American Vogue | Ph. Steven Klein | Styling Grace Coddington | Models Carolyn Murphy and Karen Elson

Harper’s Bazaar | Ph. Greg Harris | Stylist Tony Irvine | Model Marte Mei van Haaster | Hair Akki Shirakawa | Makeup Pep Gay

Marte Mei van Haaster in Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors

Harper’s Bazaar Spain Ph. Txema Yeste | Styling Melania Pan | Model Ginta Lapina | Hair Olivier Lebrun (See Management) | Makeup Christopher Kam

Ginta Lapina in Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana & Michael Kors

Vogue Japan Ph. Victor Demarchelier (Paris: Management + Artists, New York: Management + Artists) | Styling Sabino Pantone | Model Jessica Stam | Hair Didier Malige | Makeup Adrien Pinault (Paris: Management + Artists, New York: Management + Artists)

Stam inLouis Vuitton & Acne

Vogue China Ph. Daniel Jackson | Styling Nicoletta Santoro | Models Kel Markey, Agnés Nabuurs, Athena Wilson, Bo Don & Chiharu Okunugi | Hair Yannick D’Is (Paris: Management + Artists, New York: Management + Artists) | Makeup Yadim

Josh Olins.
Alastair McKimm.
Suvi Koponen.
Vogue China.

Less is more in Olins’ take on the seasons’ most appealingly minimalist pieces. Styled to perfection by McKimm, the luxurious runway pieces especially sleek – even Miuccia Prada’s decadently girlish collection manages to seem stripped down in these stark images. Suvi proves the perfect muse for the current mood and with her slick hair by Esther Langham and glistening skin courtesy of Sally Branka, she embodies modern, nonchalant chic.

For his spring collection Jason Wu looked to the sex appeal and visual impact of Helmut Newton‘s photographs, so naturally when it came time to create a campaign Wu wanted visuals every bit as powerful as those Newton created. The bar was set high, but who better to handle the task than the dream team of Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin handling photography, Kate Young styling, Patrick Li art directing and the one and only Stephanie Seymour striking the poses. Shot at La Grenouille and seeped in the kind of old school glamour that never loses its appeal, Wu’s campaign is as good as it gets. The designer himself even joins in on the fun, sharing space with La Seymour in an instantly iconic shot.

More fabulous fashion ads keep coming in, take a look at the latest.

TOM FORD

Tom Ford - Designer & Photographer | Orlando Pita - Hair Stylist | Charlotte Tilbury - Makeup Artist |Karlina Caune & Simon Van Meervenne - Models

We can always count on Tom Ford for an epitomized version of modern glamour and his latest campaign delivers with sleek shots by Ford himself of Karlina Caune and Simon Van Meervenne. Playing to his strengths the designer / photographer / director / provocateur creates simple images that focus on those decadent designs. Who needs exotic locations and complicated set ups when you have the beauty of those golden to the knee sandals and fringed shoes! Karlina and Simon look pretty damn good too, both models capture the slightly dangerous and oh so sexy vibe of Ford’s ethos.

ALEXANDER WANG

Alexander Wang - Designer | Steven Klein - Photographer | Pascal Dangin - Art Director | Malgosia Bela - Model

Given the memorable way Wang presented his S/S collection’s glow in the dark dresses, we were expecting a campaign with flashing lights, or blinding neons from Alexander Wang. Never one to go for the obvious thrill, Wang enlists Steven Klein and Pascal Dangin for an evocative campaign featuring the Malgosia Bela. The beauty of these images lies in the artistic way in which the clothing is presented: with her body painted in white and the stark backdrop, Malgosia looks more like a performance artist than a model. As the Wang label enters into its next stage of development this campaign provides a dynamic and eye-catching brand message.

KENZO

Jean Paul Goude - Photographer | Anthony Turner - Hair Stylist | Aaron de Mey - Makeup Artist | Humberto Leon & Carol Lim - Creative Directors | Jester White & Ming Xi - Models

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Kenzo’s F/W ads by Jean Paul Goude were arresting and upbeat – they even made our best of 2012 list and for S/S the saga continues with Ming Xi and Jester White picking up where things left off. We didn’t think it would be possible, but these ads are even more colorful and kooky than the first set.

AKRIS

Karim Sadli - Photographer | Anthony Turner - Hair Stylist | Hannah Murray - Makeup Artist | Alana Zimmer - Model

Karim Sadli shoots Akris’ understated S/S ads featuring Alana Zimmer. Akris has always been about luxury that whispers instead of shouts and Saldi does an excellent job of communicating that message visually. Albert Kriemler’s elegantly minimal designs look especially beautiful set against the lush green backdrop and Alana is as lovely as ever.

ROBERTO CAVALLI

Roberto Cavalli - Designer | Mario Testino  – Photographer | Marie Chaix - Fashion Editor/Stylist | Sam McKnight - Hair Stylist | Charlotte Tilbury - Makeup Artist | Jack Flanagan - Set Designer | Lorraine Griffin - Manicurist

The news is always going on about the death of print, but what happens when a familiar favorite magazine really does go away forever? Fans of 90s fashion will fondly remember Mirabella, sitting on the newsstand alongside issues of Elle, Bazaar and Vogue. From 1989 to 2000 the magazine founded by  fashion fixture and former editor -in -chief of American Vogue, Grace Mirabella offered up a no-nonsense take on fashion. Appealing to women who valued not only style, but substance the magazine was chock full of the era’s trademarks: supermodels, shoulder pads and colorful imagery filled with designs from the likes of Yohji Yamamoto, and Helmut Lang.

Even though the days of Mirabella have long since passed, time hasn’t stripped the publication of its charms. Looking back there are a great many aspects of Mirabella that still feel contemporary: Sarah Moon’s haunting photography is just as relevant today as it was nearly two decades ago (check the latest Valentino campaign if you need proof) and Christy Turlington – a perennial Mirabella fave – is still one of the industry’s great beauties. Today’s obsession with model-style seems foreshadowed by Mirabella’s sleek Glen Luchford editorial styled by none other than Kate Moss and it’s hard to think of a glossy that wouldn’t jump at the chance to publish a feature along these lines today. Styles may come and go but Ines de la Fressange still turns heads as trendsetter for the ages and Regan Cameron’s images of the legendary French muse are an enduring delight.

Amber Valletta & Michaela Bercu

Christy Turlington

Chandra North by Glen Luchford, styling by Kate Moss

Honor Fraser and Yael Reich by Sarah Moon

Christy Turlington by Fabrizio Ferri

Kristen McMenamy by William Garrett

Ines de la Fressange by Regan Cameron

Janine Giddings by Sheila Metzner