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

Hedi Slimane’s dramatic rebranding of Yves Saint Laurent was one of the most divisive collections in recent memory; everyone had an opinion, some more hotly debated than others. While many found Slimane’s changes to be completely in line with the spirit of the house and a much needed makeover that pushed the brand into the future, others felt the overhaul was unnecessary, overly hyped and even underwhelming. Wide brim hats and seventies style suiting aren’t for everyone, but no matter how you felt about the Saint Laurent Paris ensembles themselves, you knew you were going to be seeing a lot of them. Like the McQueen visors and Prada stripes that came before them, those SLP hats were destined for editorials; fashion editors can’t resist a look with instant visual impact and Slimane’s designs are always distinctive.

Though the chapeaus are shaping up to be one of the most photographed editorial pieces of the moment, few stylists have strayed from the vision Slimane presented on the runway. Every so often though, the mood of the image goes beyond simply rehashing the nonchalant cool vibe of Slimane’s Le Smoking influenced style and pushes into expressive territory. Take a look at the way Lori Goldstein adds a touch of 60s glamour in the Vogue Italia shots of Fei Fei Sun, putting a more structured version of the SLP headpiece to good use but making it right for a completely different kind of mood.

British Vogue photography by Angelo Pennetta, styling by Francesca Burns

Marikka Juhler & Kirsi Pyrhonen in Harper’s Bazaar UK photography by Tom Allen, styling by Cathy Kasterine

Jessica Stam in Vogue Japan by Victor Demarchelier (Paris: Management + Artists, New York: Management + Artists), styling by Sabino Pantone

Fei Fei Sun in Vogue Italia, photography by Steven Meisel, styled by Lori Goldstein

Gwen Stefani in American Vogue photography by Annie Leibovitz, styled by Tonne Goodman

Julia Nobis in Numero, photography by Anthony Maule, styling by Samuel Francois

Harmony Boucher in Marie Claire, photography by Danilo Giuliani, styled by Enrique Campos

Dree Hemingway in Vogue China photography by Max Vadukul, styled by Nicoletta Santoro

Anja Rubik in Elle UK photography by Jan Welters, styled by Anne-Marie Curtis

Jessica Stam.
Chadwick Tyler.
Rika Magazine

Stam goes back to her edgy roots with a goth gone glam turn in Rika, shot by the always impressive Chadwick Tyler. With rich colors, offbeat styling courtesy of Sarah Cobb and heaps of at.ti.tude, the story is a refreshing showcase for all talents involved.

Sephora launches color collection with Pantone based around 2012′s color of the year, Tangerine Tango. Orange is a tough color to wear but Frida Gustavsson is looking ten kinds of phenomenal in the ads. If you’re down in Meatpacking stop by the special Tangerine Tango pop up now through March 30th.

Polyvore launches beauty segment, now you can use the popular fashion site to search for new beauty products too.

In beauty contract news, in case you’ve been living under a rock Arizona Muse is the newest face of Estee Lauder. Lily Cole is becomes the very first face (and body) of the The Body Shop.

One of our favorite skincare lines REN, raises the bar for itself yet again with a controversial new ad campaign that is certain to raise a few eyebrows. The beautiful done video is sensual, unexpected and gets to the heart of what you can do when you feel confident about your skin aka get rid of all the clothes and get down to business!

Fashionista catalogs all the beauty looks in the Hunger Games – may the odds be ever in their favor.

NARS is set to launch color collection based on Andy Warhol – we think the king of Pop art would approve.

Was F/W 12 the season of the brunette? With high fashion blondes like Heidi Mount, Jessica Stam & Patricia van der Vliet all going for darker hues, are we seeing the beginnings of a mini-beauty revolution?

Backstage at Maiyet, we learn a thing or two about Sunday Riley’s new cosmetics line.

Calvin Klein steps back into the beauty arena with the launch of their new cK One Color collection. Launching in April with with over a 130 different products to choose from the line aims to be comprehensive and connect with consumers. Take a look at the flawless beauty looks at the F/W CK presentation.

Vogue Italia has never shied from controversy and its March cover story has people talking left and right. From The Huffington Post, to Jezebel debate is raging over whether or not the story is in poor taste, misguided and/or exploiting negative stereotypes about blacks and Latinos. On the Vogue Italia website, the inspiration for the story is listed as “messy drags: untidy, dishevelled, counter-intuitive cross-dressers.” Meanwhile Jezebel’s intrepid Jenna Sauers, found direct links between the hair styles featured in the editorial and the gallery of Ghetto Fabulous Edible Hair dos. We can’t help but wonder what the originators of those colorful, candy-inspired styles think of the VI story and its intentions.

Controversy aside, the Steven Meisel cover of Joan Smalls marks the first time a black model has been on the cover of VI since the infamous Black Issue, which makes another triumph for Joan. Getting a VI cover is always a coup for a model, but considering how rare it is to see a woman of color fronting the world’s most influential fashion mag, this is kind of a big deal. Perhaps the greater controversy is the fact that there are multi-year periods where we just don’t see  people of color on the covers of our fashion mags.

Styling: Lori Goldstein  | Makeup: Pat McGrath |  Hair: Jimmy Paul | Models: Abbey Lee Kershaw, Coco Rocha, Guinevere Van Seenus, Jessica Stam, Karen Elson, Lindsey Wixson, and Daphne Groeneveld

See the full Haute Mess story on Vogue.It

Following in the footsteps of Niki Taylor, Tyra Banks and Angela Lindvall before her Jessica Stam is the latest face of Covergirl. The Lip Perfection collection promises to take the latest colors off the runway and onto your lips and who better to embody the mix of high fashion & affordable luxury than Stam? Her look connects with everyone from the edgiest editorial clients, to the girl next door.

Steven Meisel and Edward Enninful craft an inspired story for W Magazine that tributes timeless fashion icons with a little help from today’s best models and a certain super who needs no introduction whatsoever.

View the entire story on W Magazine.com 

HAIR Jimmy PaulMAKEUP Pat McGrath MANICURE Jin Soon Choi

Linda Evangelista as Zizi Jeanmaire

Jessica Stam has long been a fashion favorite for her ability to bridge the gap between aloof elegance and downtown edgel. Is it any wonder then that RUSSH has picked her for their latest covergirl? Issue 39 features Stam looking edgy yet refined in a shoot by Will Davidson, styled by Stevie Dance. Sporting her own vintage rock t-shirts one minute and looks from Proenza and Alaia the next, Stam is the definition of cool and the perfect fit for the issue’s music theme. For more from this issue, check out Russh’s website.