Fashion has always followed its own beat and V Magazine first ever Music issue (on stands January 12th) pays tribute to the dynamic influence of trend setting performers through the ages. Inside V75 Sebastian Faena and Carlyne Cerf De Dudzeele explore the relationship between hip hop & high fashion in an outlandish editorial. Credited as the very first editor to embrace urban culture (Carlyne brought the look to the pages of Vogue Italia way back in 1990) Carlyne has a long history of taking looks off the street and translating them for the editorial pages. Cerf De Dudzeele tells V “I love girls that men want to follow in the street—glamorous, sexy, powerful. You’re born with it, it’s not something you learn. I have always been obsessed by hip-hop. L’attitude is always right.”

In Faena’s story she dresses Anais Mali, Cora Emmanuel, Rob Evans, Travone Hill and Chrishell Stubbs in looks that scream 90s-early 00s excess. Baggy pants, fanny packs and all the gold jewelry you handle. If we had to point to music references, we see little vintage Diddy, a whole lot of Lil Kim and a hint of Foxy Brown.

There is always something delightful about a nice accessories edit and Raymond Meier‘s collaborations with Elissa Santisi for Vogue set the bar. Filled with bright colors and killer pieces the duo’s stories are sometimes the most fun thing in the entire magazine. This month’s offering is no exception: Mixed Media features rising Vogue favorite  Anais Mali  sporting some of the season’s true standouts : take a look at those glitter encrusted silver ankle boots by Miu Miu or the killer python slingbacks from Dries Van Noten.

HAIR Kamo MAKEUP Lisa Houghton PROP STYLING Charlie Welch

Vogue Italia kicks 2011 off right with a beautiful vintage inspired cover and corresponding editorial. Steven Meisel and Karl Templer, look back to the days when fashion shows were intimate affairs; just a small room with models carrying cards bearing the number of each look. The focus was entirely on the fashion, not the celebrities in the front row or any other distractions. This story is a treat for anyone who loves clothes – looks by Lanvin, Chanel and Vuitton come to life in Meisel’s photos. As always the model selection is top notch, with VI first timers Anais Mali, Fei Fei Sun, Arizona Muse and Herieth Paul, joining regulars Kinga Rajzak and Freja Beha Erichsen.

Fei Fei Sun

Herieth Paul

Anais Mali

Kinga Rajzak

Arizona Muse

Freja Beha Erichsen

Image Credits | Z Fashion Blog

Sølve Sundsbø is a master of slick futurism and he brings his signature touch to the pages of Interview with a deceptively simple story. Ludivine Poiblanc styles Anais Mali and Melodie Monrose in glamorous pieces that are feminine yet dramatic. The combination of restrained color palate, choice pieces from the Spring collections and sensual poses from Anais and Melodie makes for an engaging and memorable tale.