Karl Templer showcases a modern take on sensuality in Craig McDean‘s latest story for Interview. Featuring the radiant Sasha Pivovarova as a digital age pin up, the vibrant editorial creates an eclectic and artistic version of the typical lingerie shoot. Wearing bustiers and bras from McQueen and Balenciaga paired with pencil skirts and gauzy veils, Sasha is the ideal embodiment of the new glamour.

View the entire story at Interview Magazine.com

The beauty of the men’s collections comes alive in Karl Templer‘s trip through androgynous menswear looks in Interview. Shot by Craig McDean, the editorial features a variety of statement looks from the likes of Comme des Garcons, Raf Simons, Givenchy and J.W. Anderson. With models Connor Stanley & Judson Harmon embodying all that is cool and those impressive Templer selected designs looking just right, McDean’s photos offer a powerful and creative twist on what men ought to be wearing this season.

View the full story on Interview Magazine.com

Nicolas Ghesquiere by Steven Meisel

We were shocked and a bit saddened today to hear of Nicolas Ghesquiere‘s departure from Balenciaga. After 15 years at the legendary house, Ghesquiere is parting ways with the luxury powerhouse, a label he helped become one of the most influential and respected in the business. Though we know this is likely the start of an exciting new beginning (let the rumors begin) we can’t help but look back at a few of our absolute favorite Balenciaga moments, from the very first collection to those infamous leggings. Take a look at our favorites and let us know yours in the comments.

THE REVIVAL

In 2012 it seems like there are new designers shuffling in to breathe life into old houses every few months, that wasn’t so much the case back in 1997. At 25 after assisting designers like Jean Paul Gaultier and paying his dues behind the scenes at several brands, Ghesquière came to Balenciaga to design for the brand’s Japanese licensing partner. Hardly the most glamourous gig – but his talent was evident and soon he found himself creative director of a brand that had yet to rediscover its footing. His first show back in S/S 98 changed all that, with a darkly chic update on the brand’s identity that made the fashion press stand up and take notice. View the collection in full for yourself at Balenciaga.com.

THE BAG

Seasonal styles of the popular Balenciaga bags

It bags come and go, but modern classics are very rare indeed. Ghesquière knocked the ball out of the park when he launched Balenciaga’s Lariat bag in 2000, the oft imitated but never duplicated style has been seen on the arm of everyone from Mary-Kate Olsen to Carine Roitfeld and is still going strong.

THE GAINSBOURG CONNECTION

Nicolas Ghesquiere and Charlotte Gainsbourg by Jean Paul Goude for Harper’s Bazaar

Twilight cutie Kristen Stewart may be the latest actress to catch Ghesquière’s eye, but the original Balenciaga-fille has got to be Charlotte Gainsbourg, a woman whose idiosyncratic beauty and avant-garde career choices mirror the spirit of Ghesquière’s boundary breaking aesthetic. Serving as both muse and face of the line’s signature fragrances, Gainsbourg is a fixture in the Balenciaga front row and in the brand’s iconography.

THE FLOWERS

Jennifer Connolly for Balenciaga S/S 08 by David Sims

It is hard to go back through Ghesquière’s 15 years at Balenciaga and pick the most memorable collections, each collection has its own merits but there are a few that take on special significance. S/S 2008′s floral explosion remains one of the most daring and influential, just when we thought we knew what to expect we got hit with a strong dose of flower power. Reactions to the collection may have been divisive, but it jumpstarted the current craze for bold, head-to-toe print and has been replicated by everyone from H&M to Celine.

THE ARCHIVES

Cristobal Balenciaga Cape, 1963 – Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquiere F/W 2006 cape on Coco Rocha

Every designer working at a storied house has access to a wealth of archival inspiration, but only a select few put it to good use. Ghesquière was always adept at taking Cristobal’s shapes and points of reference, then modernizing them, either with subtle changes or grand re imaginings. Take a look at how Cristóbal’s 1963 cape compared to the oversized brocade cape from the F/W 06 show.

MOD MOMENTUM

Freja Beha Erichsen for Balenciaga F/W 05 by David Sims

Sixties style mod looks often found a place on Ghesquière’s runways and made for some of the most memorable looks; who can forget the mod touches in the F/W 05 and F/W 06 collections?

MARIE AMELIE

Marie Amelie’s interpretation of Balenciaga in Strict Elegance from Interview – Ph. Craig McDean

As much as we love Nicolas’ work, all the credit for Balenciaga’s longstanding cultural impact can’t rest solely on his shoulders. As the brand’s stylist, muse and loyal supporter, Marie-Amélie Sauvé has shaped the Balenciaga look for years on the runway and in numerous editorials. Some of our favorite Balenciaga moments occurred while looking at her artful and creative interpretations of that look in the pages of magazines like Interview and Vogue Paris.

i-ROBOT

Kate Moss by Sølve Sundsbø for Numero Tokyo‘s inaugural issue.

Perhaps the singularly most infamous pair of leggings in history and certainly one of the most iconic Balenciaga pieces of all time. How many leggings find their way onto the bodies of Terence Koh, Kate Moss and Beyoncé Knowles? Not to mention the omnipresent place these leggings held in fashion edits for nearly a year. We love it when Balenciaga goes on a sci-fi streak!

THE GIRLS 

Balenciaga S/S 2002 by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin

Every season we’ve looked forward to see which beauties would be featured in the Balenciaga campaign and to date we’ve yet to be disappointed. Whether it is a bonafide supermodel like Gisele Bundchen, or Christy Turlington or a fresh crop of brand new faces, Balenciaga always goes for the unexpected and remains one of the few brands whose campaigns can really launch a compelling face.

THE COPYCATS

The one thing we’ll miss most about Ghesquire at Balenciaga is his ability to kickstart a design trend. There are whole websites devoted to looks cribbed from Balenciaga and while all designers get inspired by each other every now and then it was always amusing to see who was drawing inspiration from Ghesquire.

THE EDITORIALS

There were and are so many great editorial images that involved Balenciaga, but we’ll end on this great shot of Gemma Ward by Nick Knight for Pop Magazine.

Some collections are made for editorial greatness, on the runway they’re good but when a talented team gets ahold of things the stories those garments can tell are limitless. One collection that has found new life editorially is Comme des Garcons‘ excellent fall/winter showing. The exaggerated proportions, bold patterns and plays on dimension have made for some truly striking imagery. Stylists seem to love playing with Rei Kawakubo‘s artful creations, and there are a few looks that keep popping up in magazines month after month. Whether they’re worn by the likes of style legend Iris Apfel, transformed into samurai gear for Meghan Collison, or made part of David Sims‘ stark imagery, it is impossible to miss a CdG piece. Take a look back at some of the most memorable uses of the collection thus far and see how different stylists dealt with some of the more popular pieces.

Meghan Collison by Craig McDean, styled by Karl Templer in Interview

by Sarah Moon, styled by Jacob K for 10 Magazine

Meghan Collison by Fabien Baron, styled by Karl Templer for Interview

Cara Delevingne by Jean Baptiste Mondino, styled by Carine Roitfeld for CR Fashion Book

Saskia de Brauw by Mario Sorrenti, styled by Emmanuelle Alt for Vogue Paris

Erjona Ala, Lida Fox, Lula Osterdahl, Ophelie Rupp and Ros Georgiou by Steven Meisel for Vogue Italia

Magdalena Langrova by Sebastian Kim, styled by Katie Mossman in Vogue Germany

Kati Nescher by Mario Sorrenti, styled by Joe McKennafor Vogue Paris

Dorothea Barth Jorgensen by Charlotte Wales for Vision China, styled by Clare Byrne.

Laura Kampman by Philippe Vogelenzang, styled by Jos van Heel in Vogue Netherlands

Franzi Mueller by Mel Bles, styled by Vanessa Reid in Pop Magazine

Iris Apfel by Jeff Bark, styled by Robbie Spencer for Dazed & Confused

Kasia Struss by Knoepfel & Indlekofer for WSJ

Anais Pouliot by Paolo Roversi, styled by  in Purple Fashion

Mackenzie Drazan by Mikael Jansson styled by Karl Templer for Interview

Kati Nescher by David Sims for American Vogue

It is a proven fact that Hollywood actors cannot resist models – Leonardo Dicaprio we’re looking at you – so it is no surprise that magazines frequently pair actors & models together in covers and in editorials. We’re not sure why magazines always go for the actor + models combo instead of say actresses and male models (c’mon someone get Scarlett Johansson and Sean O’Pry  together already) but it is a proven formula that can produce beautiful results.

Or incredibly awkward and somewhat confusing results. Lets take a look back at some of our favorite model meets actor moments – the good, the bad and the just plain weird.

2012: W Magazine  : Tom Cruise + Abbey Lee Kershaw & Edita Vilkeviciute by Mario Sorrenti

W Magazine knows how to push all the right buttons don’t they? What better way to promote the blissfully cheesy 80s jukebox musical Rock of Ages than to put its star on the cover looking like a latter day Bret Michaels? Edita Vilkeviciute and Abbey Lee Kershaw are bringing the heat, but we can’t help but feel that Cruise looks more than a little uncomfortable. Perhaps this is simply his version of bored rock star blasé, but he manages to make standing between two of the world’s most beautiful girls look like a chore; to be honest he had more chemistry with Jeremy Renner in MI:4.

2012: Vogue Espana Clive Owen & Toni Garrn by Alexi Lubomirski

Love Toni, Love Clive. Love the city of Paris. Still he looks like her dad in this. Sorry. Unless they were going for the whole “cool dad takes his glamazon daughter to France thing”, if so then it totally works.

2012: American Vogue - Michael Fassbender and Natalia Vodianova by Craig McDean