Jeneil Williams.
Roe Ethridge.
Marie Chaix.
The Gentlewoman.

A subtly sensual tribute to the one of the most beautiful details, a simple v that reveals a hint of skin and tantalizes in the process. Clad in streamlined pieces from Valentino, Dior and Gucci, Jeneil radiates power, elegance and of course, chic.

MAKEUP: Lisa Houghton

Images via The Gentlewoman – see the full story & more from issue no. 7 on The Gentlewoman.com

Age of Aquarius by Pierre Debusschere from models.com on Vimeo.

Dazed & Confused kicks the year off right with a stellar story by Pierre Debusschere, starring Yumi Lambert and a host of the season’s slickest runway hits as selected by Robbie Spencer. As always Spencer’s edit is strong and vibrant, with pieces from Saint Laurent Paris, Ann Demeulemeester and Dior showcased alongside cutting-edge additions like Craig Lawrence’s fibre optic wire tops. Pierre Debusschere‘s arresting visuals explode off the page with their originality and dynamic perspective, but it gets even better in the corresponding video. Experience the editorial and take an exclusive first look at the film right here.

Asia and its diverse cultures have long had an unmistakable impact on the industry, but in recent years the influence has been especially prevalent. The growth of the Asian market and the rise of a new generation of influential Asian talents has prompted designers and photographers to look East in search of inspiration. The F/W runways were filled with pieces whose details seemed cribbed from traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Korean fashions. Two fresh editorials showcase the season’s East Asian-inspired fashions in uniquely beautiful ways.

First Fabien Baron reinterprets the myth of the samurai in Interview with a striking and suitably stark story that owes as much to history as it does to larger-than-life, action-packed anime. Meghan Collison stars in Baron’s expressive fantasy and brandishes a katana as she poses in looks from Haider Ackermann, Gareth Pugh, and Issey Miyake. Karl Templer‘s styling prowess is on full display, even as he mixes together the perfect modern approximation of the samurai look. | View the full story on Interview.com

Vogue China‘s interpretation is no less elegant, but the approach is softer and sexier. Karim Sadli shoots the always alluring Liu Wen in pieces that focus on rich embroidery and detailed pattern. Set against the refined backdrop of an airy drawing room and featuring a host of Balmain, Proenza, and Dries van Noten selected by Alastair McKimm, the story offers an alternative imagining of this look. There are no well-dressed warriors or brandished swords, just a beautiful girl looking especially chic.

HONOR
Interview Magazine
Ph. Fabien Baron
Fashion Editor – Karl Templer
Hair – Luigi Murenu | Makeup – Francelle Daly
Model – Meghan Collison

Zac Posen jacket, Maison Martin Margiela gloves

Haider Ackermann jacket, skirt and belt, Issey Miyake collar, Calvin Klein collar

Gareth Pugh top, collar and boots, Issey Miyake pants

Nicolas Andreas Taralis top

Meghan Collison by Fabien Baron for Interview, November 2012

ORIENTAL TALES
Vogue China
Ph. Karim Sadli
Fashion Editor – Alastair McKimm
Hair - Yannick D’Is (Paris: Management + Artists, New York: Management + Artists) | Makeup – Yadim

Proenza Schouler dress, Dior shoes

Balmain vest and mini dress, Dior shoes

Dries Van Noten blazer

Jean Paul Gaultier robe,

Liu Wen by Karim Sadli for Vogue China December 2012

Fragrance commercials are always attempting to tap into our nostalgia for classic cinema, and Dior‘s newest fragrance spot is no exception. Shot by Jonas Akerlund and starring the delightful Daphne Groeneveld, the short riffs on Roger Vadim’s And God Created Women, with a cheeky twist. Where Bardot was unstoppably sensual, Daphne is absolutely adorable, providing the right mix of sweetness and glamour to bring the girly world of Dior beauty to life.

Now that the months of Dior speculation are over and Raf Simons is confirmed for the job, there is a lot to look forward to. Sure we will all miss the bombastic, over the top spectacle of John Galliano’s now legendary collections, but there is no doubt that the house is in capable hands with Simons.

Raf’s Dior debut doesn’t happen until July, but there are more than a few trends from Simons’ days at Jil Sander that we wouldn’t mind seeing on the runways again. Take a look at four Raf fashion statements that wouldn’t look out of place at Dior.

F/W 09 – SCULPTURAL GOWNS

Years before the Dior opportunity was even a prospect, Simons was already using couture techniques in his designs. We could easily see one of the graceful shapes from F/W 09 show resurfacing in his work for Dior.

Freja Beha Erichsen by Patrick Demarchelier for British Vogue August 2009

F/W 11 – BOLD FLORALS

Though he’s associated with minimalism, Simons has never been print-phobic – he’s especially partial to floral patterns in his designs for men and women. Given how ladylike Dior’s image has been lately, it wouldn’t surprise us at all to see Raf show a few of those flowers come couture.

Raquel Zimmermann by Steven Klein for American Vogue

S/S 08 – TRANSPARENCY

Simply put, no one plays with transparency better than Raf does. Whether he’s using swaths of see through tulle, or resurrecting fringe from its country-western trappings, Raf is a master of showing skin with subtlety.

Kasia Struss by Willy Vanderperre for Jil Sander S/S 08

S/S 12 – RETRO MODERNISM

Though Dior has been led by a series of very different men in the years since Christian Dior’s death, each of his successors has been adept at translating the master’s celebrated New Look into something modern. If Simon’s last two collections for Sander showcase anything, it is his ability to cull from vintage source material, while keeping things current.

Natasha Poly by Willy Vanderperre for Jil Sander S/S 12

British Vogue gives us holiday sparkle a whole month early, with a gorgeous story starring Iekeliene Stange and a million little Swarovski crystals. Shot by Benjamin Lennox using a dazzling array of lighting effects, the edit uses pieces from Dior, Chanel, Giles and Christopher Kane to great effect: Kim Howells‘s styling is on point!

Edita Vilkeviciute.
Camilla Akrans.
Flowers.
All for Industrie Magazine.
It should be illegal to look this beautiful.

2 new young Americans on our radar. Mitch from DNA Models is only 13 years old. We can’t believe it either!

Charlotte from Photogenics is 16, half Indonesian, half English but from the LA area. Amazing lines!

From foster homes to the cover of Life Magazine, we salute the extraordinary and ground breaking journey of Naomi Sims, called the first black supermodel, who died this past week at the age of 61. Wise as well ( “There is nothing sadder than an old, broke model, and there are many models who have nothing at the end of their career,” Ms. Sims told The Times in 1969), she went on to create a successful line of wigs and cosmetics for black women under her name. Read the Times obituary and take a look at some pictures from her inspiring career.

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See the Dior Homme campaign; it does, of course have a lot of gorgeous Brazilian men.

Also for our friends in Brazil, here’s House of Models’ interview with Bruna Tenorio (in Portugese).

For the making of Zara‘s Fall/Winter campaign with Toni Garrn shot by David Sims, click here.

How do you get into the world of fashion? Teen Vogue‘s new book explains it all. With contributions by the Kaiser: Karl Lagerfeld, Patrick Demarchelier, Mario Testino, Chanel Iman and Caroline Trentini, this is the book that we wished we had when we started out oh so long ago. Out on October 5th.

Vanity Fair‘s best dressed list is out. Who made the cut from the fashion industry? Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, Georgina Chapman, Tory Burch, Candy Pratts-Price, Franca Sozzani, Natalia Vodianova, Bruce Weber, Peter Beard and Rachel Roy. Eclectic indeed.

Jenna (the no longer Anonymous ex-Model at Jezebel) has a great post on Anna Wintour‘s early days of editing at NY Magazine. Worth taking a sec to see Anna pre-”Never a hair out of place”, along with the most genuine smile we’ve ever seen on her. (As you click through the gallery, make sure you read Jenna’s comments next to the picture).

If Karl Lagerfeld likes you, you will ALWAYS work. Take a sneak peek at his shoot for Purple Fashion with Baptiste Giabiconi, wearing heels, natch.