We can’t help but love i-D‘s commitment to showcasing fashion’s most beautiful faces and with five new covers featuring 5 exemplary models there is even more to love this fall. The ‘Define Yourself’ issue’s cover stars are girls whose personality and panache have set them apart from other models, the legendary Kristen McMenamy stands alone as an icon, while Liya Kebede has moved from supermodel to celebrated actress.  Relative newcomers like Joan Smalls, Lindsey Wixson and Daisy Lowe are all on their way towards the stratosphere and attention grabbing covers for each girl are sure to become collectibles.

Joan by Danielle Duella and Iango Henzi

Lindsay by Emma Summerton

Kristen by Daniele Duella and Iango Henzi

Daisy by Marcel Door

Liya by Daniele Duella and Iango Henzi

What do you think happens when you cross hot model of the moment Jacob Coupe with a young documentary photographer who just happens to be his brother? You get intimate images of Jacob and all the coolest London boys in town like Sid Ellisdon, William Eustace, James Smith, Richie Cotterell and more. Check out Matthew Coupe’s blog Photocoupe, and be that fly on the wall you’ve always wanted to be.

Fashion news:

Celebrating the rise of the Asian designers, the New York Times talks about Jason, Alexander, Richard and more.

HELLO… Adore Polly Mellen who is still so fabulous. And if you don’t who she is, get thee to this post right now to find out..

Do you think Quentin Shih‘s pictures for Christian Dior are thought provoking?

Just in case you missed it, check out the Fashion’s Night Out video with our favorite supermodels with their husky, sexy voices.

Photography news:

72 best covers of 2009. They have a category just for vampires. Other notable nominees… Danny Schwarz on Out, Terry Richardson for Harper’s Bazaar of Agyness as MJ, The New Yorker’s McQueen tribute cover.

500 photographers. They’re on 112, will you be included?

Not sure if they have any left but there’s a few Made in Brazil magazines in NY. You know the one with naked Evandro on the cover?

British Vogue is coming out with a book of their favorite models and images.

Working for the best magazines but still broke? See what one photographer did.

Miscellaneous:

Art director god Marc Atlan meets with the Imagist and the results are quite intriguing.

Perry Ellis raises funds for the oil spill… Click here to see it on Facebook and see the limited edition polo that will help the region.

Modeling news:

We always love Ajak Deng but when we read this story by Frockwriter, we think that she is even more phenomenal and inspiring.

Speaking of Frockwriter, take a look at the Aussie wave of girls that are coming into the biz.

The ubercool agency 9 Daughters & A Stereo may have closed but are they are emerging as Tomorrow is Another Day. Check out their beautiful website.

For all you Portugese readers, check out House of Models where they talk about the top Brazilians and their rankings on the Top 50 lists.

Armando Cabral, the suave and beautiful Portugese model is designing shoes!

We Love Models profiles this bleached blond Brazilian, Joao Zavaski (image below).

Two of our the most gorgeous of the older models, Daphne and Carla prove that beauty comes in all ages.
See Daphne in Wunderkind, here.

See Carla below with Dominique Models who started 3 years ago at the age of 56 and just shot with Peter Lindbergh.

Steven Meisel taps into the timely for Vogue Italia‘s latest editorial; with images reminiscent of those from the Gulf of Mexico crisis, combined with shots of Kristen McMenamy‘s haunting visage, the story speaks volumes about the current environmental crisis. It isn’t unusual for Meisel to reference social issues within his work and this story arrives at the exact right moment. Everything from Mary Howard‘s production design, to the carefully chosen ensembles comes together brilliantly.

How do you feel about this story?

Kristen McMenamy is having a moment. With her long grey locks sparking a trend of their own, a cover of Dazed and a whole Viktor and Rolf show dedicated to her allure, there is no question that Kristen is the super to beat this year. The icing on the cake comes in the form of August’s Vogue Italia cover; Steven Meisel explores Kristen’s otherworldly beauty with a picture that excites and intrigues – the black rocks, the mist, Kristen’s silver coif courtesy of Orlando Pita it all adds up to create an extraordinary image.

Just a little bit obsessed with this video by Ruth Hogben for Showstudio, featuring Gareth Pugh F/W 10. Raquel Zimmermann shows why she is fast becoming legendary…

Fashion news:

Speaking of Showstudio, this is all part of 30 contributors each creating an exclusive film for the groundbreaking website. Expect Lady Gaga, Craig McDean and more.

Incredible that Stella McCartney is changing such an old British tradition! You go girl!

How gorgeous is Roberto Cavalli‘s 40th Anniversary book? Looks sumptuous…

We love Mary Howard‘s work for Meisel and Annie Leibovitz. Find out from Style.com about this one chair Mary used, that I will name “the supermodel”.

Miscellaneous:

Leslie Sweeney, one of the founders of Art & Commerce is leaving A&C after 28 years. “Leslie was a founding partner of Art + Commerce in 1982 and virtually created the idea that agencies would represent stylists (and hair/makeup artists). During her career, she has shepherded the careers of industry defining artists such as Lori Goldstein, Brana Wolf, Camilla Nickerson, Orlando Pita and Gucci Westman.” Good luck Leslie!

Peter Arnell, the incredible advertising guru behind THAT iconic DKNY campaign, loses 256 pounds (there’s before and after pictures). Inspirational!

Modeling News:

New York Models is touring the US and looking for their next star…

The cult of Kristen McMenamy continues. We love how 2 of the hottest faces in modeling right now are Kristen McMenamy and Freja Beha Erichsen, 2 very unconventional and non-cookie cutter beauties.

Some very handsome new American faces below. Left Erik from Next LA and Brandon from Chosen Management.

Kristen McMenamy heads off a special fashion double header with appearances in two style bibles. First, the iconic Ms. McMenamy snags the cover of August’s Dazed & Confused, with a haunting shot by photog Tierney Gearon in upstate New York. Styled by Karen Langley, in clothes befitting the rustic theme, the story is another example of Dazed’s commitment to cool.

American Vogue takes Kristen in a completely different direction with a sleek editorial by David Sims; with her waist length silver hair and austere demeanor, she compliments the minimal designs from Fendi and Armani perfectly.

Image Credits | Dazed & Confused, Fashion Gone Rogue, Luxx @ tFS

Jacquelyn Jablonski. Deutsch Magazine by David Roemer. (photo courtesy of Atelier Management)

The girl with the most NY shows (31) is especially clean and pristine on the cover of the new Deutsch.

Kristen McMenamy, Francisco Costa, Doutzen Kroes at last week’s Calvin party. Ph: Patrick McMullen courtesy of Calvin Klein.
Hey, any chance to post pictures of modeling legend, Kristen McNemany, I will take it. This photo is the exact reason why Calvin Klein will always be relevant. The embrace of the legendary (Kristen) with a modern day beauty (Doutzen) shows how the brand will always keep you guessing.

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A BIG bits & Bytes: some news is old, some is new, catching people up from fashion week!

Modeling info:

Our incredible Wayne Sterling expounds on the meaning of walking the runways of today.

Craig Arend sits down with Storm’s Sarah Doukas who discovered a young 14 year old lass named Kate Moss.

Looking for the new Black “IT” girl are Elite Models and Essence Magazine.

Missy Rayder, naked and beautiful for V Magazine’s video.

Benetton‘s next campaign face.. it could be you!

Coco Rocha, we adore you! Here she talks, uncensored about the NY Times/Daily News “stories” on her being considered “fat”.

Speaking of Coco, Hilary Rhoda interviews Coco, on Fashion Week Daily.

Ponyryder had 3 stellar interviews with the wonderful Amanda Norgaard, Love magazine cover star Jeneil Williams and Prada opener and closer, Samantha Gradoville.

Arlenis Sosa for Latina Magazine at a party sponsored by Lancome (see pic below). Kind of a big deal as past covergirls have been Jennifer Lopez and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayer. Arlenis talks about how black models need to stick together.

Male models should tremble. Zoolander 2 is in the works.

Another evil and unkind moment in the fashion industry. Frockwriter dissects the mess about Gemma Ward.

Photography:

How do you get started in fashion photography? Tips from the experts are right here.

For female photographers only, here is eye opening advice from A Photo Editor.

Fashionista talks to a Getty photographer.

Style.com shows that Trovata designer John Whitledge, takes a pretty mean picture as well… See his Fashion Week diary with Erin Wasson and Kirsten Dunst.

Fashion and miscellaneous:

LVMH-owned E Luxury is gone, only to be replaced by the Nowness. With that kind of backing, that website should be quite interesting.

One of our favorite casting directors, Daniel Peddle, was featured on the NY Times’ the Moment during Fashion Week (if you missed it!)

Also: if you missed from fashion week…. Incredible insights on Style.com from Cathy Horyn and Robert Duffy from Marc Jacobs on the state of the fashion industry.

Style.com‘s interview with Hedi Slimane. Does he go back to designing? Find out….

Vogue Italia, Vogue Black and Vogue Curvy. Yes, we wish they were one, but hey, at least the dialogue is starting. (The Cut via Jezebel).

Speaking of Vogue, Jezebel talks about how those cover lines are made up (edited out from the September issue). It’s pretty darn funny.

Fashion Week Daily has a deleted scene from the September Issue where Karl Lagerfeld separates us from them (my words not his). Another hilarous moment from Karl.

Lancome sponsored Latina Magazine party: Arlenis (in Alexander Wang) with fellow Dominicans, Kat De Luna and Julissa Bermudez. (Image: Patrick McMullen Co, courtesy of Lancome)

First Jeneil Williams poses for a scintillating LOVE cover shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott and now, equally scandalous covers featuring  Lara Stone , Kristen McMenamy AND Daria Werbowy have surfaced. Which issue will you be picking up? Or do you want all four?

Image Credits | Lara, Kristen  Love Mag Blog &  Daria, Fashionolgoie