Transparency was all over the S/S13 runways and as the season draws closer it seems fitting to explore one of its dominant trends. The house whose designs exemplified the look was VALENTINO, where designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli showed a variety of pieces that utilized transparency expertly, revealing skin but keeping the demure sophistication the brand has become known for. Whether they were dazzling with delicate embroidery, or creating a sublime showcase for the body via cutouts, the duo set the standard for diaphanous dressing.

One piece in particular took the look to its logical endpoint and dazzled with its whimsical cheekiness. The PVC trenchcoat embellished with the line’s signature rockstuds has become an editorial favorite, with stylists providing their own take on the Valentino look. The trench lends itself to a myriad of different interpretations and stylists did not disappoint, creating a variety of looks that range from sensual, to avant-garde. When a garment can go from the all out sexy of Missy Rayder‘s powerful image in Numero, to the easy cool on the back of Angela Lindvall it more than proves its versatility.

Vogue Italia - Ph. Paolo Roversi | Styling – Cathy Edwards | Model – Guinevere Van Seenus | Hair – Shon | Makeup – Yadim

Numero - Ph. Greg Harris | Styling – Elizabeth Sulcer | Model – Missy Rayder | Hair - Holli Smith | Makeup - Benjamin Puckey

Purple Diary - Ph. Max Snow | Styling - Vanessa Traina (Paris: Management + Artists, New York: Management + Artists) | Model - Iekeliene Stange | Hair - Tamara Mcnaughton | Makeup - Hung Vanngo

V Magazine - Ph. Sharif Hamza (Cadence New York) | Styling - Tom Van Dorpe (Paris: Management + Artists, New York: Management + Artists) | Hair - Shay Ashual | Makeup - Maud Laceppe

Vogue Paris - Ph. Mario Sorrenti | Styling -Marie Chaix | Model - Anja Rubik | Hair – James Pecis | Makeup - Yadim

Elle Spain - Ph. Juan Aldabaldatrecu | Styling - Inmaculada Jiménez | Model - Angela Lindvall |

Vogue Germany - Ph. Knoepfel & Indlekofer | Styling – Nicola Knels | Model - Maria Bradley | Hair - Rita Marmor | Makeup - Benjamin Puckey

InStyle UK - Ph. Arved Colvin-Smith | Styling: Amanda Bellan | Hair: Soichi Inagaki | Make-up: Natsumi Narita |Manicure: Katie Jane Hughes

Marie Claire Magazine - Ph. Dancian | Styling – Nina Sterghiou | Hair – Kenshin Asano | Make-up – Aya Komatsu

Vogue China - Ph. Boo George | Stylist - Victoria Young | Model - Katlin Aas

L’Officiel - Ph. Jonathan Segade | Styling: Alexandra Elbim | Model – Theres Alexandersson | Hair: Marc Orsatelli | Make-up: Eny Whitehead

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

Every so often a fashion story lets you into the real world of a model and shows you another side of her persona. Girl of the moment, Joan Smalls shares the spotlight with her father Eric and sisters Erika & Betsy, in the latest issue of American Vogue and the resulting editorial is a pure delight. Norman Jean Roy shoots the stunning family in their hometown of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, while Tabitha Simmons styles them in striking looks from Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana & Rag & Bone. Take a look at the gorgeous behind the scenes video for even more of Joan & her family – plus see the full story in the August issue of Vogue.

Images courtesy of Vogue / Condé Nast

Vogue’s August issue featuring Marion Cotillard by Peter Lindbergh

The ads keep on coming, check out a few more of our faves from the season – take a look back at our previous campaign favorites post too.

Balenciaga

While we can’t imagine either Nicolas Ghesquière or Steven Meisel spending a lazy weekend at the shore, the Balenciaga campaign is set in such an idyll. Fresh faces Anniek Kortleve, Linn Arvidsson, Hirschy Hirschfelder, Julier Bugge, Juliet Ingleby and Rosie Tapner lay out on the dunes in those eccentric looks from F/W.

Chanel

Simple, clean and led by a stellar cast, Chanel’s fresh ads feature Kati Nescher, Lindsey Wixson & Cora Emmanuel as styled by Carine Roitfeld. Naturally, Karl Lagerfeld is behind the camera – which depending on your perspective you either love or hate, that said the casting on this is flaw free.

Dolce & Gabbana

A taste of Italian nostalgia shot by Giampaolo Sgura and featuring Monica Bellucci, Bianca Balti and Bianca Brandolini – each image feels like a still from a Pasolini film.

Valentino

Valentino once again gives us a vision of pure class from the iconic Deborah Turbeville. Elegantly color coordinated looks on Jac Jagaciak, Caroline Brasch Nielsen and Frida Gustavsson - what’s not to love?

Fendi

When you have Joan Smalls and Karl Lagerfeld you don’t really need much else. With the natural setting and powerful poses, this new ads remind us a bit of Anja Rubik‘s S/S 10 ads for the luxe line. 

It is no secret that fashion frequently cribs from cinema for editorial inspiration and in the latest Vogue Paris, Terry Richardson recreates the look and feel of John Cassavetes’ film, Gloria. With Joan Smalls taking on the titular role and Géraldine Saglio styling, the VP version of things is considerably more glamourous, but the story is essentially the same – former mob mistresses becomes accidental guardian of a young boy. On the big screen that means shoot outs and grit and in the pages of Vogue that means playground trips and bright red Valentino gowns.

Both the edit and its inspiration are heavy on early 80s / late 70s chic, but we wouldn’t have minded if Joan went all badass and started taking down mobsters. We know the era of Emmanuelle Alt means that Vogue Paris is kindler and gentler, but with source material this fierce it seems a shame not to take things to the next level.

With a selection of high gloss editorials from fashion’s coolest creatives Double Magazine‘s latest issue is a must have. The large format and sleek selection of high fashion favorites from Valentino, Balenciaga and more, make this the perfect eye-candy for the chic-set. Don’t take our words for it though, have a look look inside the issue; see if you can spot the strategically placed Chanel Camelia brooch.

Kinga Rajzak by Roe Ethridge

styling: Marie Chaix| make up: Lisa Houghton | hair: Duffy

Sojourner Morrell by Steven Pan

styling: Camille Bidault Waddington | make up: Inge Grognard | hair: Marion Anée

Meghan Collison by Horst Diekgerdes

styling: Sabina Schreder | make up: Maria Olsson | hair: sébastien richard | set design: pierre glandier

The romantic vision of Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli’s spring Valentino collection is brought to life by Deborah Turbeville for the brand’s latest campaign. With Georgia O’Keefe and Tina Modotti as inspirations, Chiuri & Piccioli looked to create “a fantasy setting for a new poetic femininity.” Shot in Mexico, the images featuring Bette Franke, Fei Fei Sun, Zuzanna Bijoch, Maud Welzen & Clement Chabernaud are as ethereal and beautiful as we’ve come to expect from Turbeville and serve as the perfect showcase for Chiuri & Piccioli’s decadently feminine designs.

Crystal Renn.
Alana Zimmer.
Arthur Elgort.

Fashion’s master of good clean fun takes two of the industry’s most beautiful girls on a lighthearted trip to the big top for Vogue Russia. Clowns, acrobats and jugglers abound but Crystal and Alana steal the show in festive looks from Chanel and Valentino.