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

Fashion shows are well and good, but the true test of a collection’s impact is often played out in the editorial pages. When you have multiple editors reaching for the same pieces over and over again you know a designer has hit a nerve. Even when the styling itself isn’t that noticeably different between images, there are always key changes in presentation that separate fashion stories; whether it is the model choice, the manner in which the photographer chose to present the garment, or even something as simple as color vs. black and white, each team puts its own special stamp on things. Take a look at the way in which different magazines have interpreted two of the most popular pieces within the collection and let us know who you think pulled it off best.

Look No. 48  

Black fitted cashmere top with a black duchess satin skirt embroidered with electric blue flowers.

Saskia de Brauw by Daniel Jackson for Vogue Germany, stylist Christiane Arp

Aymeline Valade by Patrick Demarchelier for Vogue Japan, stylist Melanie Ward

Saskia de Brauw by Ruth Hogben for Another Magazine, stylist Katie Shillingford

Karlie Kloss by Eric Guillemain for Sunday Times Style Magazine, stylist Lucy Ewing

Hanaa Ben Abdesslem by Michelle Ferrara for Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, stylist Elaine Lloyd Jones | Suki Waterhouse by Marc Hom for Tatler, stylist Deep Kailey

Stef Van Der Laan by Luca Guadagnino for CR Fashion Book, stylist Carine Roitfeld

NiNi in Vogue China / Thana Kuhnen by Marcelo Krasilcic for L’Officiel

Look No. 8

Blue and pink embroidered cut-off ballgown with black cigarette pants

Keira Knightley by Mario Testino for American Vogue, stylist Grace Coddington

Milla Jovovich by Peter Lindbergh for Vogue Italia | Saskia de Brauw by Ruth Hogben for Another Magazine

Dior couture illustration by Ignasi Monreal for Spanish V Magazine

Aymeline Valade by Patrick Demarchelier for Vogue Japan, stylist Melanie Ward

Sølve Sundsbø.
Anastasia Barbieri.
Aymeline Valade.
Vogue Italia.

Proportion, color and texture come out to play in Sundsbø’s crisp images of a styled to the nines Valade. With no frills and a simple white background the team manages to make the clothes come to life.

Steven Meisel.
Vogue Italia.
Mackenzie Drazan, Vanessa Axente, Erjona Ala, Lida Fox, Elena Bartels and Julia Nobis. 

An unexpected summer foray into a realm of darkness, styled to the nines by Karl Templer and punctuated by a fresh cast. Who would expect a July cover to feature the ultimate brooding goth girl gang – this is the kind of imagery that keeps us excited about VI.

With an eye for the off-kilter side of feminine imagery, Yelena Yemchuk has made a name for herself in the world of fashion photography, creating striking visuals for magazines like Vogue Italia, Numero, Dazed & Confused and countless others. Though her big break came with the covers for Smashing Pumpkin’s now classic albums, her fashion work is no less stellar. In her latest work for 25 Magazine she taps into Carmen Kass‘s inner chameleon, creating a stripped down showcase for the iconic beauty’s transformation skills.

Transformation is a recurring theme in Yemchuk’s photos, every woman she captures takes on a bold new character, whether it is actress Kirsten Dunst going ethereal at the seashore, or Eniko Mihalik becoming a surrealist masterwork, the changes are always intriguing to see.

Carmen Kass by Yelena Yemchuk for 25 Magazine

Kirsten Dunst by Yelena Yemchuk for Vogue Italia

Eniko Mihalik by Yelena Yemchuk for Tar Magazine

Aline Weber by Yelena Yemchuk for Another Magazine

Constance Jablonski by Yelena Yemchuk for Numero

Every so often Vogue Italia comes out of left field and delivers a cover that features a true fashion legend. This month the honor goes to the incomparable Isabella Rossellini, one of the most photographed women ever and a model who ruled the world’s of fashion and film. Take a look back on her fashionable history, and some of those iconic images.

1982: Isabella by Richard Avedon in American Vogue

1986: With director David Lynch, photograph by Helmut Newton

1986: With actor Kyle Maclachlan in Lynch’s masterpiece, Blue Velvet.

1987: Giving the signature i-D Magazine wink on the cover of a vintage issue shot by Fabrizio Ferri.

1988: Shot by Robert Mapplethorpe

A prolific series of Vogue Italia covers from the 80s, until today.

1990: As bleached blonde bombshell, Perdita Durango in Lynch’s Wild at Heart. A look that went on to inspire several fashion editorials

1990: Alongside daughter Elettra Wiedemann on the cover of Vogue Paris by Brigitte Lacombe

1990: a classic image by Steven Meisel for Allure Magazine

1994: Isabella, alongside generations of legendary models on Vogue Italia‘s 30th Anniversary issue.

1996: Rossellini & Monica Bellucci for Dolce & Gabbana, it doesn’t get anymore Italian than that!

1997: An immaculate black and white by the late Irving Penn.

Man of the moment, Raf Simons covers the latest issue of i-D Magazine in an impressive shot by Willy Vanderperre. Inside, the newly minted Dior designer muses on his final collection for Jil Sander | I-D ONLINE

In a move that surprises no one, Vogue has issued a ban on models under the age of 16. Good thing they got that Vogue Italia cover with the 14 year old Thairine Garcia out for April, because the ban goes into effect with the June issues.

One has to wonder though, how much of this is lip service and how much is going to usher in legitimate change? Girls are still scouted while they are tweens, placed on development boards, sent out on jobs, etc. regardless of whether or not Vogue decrees under 16 year old models unconscionable. That said, having the world’s most prominent magazine take a stand for the rights of models is a major step in the right direction. | NY TIMES

Hong Kong’s YGM is in talks to buy Aquascutum, good news for the troubled label that recently fell into administration. Considering the shared heritage and trench coat stronghold that Burberry and Aquascutum share, it is interesting to look at the differences between the two brands. | WSJ

Experience Australian fashion week through the eyes of photographer Sonny Vandevelde – brace yourself for some bold color. | NY TIMES

Is there a single more ubiquitous luxury item than the Givenchy couture nose rings? Sure those Prada car print skirts are everywhere and you can’t walk down the street without seeing a Celine luggage tote, but nothing is more noticeable than five pounds of metalwork dangling from a beautiful girl’s face.

Add to this that the Givenchy nose rings have all the elements of an editorial frontrunner; undeniable visual impact – check, expensive – check, hard to get your hands on – double check. There was absolutely no way editors could resist themselves and as such the rings have been showing up in every magazine imaginable for the past few months.

Are you still enjoying seeing these beautiful ornaments – or are you ready to move on to the next trend? We admit to experiencing a bit of Givenchy fatigue – considering that the pieces are always styled with Givenchy looks, which is nice but not exactly exciting. Wouldn’t it be interesting to see these paired with something else – maybe mix in one of those other overexposed editorial favorites, Balenciaga Darth Vader visors anyone?

Franzi Mueller by Greg Kadel for Vogue Germany

Jessica Chastain by Paolo Roversi for W Magazine, styling by Edward Enninful

Vlada Roslyakova by Richard Burbridge for Dazed & Confused, styling by Robbie Spencer

Karlie Kloss by Angelo Pennetta for British Vogue

Natasha Poly by Mario Sorrenti for Vogue Paris, styling by Emmanuelle Alt

Grimes by Hedi Slimane for Dazed & Confused

Marie Piovesan by Paolo Roversi for Vogue Italia, styling by Panos Yiapanis

Arthur Gosse by Fabien Kruszelnicki for Hero Magazine