It is always nice to having modeling legends appearing on those coveted covers, but nothing is more exciting than charting the rise of a new star.Vogue Paris‘s June/July cover is a beachy shot by Mario Sorrenti where Andreea Diaconu steals the show. Looking reminiscent of Brooke Shields in The Blue Lagoon, Andreea conveys all the sensuality and beauty necessary for Sorrenti’s erotically tinged imagery.

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

It’s cover vs. cover in this roundup of the month’s fashion hits. Let us know which covers were your favorites and which one’s didn’t quite make the cut.

ANDROGYNOUS APPEAL

Both Saskia de Brauw and Milla Jovovich have an innately stylish vibe that sets them apart from other cover stars, so seeing their faces peering out from the newsstand is always a treat. On February’s Vogue Russia Saskia provides a bit of androgynous edge to Paolo Roversi‘s moody blue imagery in a serious yet sensual cover. Milla J on the other hand is looking resplendent in Saint Laurent Paris on Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin‘s New York themed cover of the new Vogue Paris.

SASKIA ON VOGUE RUSSIA OR MILLA ON VOGUE PARIS – WHICH COVER GETS YOUR VOTE?

2 SIDES OF CONSTANCE

February brings double the Constance Jablonski for you to enjoy, with two very different Vogue covers. Vogue Germany‘s Alexi Lubomirski (New York: Management + Artists, Paris: Management + Artists) image offers a sultry vision of the Estee Lauder face, complete with dark lips and a retro chic bob worthy of a classic film siren. Patrick Demarchelier shows another side of Constance on Vogue China‘s springy cover shot, a simple portrait that is about as pretty as it gets.

SULTRY CONSTANCE OR FLOWERY CONSTANCE – EVERYBODY WINS!

BATTLE OF THE BLONDES

It is hard to find a flaw on Scarlett Johansson, but how does Elle UK‘s Rankin cover with the Avengers beauty compare to their one and only Anja Rubik? Both stars are clad in minimalist chic, both are looking phenomenal, but ultimately Anja’s cover is the more dynamic of the two. Naturally that means it is also the more difficult one to get your hands on, if you’re in London head on over to Selfridges to get this limited edition Elle cover.

SCARLETT’S ELLE COVER OR ANJA’S ELLE COVER – WHICH GETS YOUR VOTE?

THE TEASERS

LOVE Magazine‘s new ‘Clean Issue’ may not have debut just yet, but they really know how to amp up the anticipation. The teaser shots of models of the moment, Cara Delevingne and Edie Campbell by Sølve Sundsbø are elegant without losing any of LOVE’s trademark cool.

CARA OR EDIE – WHICH LOVE TEASER GETS YOUR VOTE?

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

Get in the mood for summer with this classic Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin shot of Daria Werbowy for Vogue Paris

The weather may be unpredictable, but there is no denying that summer is upon us. From a beauty standpoint that means experiencing the season’s newest and best fragrances in all their heady glory. Take a look at this line up of refreshing, effervescent and downright intoxicating scents perfect for the summer.

Serge Lutens L’Eau Froide – Lutens scents always go for the esoteric, so it comes as no surprise that L’Eau Froide was inspired by “fresh air in the rusty water pipes.” Unusual, but the end result is a bracing blast of unisex verbena and mint that provides a much needed dose of cool.

INEKE Balmy Days & Sundays – The hotter it gets the more things start to feel out of control, but Ineke’s soothing green Balmy Days & Sundays creates an instant aura of tranquility. The scent is soothing, fresh and just crisp enough keep things exciting. The winning combination of Freesia, Grass, Honeysuckle and Mimosa is perfect for when the temperature creeps up past 90. Don’t let the name fool you, Sunday may be a day for relaxation but Ineke’s lightweight chypre doesn’t lack for sophistication.

Jo Malone Wild Bluebell – Delicate, enveloping and ever so slightly sweet, Jo Malone’s unique combo of persimmon, lily of the valley and eglantine is simply delightful. Floral lovers rejoice, summer doesn’t have to mean giving up the flowers you love so much – put the Fracas back on the shelf and try a lighter variation. The almost aquatic florals in Wild Bluebell are subtle and elegant.

L’Artisan Batucada – One word – Brazil. Batucada is named after a style of samba and has notes that call to mind a Caipirinha – lime, coconut, sugar and a bit of Tiaré flower for good measure, coming together to form a the perfect fizzy cocktail and ultimate exhilarating burst.

Roberto Cavalli – The Cavalli name promises sex appeal, trendiness and a certain rebellious spirit that infuses the house’s daring designs and the namesake scent more than lives up to this reputation. Fronted by Elisa Sednaoui, the amber and pink pepper focused blend is decadent and appealing without being overwhelming. A spritz of this on a steaming summer evening is guaranteed to make you feel your sexiest.

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.

As fashion’s foremost purveyor of nomad chic, Hans Feurer‘s images are unmistakable. Though his body of work is diverse, the pictures that stand out most tend to feature a series of Feurer signatures; layered undone styling, exotic locations and bold tribal makeup. Look at his latest stories for Vogue Paris and Vogue Japan respectively and you’ll see all the trademarks of his aesthetic. VP’s Karmen Pedaru story goes for a harder edge, while his images of Constance Jablonski are all about highlighting her refined beauty, but both stories hinge on variations of the same idea. Take a glimpse back at Feurer’s work over the years and see how he developed the style he’s now known for.

2012 – Karmen Pedaru for Vogue Paris

2012 – Constance Jablonski for Vogue Japan

2011 – Jourdan Dunn for Vogue Paris

2011 – Natasha Poly for Vogue Paris

2010 – Tony Ward for GQ Style Germany

2008 – Erin Heatherton for Muse Magazine

2008 – Scott Barnhill

2007 Jessica Miller for Self Service no. 27

2001 – Erin Wasson for Vogue Paris

1991 – Beverly Peele for Elle France

1983 - American Vogue

1983 – Kenzo