The cover and editorial, “Collections,” for the July issue of Vogue Italia is an over-the-top photo set to be sure. Depicted in spectacular large spreads are the most sensational Fall/Winter 2012 collections, augmented by dynamic compositions and considerable sets. The collections of Miu Miu, Alexander McQueen, Givenchy, Commes des Garcons, Bottega Veneta, Prada, Marc Jacobs, Balenciaga, Lanvin, Versace, Rick Owens, and Louis Vuitton all take on a distinctive personality as the set and styling of each photo keeps the disposition of each collection in mind. Stylist Karl Templer creates moods that fluctuate drastically. From the lustrous dark attitude of the Givenchy collection to the quirky and amusing Commes des Garcons collections, the styling is reflective of each collections’ distinguishing personality. Similarly, set designer Mary Howard interprets the environment for each collection keeping the tone of the editorial impressive and playful. Models Vanessa Axente, Elena Bartels, Ros Georgiou, Hedvig Palm, Julia Nobis, Erjona Ala, Mackenzie Drazan, Lida Fox, Lula Osterdahl, and Ophelie Rupp are the embodiment of each look with poses of such energy and intensity. Thrilling and entertaining, “Collections” is not simply about the sensational photography or the extensive sets, but indeed about the captivating collections and their different characters. The nature of each collection and the temperament of their customer is so fantastically diverse that the appeal of “Collections” lies in the assortment.

By: Sarah Humphries

Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld  have revisited Chanel’s classic black jacket in a digital exhibition featuring 113 photos of celebrities, personalities, and style icons. Each photo has a special character in the unique way the wearer styles the jacket. Alice Dellal roughens hers up with a studded collar, net undershirt and leather vest. Julia Restoin Roitfeld cinches her jacket tightly and pairs it with a graceful floral headdress. Uma Thurman looks like a 1930s screen siren with her voluminous curls and ruffled blouse and, contrastingly, Kanye West looks modern and polished, and quite menswear, in the exact same garment. Jewelry designer Waris Ahluwalia’s jacket fits like a glove and he accessorizes it with a glittering feather pin. The diversity of the subjects and their variant styling shows how classic Chanel garments can be used creatively to fit the wearer. Stunning portraits and an expression of timelessness that crosses genders, generations, and social categories, this digital exhibition is definitely worth perusing.

See all of the photos in the exhibition HERE.

By: Sarah Humphries

Tiffany & Co, a jewelry brand which has become synonymous with romance wrapped in a Tiffany blue box, has launched a new ‘What Makes Love True’ campaign. For true love captured in pictures, the famous jewelry brand enlisted the two of the most famous street style photographers, who also happen to be head-over-heels in love with each other, The Satorialist‘s Scott Schuman and Garance Doré. One of fashion’s favorite couples, the two constantly profess their love and adoration for one another and never miss the opportunity to collaborate.

For the campaign, the two photographers curated a collection of pictures that capture couples in moments of affection and embrace, as well as relationship anecdotes in the form of post-it notes addressed to lovers, couple’s shoes situated next to each other, and even their very own monogrammed mugs side-by-side. The photographs were then filtered through the exceedingly popular iPhone app, Instagram.

“I love this project Scott and I did for Tiffany. Mostly because I love working with Scott, but also because it’s just so romantic: the idea was to photograph couples during moments that evoked the love of Tiffany.” gushed Doré on her blog.

“It was fun thinking about the small, tender gestures that a couple offers to each other– which are really the fuel that keeps a relationship special.” explained Schuman on The Sartorialist. “ I love that Garance makes my oatmeal for me in the morning while I run out to get our coffee.  They’re both just simple small acts but they make life happy.”

In true fashion of both photographers, the two don’t exactly opt for the average mere mortals of the world for these images, but rather those with exceptional genetic codes. For example one photograph by Schuman shows stunning actress Piper Perabo, pictured with her equally handsome (and well dressed) boyfriend. The caption sweetly reads, “What I love most about you is your ability to make me laugh.”

However, beginning January 23rd, Tiffany is inviting anyone to upload their personal photographs of love using a special filter app, which will be available on iTunes, and to tweet said photographs with the hashtag #truelovepictures. The campaign’s clever juncture coincides with the weeks leading up to the most lovey-dovey of all holidays, Valentine’s Day.

Lauren Valenti is founder of fashion and music website, TheVogueVibes.com , as well as a Contributing Editor to the My Fashion Database

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The Pirelli Calendar has become one of fashions most interesting traditions, each year a major photographer goes off and captures models and muses who pose nude for the calendar. Last year Karl Lagerfeld had the honor and for 2012 it’s Mario Sorrenti. The photographer captured beautiful artistic nude shots of models Kate Moss, Lara Stone, Natasha Poly, Joan Smalls, Isabeli Fontana, Milla Jovovich, Guinevere Van Seenus, Saskia de Brauw, Malgosia Bela, Edita Vilkeviciute, Margareth Made, and Rinko Kikuchi.

Interesting tid bit, Sorrenti and Moss used to date, but this shoot was all platonic as Moss is now married. The shoot actually took place back in May, but with the anticipation of the new year upon us, the images have just made their way onto the web. An interactive online component has been added this year, where a subscriber can pick and choose the models he wants to appear. For instance, if someone doesn’t want to part with Lara Stone, they can opt to continue to have her image up. Subscribers are given a login to access to the exclusive features on the Pirelli Calendar website.

The girls are shot primarily in black and white and the images are nothing short of incredible photographic artwork. Confession, we spent awhile ogling them too!

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Since we call California home, we’re loving this “Winter Break” editorial in Lucky magazine. Even though most of the country is dealing with snow storms and frigid temperatures, we’re just sad the thermostat has dropped below 70 degrees (it’s a rough life, we know). Not to mention winter is the only “break” us grown ups have left (later spring break crazy days), hence why we’re oogling this editorial with a little extra joy this season.

The shoot may provide you a vivid break from your cool climate, and for us it makes us want to take a trip to Palm Springs, CA. As the whole editorial looks like it could’ve been shot there, actually we think it was. Photographer Tierney Gearon captured all of the high contrast imagery. Our favorite? The image with the model in hot pink gazing up at the sky next to a rocket… Looks like things haven’t exactly blasted off for her yet.

But you can have some fun by browsing the full shoot on MyFDB.

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Model Paz De La Huerta is a force to be reckoned with! The leggy brunette poses clad in black panties with a matching bra for Flaunt magazine. Her kick ass attitude is revealed through her editorial entitled, “You Better Paz Yourself Before You Play Yourself“. Paz is best known for her lead role as Lucy Danziger on Boardwalk Empire.  A major must watch! It’s hard to believe she’s only 27; the beauty began modeling at the young age of 14. The combination of her acting skills and beauty make her a hot threat, so we think she has a bright career ahead of her.

For this Flaunt shoot photog Warwick Saint shot the model-actress in some uber seductive poses that are sinfully stunning. The black and white photography makes her shots even more lust worthy.

See the rest of this editorial on MyFDB and check out Paz working the camera in this behind-the-scenes video for the New York Post.

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I don’t know what’s more interesting about this shoot, that Lindsey Wixson could easily be the poster child for the girl next door turned high fashion supermodel or that this shoot is from online fashion hub Style.com’s new print publication. In an era where print is shrinking and models seem to be taking over, it’s interesting to see the website-turned-magazine select Wixson for their first cover.

Her editorial that ensues is entitled, “This American Girl” and follows the model through a small town like setting all the way to the bright lights of the runway. What’s cool is the publication gave her not only one ginormous editorial, but two! We start out by seeing Wixson do normal people things like go to the dentist, shoot guns, and do laundry. (Okay, the guns part may not be that “normal” for everyone.) Meanwhile, the second half of her shoot, “This American Girl Part 2” continues to take us on a journey with Wixson. Part deux is much more high fashion focused with dreamy Parisian backgrounds…Oh la la! 

You can see more of Wixson in Part 1 and Part 2 of her “American Girl” shoot on MyFDB.

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Are those flowers in your hair or are you just happy to see me? Supermodel cover girls were beautified for a makeup and hair spread in Vogue Paris. Simply titled, “Cover Girls” (which is what they all are) readers get up close with the faces of Natasha Poly, Isabeli Fontana, Izabel Goulart, Karolina Kurkova, Arizona Muse (pictured), and Hanaa Ben Abdesslem. The shoot may remind of those days when you used to play dress up and get all fancy with your hair and makeup. The girls each take on a lively persona for photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin.

Cosmetic-wise nude lips and faces are seen throughout a few of the shots and sultry orange pout makes its way into two shots, which we love. Thank you makeup artist, Lisa Butler.

Give yourself some beauty inspiration by viewing the full editorial on MyFDB.

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It was Beyonce who said it best with her lyrics, “Who run the world? GIRLS!”  However, it looks like big names in modeling are complimented with even bigger makeup for this “Run The World, Girls” editorial in V magazine. Proving that models do in fact have that fashion edge over celebrities who have been taking over magazine covers for years now. Their cover makes us yearn for the return of the times of iconic modeling. Model crushes Joan Smalls, Candice Swanepoel, Lindsey Wixson, Bambi Northwood-Blyth, Sui He, and Hanaa Ben Abdesslem all posed for photographer Terry Richardson in some very vivid looks.

Above we see Candice & Joan hooping around in some haute makeup looks applied by Aaron De Mey. The genius behind the wardrobe is this shoot was none other than Carine Roitfeld herself, who’s eclectic styling always amazes the camera.

Brose the full eye-shot editorial on MyFDB.

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Just because a woman is topless doesn’t mean she has to illicit some trashy pornographic pose. Photographer duo Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott tastefully capture Anja Rubik and Sasha Pivovarova in the buff for this dangerously sexy and stylish editorial in Vogue Paris called, “Fatale“. The shoot is a mix of black & white images and high contrast colored photography. The girls aren’t naked the entire time either, but there is a sizable amount of boob-age, it is Vogue Paris after all, where nudity is nothing to flinch at. Maybe one day Vogue US will catch up to the artistic ways of their European offspring.

Until then, see the full “Fatale” editorial on MyFDB.

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