>> INSIDER WIRE —Introducing two September 2008 Vanity Fair cover shots that could have been. Too bad Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, and Stephanie Seymour were beat out in the end by Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. [Chic Report]

»Bee Shaffer turns 21 today, and is celebrating at mom Anna Wintour's country house near Mastic, Long Island this weekend [Style File]

»Karen Elson nabs the September 2008 Vogue UK cover [Models.com]

»Kate Schelter and Charlotte Ronson love their neon Alexander Wang [Chic Report]

»Sean Avery wore shorts suits during his time at Vogue [The Cut]

»Patrick Robinson shows how Gap denim is done [Nylon]


»A second shot from Lanvin Fall 2008 [TFS]

»Fashion editor fave Current/Elliott, now stocked at eLuxury [Racked]

»Raquel Zimmermann, spotted at Whole Foods [Fashionista]
*image: source

>> INSIDER WIRE —Did Erin Fetherston get married recently?  I don't recall seeing any announcement, but an article today refers to her fiance Hedi Ferjani as her husband, and a quick look at her "official page" MySpace identifies her as married. If it's true, congrats! [Style File, MySpace]

>> In the past couple of years the fashion industry has come under fire on two separate issues: for showing a lack of diversity and for promoting an increasingly slim silhouette. In the past two months, Vogue Italia provided a whirlwind answer to the first issue, but as for the latter issue, a new study may halt any forseeable progress.  

The research shows that although ads showing thin models make women feel worse about themselves, they make the same women feel better about the brand featured. In fact, despite the negative effect on their body image, the women studied preferred ads showing thin models. And get this: They were more likely to buy products featured in the thin model ads than ones showing "regular-size models."

With justification like this, and especially in the languishing economic climate we're in, there is no doubt that brands will continue to cast tiny models in their ad campaigns — regardless of the unhealthy eating habits those models have to use to achieve "the right size." It's a dirty, dirty, spiral we're in . . .
*image: source

>> THE MODELIZER —Did Erin Wasson get the idea for her $1000+ jewelry line Low Luv that debuted on Alexander Wang's Fall 2008 runway (left) from Bliss Lau's jewelry collection (right)?  Bliss seems to think so, and the styles are definitely very similar . . . [Fashionista]

>> THE ZEITGEIST —The original run of the July 2008 Vogue Italia sold out in the US and the UK within 72 hours of hitting stands, followed up by reprinting of 30,000 copies for the US, 10,000 for the UK, and 20,000 for Italy.  By sheer numbers, the issue was a runaway success, with no question that black women can sell magazines. In the aftermath, the lasting impact of the issue is starting to be called into question, especially with the follow-up August 2008 Vogue Italia featuring all white models on the cover. [Jezebel, Time]

>> We've seen Behati Prinsloo in goofy videos for Victoria's Secret PINK, but she's temporarily traded in her silly college girl persona to bring out the seductress for The Virgins's "Rich Girls" video, which dropped online last night.  Behati filmed the video in early May at Lit in the East Village, and if there's one thing Victoria's Secret has taught her, it's how to work that lingerie (which is, ironically, Agent Provocateur).

»Agyness Deyn has hired a personal assistant [Fashionista]

»Vogue Nippon editor Anna Dello Russo, times three! [The Sartorialist]

»Mary-Kate Olsen smells like teen spirit [Jezebel]

»Eniko Mihalik, Fall 2008 Gucci girl, upcoming Vogue Paris girl [Of the Minute, The Cut]

»First look: Daria Werbowy for David Yurman Fall 2008 [TFS]