>> Lara Stone is being heralded as the beginning of a move away from prepubescent models — a rep at her agency IMG confirmed to The Cut that her size varies between a US 4 and 6, the latter "on her heavier days," which is substantial compared to the usual size 0 or 2 model. Though IMG currently calls her an "exception," agents apparently suspect a shift to fuller figures (in model terms) will happen eventually.

That said, Lara's figure has no shortage of fans — Carine Roitfeld devoted an entire issue of Vogue Paris to her, Karl Lagerfeld made her his most recent couture bride at Chanel, and she graces the August 2009 cover of W, within which Steven Klein calls her “the girl with the X-rated lips." In fact, fashion photographers love her. Bruce Weber chimes in with: "She's big, bad, and beautiful."  And Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott praise her: "The great thing about Lara is that she is naturally already such a strong character herself. She inspires us to take a better picture.”

But currying favor wasn't always so easy.  One editor-in-chief suggested that she might get her trademark gapped front teeth fixed:

“She was just wondering what we were going to do about my teeth,” Stone says, laughing, “and I thought she was talking about the fact that they are so yellow, so I told her I would quit smoking, which I still haven’t done.” Now, Stone adds, “I quite like them. It makes me different.”

And sometimes she still feels fat. »

>> Vogue Italia September Cover Hints, August 2009 Vogue Paris Not All Daria Werbowy —Yesterday, we got quite a few September cover star confirmations, but Vogue Italia was left out. Now, thanks to The Imagist, we have a few clues — September 2009 is set to be a "multiple cover extravaganza," each cover a standalone — "think compelling blonde (or two) weighed against a surprisingly unique choice of a brunette." Meanwhile, Rihanna — who Anna Wintour is rumored to have passed on — is said to have an upcoming VI editorial by Steven Klein. And as for August 2009 Vogue Paris, which was previously reported to focus entirely on Daria Werbowy, it seems that she's not exclusive: other models appear in the entirely Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin-lensed issue. [The Imagist, Fashin, Fashist]

>> The fate of Escada is still unknown, but it's not so for Ossie Clark. The iconic label known for its flowing printed dresses in the sixties and seventies announced its closure today.

The recently relaunched label was purchased by Marc Worth, founder of online industry resource WGSN, in 2007 and restarted under the direction of little-known designer Avsh Alom Gur at London Fashion Week in February 2008. Gur resigned in March to focus on his eponymous line and was replaced by Nargess Gharani, one half of London label Gharani Strok.

As for the official company line on the closure, a spokesman relayed: "Due to market conditions, developing the business has been challenging and the decision has been made to cease trading."

>> In Early '90s, Hamish Bowles Went Drag Queen in Couture —Nowadays, Hamish Bowles is known for his dandy attire, but back in the early '90s, he broke out some of his prodigious couture collection for Kinky Gerlinky, a London club night that ran from 1989 to 1993.  Apparently he was partial to wearing Balenciaga ballgowns from the '50s — and there's a video of the man in action (see 1:00). [BryanBoy]

The video! »

>> Isabella Blow, discoverer of Stella Tennant, Sophie Dahl, Hussein Chalayan, Philip Treacy, Alexander McQueen — and muse to the latter two — passed away at 48 a little over two years ago after ingesting weedkiller.  The motive was suspected to be a recent ovarian cancer diagnosis; Blow had a history of at least two suicide attempts, one involving her throwing herself from the elevated Hammersmith Flyover road in London.

Needless to say, there's a story to be told, and two different biographies, both scheduled for 2010, are in the works, reports the New York Observer. The first, Blow by Blow: The Story of Isabella Blow, is co-written by Isabella's husband of 18 years, Detmar Blow, and author Tom Sykes, who first met Isabella when he was 20 and his sister Plum Sykes was her assistant at Vogue.  

Anna Wintour will be interviewed »