Alexei Hay

>> For the first time in over eight years, Elle has placed a model on its cover. Not just one model, in fact, but rather four: “We felt it was time to show the sexy side of fashion again, enlisting four of the runway’s super seductive models – Miranda Kerr, Chanel Iman, Adriana Lima, and Doutzen Kroes," says editor Robbie Myers. "These covers harken to what made Elle Elle: Shot outside, drenched in sunlight, color, and of course accessories, the women look right back at you with all the personal and sexual confidence in the world.” The four models, who appear on the cover of Elle's October 2011 issue — on newsstands Sept. 20 — were styled by Joe Zee and shot by Alexei Hay. Erin Wasson was the last model to cover Elle, for the magazine's September 2003 issue.

Watch a behind-the-scenes video from the shoot, below.

>> The biggest issues of the year — for September — are trickling in, so who was chosen to be a big newsstand seller for each major fashion book?  Both Harper's Bazaar UK and Vogue UK chose models — Natalia Vodianova by Paola Kudacki and Kate Moss by Mario Testino, respectively — while Harper's Bazaar and Vogue went with actresses — Leighton Meester by Terry Richardson and Charlize Theron (the latter of which is not yet out).  American Vogue's choice of an actress is no surprise — in upcoming documentary The September Issue, the magazine's creative director Grace Coddington credits Anna Wintour with foreseeing the power of using celebrities on covers before anyone else — but the model/celebrity divide between the two countries is striking. 

Meanwhile at Elle, both UK and US versions chose actresses: the former Lindsay Lohan by Rankin, the latter Jennifer Aniston (a well-known strong newsstand seller) by Alexei Hay.