>> BLOWING THE COVER —Model lovers, don't set your hopes high for those September 2008 covers. W plans to feature Kate Hudson shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, Elle will have Jessica Simpson, and Teen Vogue will star Vanessa Hudgens. Curiously missing from the list, however, was who graces the September Vanity Fair, which is rumored to a supermodel extravaganza. [WWD]
Gisele for V54: Trashy in Denim, But Environmentally Friendly
>> The pictures that had everyone gossiping in early April — you know the ones — of Gisele in derriere-bearing ripped jeans, makeup artist James Kaliardos applying lotion, have finally appeared in finished form. Leave it to Mario Testino to fashion three full V 54 covers and an editorial out of trashtastic shredded denim, skimpy metallic bikinis, and of course, Gisele.
In fact, Gisele blames Mario for the clothes (or lack thereof).
"Only Mario [Testino] could make me take those pictures. Ah! The only person that can get me to do stuff like this is Mario. You know what he’s like . . ."
As for those paparazzi pictures, they spoiled the shoot within minutes.
"I have never seen anything like this — after four minutes, Mario’s assistant yells, 'Cover her!' We look back and these guys have lenses this long. They looked like telescopes. There were fifty of them . . . We got there and it was empty — I’m looking at the camera and James [Kaliardos] is putting cream on [my bottom] and everyone is doing their job — and then I scream! So Mario refused to shoot on the beach, they put a robe on me and we went back up the mountain."
Gisele doesn't see what the big deal is about a little derriere.
"You know, people are going to say my butt is showing too much in these — but, I’m sorry, my butt showed more in Victoria’s Secret. For seven years my butt was in every catalog. It’s hypocrisy: those [paparazzi] pictures ran everywhere, and everyone was talking about my butt. This is V Magazine—if you’re going to do something like that, you do it for V."
She hates gossip so much, she doesn't even have a publicist.
"I’ve been a model for ten years and . . . I am the only person I know that does not have [a publicist]. Do you know why? Because I don’t want them to talk about me. For my job I need an agent. Where am I going? What time is my flight? Who am I working with? That’s what I need to know. I have nothing to say to people who gossip about me."
Gisele wants you to think about the bigger picture.
"I paid for a study about violence that is being edited into a book at the end of the year; we researched for three and a half years with fifty sociologists. While everyone is going around saying crazy things about my life I’m concerned with the destruction of our planet. Why don’t they talk about that? Or, forget about what I’m doing altogether, why don’t they talk about what’s going on in the environment in these magazines?"
Full gallery (NSFW) below.
All Aboard the "Kate Express" for August 2008 Vogue
>> Just as suspected, Kate Moss graces Vogue's August "Ageless" issue. The cover may be all kinds of bland — especially considering that Kate is anything but — but within, little tidbits are revealed about her relationship with Sir Philip Green, her upcoming Fall Topshop line, and her clotheshorse tendencies (she's been collecting since she was 15 and has over 1,000 pieces).
Kate loves her handbags.
In her 20s, [Kate] would spend her earnings on Hermès Kelly bags from the Paris store. 'I would go and spend £3,000. That felt quite good.'" . . . She also has "at least 100 Chanel purses."
She's over airports and is saving for a private jet, a la Gisele.
"I'm going to call it the 'Kate Express.'"
She has a pet name for Sir Philip Green.
"When she wants something, she calls me up and goes, 'Uncle Phil, Uncle Phil, please…' " he says, impersonating Kate in a squeaky, high voice.
Just as suspected, Kate's Topshop line is heavily influenced by her own clothes.
Amelia, one of the [Topshop] designers, shows Kate a black silk-and-net dress that is the inspiration for the party dresses. Then she notices Kate's leopard-print trench. "Do you want it?" asks Kate with a grin. "Yes!" the two designers cry in unison. Kate takes the coat off, and it is hung on a sample rail, ready to be reincarnated for the masses. "See" says Kate, "they take the clothes off my back!"
Speaking of, a few details about the Fall Kate Moss for Topshop line . . .
"A slightly Beatles-esque wool sweater with just the right amount of stripes to keep it punky (around $110); there's a charming black chiffon flapper dress that could easily wander into a cocktail party on Park Avenue ($240); . . . a little faux-fur gilet ($100) . . . most of all I want the skinny black sweater with sheer chiffon blouson sleeves ($100)."
>> BLOWING THE COVER —There really is "only one Naomi" Campbell — she's got a stunning August 2008 i-D cover with Stefano Pilati, and what looks to be another stunning 26-page editorial in the new issue of V Magazine. [Models.com, V Magazine]
>> BLOWING THE COVER —Lily Donaldson is long past overdue for a Vogue UK cover, especially with her London blood. She finally joins the ranks of Agyness Deyn, cover regular Kate Moss, Sasha Pivovarova, and Natalia Vodianova this month, nabbing the August 2008 issue for her own. Up-and-coming Australian photographer Emma Summerton did the honors. [Models.com]
Liya, Sessilee, Jourdan, and Naomi Make Four for Vogue Italia
>> What a way to ring in a new day . . . and hopefully a new age. The first photos from the much-hyped July 2008 "black issue" of Vogue Italia have dropped. The cover looks to be a four photo foldout, with vets Liya Kebede and Naomi Campbell joining up-and-comers Jourdan Dunn and Sessilee Lopez for top honors.
From the cover teaser words, expect more of the same mix of the experienced (Alek Wek, Alva Chin, Gail O'Neil, Iman, Kiara Kabukuru, Karen Alexander, Tyra Banks, Veronica Webb, Yasmin Warsame, Pat Cleveland) and the new blood (Arlenis Sosa Pena, Chanel Iman, America's Next Top Model contestant Toccara Jones) inside.
Enjoy your first peek in the gallery below.
*image: source
Gisele Gets Snippy, Tells GQ She's Never Met Anyone With an Eating Disorder
>> I feel like I almost know Gisele Bundchen after reading her interview in the July 2008 issue of GQ — her words are much more telling than the accompanying group of underwear shots and take us through her many moods.
Incredulous Gisele: "People are unbelievable. The other day a girl on my plane was pulling my hair. She was like, 'I just want to check if—' This is all my hair, by the way. I did not have extensions, let me tell you."
Schmoozy Gisele: "How does that [photo] look, the last one?"
French makeup guy: "I want a preent."
Gisele: "You want a print?"
FMG: "I want a preent."
Gisele: [to the reporter] "He is the best."
[They kiss.]
FMG: "No, she ees the best."
Gisele: [almost sadly] "No."
FMG: "She ees."
Gisele: "Please."
FMG: "Well, look at this peecture."
Gisele: "Do you like the last one?"
FMG: "It just confeerms what I’m saying—"
Gisele: "Oh, please."
FMG: "…you are to die for."
Snippy/Generous Gisele: [when asked if she's teaching boyfriend Tom Brady about worldly things] "Your questions are funny. Look, all I’m saying—do you want some ChapStick?—is I’m not teaching anybody anything. Everybody learns from traveling. I think we all do. I really don’t know how to answer that question, I’m sorry."
Snippy Gisele, Take 2: [when told the GQ editor wanted to know if she helps Tom Brady with his modeling] "Oh, my God. I want you to tell your editor that that’s a very stupid question. It’s private. And—nah."
Gisele, In Denial: [when asked about eating disorders] "Look, I’ve never met anyone who has it. I don’t think it’s something that people go around talking about."
Voila, Gisele in a nutshell.
W Magazine Gets Into Bed with Daria, Kate, and Lara This July
>> It's out: This is the secret project Alexander Wang hinted at — but it's something much bigger than just a collaboration between Wang and Kate Moss. W magazine's July 2008 issue is devoted to fashion, and I mean that in the best possible way.
A Bruce Weber-lensed photo places Daria Werbowy, Kate Moss, and Lara Stone on the cover, and that mean troika is joined by Sasha Pivovarova and a whole cabal of up-and-coming designers — think Alexander Wang, Rodarte, Gareth Pugh, Danielle Scutt, Christophe Decarnin of Balmain, plus more — to cavort around for 36-page editorial shot in Miami.
Bruce Weber was the perfect choice to capture the high summer heat in action — favorite images include a portrait of Kate Moss with her father and sister (below), glasses-wearing Jeremy Laing being playfully bullied by a bevy of much tanner, much beefier male models, and Laura and Kate Mulleavy trying on vintage couture hats.

According to Danielle Scutt, she, Louise Goldin, Gareth Pugh, and Georgina Chapman got together during the shoot for a performance of George Michael’s “Freedom! ’90”:
Gareth was playing the washboard, Georgina had maracas, and me and Louise had tambourines. Some of us then went back to the hotel and jumped in the pool. When I woke up the next morning, I couldn’t find my trainers or jeans.
Another fun fact: Jason Wu, besides designing his eponymous line, is the creative director and partner of a $5 million company, Integrity Toys Inc., for whom he develops dolls.
Anyway, back to the good stuff — full editorial here (NSFW).
>> THE MODELIZER —Plan your newstand run now: The September 2008 issue of Vanity Fair is set to be supermodel extravaganza, with Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, and Claudia Schiffer all making their way into the pages. Linda is said to be a strong contender for the September VF cover, and she's also back on set with Steven Meisel for another Vogue Italia shoot — yep, it's very soon after this month's cover. Ayyyy! [TI, TI]
>> BLOWING THE COVER —She's been on a cover (or two) of almost every edition of Vogue under the sun, and yet, Sasha Pivovarova has never gotten to wink her way onto a cover of i-D. Until now, that is — she's got not one, but two different covers for the magazine's July 2008 issue. [CR Blog]

