Pirelli 2012

>> After the great unveiling yesterday during a press conference, Mario Sorrenti's "unsexy" version of the Pirelli calendar — for 2012 — was celebrated last night at the Park Avenue Armory in New York. Six of the calendar's 12 models were in attendance, joined by Sorrenti's family, Valentino Garavani, Vera Wang, and more.

>> Mario Sorrenti shot the upcoming Pirelli 2012 with 12 models and actresses — all of which he's worked with before — in Corsica. Among the featured? Isabeli Fontana, Natasha Poly, Saskia de Brauw, Lara Stone, Joan Smalls, Guinevere van Seenus, Malgosia Bela, Edita Vilkevicute, Kate Moss, Milla Jovovich, Margareth Made, and Rinko Kikuchi.
Of the calendar's look, Sorrenti explained: "You know, originally I thought I was going to do very sexy pictures, and when we got there I realized that I didn't want the pictures to be sexy at all . . . I didn't want them to be posing and arching and like sticking their boobs in my face or anything like that."
Thus, he added: "We tried to keep it very simple, there were times where we did just photographs with the model and myself and there was no one around. I think that was the moment when I was able to capture some of the most beautiful photographs . . . You kind of lose yourself and you go with the flow of the moment and just let things happen."
Of including former girlfriend Moss, Sorrenti said: "Kate, I've known for 20 years. I can't do this without her." And Stone said of participating: "In the end you get that one shot, that magical decisive moment. It's not sexy in-your-face, it's more innocent sexy. Don't know why they hired me!" However, she added of the calendar: "I'd like to do it every year till I'm 75."
The full calendar — all 25 pictures — are in the gallery (NSFW).

>> The 2012 Pirelli calendar isn't set to be released until December 6th, but behind-the-scenes images from the shoot — featuring Kate Moss and Lara Stone — are already trickling in. The nature-themed calendar also features models Isabeli Fontana (left), Milla Jovovich, Margaret Madè, Saskia de Brauw, and Rinko Kikuchi — all posed in rustic settings at the remote Murtoli estate in Corsica.

Mario Sorrenti, Moss's ex-boyfriend — and the first Italian to ever shoot for Pirelli — photographed the calendar. The shoot took place just three weeks before the supermodel's July wedding to Jamie Hince. Hince was, reportedly, present on-set.

Click through for eight behind-the-scenes images, shot on location by Alessandro Scotti.