>> After missing out on the Chanel Mobile Art opening and the Versace-hosted Whitney gala earlier this week, Anna Wintour was back in fine form — with Karl Lagerfeld at her side and Chanel on her person — at the Fashion Group International's Night of Stars last night. It was a night of family — Donatella Versace picked up the Superstar Award as Allegra Beck Versace looked on, Franca Sozzani was honored with her son Francesco Carrozzini in attendance — and friends — honorees Christopher Bailey and Francisco Costa brought Kate Bosworth and Ashley Olsen, respectively. Host Simon Doonan kept it light, at one point joking that Carla Sozzani had to make it back to the Marriott Marquis in time for a speed-dating session.
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Franca Sozzani
Anna Wintour Makes It Back for A Night of Stars
Chanel Mobile Art Opening Misses Anna Wintour, Brings Back McBeha
>> Despite a scathing review in The New York Times yesterday, the" black hole of bad art and superficial temptations," otherwise known as the Chanel Mobile Art exhibition, brought out the well-heeled last night. Editors were in full force — Carine Roitfeld and Franca Sozzani swarmed Karl Lagerfeld upon his arrival, Glenda Bailey and Amy Astley made early cameos — but there was no Anna Wintour in sight . . . nor Bee Shaffer for that matter. Strange, considering how close they are with Karl — Bee was at the Versace-hosted Whitney gala the night before, but no Anna there either. But speaking of missing persons — Catherine McNeil and Freja Beha Erichsen fans will be happy to know that after their well-documented disappearances during Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks, they've popped up again — together, no less.
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Suzy Menkes Gets Her Twenty Years of Pomp(adour) and Circumstance
>> Suzy Menkes's 1.7 million-plus words during her twenty years as fashion editor at the International Herald Tribune were commemorated on Saturday with a special video. "You've made me cry . . . To earn a glowing review from you is the holy grail of fashion," John Galliano declared. Anna Wintour, Franca Sozzani, Karl Lagerfeld and then some all honored the Samurai, Olivier Theyskens with his words as much as his pompadour hairdo — which apparently got a big laugh. Even Marc Jacobs chimed in — but only with kind words, and no sticking out of the tongue. But let's be honest — in the middle of show season, who would dally with such an influential reviewer?
>> INSIDER WIRE — Anna Wintour loves her silence, Alexandra Shulman opposes wearing fur, Carine Roitfeld doesn't do comfort, and Franca Sozzani is all for Prada lace: The ultimate breakdown on the top four Vogue editors, their looks, likes, and dislikes. [The Moment]
POP Goes Black, White, and Prada for Fall 2008
>> Franca Sozzani is feeling it, and now Katie Grand is too: the six covers of POP Fall 2008 are evenly split between three black models (Jourdan Dunn, Naomi Campbell, Oluchi Onweagba) and three white models (Natalia Vodianova, Amber Valletta, Agyness Deyn), styled as "Hot Nuns" in Prada and photographed by Sebastian Faena.
Jourdan, with her Frida Kahlo brows, and Agyness, with her holy pose are most striking, but I for one can't wait to see the Agyness Deyn editorial inside we've been talking about for months. You know, the one where Ryan McGinley had her jumping nude off a fire escape?
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August 2008 Proves Vogue Italia Is Still A Fan of Black Models
>> After all the hype the July 2008 issue of Vogue Italia garnered, questions arose as to whether the issue was a one-time publicity stunt or an actual attempt at industry change. When the August 2008 Vogue Italia cover dropped featuring five white models earlier this week, the questions were hardly silenced. But Franca Sozzani has decided to follow through with the August issue, giving July cover girl Jourdan Dunn an editorial, "The Now Ease," styled by Edward Enninful and photographed by Emma Summerton. I wonder if Pat McGrath did makeup? It would make an almighty trio: black model, stylist, and makeup artist.
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Tom Ford's Got a Brand New Store to Wear His $10,000 Boots In
Later, the man of the hour and his business partner through thick and thin, Domenico De Sole, celebrated the store opening at a Milanese palazzo with a chatty Anna Wintour, Tom Ford campaign model (NSFW) Jon Kortajarena, and a camera shy Miuccia Prada. Full gallery of the festivities below.
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Heeeeeeeeere's Franca!

Franca Sozzani with Bruce Weber, Bruce Weber Presents Let's Get Lost After Party; London, June 5.
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