>> So far this season, the most eye-catching show package came courtesy of One Management, who had their stable of models mimic an iconic '60s Harper's Bazaar cover by Richard Avedon, but a couple of Paris agencies are running a close second, and curiously, they are both feeling the comic book look.  Women Paris altered portfolio pictures of the likes of Iris Strubegger and Iselin Steiro into with a little high contrast look and a splat of yellow, and WM emulated Sin City for their gaggle of fresh faces. 

>> The 96-page September issue insert The Imagist teased back in June turned out to be for V: Paul Rowland, founder of Women and Supreme agencies, photographed 19 of his models in studio back in April with help from stylist Nicholas Grasa.  His inspirations were "Joel-Peter Witkin, paganism, mysticism, vampires, witches — all the things I love," and V has a video of the shoot in action, which required Hannelore Knuts to have raw meat draped over her chest and the rope holding it together lit on fire on both ends. The supplement will be available with V61 in select cities. 

Maybe this whole project is the start of a move into a new arena for Rowland?  As V puts it: "Rowland, whose lavish and intricate agency show packages are the talk of the industry each season, has a creative verve that extends beyond model agency moving and shaking, and into photography and fine art. After this outing, however, he might need his own magazine as well."

>> Backstage at Givenchy today, a sign read: "No girls on the runway if they haven't eaten before." The show ran over an hour late, was in a hard-to-reach location, and guests froze in the outside venue, but they were allayed by Riccardo Tisci's homage to the Middle East, complete with live musicians playing karkabou. "I dream of Riccardo's genie!" Joe Zee exclaimed.

Tisci not only attracted editors but fellow designers: Pucci's Peter Dundas joined Christian Lacroix in the show's front row. And all the models had their hair dyed black especially for the occasion — which was apparently quite impressionable on Lara Stone; Iris Strubegger debuted a new crop and newcomer Antonella Graef opened the show.

>> Iris Strubegger is finding traction more traction than ever — Fall 2009 Givenchy and Valentino ads, an entire article in July 2009 Vogue dedicated to her cropped cut making her career.  She told the magazine: "My hair makes me look more interesting, and it has given me more confidence."  The confidence comes across in her new editorial in the upcoming July/August 2009 V#60, "A Touch of Class."  The magazine isn't out until July 7, but a preview of the editorial, styled by Olivier Rizzo and photographed by Willy Vanderperre, shows Iris working the usual designer duds with a twist: a pair of fishnets worn on top.  The V#60 cover features Cameron Diaz by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, and inside are portraits by David Sims and a shoot with Lady Gaga.

So where is Iris's newfound confidence taking her next?  She told Vogue she plans on spending her summer vacation camping in Croatia with Wolfgang, her boyfriend of seven years and a financier from her hometown in Austria.

>> Louis Vuitton switched their advertising image up last season, replacing Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott with Steven Meisel after a six year partnership.  This season it looks like Givenchy is up for rebranding — they've adopted Mert and Marcus after collaborating with Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin for nine straight seasons, and ditched the black-and-white, edgy look of recent seasons for a little color and a touch of French classicism.  “It’s a new step,” Riccardo Tisci said. “I wanted to give this feeling of going from a studio to reality. It’s important to give reality to women.”

Tisci's muse Mariacarla Boscono is the only model carrying over — joining her are Ranya Mordanova; Leonor Scherrer, daughter of retired couturier Jean-Louis Scherrer, who Tisci says he's "completely in love with . . . she represents France in all senses: the elegance, the aristocracy, the darkness of France"; Iris Strubegger, who doubles in the season's accessories campaign, shot by Mark Pillai; and Adriana Lima, who just announced her pregnancy today, making her return to high fashion.

>> Before heading back to the States from Venice, a number of Chanel Cruise attendees — and show strutters like Toni Garrn and Siri Tollerod — made a stop over in Vienna for the annual Life Ball AIDS charity spectacular Saturday evening.  The town hall was surrounded by 2.5 million liters of water trucked in for this year's marine theme, and the guest list topped 40,000.

Amber Valletta opened the motorcade in a blue crystal-covered chariot, Anja Rubik was in attendance wearing her favorite label as of late, Balmain, and Sessilee Lopez sported a blonde wig for one of her turns during the catwalk festivities.  Heather Marks, Iris Strubegger, Emina Cunmulaj, Eliza Cummings, Kinga Rajzak, Sara Blomqvist all also participated, plus first-timer Stephanie Carta, who described the experience as "a fantasy world of glitter and botox and some kind of neverending celebration."

*image: source, source