>> ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —Iselin Steiro, who took a break from modeling to focus on her studies, made a few select — and surprising — appearances on the Spring 2009 runways — something she hasn't done since Fall 2007.  Although Lanvin wasn't one of them, Alber Elbaz chose her anyway to replace Raquel Zimmermann and Liya Kebede in the Spring 2009 campaign, shot by Steven Meisel.  Big mysteries still left?  Nina Ricci, Alexander McQueen, Balmain, and of course, Chanel. [Supermodels.nl]
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>> ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —Those who enjoyed Liya Kebede and Raquel Zimmermann as Lanvin girls, cherish it while it lasts — they won't be back for Spring 2009.  Although no casts have been revealed, Steven Meisel shot the new Lanvin campaign in New York last week, Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin shot Yves Saint Laurent a few weeks ago with a very "California" theme, Mario Testino is doing Versace in LA in early November, and Gucci will be photographed this week in Miami. [WWD]

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»Bee Shaffer turns 21 today, and is celebrating at mom Anna Wintour's country house near Mastic, Long Island this weekend [Style File]

»Karen Elson nabs the September 2008 Vogue UK cover [Models.com]

»Kate Schelter and Charlotte Ronson love their neon Alexander Wang [Chic Report]

»Sean Avery wore shorts suits during his time at Vogue [The Cut]

»Patrick Robinson shows how Gap denim is done [Nylon]


»A second shot from Lanvin Fall 2008 [TFS]

»Fashion editor fave Current/Elliott, now stocked at eLuxury [Racked]

»Raquel Zimmermann, spotted at Whole Foods [Fashionista]
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>> ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —Introducing the first image from Lanvin's Fall 2008 ad campaign, with Liya Kebede and Raquel Zimmermann caught mid-motion on a dark city street, just as The New Yorker described it.  Hard to believe this was shot by Steven Meisel at Smashbox Studios in LA, eh? [TFS]

»After three days of packing for couture, Sean Avery learned he had to stay put in New York because of contract negotiations with the Rangers [Style File]

»Subliminal message? Agyness Deyn has "food" written on her shoe [Jezebel]

»Hussein Chalayan is producing his first shoe range for Fall 2009 [Vogue UK]

»Videos of Fall 2008 Armani Prive and Chanel Couture [Telegraph UK, Telegraph UK]

»IMG Models has a tribute to Ruslana Korshunova on their homepage [Chic Report]

»Alber Elbaz held a launch party for his Lanvin denim line with Acne Jeans last night [FabSugar, FWD]

»This year's Glastonbury fashion, with Lily Cole and more [Style.com]

»A look at Azzaro Resort 2009 [WWD]

>> Color is in this Summer, and it doesn't stop with the all-black July 2008 issue of Vogue Italia. It looks like the hype may have jumpstarted something . . . if nothing else, a fad, at least.

Rather than using a reprint for the cover shot like they usually do, Harper's Bazaar Korea chose to run a stunning original image of Korean top models Lee Hyun Yi, Han Hye Jin, and Daul Kim for their July 2008 issue (left). And now, there are rumors swirling that the men's Lanvin show next week has an "all-ethnic" cast . . .

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»During W's Bruce Weber shoot in Miami, an off-beat "silent" movie was taken of all the designers involved [W Magazine]

»Nicole Kidman's July 2008 Vogue cover and editorial are up [Style.com]

»Charlize Theron has been meeting with Bruno Frisoni — is a Roger Vivier campaign in the works? [Chic Report]

»Daisy Lowe is rumored to be starring in The Hills: London [Fashionista]

»Naomi Campbell has a(nother) new man [The Sun]

»Stefano Pilati, Jeremy Scott, and Nicole Richie had their Polaroids taken for the Fall/Winter 2008 Self Service [Starworks]

»The designers behind Costello Tagliapietra want to be remembered as "jolly and portly" [The Fashion Informer]

»Kylie Bax is back [Models.com]

»Agyness Deyn: "The catwalk is second nature to me now: I’m walking down thinking 'I’ve got to pay that bill' and 'What am I gonna have for my tea?'" [thelondonpaper]

»Devon Aoki is doing a clothing line with Levi's [Chic Report]

»Previews of the Lanvin, Vena Cava, Louis Vuitton, and Emanuel Ungaro Resort 2009 collections [Style.com, Style.com, WWD, WWD]

>> Olga Sherer has been deposed from the Lanvin throne after two seasons.  The new blood?  Raquel Zimmermann and Liya Kebede, who were shot by Steven Meisel in March at Smashbox Studios in LA. 

As for the look: "Downtown smoky burlesque woman," according to Meisel.  "Rich rather than dangerous."  Edward Enninful was on-hand styling, and Pat McGrath on makeup duty.  The prototype images feature Liya, wearing a black strapless gown with ruffles down the front, and Raquel in a plum-colored dress that ties around the neck, both on a dark city street.  The New Yorker writer who was on-set at the shoot says of the preliminary shots:

[Liya and Raquel] looked kinetic, caught in mid-motion, as if they were about to hail a cab. Behind the pair were the blurry lights of New York in the rain.

Lanvin ads never seem to disappoint, so I can't wait to see what these look like.

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