>> Soon after Maybelline announced it would be be taking over from five-year Bryant Park cosmetics sponsor MAC, MAC — presumedly, as New York Times' Eric Wilson put it, tired of having to share "a rather circuslike stage with other sponsors who were competing for attention, sometimes including makers of doughnuts, cameras, toilets and Big Macs" — announced that it would be producing the tentatively-titled MAC and Milk Fashion Week with Milk Studios at the same time as the traditional New York Fashion Week.

The event can be seen as either a complement or a competitor to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, but on the record, anyway, there seem to be no hard feelings.  Milk Studios founder Mazdack Rassi says of the initiative: "This week is not an alternative show space, it's a way of cultivating designers and helping them come up with new ways of selling their clothes."  And Zach Eichman, a VP of IMG Fashion, which produces the shows at Bryant Park, told the New York Times last week the company welcomed the MAC and Milk event and that bus service between shows would be available when possible. “We can’t do every show in the tents. We hope they will be successful.”

Alexander Wang will be there, so will Preen »

>> Vogue Italia September Cover Hints, August 2009 Vogue Paris Not All Daria Werbowy —Yesterday, we got quite a few September cover star confirmations, but Vogue Italia was left out. Now, thanks to The Imagist, we have a few clues — September 2009 is set to be a "multiple cover extravaganza," each cover a standalone — "think compelling blonde (or two) weighed against a surprisingly unique choice of a brunette." Meanwhile, Rihanna — who Anna Wintour is rumored to have passed on — is said to have an upcoming VI editorial by Steven Klein. And as for August 2009 Vogue Paris, which was previously reported to focus entirely on Daria Werbowy, it seems that she's not exclusive: other models appear in the entirely Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin-lensed issue. [The Imagist, Fashin, Fashist]

>> INSIDER WIRE —Plenty of news about the comings and goings at Vogue this morning: a staffer may have contracted swine flu, warns an internal memo sent out this morning; Steven Klein just shot another horse-centric editorial — this time for the August 2009 issue; and despite rumors to the contrary, it sounds like Rihanna won't be making the cover of Vogue anytime soon — her chances were ruined by a recent set of revealing photographs. [Daily Intel, AP, The Insider]

>> INSIDER WIRE —The attention-grabbing platform shoes that were part of Olivier Theyskens's Fall 2009 Nina Ricci sendoff weren't put into production, but at the birthday party she threw for Steven Klein last night, Daphne Guinness showed up wearing a pair along with a gown from the same collection.  Before the party was supposed to start, she already admitted to falling once. [Style File]
*image: source

>> ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —While a horse of Steven Klein's caused Madonna injury over the weekend, another Steven — Steven Meisel — worked with a horse last week for one setting of the "marathon" four day Prada Fall 2009 campaign shoot at Pier 59 Studios in New York.  No confirmation on which models were involved, but a number of unconfirmed sources are indicating four girls — Kendra Spears, Anna De Rijk, Katlin Aas, and Miuccia Prada's current favorite, Ymre Stiekema. [Chic Report, TFS, TFS, TFS]   

>> BLOWING THE COVER —W Magazine is ringing in the new year with a model on the cover of their January 2009 issue — Christy Turlington — but don't expect it to be a trend.  Arianne Phillips — who just finished costuming Tom Ford's directorial debut A Single Man — is headed to Rio de Janeiro later this week to shoot an upcoming W cover with Madonna and Steven Klein.  Their last collaboration produced the iconic 2006 Equus-inspired shoot, so hopefully this round will be just as picturesque — and will probably include more Louis Vuitton. [Hint, Made in Brazil, TFS]