>> Natalia Vodianova, Franca Sozzani Make Vanity Fair's 2009 International Best-Dressed List —Vanity Fair just released the contents of its annual International Best-Dressed List from its September issue, and there are fashion figures galore; a whole category was devoted to "Fashion Professionals," which Franca Sozzani, Georgina Chapman, Tory Burch, Style.com's Candy Pratts Price, Rachel Roy, Edun's Ali Hewson, Prada France's Mathilde Meyer-Agostinelli, David Lauren populate. Natalia Vodianova and Justin Portman are included in the "Couples" named; Bruce Weber and Peter Beard are listed under "Fashion Originals"; Matteo Marzotto, formerly of Valentino and currently of Vionnet, is on the Men's Best-Dressed List; and Lapo Elkann made the Hall of Fame.  Anna Wintour wasn't included, but she did get a nod from Renee Zellweger, who listed her among her style icons. [Vanity Fair]

>> THE MODELIZER —Gisele Bundchen is one of the last models able to hold a major magazine cover on her own, according to Anna Wintour, but even she may be losing her touch. Her May 2009 Vanity Fair cover was the lowest-selling for the magazine in nearly two years, and her April 2009 Harper's Bazaar cover was the lowest-selling for the magazine since November 2008.  When Gisele was on the September 2007 Vanity Fair cover (left), it was the third-biggest seller that year.  Vanity Fair's spokeswoman's suggestion for the change? "It might be that she's losing her looks." [NY Observer]

>> Stephanie Seymour is contributing fashion editor at Interview, Cindy Crawford blogged about the environment for Vanity Fair, Naomi Campbell is a contributing editor at British GQ, and now Marie Claire has tapped Christy Turlington as contributing editor — it's funny how supermodels have moved from solely being in editorials to also doing editorial.

Christy, who is currently enrolled at Columbia University for a master's course on public health, will collaborate with the magazine's writers on a column — to appear in the magazine every two to three months — covering such subjects as politics, mothers around the world, and her travels for humanitarian causes.  Her first piece, "Fighting for Mothers," describes her trek to Washington, DC to push for a Senate resolution on maternal health and appears in the December 2008 issue of Marie Claire.

The new gig likely came from all her public support — after Marie Claire ran a piece by Christy in March about mother's health, editor-in-chief Joanna Coles says she got a "ton" of fan letters from readers.
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>> INSIDER WIRE —A two million dollar Vanity Fair contract doesn't cover Annie Leibovitz, according to court documents. The photographer is reportedly $715,000 in debt due to unpaid taxes, an aborted book project, and outstanding equipment rental fees. No amount of money is ever enough, eh? [Page Six]

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>> INSIDER WIRE —Introducing two September 2008 Vanity Fair cover shots that could have been. Too bad Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, and Stephanie Seymour were beat out in the end by Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. [Chic Report]

>> Along with the annual International Best-Dressed List, the September 2008 Vanity Fair features a spread dubbed "America's New Fashion Guard," featuring up-and-coming designers, including a few designing duos like Laura and Kate Mulleavy of Rodarte, Sophie Buhai and Lisa Mayock of Vena Cava. 

Marchesa was also spotlighted, but as Chic Report so astutely pointed out, only one half of the brand's designing duo is pictured: Georgina Chapman, with no Keren Craig in sight.

Interesting, in light of the rumors back in May suggesting that Keren was being phased out as a co-designer; the photographic evidence here definitely lends credence to that possibility.  Or maybe, as Chic Report suggested, Keren was just on her honeymoon when the picture was taken.
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>> The September 2008 issue of Vanity Fair may not have given us the supermodel cover we were hoping for, but in exchange, it does give us the annual International Best-Dressed List.  The fashion industry was well-repped, with designers (Karl Lagerfeld, Stacey Bendet), models (Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, Christy Turlington), editors (Carine Roitfeld, Alexandra Kotur), and even a muse or two (Tilda Swinton, Iris Apfel, Fran Lebowitz) all making the cut. 

But perhaps even more fun than perusing the list is browsing the quippy reasons Vanity Fair gave for picking each person.  A choice few, below:

Alexandra Kotur, Vogue style director, "Because [she's a] Kotur de force."

Carine Roitfeld, "Because she's the rogue editor-in-chief."

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy "Because we like her French twist."

Christy Turlington, "Because she put the chic in sirshasana."

Fran Lebowitz, 2008 Hall of Fame inductee.

Iris Apfel, "Because she's the Apfel of our eye."

Karl Lagerfeld, "Because the Kaiser is wiser."

Katherine Ross, Senior VP, communications, for LVMH North America, "Because she turns the heat on in Vuitton."

Lapo Elkann, "Because he's in the Lapo of luxury."

Stacey Bendet, "Because she's Ms. Fancy-Pants."

Tilda Swinton, "Because she's a great Scot."

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>> BLOWING THE COVER —So, about that September 2008 Vanity Fair cover: It's really is the supermodel blowout it was rumored to be. Look out fold-out cover, featuring Stephanie Seymour, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, and Linda Evangelista, here we come! [Chic Report]

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>> BLOWING THE COVER —Model lovers, don't set your hopes high for those September 2008 covers.  W plans to feature Kate Hudson shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, Elle will have Jessica Simpson, and Teen Vogue will star Vanessa Hudgens.  Curiously missing from the list, however, was who graces the September Vanity Fair, which is rumored to a supermodel extravaganza. [WWD]

»Julia Restoin-Roitfeld won't be photographed with lobster rolls, but will be in Ibiza for all of August [FWD]

»Arden Wohl was arrested for defacing a Ralph Lauren store with lipstick [Page Six]

»Agyness Deyn, with puppies [PopSugar UK]

»A look at the Brooklyn vintage boutique where Patricia Field pulls from [The Cut]

»Steven Klein is hosting a benefit at his Bridgehampton house with Calvin Klein and Vanity Fair on Saturday [Page Six]

»First look: Marni Resort 2009 [Chic Report]

»Magdalena Frackowiak for Alessandro Dell'Acqua Fall 2008 [Models.com]