>> Good news: that July 2008 Vogue Italia?  It's still resounding — and not just on the covers of other magazines.  Today, one of the Vogue Italia stars, Tyra Banks, taped an episode of The Tyra Banks Show on West 26th Street in New York celebrating black models of the past and present in honor of the Vogue Italia "Black Issue." Joining her and voicing first-hand accounts of their industry experience were Chanel Iman, Beverly Johnson, Noemie Lenoir, and Pat Cleveland.  I'm not usually a big fan of the show, but this episode — which airs Sept. 11 — I will have to watch.
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>> This morning, the July 2008 Vogue Italia hit stands, and we've got the scans to prove it.  The magazine features an 11-page spread, "Elegance as a Form," with Yasmin Warsame and devotes 9 pages to America's Next Top Model alum Toccara Jones in addition to the two editorials we've already seen: Naomi Campbell's 9-page luxe spread and the 25-page ode to new girl Sessilee Lopez.

But I saved the best for last: "Modern Luxe" by Steven Meisel, spanning 15 pages, and featuring everyone from Noemie Lenoir to Kiara Kabukuru to Jourdan Dunn.

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>> What a way to ring in a new day . . . and hopefully a new age. The first photos from the much-hyped July 2008 "black issue" of Vogue Italia have dropped. The cover looks to be a four photo foldout, with vets Liya Kebede and Naomi Campbell joining up-and-comers Jourdan Dunn and Sessilee Lopez for top honors.

From the cover teaser words, expect more of the same mix of the experienced (Alek Wek, Alva Chin, Gail O'Neil, Iman, Kiara Kabukuru, Karen Alexander, Tyra Banks, Veronica Webb, Yasmin Warsame, Pat Cleveland) and the new blood (Arlenis Sosa Pena, Chanel Iman, America's Next Top Model contestant Toccara Jones) inside.

Enjoy your first peek in the gallery below.
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