>> Scott "The Sartorialist" Schuman, whose first book came out last week, is about to add another Vogue edition to his resume: Vogue Italia.  Schuman has photographed for Vogue Paris in the past — Carine Roitfeld is a fan — and seems to have won over Franca Sozzani: he recently shot Rachel Rutt for Vogue Italia.

His girlfriend and fellow streetstyle photographer Garance Dore has also been amping up her reach: this Fall, she will have more frequent contributions on Vogue Paris's website and perhaps in the magazine, focusing on the magazine's "Une fille, un style" ("A girl, a style") column, plus "behind-the-scenes coverage of fashion shoots, profiles of stylish women around the world in collaboration with French Vogue editor in chief Carine Roitfeld and other subjects of her choosing."

And last week, Patrick Robinson announced that Garance would be collaborating with Gap on an exhibit in their London pop-up next month, with her sketches (like the one above, left) on T-shirts.

>> So it turns out Vogue Paris's September 2009 cover — the one that was rumored to feature a "radical model makeover" — does boast Lara Stone, as suspected, complete with eyebrows (hers are normally bleached) and dark brown hair.  The image, photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, marks the second this year Carine Roitfeld has devoted to Lara — the first fronting the February 2009 issue, in which she was the only model.

>> Victor Demarchelier, who first burst onto the scene as Caroline Trentini's boyfriend after putting in some time assisting his father Patrick, is starting to book some photography work for the big dogs — though it should be said that the clients work often with his father.  In the April 2009 issue of Vogue, he collaborated with Patrick on an editorial, and in the August 2009 issue of Vogue Paris, he scores his first solo two-page shot, highlighting the rising set of French models.

>> 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]

>> As is to be expected, this year's September issues are not going to be the behemoths of yesteryear: publishers are approaching their closing deadlines this week and said that they expect issues to be about a third lighter than years past.  

The September issues are still anticipated to be the Fall's largest, as most advertisers withdrew their pre-collection ads that run in August to focus on September and will run fewer ads, if any, in the remaining months.  As for the cover faces, magazines are sticking with safe bets — blonde white women. Vogue will feature Charlize Theron, who usually graces their October covers (in 2004 and 2007); W will, as reported, have Kate Moss photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott; Elle will boast perenially newstand-friendly Jennifer Aniston; Allure went with Amanda Seyfriend, Glamour with Jessica Simpson, and Marie Claire with Ashley Olsen.  

No word on Harper's Bazaar, POP, V, LOVE, or Vogue Italia, but Vogue Paris is said to be breaking the blonde mold by dying a usually flaxen-haired model's coif black in a "radical model makeover" — some suspect the "luscious" beauty in question may be Lara Stone.

>> At the opening last night of the Madeleine Vionnet retrospective in Paris — speaking of which, where are Rodolfo Paglialunga's first designs for Vionnet, which were promised in early June? — Vanessa Bruno told WWD she’s been working with director Stephanie Di Giusto on a four-minute mini-movie for her label starring Lou Doillon.  The clip is to be screened in July before appearing online.

Meanwhile, the other French designer maintaining a contemporary line of chic basics, Isabel Marant, talked to Russh in their July/August 2009 issue about how she started working with her stylist and Vogue Paris fashion director Emmanuelle Alt:

It's funny because Emmanuelle and I kind of started out together a long time ago. I always admired her style and what she did for Vogue, but we lost contact for a while because she was overloaded with work. Four years ago her husband Franck Durand became my artistic director and I was always saying 'I love what your wife is doing, I would love to work together with her one day.' So it was little by little. Now we have done about five shows together. I love the vision she has for my clothes, she manages to put them together in a way that is a bit more sophisticated than what I did before . . . I love it when she goees tac, tac, tac... puts the different pieces together, and I'm like 'oh yeah, that's exactly it!'

But they don't always agree »

>> INSIDER WIRE —The Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin-only issue of Vogue Paris has been confirmed as the August 2009 issue — not only are they the only photographers for the issue, but the magazine has decided to use the same concept they did for their February 2009 Lara Stone-only issue: Inez and Vinoodh worked with Daria Werbowy alone. As for the September 2009 issue, the cover is rumored to feature a "radical model makeover," with the subject's hair dyed from its usual blonde hue to black. [WWD, The Imagist, TFS, TFS]

>> INSIDER WIRE —Carine Roitfeld dedicated the entire February 2009 issue of Vogue Paris to Lara Stone, and now it sounds like an upcoming issue of Vogue Paris will be dedicated to Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin — they are photographing the entire thing, cover to cover.  Recent rumors have placed the duo shooting Jacquetta Wheeler with Shalom Harlow and Sessilee Lopez with "the fastest rising new Asian star on the scene" and a recent VP cover girl for the magazine — perhaps it's all for this issue? [TFS, The Imagist, The Imagist]

>> INSIDER WIRE —Karl Lagerfeld seems to not only have developed a taste for Baptiste Giabiconi, but for photographing Baptiste Giabiconi in women's clothes.  For the March 2009 issue of Vogue Paris, Karl snapped Baptiste in nothing but a Chanel tweed jacket, necklace, and heels; and for the July 2009 issue of Vogue Nippon, Karl photographed him in a Chanel couture jacket in one photo and hugging Anja Rubik in a Chanel couture gown in another. [Models.com]