The fashion kids have just about sussed out the next VI cover (which is highly unlikely to be Linda btw) but can they imagine how chiiiiiiiiic the images are said to be? Think a reference to a recent fashion world event and the most haute of the haute models looking suitably emotional...In other VI news the waves from the"Black Issue" continues to resonate with girls both recent and legendary booking a "Mohagany" story for a certain blue chip publication. Then there's this talk of another cover for Naomi in September. That too might very well be a multiple girl/single covers each must-buy extravaganza. Phew. The mags are fighting for their place in the cultural spotlight no?

Toccara Jones drops it like it's H-O-T in Vogue Italia July 08. Image via tfs

The strangest hiss came my way last night. I was out to dinner when the topic of reality TV stars came up. Fashion people are going to have to learn to love it, I was assured. Because...
"Because what?" I ventured against my better instincts.
"Because Meisel apparently shot one."
"Whatever for?"
"VI"
"Are you being venal?"
"No, for real. An ANTM alumni at that!.They're feeling very perverse over there these days "
At that point I threw my espresso away and ran away trembling in the night. True story!

Linda E is Eternal: Vogue Italia June 08: PH;Meisel via thefashionspot

Marc Jacobs gives Hot Trannie Mess in the new Interview

Eva Mendes : PH: Steven Meisel: Vogue Italia May 08

I'm in absolute love with the current post on Women Mgmt's new blog (http://womenmanagement.blogspot.com/) where James Tinnelly does a brilliant and incisive read on the Eva Mendes edit in the May Vogue Italia. This is what he had to say on the shoot that reveled in the kinky joys of a coral nail under a sheer stocking. Vive the fetishists!

Mariah Carey for ID: PH Vincent Peters Eva Menes for Vogue Italia: PH: Steven Meisel via the fashionspot

Directional Hollywood...is there such a thing? Eva Mendes is the May cover of Vogue Italia (looking very Shana Zadrick) , Mariah the June face of London's ID. Is the double whammy of these mega-mainstream babes a fluke or the recession-proof wave of the future? Are old school super-models and new era super-celebs the way to keep the numbers buzzing and the product moving? And what will V and Vogue Paris have to say about this state of affairs. As for TI, we're so confused we're hightailing it back to LA as soon as possible. Because that would be very directional.

PS. Props to WWD for making SURE the VI cover news was scooped by them first and no other forces. But the Hiss Squad won't be caught sleeping next time.

Something's afoot. Unless there is another suite of photographers shooting for a different issue of Vogue Italia, it looks like that "Black Model" issue of VI will include other images than by Mr. Meisel. The clues? There are certain iconic faces of African descent STILL being booked with other photographers, even as we speak. That said, the entire enterprise of this issue has been beset with serious misinformation, with unreliable sources spewing speculation that has been treated as fact by the mainstream media. The result? A SECOND major "black model" moment just got scuttered by all the irresponsible rumors. TI is now going to be on his best behavor and will only believe what the call sheets say.

"Agyness Is The Girl Of The Decade" Steven Meisel in ID Magazine: PH:Terry Richardson for ID May 08 via TFS

I hadn't left NY is almost two months which was quite unusual as the big grinding machine that is Gotham usually has me ground out after a three week cycle. But now that Spring is clearly here, I find myself running through the city streets excited, invigorated and stimulated. (Literally!) I love how the new kids are dressing now in those clashing colors, in that skintight silhoutte, with all that generation/seperating bravado. I see more eccentricity, daring and individuality than I have seen in a long time. I love Agyness Deyn , I love all these exciting new bands and DJ's bursting out of not only America and England but also from Germany, Canada, France and Australia. I love how much information you can glean from Google/MySpace/Facebook/Youtube and I love that every entrepreneur large and small gets into the viral marketing of that. In other words I love the time I'm living in, the late Zeroes.

MIssy Rayder: PH: Meisel: Styling: Jason Farrer

I never thought I'd be reaching back to anything so recent as the work of stylist Jason Farrer as a reference, but here I am. I used to see JJ, as all his mates called him, around the clubs of NY and what I felt was a mixture of awe and envy because he was soooo NY. He wore sharkskin suits to hip-hop clubs and always had the best entourage. Jason Farrer's work was so clever in the way it absorbed all these very urban-Latino street elements and threw them up on the high wall of fashion. There was something of the NY graffiti master to his way of styling , which was to throw outfits together in a way that had a signature "tag" to it. Only JJ could drop it-just-like-that.

Dutch Magazine: Fur Issue: PH: Alex Cayley: Styling: Jason Farrer