If the concert lineup and gorgeous California weather wasn’t enough to make me regret my absence from this year’s Coachella music festival, the photos above certainly add to my contrite mood. Leave it up to Hedi Slimane, my personal favorite fashion photographer, to document the weekend’s most beautiful people. Granted, many of these model status bohemians are probably under the age of 16, but there is no denying that a modeling career isn’t terribly farfetched. I’m seeing a few Ash Stymest and Luke Worrall look-a-likes out there! And that bony boy in the White-Sox hat, I bet IMG is on the phone negotiating a contract as we speak. 

Check out Hedi Slimane’s photo diary here!

Forget prominent editors, designers, photographers and celebrities, IMG wants first lady Michelle Obama, more than anyone else, at February’s Fashion Week. According to Fern Mallis, senior vice president at IMG, Mama Obama won’t just be another famous face in the crowd. Mallis hopes Obama’s presence will reverse the attention from the designers who aren’t showing to those who have snagged a coveted spot on the runway. With the total number of events dropping significantly, Mama Obama might be that face of “change” to give designers their well deserved pat on the back and siphon slipping designers out of their financial and motivational slumps! I think she can!

Thanks Style.com!

IMG releases their official list of fashion week designers!!!!  We’ve got the full list after the jump.

Ever since Gemma Ward took her leave of absence from the modeling world to pursue acting, it seems as if a very similar face has taken her place as model most wanted. Sasha Pivovarova, the 23 year-old Russian, Gemma Ward look-alike, signed with IMG in 2005 and snagged a Prada fragrance campaign in 2007, ironically when Ward began to disappear from runways, ads and editorials. The two models look frighteningly similar with their long blonde hair, pale skin, deer-like grey eyes, tall slender bodies, dainty lips and overall doll-ish appearance. Their careers are strangely similar as well, both working intensely with Prada and being deemed, at one point or another, top of the top by Models.com. Now, I have great respect for Pivovarova, Ward and IMG, but is it just me, or was Pivovarova the replacement for Ward? Not to say that Pivovarova wouldn’t have been an incredibly successful model if she were with a different agency (any way you look at it, she is unique and beautiful), but it seems to me that IMG didn’t want to let the doll-face model slip from their hands after Ward temporarily packed up her bags. Maybe I am completely wrong and IMG has plans to use both models in tandem, to launch the two in “twin” campaigns and editorials. Either way, I am very curious to see what is going to happen when Ward makes her grand re-appearance. Will she give Pivovarova a catwalk run for her money? Will the fashion industry be over her, sending her back to the acting world? Will bookers devour the dolls, making the both of them more successful than ever? Stay tuned for the next episode of “Whose Face Is It Anyway?”

Fashionista has reported that Taylor Momsen, 14, of Gossip Girl just got signed to IMG models.

This will make her one of the youngest girls to sign with IMG – a year younger than Gemma Ward when she scored her first Prada campaign.

This contract normally comes with a spread from Teen Vogue , some sort of teen CVS beauty products, and a Dooney and Bourke ad, way to go Taylor.

Holey Hipster Hang Ups Batman. It seems that Leigh is right on track to rule the runway. We just got sent some her comp card from IMG Models. The girl definitely knows how to strike a pose and with all the online buzz (hate that word) circulating about her getting signed, I’m sure it won’t be long before she lands a cover or two.

Watch your back Cory Kennedy, I knew scenesters going mainstream.