Franco’s first of his “Episodes of an Untitled Film” will debut on February 15 on Seven’s YouTube channel with a new episode premiering every week. The aforementioned “Untitled Film” is actually titled The Death of Natalie Wood, an extended three-hour version of which will be played as part of “Rebel,” an art installation at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. Inspired by Rebel without a Cause starring Wood and James Dean, “Rebel” also features work from Ed Ruscha, Paul McCarthy, Damon McCarthy, Aaron Young and Harmony Korine.

Franco’s interest cum obsession with James Dean is akin to Linday Lohan‘s obsession cum super-obsession with Marilyn Monroe, only to a more successful — and a more clothed — degree. You may remember that post-Freaks and Geeks Franco played Dean in a made-for-TV movie and later directed a biographical movie on Sal Mineo, Dean’s tragic sidekick in the 1955 classic. “Part of me wanted to fill it out and do a tribute to Natalie Wood, as well,” Franco said in reference to the untitled film’s title.

As for his collaboration with Seven, Franco had this to say about it: “The videos have a vintage feel to them. They feel like they are from a different era, which I think really fits with the new line that Seven had in the shoot — a lot of cool denim tops and jeans…The look of the film and the clothes feels very Seventies. We shot right on the beach and drove up the PCH [Pacific Coast Highway], so I guess you could say it’s a vintage 1970’s California dreamy feel. The movies that I cut together have a lot of weird double exposures and super- imposed images over other images, so it’s a real, I guess you could say, trip.”

The film features a cast of models/actors/artists/musicians I’ve never heard of — as well as a cameo by Franco himself — while Lily Donaldson takes center stage in the print campaign (above). And while he’s no stranger to modeling as the broodingly handsome face of Gucci for the past few seasons, Jimmy Francs is also in talks to move behind the camera to direct something for the Italian house. [WWD]

Check out a behind-the-scenes look at James Franco’s Seven for All Mankind film below:

- Perhaps anticipating a forthcoming lull in her career, Rihanna has signed on to host and produce her first reality show. [Huff Po]

- Diane von Furstenberg still does not care for any jailbait on her goddamn runway, thanks. [The Cut]

- IMG threw it way back to the Renaissance for its show package, featuring star models Joan Smalls, Candice Swanepoel, Jessica Stam, Karolina Kurkova, Lily Donaldson et al photoshopped into classic works of art. [Modelinia]

- Noted wheeler and occasional dealer Pat Sajak claims he’s hosted Wheel of Fortune drunk on many an occasion. In fact, he and Vanna White used to knock back “two or three or six” maggy ritas during lunch. Or what I like to call a Wednesday. [The Hollywood Reporter]

-Here’s a preview of Adriana Lima‘s Super Bowl commercial for Kia. Mid-sized economy cars just got a whole lotta sexy:

Photos: Christopher Hall Photography

Cara Delevingne, Poppy Delevingne & Lily Donaldson

Burberry Chief Creative Officer Christopher Bailey hosted the party, looking dapper as always.

Christopher Bailey

Ellie Goulding

DJ and model Tom Guinness played an in-store set at the party.

Tom Guinness

British Burberry Acoustic band Life in Film performed in the store as well.

If you haven’t heard Life in Film, you must check out the video below. During Fashion’s Night Out in Milan, they played in the streets and in the Burberry store. So cute!

In the book’s introduction, Sally Singer, editor of T Magazine, is quick to point out that this is not your typical behind the curtains tome. That’s owed primarily to the fact that Julien Claessens is not a fashion photographer. In fact he admits that he doesn’t really understand fashion, but he understands his friend Olivier’s work.

So it’s no surprise that his photos aren’t perfectly-posed, editorial-ready snapshots, but abstract portraits that offer a glimpse into a world of extremes: extreme beauty, extreme bodies and an almost otherworldly charm. The star of these portraits, however, are still Theyskens minutely-crafted work.

Like malleable sculptures, Theyskens clothes wrap and drape themselves over the skeletal  frames of Lily Donaldson, Hilary Rhoda, Gemma Ward, Olga Sherer, Lara Stone, Tanya Dziahileva, Catherine McNeil and Sasha Pivovarova, lending a strength, elegance and sophistication otherwise at odds with their prepubescent fragility.

The Other Side of the Picture chronicles Theyskens career chronologically, ending before he began his newest phase at Theory, but Nina Ricci’s Fall/Winter ’09 collection is a fitting denouement, both for the book and for Theyskens time at the brand. That particular collection is the peak of Theyskens craft and a comforting reminder that talent like his shall and will not be wasted. Also, I’m still not over these tranny heels:

Julien Claessens, without understanding fashion, is able to completely grasp the work of Olivier Theyskens. As Claessens says about his friend’s work, “There’s something here that is part of my universe.” His clothes speak, live and breathe through Claessens’ photos because Theyskens intended them to speak, live and breathe on the women he dresses. Claessens and Theyskens simply speak the same language.

What owning this book says about you: You’re a serious-minded fashionista who admires Olivier’s dark aesthetic and/or his dark hotness.

What your dinner guests will say upon seeing this book on your coffee table: “Oh, wow, someone’s pretentious. And fabulous.”

How this book will make your fashion brain grow: Though you’re not likely to gain much in the way of knowledge from The Other Side of the Picture, you’re heart will swell at its beauty.

If you like this, you’ll love: Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty. The book to the Met exhibit is on sale — having had a quick look at it this morning we can definitely say it is worth the 30 bucks (plus free shipping, y’all!)

Winner: “merman. merMAN.” – Gary Cook

Second Place: “Practicing on the marlin before I have to tackle a real land shark” – Nancy Reid

Honorable Effort: “The ventriloquist swordfish and his dummy…” – Stephan Swanepoel

See all the entries on Fashion Indie’s Facebook Page.

**Stay tuned for another Model Thought Bubble contest soon!

Head over to our Facebook page and caption THIS POST. The best entry will be featured on Fashion Indie’s homepage tomorrow!

More grodiness on LOOKBOOKS

Guess Gucci isn’t too happy about Burberry’s growing popularity.

Famed photographer Mario Sorrenti shot these bombshell bodies for these provocative V covers.  Every cover with the exception of Adriana’s will feature a SCRATCH-OFF “V” to reveal an ever sexier, revealing shot – a first for V!  This issue celebrates Boobs and Butts, breaking rules and changing perceptions.  The limited edition scratch-off versions will be sold exclusively on vmagazine.com or http://shop.vmagazine.com.

Vogue Paris pays tribute to the genius Alexander McQueen with this great “Erotica” spread featuring Lily Donaldson and styled by Carine Roitfield. I’m speechless!

Entire gallery on Envy

LINK LOVE: Fashion Gone Rogue

LINK: Fashgasm 9.4.2010

Add Your Own Stories on ENVY The Fashion Network

The gorgeous British top model Lily Donaldson is on the Korean W April cover. I want this blue dress!

All the gallery on Envy

LINK LOVE: Fashionising

Lily Donaldson teamed up with her father, photographer Matthew Donaldson, and well known hairstylist Sam McKnight to produce a video, which focuses solely on her hair.

LINK LOVE: Modelinia

Inspired by the famed hip-hop girl group Salt-n-Pepa, this 10-page fashion spread showcases the style that helped propel the female act to fame in the 80’s and 90’s. V64 does not hit newsstands until March.

Photographer: Josh Olins

Styling: Clare Richardson

Models: Lily Donaldson and Liya Kebede

Gallery here

Photography:  Steven Meisel

Styling:   Lori Goldstein

Models:  Agyness Deyn, Alla Kostromicheva, Aminata Niaria, Anna De Rijk, Anna Selezneva, Constance Jablonski, Daria Strokus, Freja Beha Erichsen, Frida Gustavsson, Gwen Loos, Hanne Gaby, Irina Kulikova, Iris Strubegger, Isabeli Fontana, Iselin Steiro, Monika Jagaciack, Jamie Bochert, Kamila Filipcikova, Karen Elson, Karlie Kloss, Kasia Struss, Kendra Spears, Lara Stone, Lily Donaldson, Liya Kebede, Magdalena Frackowiak, Mirte Maas, Natasha Poly, Patricia van der Vliet, Ranya Mordanova, Rianne ten Haken, Rose Cordero, Sasha Pivovarova, Sessilee Lopez, Sigrid Agren, Siri Tollerod, Snejana Onopka and Viktoriya Sasonkina

Lily Allen has been loving wigs lately, and Glastonbury is a good time as any to experiment. Props to Lily for stepping up her fashion game and rocking sequins in the mud a la Kate Moss circa 2005. Note the female version of one glove Michael Jackson tribute.

Model/It Girl Daisy Lowe sporting the crop top trend (belly button covered as requested – thanks) and some strange sort of cape. Lily Donaldson looks effortlessly chic as always, wearing a perfect every day outfit, I wish my hair would look this perfect after rolling around in the Glastonbury mud.

Theodora Richards and Alexandra Richards looking like chic farm girls. That’s an impressive red lip on Theodora, and I appreciate the pop of color on her red boots. Pixie Geldof, the less annoying sister, wearing some spandex biker-esque shorts and an unnecessary hat. Hmm… maybe she is annoying. 

Finally, some hipsters. Eliza Cummings wearing a surprisingly chic black dress and lace up wellies, a nice break from the standard Hunter’s. Cory Kennedy proves that she has lost whatever street urchin glam factor that she once had in stale overalls and a white t-shirt.

SOURCE: Style, The Fashion Spot

Photographer: Terry Richardson

Model: Lily Donaldson

GALLERY: SPREAD UM: “Visionary” Vogue US July 2009

Thanks Fashion Gone Rogue!

Anna Wintour step’s up her game with a playful Terry Richardson shoot that would fit seamlessly into the pages of the magazines chic, risk-taking French counterpart. Lily Donaldson’s playful posing and use of actual eye-exam machines is a refreshing change from models jumping in front of a stark white background. The moody color-scheme and cropped shot of her embellished heels have won me over – props Anna!

SOURCE: Refinery 29′s Pipeline

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Little Hermoine goes from Hogwarts to haute couture as the face of Burberry’s fall 2009 campaign. This is a first for 19-year old Emma, as this is her first major modeling gig, and I must say she does well for a novice. Shot by Mario Testino in central London, Emma looks every bit the grown-up with her sultry makeup, nonchalant pout and wisp of a hairstyle. This represents a shift for Burberry since the brand is known for casting actual models throughout previous campaigns–Lily Donaldson, Rosie-Huntigton Whitley, Agyness Deyn—and it seems as if they’re conceding to the celebrity-as-spokesperson angle. I say let actors be actors and vice versa, but when it works…

Finally a break from celebrity cover girls, the June 2009 issues include an impressive list of cover models, such as Lily Donaldson, Liu Wen, Liz Hurley, Anna Vyalitsyna, and Natalia Vodianova.

Doutzen Kroes made the cover of Vogue España, shot by Alex Cayley, and Gisele Bundchen and Sasha Pivovarova appeared on Australia and Russia Harper’s Bazaar.  Bummer: The Bundchen cover is a copy of U.S. Harper’s Bazaar April ’09

SOURCE: Modelina

I have few qualms here. Anja Rubik showed some major leg. Daria Werbowy braved the infamous Balmain shoulders. Erin Wasson rocked the androgynous look. Sasha Pivovarova went simple on the dress and crazy on the feathers. But Natalia Vodianova…she looked like an innocent Princess Peach. This is the Met Gala, not a Super Mario convention.

Thanks Who, What, Wear Daily!

Thanks Fashion Copious! 

For the March issue of i-D you’ll have your choice of 12 cover girls, all English models: Kate Moss, Yasmin Le Bon, Alice Delllal, Lily Donaldson, Naomi Campbell, Eliza Cummings, Twiggy, Susie Bick, Daisy Lowe, Jourdan Dunn, Agyness Deyn, Stella Tennant.

Working with stylist Edward Enninful, Solve Sundsbo photographed each model completely differently (but all with the trademark wink), and each girl has her own cover quote.

From Fashion Copious.

Lily Donaldson makes her outfits come alive in the spread “Fringe Festival” shot by Nick Knight for Vogue UK. I love that everything in the photos seems to be in motion; her dresses, hair and limbs are flying around in midair giving the illusion of extreme movement. My favorite dresses are most definitely the last two; she slightly reminds me of Big Bird in the second photo.

Thanks to Fashion Copious for the photos.

H&M really knows how to make their low-priced goodies look like they just came off a Paris runway, which is perfect considering that I’m brokage and need me some retail therapy right about… NOW.

We’ve got two galleries for your viewing pleasure. Discotech gives Lily Donaldson a chance to play with giant shiny balls. Wonderland features a scantly clad model in H&M undies. I’d check out the undies, but that’s just me.

GALLERY: H&M Magazine “Discotech” and  “Wonderland”

Enjoysies.

We just saw spotted these shots from Gucci’s new resort collection. Abbey Lee and Lily get some major attention in the ads featuring some awesome flowing gowns from the very grown up company. Enjoy.

Find more photos like this on Fashion Indie

There is noting more stunning than December British Vogue’s editorial titled “Unbelievable Fashion.” Leave it up to Nick Knight to capture Lily Donaldson and Jourdan Dunn in an imaginative, dream like pictorial poetry spread. This is an editorial for fashion lovers, dreamers and visionaries. Despite the anything but ready to wear fashions and amazing styling, this editorial seems so natural and effortless. Kudos Vogue, this is brilliant. 

Thanks I Love Lily Donaldson!

This party is so hip they had it in a hotel that hasn’t even finished construction, how avant!

Lily Donaldson and Julia Stegner

Lydia Hearst

Tara Subkoff

Lauren Hutton

Angela Lindvall

Taylor Momsen

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, Lily Donaldson, Chanel Iman, and Georgina Chapman star in the Fall 08 Gap campaign. Liv Tyler is also scheduled to be featured in the print ads. Surprisingly, Gap has continues to be ingenious with their advertisements. Although, these are not as poignant as the Gap(red) ads, Gap’s fall campaign sheds words of wisdom. The dramatic black and white ads all have a fun message. Teen supermodel sensation, Chanel Iman’s, phrase is “name your own destiny.” We think she speaks from experience. 

Thanks to Fashionista for the pics!