However, don’t expect to see Mario Testino‘s work in the pages of CR. The duo worked together for decades on The Face and later for Vogue Paris, but since he’s contractually obligated to Vogue, Testino is a no no. But that doesn’t mean there’s any shortage of talent. For the first issue’s mock-up, Argentinian photographer Sebastian Faena captured a topless — this is Carine after all — Kati Nescher while Bruce Weber shot Patti Smith in all her Miss Havisham glory.

In addition to scouting new talent, Roitfeld is being more hands-on than ever before, taking meetings with advertisers like Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Cartier for the first time in her career. And according to her they were “very receptive and eager to participate.” Though carrying over 100 ad pages, ads in CR won’t look like other fashion mags since it will reportedly only carry spreads and have no front-of-book content — that will be reserved for the online component.

The fashion book will also only have longer-format articles, published in the writer’s original language — whatever that may be — with translations in the back. In her mock-up, Roitfeld had articles written in Arabic, Japanese and Russian, although CR itself is an English publication with offices located in The Standard hotel.

Carine insists that this new magazine of hers is in no way a form of revenge to her former bosses at Condé Nast, saying, “Vogue is a very beautiful magazine, an institution, and I learned so much working there. You can’t put yourself into competition with a magazine like Vogue; you have to create something new, something different.” She added, “It’s time to find something new, something fresh — for me and for the readers…I find that some people in fashion are so blasé. Fashion has to be fun”

Roitfeld will bring her trademark irreverence to styling photoshoots, which she admits “will always be edgy.” She’s trying to find new ways to push the envelope, not by being “safer” but rather just “different,” explaining, “Maybe it will be more mental than physical.”

CR Fashion Book‘s first issue will have 288 pages at a cover price of $9.95, with a publication of 50,000 copies, mostly in Europe but also including the U.S. and Asia.  And when Carine’s not busy working on that, she’ll have a host of other projects keeping her busy, such as styling campaigns for Max Mara and Chanel, musing for Givenchy‘s Riccardo Tisci and then there’s a full-length documentary on her slated for 2013 by Fabien Constant.

So I think it’s safe to say leaving French Vogue was the best thing to happen to Carine Roitfeld. [WWD]

Mock-up of CR's cover by Sebastian Faena

Patti Smith by Bruce Weber

Carine's Obsession

Another spread mock-up by Faena

Given to “an actress who is experiencing a turning point in her career through her work in the film and television industries and through her contributions to the community at large, in recognition of her outstanding achievements and her embodiment of style and grace,” the award inexplicably went to Katie Holmes last year.

Maybe someone mistook last year for the year 1999.

Anyhoo, the 15-year-old Moretz will be on hand at Max Mara’s Sportsmax show in Milan on Saturday and will be honored at a ceremony in Beverly Hills come June 12. Past recipients of the “Face of the Future Award” include Zoe Saldana, Emily Blunt, Ginnifer Goodwin, Elizabeth Banks and of course…Katie Holmes.

arrives at the premiere of Overture's "Let Me In" at Bruin Theatre on September 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.

To be perfectly honest, the female body frightens and discomforts me. But even I must marvel at the amazing work of art that is a naked Karlie Kloss — emaciated yet at the same time muscular (no doubt from all those years of ballet) with bafflingly long limbs, her body defies the laws of physics and perhaps even Photoshop. In between moments of undress, fashion editor Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele tries to cover the teen up in looks by Michael Kors, Louis Vuitton, Max Mara and Roberto Cavalli.

But really, who’s looking at the clothes?

Photos: Fashion Gone Rogue

Winner: “If you poop on me…. I swear to God I am going to make boas out of you!!” – Martín Jáuregui

Second Place: “Don’t even think about it bird. My nipples are NOT for eating.” – Sarah-Jane MacMillan

Honorable Effort: “All this just to get Jacks attention” – Diana Swanson

See all the entry’s HERE.

**And 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!

Max Mara goes for a sleek and minimal look with their spring 2011 campaign starring Karolina Kurkova. Photographed by Mario Sorrenti, Karolina dons the label’s elegant pieces with slicked back hair by Luigi Morenu and a smoky eye by Aaron de Mey.

Racked‘s “very well-placed” sources, claim:

[T]he magazine’s parent company was unhappy with all the bad press surrounding Roitfeld’s alleged pay-for-play scandals…demanding huge sums of money for extracurricular consulting gigs and the enormous, public embarrassment of being banned from Balenciaga last season for abusing her position at Vogue. In the latter case, Roitfeld allegedly borrowed Balenciaga preview pieces and sent them to her client, Max Mara, to copy…”

Then there’s that other scandal with ANDAM winner Hakaan:

“An angry anonymous letter, which was circulated among French media this week, asked “how a Turkish designer out of nowhere books Natalia Vodianova, Maria Carla Boscono, Lara Stone or Natasha Poly for his show—models asking €15.000 min per show, and who aren’t really famous for their charity!”

Roitfeld also made an unprecedented move by showing up to Hakaan’s first show with Kate Moss in tow. And then there’s that other scandal involving LVMH Chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault, who “allegedly threatened Conde Nast International Chairman Jonathan Newhouse with the removal of all LVMH ads from the next issue of” French Vogue after the last issue (edited by Tom Ford) apparently didn’t contain enough LVMH ad credits and exercised “poor taste” in this editorial.

As for rumors that Carine will be working with Ford on his new womenswear line, Ford recently told the New York Times Cathy Horyn:

“Carine and I have no plans to work together at the moment, and it is nothing that we have even discussed, but of course I think she is brilliant and we are close friends so who knows about the future.”

Well, I guess Heidi Klum‘s been right all along. In fashion one day you’re Anna Wintour and the next, you’re …Carine Roitfeld. It will be interesting to see how this story unfolds, who will succeed Carine (Emmanuelle Alt is apparently not an option) and where Carine lands, besides inevitably on her stilettoed feet.

LINK LOVE: Racked

Flag. By Roberto Cavalli.

The designs, by the likes of Emilio Pucci, Alberta Ferretti, Etro, Salvatore Ferragamo, Moschino, Roberto Cavalli, Max Mara and Missoni are to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the flag and is part of the exhibit “Omaggio al Tricolore” at the Vittoriano museum in Rome until January 6.

LINK LOVE: WWD

Zoe Saldana once again wows in a fresh spring look from Max Mara. She attended the Lucy Awards in LA last night and completed the white look with perfectly selected black accessories, including mega-bow Louboutins, a ribbon belt and amazing ring. Check out the full look after the jump.

Photo credit: Fabsugar

There are actually thirteen according to Harper’s Bazaar:

1. Be a lady (Armani)
2. Carry luxe extras (Etro)
3. Go wild (Blumarine)
4. Mix in metallics (Carolina Herrera
5. Update classics (Prada)
6. Find a feminine fit (Oscar de la Renta)
7. Opt for unique (Vera Wang)
8. Minimize it (Salvatore Ferragamo)
9. Bet on black (Versace)
10. Keep it classic (Tommy Hilfiger)
11. Do daring the right way (Akris)
12. Go Gray (Max Mara)
13. Buy a blouse (Derek Lam)

More on Cult Indie

Rosario Dawson models Max Mara, Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, and her own skin for  The Spring Fashion Issue of T, last Sunday’s New York Times Style Magazine.

Shot by Sølve Sundsbø, the shoot is simple and focuses on Dawson as a natural beauty.

GALLERY:

Portuguese designer Felipe Oliveira Baptista has been in the fashion industry since 1997, working for such names as Max Mara, Cerruti and Thimister as well as doing free lance design, photography and graphic design. He showed his first collection under his own name in 2002 and was quickly recognized, becoming the co-winner of the “Grand Prix” at the “Festival de Hyeres”, since then he has won several other awards as well as been invited to join the official Calender of Paris Haute Couture, fathered by Hermes and Gaultier. He has now launched his 2008 Spring collection, a mix of couture and ready-to-wear.

Read the rest here.