Knightley discusses her two new films with David Cronenberg, who recently directed the 27-year-old in last year’s A Dangerous Method. First there’s June’s Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, co-starring fellow fashion plate Steve Carell, and an adaptation of Anna Karenina, in which she plays Tolstoy’s legendary literary heroine — out just in time for awards season in December.

Seriously, just throw that girl in a period piece and watch the Oscars fly.

Photos: Interview

Photos: Fashiontography

Photos: Vogue.com

“Carine Roitfed. She has such great style.  I would love to raid her closet, for her shoes. We have the same size shoe and we used to share shoes.” I ask her if there are any shoes in particular she would snatch. “All of them.” Well-played, Lara Stone. Well-played.

Stone, the official fashion ambassador for Mercedes-Benz, is whisked away in a tornado of Prager’s creation as part of the automaker’s “Icons of Style” campaign, featuring the SL Roadster. Inspired by The Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins, Vertigo and a bit of the Brothers Grimm, Prager tells a modern day fairytale with Stone as the beautiful blonde “with dark, suspicious undertones,” to borrow the photographer’s words. To achieve the “I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore” vibe, the super was strapped into a harness and flown around the air — a process she actually enjoyed.

“My favorite part of working with Alex was all of her crazy ideas!” Stone says. “Hanging in a harness was so much fun and a great change from just standing around [posing].” Of course, at this point in her career, Lara Stone is no stranger to uncomfortable situations. When I ask her what was one of her favorite shoots, she immediately mentions her latest campaign for Calvin Klein, shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.

“The rocks were so sharp! I love that campaign, all those bright, different color jeans, but laying on the rocks was very uncomfortable,” she says with a laugh. “They were sharp and it was hot with big waves crashing over us. Very scary! When I saw the final shots though, it was totally worth it. I always love working with them [Mert and Marcus].”

Wondering what, if any, of her plans were outside of modeling, Lara responds simply, “I just got a puppy and I want to hang out with him. His name is Bert and he’s a boarder terrier.” I’ve never been much for dogs, though lately I’ve been contemplating getting one, so I took this opportunity to do a little research. “What size is he?” I ask. “Oh, you know…dog-sized.” She then  attempts to approximate Bert with her  arms, and he seems a little big for my taste.

“We have sort of an office dog,” I venture. In truth, we have like five office dogs —  one of them’s wandering around now as I write this. But I single out the pug, who makes the most regular appearances in the FashionIndie office. “Oh, they’re so cute!” she exclaims and we discuss the general cuteness of the tiny little monsters and their giant bug eyes. Then I mention that his name is Napoleon. “Does he have the complex?” she asks, not missing a beat.

Meanwhile, I wish I  had brought along a rimshot if I had known Lara Stone would be serving shtick.

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott captured pop’s reigning princess for the decidedly softer and sweeter Emporio Armani Underwear and Armani Jeans spring 2012 campaign — but do you miss the bra-bearing boldness of fall 2011?

Photos: Design Scene

Now Mert and Marcus have been known to work miracles before, but even by their heavily-Photoshopped standards, Madge is playing fast and loose with her interpretation of “truth” here. As noted, the campaign images from Truth or Dare are outtakes from a 2010 photoshoot with Interview, for which Madonna apparently dug up her old face from the Bedtime Stories era. Either way, Madame Ciccone looks great.

Photo: Models.com

- Among the other Grammy honorees is the late Steve Jobs who will be posthumously awarded one of the Special Merit Awards. [E!]

- A brief history of glitter: from Neanderthals to World War II and Haitian voodoo. [Etsy on Vimeo]

- Details on Madonna’s Truth or Dare line have come flooding, including news that Madge will be recycling photos from a 2010 shoot with Mert and Marcus for Interview Magazine for the ad campaign. And the commercials will feature her classic 80s ballad, “Lazy for You.” [Madonnarama]

- Prince William and wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge may be of royal stock, but that don’t mean they don’t like to put it down on the dancefloor. At a charity event, Will ran into a sassy black girl — who probably said something along these lines — and the result was this priceless moment of shoulder-dusting. Kate lovingly looks on as if to say, “Oh, Will, you’re so hood in your comtempo-casual sweater and mom jeans.” Meanwhile the Prince should use this angle for every photo op from here on out. We haven’t been this attracted to him in ages. [Styleite]

-  London Fashion Week, known for gently nurturing young, emerging designers, apparently didn’t feel like breaking in a new class of Fashion East-sponsored designers and are re-using the same up-and-comers from last LFW. [Elle UK]

- The Kardashians have been accused of selling and endorsing products manufactured in Chinese sweatshops using child labor, an allegation that caught the klan unawares. Kim and co. claim that they are taking the accusations “very seriously,” but the head of China’s foremost human rights organization thinks they’re just a bunch of greedy liars. ”If they [the Kardashians] don’t stop endorsing these products or do anything to improve the conditions in the factories,” said Li Qiang, executive director of China Labor Watch, ”they are sending a message to the public saying, ‘We will do anything to make money.’” I think they sent that message a while ago. [Radar]

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 21: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (L) dances with Vanessa Boateng (C) as his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (R) looks on during a reception at Centrepoint's Camberwell Foyer on December 21, 2011 in London, England. The national charity, Centrepoint, provides housing and support to improve the lives of homeless young people aged 16-25. (Photo by Ben Stansall-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Gisele and Ryan Barrett were shot by the imitable Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott and styled by Joe McKenna and David Bradshaw dramatically entering a pool somewhere in the California desert.

Much like La Bündchen, I know that if and whenever I go for a swim, there’s always a Lucite platform involved. [WWD]

Then under the buzzer, this happens. By referencing/recycling that eight-year-old cover and giving it their own spin, Alt and co. end the year on a decidedly high note.  Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott capture Moss in glam rock Ziggy Stardust regalia for FrenchVogue‘s December/January 2012 issue. Freak out, this moonage daydream’s so chic.

Photo: Design Scene

The scent, a combination of multiple notes including gardenia, tuberose, neroli and jasmine, was inspired by the Material Girl’s late mother: “My oldest memory of my mother is her perfume. I carry it with me everywhere. She always smelled like gardenias and tuberose, an intoxicating mixture [that was] feminine and mysterious. I wanted to re-create this scent, but with something fresh and new about it as well. Something honest and yet daring — hence the name ‘Truth or Dare.’”

Madonna worked with Coty on everything from the scent’s development and marketing to the free gift-with-purchase, after preliminary talks began this past spring. Coty, no doubt excited to collaborate with a legend and not just another teeny-bopper flavor of the year, started working on the fragrance before anything was even signed.

The “Truth or Dare” line will include a $28 body lotion and a $25 shower gel, while the perfume will be available in two sizes in the US — a 50 mL bottle for $55 and a 70 mL bottle for $68 — with a 30 mL bottle being sold internationally.

As for the promotion, Madge is gearing up for a multi-media onslaught to coincide with her new album — also set for release next year — that will see her starring in global TV, print, online and outdoor marketing. Much-in-demand photographic duo Mert and Marcus have already shot the print component. [WWD]

Mert and Marcus shot this latest in the Versace x H&M fall campaign. Still a full month away, it’s not too early to say that this diffusion line might be the best thing that ever happened to anyone ever. And that’s putting it lightly. [Design Scene]

Derek Lam, Tod’s creative director, had kind words to say about the actress: ”What makes this collaboration with Anne so perfect is that not only is she a young actress with accomplished roles to her credit, she is also one to watch for her creative choices. She generates excitement based on the quality of her work, modern beauty and intelligence.” Clearly someone didn’t see Love and Other Drugs…nor should he.

The Signature Collection is geared towards the younger and “more fashion-forward” and is inspired by Andy Warhol and French fashion photog Guy Bourdin. The bags come in ”strong, decisive tones” such as deep red, black, electric blue, fuchsia , lavender, beige and cream. I don’t know when beige became a strong and/or decisive tone, but I digress.

Hathaway, for her part, chimed in with this about the collection: ”The designs are classic and the materials are of the highest quality. As a result, they don’t grow older, they only grow better just like a woman.”  [Telegraph]

- Sweetie darling! Now that Absolutely Fabulous is coming back, what will Patsy and Edie wear? Luckily, someone’s already on that. [Racked]

- Rumor has it Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty may be headed over the pond. [Hint Magazine]

Are you there vodka? It’s me, anticipation. Hathaway is interviewed by bawdy bitch-and-a-half Chelsea Handler so I’ll be waiting with breath more bated than usual for my issue to turn up at my door. And with Karl Templer handling the styling duties, this should be one of the highlights of the September issue season.

Meanwhile, if you direct your attention to the lower left hand corner you’ll notice that Carine Roitfeld was interviewed by Karl Lagerfeld. No big deal, except perhaps being the best thing ever. But again, no big deal. [Design Scene]

- Don’t call it a comeback because it’s apparently never going anywhere. Latest Sex and the City news: a revamped TV show with Sarah Jessica Parker allegedly signed on to produce. [Fashionista]

- Lara Stone drowns in a sea of petals to the delight of Mert and Marcus for Tom Ford‘s Violet Blonde fragrance. [Design Scene]

- Remember that time that London burned down? Yeah, me neither, but despite the rioting and the chaos, rest assured Anglophiles, London’s Fashion’s Night Out will continue as planned. [Fashionista]

- Robert Pattinson is on the rags. The Twilight heartthrob is coming out with his own Rags by Robert clothing line. [Refinery29]

- Andrej Pejic, professional androgyne and noted wit, once threw on a fake baby bump in an ode to his Victoria’s Secret brethren (sistren?) only to be stopped by airport customs who thought he was trying to smuggle drugs. Story of my life, except that my fake pregnancy was actually eight pounds of cocaine. You live you learn. [NY Mag]

Featuring brands such as Alexander McQueen, Dries Van Noten, Balenciaga and Lanvin among others, the retailer’s ads will debut shortly in various September issues. [WWD]

- Speaking of LOVE’s 245 (I’m rounding) covers, here’s eight of them. [Models.com]

- Shield your eyes, children, lest you want your illusions shattered. Karl Lagerfeld actually has eyes behind those sunglasses and not Chanel doorknockers like I always hoped/expected. [Fashionologie]

- Demi Moore‘s the new surgically-enhanced face of Ann Taylor. [Style.com]

- My own personal hell…inside Vogue‘s shoe closet, where I’m sure there is nothing in a size 13 womens. Le sigh. [Styleite]

- Stills from Madonna‘s historical romantic drama, W.E. have leaked and they look like a mix of “Vogue,” “Take A Bow” and Evita. So clearly I’m on board. [Fashionista]

Hailee Steinfeld

- Three of young Hollywood’s best, brightest and fiercest get LOVE‘d by Mert and Marcus: Hailee Steinfeld, Elle Fanning and Chloe Moretz grace the mag’s Issue No. 6. [Models.com]

The campaign was shot by the hardest working M’s in the business, Mert and Marcus in a topiary garden at a private Oxfordshire home. I think I just got all kinds of classy just from writing that.

While the ad will make its way to print in the September issues of Interview,Vogue (US and UK) and Harper’s Bazaar, McCartney wants to draw you to her new sassed up site for a sneak peek. There you’ll also find a slew of special functions for customers such as “Private Wardrobing” — again, classy — and a “Reserve in Store” option for customers too impatient to wait for a delivery.

The new Stella iPad app features a “behind-the-scenes” of her Team GB ad campaign, backstage footage from her fall 2011 show in Paris, a preview of the 2012 resort collection and a “making of” video of the dresses the designer created for the Met Gala.

Sounds like a hoot and a half, but I think I’ll skip that “making of” video unless I want to fall asleep. [WWD]

Tilda givin’ a little twist in Another by Craig McDean.

1. Tilda Swinton

One of the most striking women in film, on the red carpet and in fashion spreads, look no further for Swinton’s editorial excellence than this month’s W.

Masculin/feminin by Tim Walker.

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott shot Swanepoel in London on the Thames along with Ford favorite and front-runner for most beautiful boy in all the world – Jon Kortajarena.

Mert and Marcus, no strangers to working with Ford, recently shot his fall beauty campaign with one Ms. Lara Stone. The designer, however, has opted to keep his hands — and his lingering stare — to himself for these series of images. [WWD]

Photo: Fashion Gone Rogue

- Kate‘s epic wedding guest list also includes Daphne Guinness, Vivienne Westwood, Jude Law, Jade Jagger and reportedly, John Galliano. [Styleite]

- Blogger Rachel Kane of  WTForever21 might have to change the name of her blog to WTorever21 because she clearly doesn’t give an F. [Fashionista]

- Oscar nominee Hailee Steinfeld is precociously stunning in Miu Miu‘s new Fall 2011 campaign, shot by Bruce Weber. [Fashion Gone Rogue]

- Meanwhile, Raquel Zimmermann is sleekness defined for YSL by Inez and Vinoodh. [Models.com]

- The Huffington Post assembled 21 of Spring 2012 Men’s Fashion Week‘s “zaniest” looks. Some are actually zany, some are pretty fierce and some just need to stop pretending. [HuffPo]

- Jennifer Lopez will be on HSN this weekend, and while her team of handlers explain what an HSN is, J.Lo found her light and showed some gam for new fragrance Love & Light‘s ad campaign. [People]

Photographed by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, the ads could easily have been ripped out of a 70s fashion mag, which is precisely the aesthetic Ford was going for with his collection. Informed and heavily inspired by the 70s and Studio 54, Stone looks like a latter day Jerry Hall so temptingly close to Ford’s bearded bravado.

Ford explained his propensity for placing himself in his ads to WWD:

“I’m not in the ads because I’m vain. A lot of people still don’t know who I am, and the product sells better with me in the ads. The old designers — Yves [Saint Laurent], Giorgio [Armani] and Ralph [Lauren] — occasionally used to do it.”

Yves, however, probably wouldn’t approve.

Photos: Image Amplified

- André Leon Talley ranks Beyoncé in Emilio Pucci as his best dressed from the Met Gala last night, though he modestly put himself at the lowly position at #12 when in reality he was the only lady to really turn it out on that carpet. [Vogue]

- Livia Firth, wife of this year’s Best Actor Oscar winner Colin Firth, had a meeting in the ladies room at the Met Ball with Stella McCartney, Lauren Hutton, Yoko Ono, Salma Hayek, Rihanna and Hilary Alexander and was gracious enough to tweet pics of it. [Refinery29]

- Mert & Marcus by Mert & Marcus. [Fashion Gone Rogue]

- John Galliano fired his lawyer, Stephane Zerbib over “apparent irregularities in respect of his firms administration of Galliano’s financial affairs over a number of years.” Sounds like someone had their hand in the couture cookie jar. [Vogue UK]

- Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge, also known to commoners as Kate Middleton, wore White Gardenia Petals by Illuminum on her special day, thus ensuring that White Gardenia Petals by Illumnum will sell-out in a matter of minutes. [Grazia]

Photo: Image Amplified

- Reese Witherspoon is giving me some serious bombshell realness on the cover of Elle UK, shot by Ben Hassett. The gams are out, there’s a peep toe pump and I’ve never seen Reese this…hot before. Why is it that British editions of fashion mags get celeb covers right when we’re left with this over here in the states? And of course…this

- Rumor has it Erdem might be H&M‘s latest collaboration. The adorably pint-sized designer, however, claims he’s too busy with his own line, though he won’t rule out the possibility in the future. Rumor also has it that Erdem is designing Kate Middleton‘s wedding dress, but he dodges that one too…so either Erdem Moralioglu is as crafty as he is tiny or someone’s seriously fucking with my emotions. [Vogue]

@rihanna: My bad ci, did I 4get to tip u? #howrudeofme

[@LesFabian: Ouch. #bitch]

@rihanna: U gangsta huh? Haaa

@ciara: Trust me Rihanna you don’t want to see me on or off the stage.

@rihanna: Good luck with bookin that stage u speak of

[@LesFabian: Oh snap! #BURN]

@ciara: pure comedy…

[@LesFabian: #nocomeback]

@rihanna: Ciara baby, I love u girl! U hurt my feelings real bad on TV! I’m heartbroken! That’s y I retaliated this way! So sorry!

[@LesFabian: How...sweet... #lyingherfaceoff]

@ciara: Rhi, u know its always been love since day 1! Doing shows and everything. You threw me off in that party! Apology accepted. Let’s chat in person.

[@LesFabian: Translation: Bitch, wait til I twist my fingers through that troll doll hair. #illcutabitch]

Things have calmed down dramatically since then, but whenever divas duel it out in the public arena, there is an inevitable choosing of sides and bitter argument over who’s better, blah, blah blah.

Well, since I live for these moments, I’ve decided the only logical way to determine who is the baddest bitch on the block (clearly not including Beyoncé who could blink and take out both of them) is to compare both RiRi’s and CiCi’s editorials from European Vogues…naturally.

Rihanna covered Vogue Italia‘s special couture supplement in 2009, shot by the incredible Steven Klein and styled by Patti Wilson:

Then last year, Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci styled Ciara for a Vogue Paris shoot with the dynamic duo of Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.

For me, the answer is clear. Ciara’s editorial easily trumps Rihanna’s, achieving a poetic and sensual beauty that’s more effective than the hard, technical sexuality of the Klein shoot. Which is not to say that both spreads aren’t great, but Ciara possesses a grace and classic beauty that makes her actually look like a model and not just a moonlighting popstar in it for some free couture.

Plus, she totally gets extra points because Riccardo said this about her:

“Ciara is like a black Betty Page. A very refined hip hop queen. Although she is American, she has a sort of European class, a Parisian chic.”

Musing for Givenchy beats out openly stealing from David LaChappelle any day of the week.

The cover, sure to be a collector’s item, is a beautiful and subtle cap on one of fashion’s most controversial and luminous careers. Instead of going with a big name super, Roitfeld chose 29-year-old (ancient by model standards) Dutch model Saskia, explaining to Style.com:

“I love risk…Now I found a new girl called Saskia. She has short hair, no one knows her, and this is going to be my last cover.”

Givenchy‘s creative director Ricardo Tisci introduced Roitfeld to Saskia. Tisci is also responsible for Lara Stone‘s stellar rise to supermodeldom and Saskia is poised to follow in her stilettoed steps.

“Look what happened to Lara Stone. She wanted to stop being a model. She had no success at all. And my friend Riccardo Tisci said to me, ‘Oh, you have to look at that girl, she’s amazing.’ And I believed him and I booked her, and after that I booked her for each issue. She was the cover of my special anniversary issue, the cover of the February issue. I gave her eight or nine covers, and now she’s one of the biggest stars. It’s very exciting to make someone a star, and it was something you could do with French Vogue .”

Carine Roitfeld leaves Vogue Paris on a great and  positive note, creating great fashion karma. I’m waiting with bated breath for what else this historic issue has in store.

Photo: The Fashion Spot

Photo: NY Mag

The ads were shot by lens duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot in a greenhouse, a “lush, traditional setting,” claims Talbots Chief Creative Officer Michael Smaldone.

Photo: People StyleWatch

Smaldone says they picked Julianne for the spring campaign because she “exemplifies everything we want as the face of the brand. She’s a very active, beautiful, soulful woman.”

But don’t expect Moore to cradle a baby lion any time soon, Talbots is still very much dedicated to tradition. Smaldone explains:

“We want to hold on to the classic pieces, but make them relevant to a woman today. We’re not trendy, but our clothes are current and modern.”

Photo: Huffington Post

I know that I support anything Julianne Moore does, blindly, but I’m not their target demographic…sadly. But after these ads, will you — dear readers —think of Talbots any differently, if you thought of them at all?

Link Love: People StyleWatch

Katie Grand styled the epicene pair for the cover, which will hit newsstands on February 7th. Bieber’s involvement is still up in the air but should he not be sandwiched between a Moss and a T place, I at least hope for some fishnets and a geisha lip.

Sidebar: Does anyone else find it weird/creepy/totes awesome that 16-year-old Justin Bieber is going to be on the cover of LOVE‘s Androgyny issue? With the tagline “This Is Hard Core”?

I’ll just take this as a sign that he’s finally accepted the fact that he looks like 2/3 of all lesbians.

Photo: MDC

The campaign will feature Thompson and the models in overlapping exposure, giving the translucence of the model’s skin and Givenchy’s clothes a further ghostly effect.

In an interview with WWD, Riccardo Tisci explained that he felt albinos are “very near [his] world” and that the idea for the campaign as well as his latest collection was inspired by “an alabaster Roman bust atop a stretch of leopard-print fabric.”

Yeah, that sounds about right:

Photos: Style.com

LINK LOVE: WWD

The latest ads from the very green house of Stella McCartney have hit the web. They feature Natalia Vodianova, were shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott and styled by McCartney herself. The oddest part is the background which is actually Stella deceased Dalmatian, Lucky, which was shot by Linda McCartney in 1976.

McCartney told WWD: “I have known Marcus since I was a teenager and Mert from when they first met, but we never had the chance to work together. I wanted to capture their high-glamour approach over my mum’s low-maintenance way of working.”

She said the campaign images are “fashion meets reportage, mixing color, and black-and-white. A family animal with an outside atmosphere meets studio lights, camera, action! Opposites meeting in one image, illustrating the masculine and feminine sides of the Stella McCartney brand,” she said.

LINK LOVE: Stella McCartney Spring Ad Campaign

Diane Kruger successfully rocks super-hero chic in this spread shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. Capes, masks, leather gloves and metallic harnesses complete this futuristic look. Forget Megan Fox, someone put Diane up for the roll of cat-woman. It’s clear she could pull it off with ease.

GALLERY: Diane in Interview

SOURCE: Oh No They Didn’t