Heidi Klum will be portrayed by Angela Lindvall. The role of Nina Garcia will be played by Marchesa‘s Georgina Chapman. Joanna Coles, editor-in-chief of Marie Claire will star as mentor-in residence Tim Gunn. And returning to the fashion reality competition show stage is Isaac Mizrahi as Michael Kors. Guest judges will include Diane von Furstenberg, Miranda Kerr, Miss Piggy, Pharrell Williams, Nanette Lepore, Rachel Roy, Catherine Malandrino, and Mark Badgley and James Mischka.

The All-Stars in question are past Runway contestants who weren’t quite up to snuff, such as Austin Scarlett, Sweet P, Kara Janx and that much-reviled whiny copycat, Kenley Collins. Personally, I stopped watching Project Runway as soon as it hopped from Bravo to Lifetime,  deciding along the way that a season in L.A. was a good idea, but this new spin-off series could bring some much-needed fresh air into the franchise.

The All-Stars will compete for a handsome set of prizes, the most lucrative in Runway history: “an exclusive designer boutique in select Neiman Marcus stores and on neimanmarcus.com; $100,000 in technology and office space to help expand their business from HP and Intel; $100,000 cash from L’Oréal Paris; a feature spread in Marie Claire, for which he or she will serve as a guest editor for one year, and a sewing and embroidery studio provided by Brother International.” Well, at least they made returning to the scene of one’s former and very public embarrassment suitably enticing.

Will you watch Project Runway All-Stars when it premieres January 5 on Lifetime, television for women unemployed gay men? [WWD]

Other icons photographed for the landmark issue include Tilda Swinton, Alicia Keys, PJ Harvey and Damien Hirst. The issue hits newsstands this Thursday, November 17th, and to further celebrate, each shoot and interview has been filmed as part of a webseries premiering on DAZEDTV.com.

Check out the film below:

1. The Fur Coat (preferably over a bikini) – Fur is an absolute necessity come winter and it’s so warm that you can wear anything underneath it. So why not throw on your favorite maillot, two-piece or speedo to sex up that dead animal carcass draped around your shoulders. Or if that’s not your cup of vodka, there’s always the reliable fur bikini: the perfect melding of two disparate worlds into one completely unnecessary garment.

Raquel Welch, fur bikini pioneer

2. The Union Suit – This practical one-piece, usually intended as an undergarment, is easily translatable to chic outerwear. Just think of it as another fashion-forward jumpsuit with adjustable decolletage: you can unbutton to collarbone, ribcage or navel level. And if you’re feeling especially frisky, undo the butt flap to reveal something chic…or something cheek.

3. The Muff – Basically a giant portable sleeve, the muff is perfect for concealing a compact, a lipstick or my favorite accessory, a purse gun. It’s the lady’s way of smuggling contraband while keeping those murderous manicured nails warm and unchipped.

4. The Trapper Hat – While your hands look like they are covered by a pillow in a muff, your head can look like a family of raccoons made a nest then subsequently died on it with the irresistibly comfortable trapper hat.

5. The Cape - Capes aren’t just for vampires, superheroes and drag queens (my own personal superheroes) – they’re a sleeveless alternative to a boring old coat and come in a variety of shapes, lengths and materials. And also come in handy when pretending to be a vampire/superhero/drag queen…or the resulting combination, André Leon Talley.

6. The Cowl – The cowl is my preferred method of neck warmth, not that  I have anything against a scarf. After all, you can’t dramatically throw a cowl around your neck for a scene-stealing exit, but it’s charm is in its ease and functionality. Just slip your head through one end and burrow your way through to the other. It’s like birth without all that unpleasant vagina action.

7 . Opera Gloves – This last staple is for those strapless fancy nights on the town spent dancing, boozing and schmoozing, since no one goes to the opera anymore. Adorn them with bracelets, cuffs and whatever diamonds you can smuggle in your muff to ratchet up the glamour.

And there you have it. If you have at least some of these items in your closet, this winter might not seem as bleak nor chill as many bones. And if you need any more incentive, you’ll probably save a clutch purse of dough on Halloween.

Julie Christie and Omar Sharif from "Dr. Zhivago"

Born in Florida and raised in Hong Kong, in 2004 the 17 year-old Anna-Catherine Hartley (aka Uffie) walked into hip-hop as a teenager and took Paris by the balls. We chatted with the music sensation about her career, aspirations, and the her much anticipated upcoming album.

Now 22, Uffie takes influence from grime, crunk, hip-hop and acid house, her music somewhere between electro, rap and nu-skool with a clear affinity for explicit and provocative lyrics.

After her massive hit “Pop The Glock” created a huge buzz on both the blogosphere and Myspace along with numerous club appearances, Uffie dropped two more tracks, “Hot Chick” and “In Charge”. 17 millions song plays on Myspace later, she could be seen everywhere on the international scene, between Lollapalooza and Coachella, and from Pukkelpop to Japan as Pharrell Williams’ special guest. Remixed by Sebastian and dressed by Jeremy Scott, she filled the fashion magazines and was the cover star for many including Jalouse, Zoo and PIG.

Alex Kazemi: What inspired you to write MC’s can kiss?

Uffie: Pigeonholers

Kazemi: Who have you been working with on your debut?

Uffie: Feadz and Oiizo of course, then Sebastian joined to team on difficult. I also started working with Mirwais towards the end, which was a great experience. One track with him is featuring Mattie Safer, and the next single has Pharrell Williams… who kills it.

Kazemi: Why did you decide to name the record “Sex Dreams and Denim Jeans”?

Uffie: Its the title of one of the tracks, and in a verse… it really just summed up the experience for me. This album was the end of my crazy youth and the intro to my adult life… it was an experience of fun crazyness tears and passion… makes me think of jeans and leather.. This title just really captured it for me.

Kazemi: A lot of people in pop music have been claiming ke$ha is a knock off uffie? Do you agree or do you feel that your style of music just falls in the same place?

Uffie: There are definitely similarities… but I’d rather not be part of this drama.

Kazemi: Is there a favorite unreleased track you’ve done from your “pop the glock” sessions that you wish were out right now?

Uffie: None

Kazemi: How old were you when you discovered you could rap or in modern terms “spit and drop” so well?

Uffie: 18

Kazemi: Do you think the mainstream is ready for your music? Is there a certain audience your music is aimed too?

Uffie: I think mainstream in general isnt what is was when i was growing up. Music that was indie or underground has in a way broken through and is partly the new mainstream… so maybe. I think people are craving something real and fresh, so looking other places than pop princess to get it. My music is aimed to anyone it touches…

Kazemi: Do you feel that most of your fan base resides in Europe?

Uffie: No

Kazemi: When did you first meet Feadz and when did you decide he was going to be your main producer? Do you have a favorite Feadz production on this particular record?

Uffie: We met when i was turning 16. He asked me a few years later when i was turning 18 to try out some vocals… and we just kept going from there.

Kazemi: Do you think your music is different then anything else in pop music? Would you consider your music pop music?

Uffie: I think its got more dark humor. Im also a bit of a tomboy at heart, so i think that brings it a bit of an edge. The fact that i choose to work with many different producers that arent seen so much in this style brings something aswell.

Kazemi: Do you think this record is different then anything else you’ve done?

Uffie: Definitely. When working on an album you get to go deeper, experiment more. My past tracks were eps destined for clubs… on the album i got to go deeper, make things that people can listen to at home..

Kazemi: Why did you wait 3 years to produce the video for “pop the glock”? Do you care for music videos?

Uffie: It was a fun experience, and videos are fun to make. I brought back pop the glock because its where the project started, my first baby… that it was a bit of a homecoming. Aswell when you release a video it touches more people, that probably havent heard it before…

Kazemi: What made some of your first tracks so confrontational? Many don’t imagine using promiscuity in that way…

Uffie: Doesn’t faze me

Kazemi: How did you get involved in the music scene at such a young age? What was the experience and process like?

Uffie: It was just fun with my friend Feadz… ive always loved music and it came pretty naturally… but i never thought anything would come of it. There was no pressure… total fun and freedom…

Kazemi: Is there anyone that you collaborated with in the past that you would love to again?

I prefer to look towards the future.

Her much anticipated debut album “Sex Dreams & Denim Jeans” (due may 31st 2010) is a Ed Banger family affair, co-produced with some of the greatest electro geniuses of our times (Feadz, Mr. Oizo, Sebastian, and Mirwais).

Photo credit: Nathalie Canguilhem

LINKLOVE: ALEX KAZEMI

Yesterday could not have been any more perfect. The weather was warm and sunny, I had just finished doing a walk through of one of my favorite showrooms in Soho, and now I was on my way into the Diesel building to meet up with the living legend Renzo Rosso. As if I wasn’t in enough of a state of disbelief that I was lucky enough to meet Mr. Rosso, I was completely blown away by the amazing showroom/headquarters they are working in. As pushed through the heavy doors that read “Only The Brave…” I knew what/who was waiting on the other side, and I couldn’t wait to pick the brain of the man responsible arguably the most famous denim brand of all time.

Fashion Indie: “Diesel U:Music and your global parties bring out some of the best new musical artists in the industry. Are their any artists/bands you are currently listening to?”

Renzo Rosso: [in his Italian inspired English which tends to hypnotize you] “Well I grew up in the rock and roll era, listening to artists like Black Sabbath and The Sex Pistols. A lot of this rock and roll attitude has definitely played a big part in what Diesel has become. However, I think all music is important. [Right now] All I really listen to is the Diesel U:Music radio station. They always play a wide variety of music, and have two live performances everyday. This has taught me to draw inspiration from whatever is happening at that moment, whether it be Kanye West, Pharrell, Rage Against The Machine, or Madonna all music is important. I have recently found their attitudes more and more inspirational, and that’s what I like to bring out in my clothing.”

FI: “You’re being honored with the Corporate Leadership Award at the 26th Annual Night of the Stars gala. Be honest, did you ever imagine Diesel getting this big?”

RR: “I think most people dream of being big of course, but they never really believe it until they hit that turning point. Once I knew I had established my brand, I could really focus on making it as big as I could. That is an amazing feeling, a feeling that I will never forget. While it felt like forever when it was happening, looking back it feels like it happened overnight.”

FI: “What do you attribute to this success?”

RR: “One thing that we have always tried to be with Diesel is pioneers. We are always introducing new, modern, different, fresh, and rebellious products that take both denim and the people wearing it to a whole new place. [However], I think the two biggest keys to our success were our vintage denim and the way we changed the way we communicated with our customers. Our vintage denim was something that no one else was doing at the time. We were the only ones able to produce a denim that had a look and feel of a great vintage pair of denim. This really helped to launch both Diesel and the industry into a new way of production. As I mentioned, our communication methods changed too. Most people were going direct saying ‘Here’s the product, buy it’. We decided to get away from that, and find a whole new way to communicate with our people. We decided to communicate through other people, the people our customers were listening to. We started working with celebrities, musicians, athletes to communicate in a more subtle way.”

FI: “You live an adventurous life, filled with hundreds of successes. Through all of that, one is bound to make some mistakes. Do you have any major regrets? Anything you wish you could change?”

RR: “I wish that I would have done more charity work. Don’t get me wrong I have and still do a lot, but I wish I would have made it more public. I recently met with the Dalai Lama and he told me ‘Use your brand and your face to show the work you have done. You have the power to inspire others, and you should take pride in what you have done.’ I have learned from that and plan to use my face and my power to send a positive message. In fact, we are currently working on building a village in Africa.”

FI: “In a world full of denim brands you have always managed to be one of the leaders in the industry. What has Diesel done that others haven’t?”

RR: “We produce a very unique denim. We have 51 years of history in manufacturing denim, and that has translated into quite the reputation amongst the industry. A lot of people don’t realize that a majority of the denim brands you find in the United States started off as Diesel affiliates. We have such amazing production facilities that they often work in the same factories as us, or they have worked at Diesel at some point in their careers. Diesel has gone on to foster a lot of these brands because of this.”

FI: “I am a big fan of your new fragrance ‘Only The Brave’, and judging by the way it was plastered all over your offices, you love it too. So do you wear the fragrance?”

RR: “I actually do wear the fragrance. I have produced many in the past, but this is the only one I wear [as he offers me to take a whiff of his scarf (I decline mostly because I could smell it prior to asking the question)]. Men’s fragrances are hard do, because I feel like they need to match the natural scent of a man’s skin.”

FI: “You are about to release your Flash For Fun collection, which contains a reflective material that glows under UV light. What was the inspiration behind this idea?”

RR: “Honestly? My kids. They came up to me saying they wanted something bright, new and fun, and this is what I gave them They loved all the pieces and the concept, and I decided that if they liked it why wouldn’t all my customers. My kids are great because they keep me really connected with what’s young and cool. This is a road I plan to take Diesel down now that I have successfully developed my Diesel Black Gold collection. Diesel is going to take a much more fun young feel, and Diesel Black Gold is going to be our high fashion line. I’m really excited to continue differentiating to two.”

[I get the dreaded wrap it up look from the other PR people in the room, and that signals the end despite the five questions I'm still dying to ask.]

I would like to thank all the people at Diesel who made this interview possible, my good friend Karli, and of course Mr. Rosso for the amazing opportunity.

For more on Diesel and Diesel U: Music be sure to check out their website.

Pharrell Williams has created a new eco-friendly fabric company.

“We want to do everything from high-end luggage to high-end denim, to university caps and gowns to Parks Department uniforms.”

Wow!?! Didn’t see that one coming. Pharrell Williams. Rapper. McDonald’s Fan. Other Things.

Now a fabric designer. Next you’ll tell me that Kanye’s a gay fish. Oh, wait…

LINKAGE: Pharrell Williams Wants to Make Graduation Gowns; Kate Moss Not Writing a Cookbook

As much as I hate to admit it, this guy can do no wrong—mostly when it comes to fashion. The billionaire boy does some posturing while looking ferociously dapper on the March 2009 cover of Nylon Guys. I really dig this ensemble, and as conspicuous as Pharrell may appear when it comes to style, it is innate and somewhat unassuming which is why he can pull off the skinny jean-standard graphic tee-fitted leather jacket look without giving off that repugnant poseur vibe.