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

Photos: Models.com

- But of course we have you covered for all your Hurricane Irene needs with a handy guide to surviving this natural disaster in style. [FashionIndie]

- And finally, someone has their priorities in order. Sure there’s a potentially deadly storm heading our way, but what about the Barneys Warehouse Sale? Won’t someone think of the Warehouse Sale?! [Racked]

LINK LOVE: The Cut

Abbey is featured in a stylized, 1970s-influenced direction, wearing pieces from Yves Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton, Versus, Burberry Prorsum and Salvatore Ferragamo in shades of tan and taupe. The gorgeous young model was photographed by Sebastian Faena and styled by Robbie Spencer for the issue, set to hit newsstands January 13.

LINK LOVE: V Magazine

I’ve always found de la Huerta a bit strange, so this cover is nothing too out of the ordinary for her. But the soft look is a nice change from her usual aggressive styling.

LINK LOVE: Design Scene

The collection of images are also printed on paper embedded with wildflower seeds so that they could be planted and actually blossom. The case is wrapped in a McQueen metalized brocade from his Spring/Summer 2010 show. Make sure you get one now because there are only 1500 copies . Click here to guarantee your copy.

The latest Visionaire will be a limited-edition (only 1,500 copies will be printed), pricey (cost is $295, though I imagine it going up at auction) tribute to the late Alexander McQueen, which will feature contributing artists Nick Knight, Lady Gaga, Mario Testino, Steven Klein, Mario Sorrenti, Steven Meisel, Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, David Sims, Sean Ellis, and Sebastian Faena.

Click Here for an exclusive first look at the issue.

The tome has revealed that Lady Gaga’s contribution will come in the form of a sound clip that can be played from the magazine. Definitely one of the publications most ambitious tributes, we’re really looking forward to getting to hear what Lady Gaga has to say about the artist that was McQueen.

LINK LOVE: Visionaireworld.com

Three doesn’t have to be a crowd… Carolyn Murphy shares her love with models Jakob Hedberg and Martin Landgrevein this spread appropriately titled ‘Cabin Fever’ for V Magazine Issue #64, on newsstands in March.

Gallery here.

22-year-old dancer turned model and granddaughter to famed author Ernest Hemingway graced the pages of V this month along with Alexa Chung and Miranda Kerr.  Dree is definitely the next big (well, already) thing, and I’m glad to be seeing her everywhere!

Photographed by Sebastian Faena and styled by Clare Richardson

LINK LOVE: My Fashion Life

GALLERY: Forever Young

SOURCE: Refinery 29′s Pipeline

Sebastian Faena shot this “Hell’s Bella’s” editorial for Issue #57 of V magazine

Eniko Mihalik, Abbey Lee Kershaw, Catherine McNeil, Anja Rubik, Hannelore Knuts, Chanel Iman, and Andres Velencoso Segura star in the colorful, Fellini-inspired spread.

GALLERY: Hell’s Bellas.