Inez van Lamsweerde

>> The Victoria's Secret Angels aren't just scoring spots in high fashion runways and campaigns these days — they're also becoming ubiquitous on Summer magazine covers. Just look at the covers that have rolled out in the past two days: Miranda Kerr, who scored a Summer i-D cover, is also GQ's June 2010 cover girl, as photographed by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin; Alessandra Ambrosio was captured by Inez and Vinoodh (and styled by Anna Dello Russo) for the July 2010 cover of Vogue Nippon; and Doutzen Kroes takes Vogue Russia's June 2010 cover honors, as lensed by Terry Richardson.

>> With a track record of Lanvin ad campaigns that are never like those of any other house, Alber Elbaz wasn't going to ruin his reputation for Spring 2010.  Instead of the prostrate model shots that have become so prevalent, Elbaz asked for "a bit of action."  Hence, Jamie Bochert, photographed by Steven Meisel running through the hall of a studio in New York. “She moved so fast, even the chandelier was moving with her,” Elbaz noted. Perhaps he was inspired by Bochert's recent 12-block chase after a thief? She was successful in reclaiming her bag: “That’s the kind of girl I like." Interestingly enough, you wouldn't know it was Jamie from this first image — her face seems to have escaped the lens.

Lanvin also went with a new concept for the men's side of things.  Instead of just employing married couple Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin to do the photography honors, they star as well.  “He’s not our model,” Elbaz said of Matadin. “We just photographed him in our clothes, and it becomes very believable. Also, to see him through the eyes of his wife and to see the love story between them — it’s a very emotional campaign.” Of the red airbrushing on Inez? “It took two hours to paint."

>> Alexander Wang hinted recently that he was ready to evolve, telling W's September 2009 issue: "As soon as people get used to what you’re doing, you have to change direction."  And evolve he did for Spring 2010: the look of his last few collections, with their body-clinging shapes and primarily black palettes, was replaced by a generally looser silhouette and all shades of khaki, tan, olive, and gray.  He told WWD that Spring 2010 for him "is very much about classic American sportswear," and the idea is visible in pieces like a sweatshirt dress with football pad detailing (below) and all the shinguard-like socks cut out at the back of the calf.

But Wang didn't give up the sexy side of his label — there were plenty of bra tops, crop tops, and and lingerie-style shorts to go around.  The house was unsurprisingly packed, with Katie Grand (Wang's after-party co-host), Terry Richardson, Olivier Zahm, Diane von Furstenberg (Alex's CFDA-appointed mentor), Erin Wasson, Devon Aoki, Liya Kebede, and Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin all front row.  Frankie Rayder, Angela Lindvall, and Iselin Steiro walked, newcomer Mirte Maas opened, Karl Templer styled, and Wang's three styles of sunglasses debuted.

>> Placing a male and female model together against a gray studio background is quickly becoming a Jean Paul Gaultier campaign signature — it was that way with Daria Werbowy for Fall 2008, and an ankle-wrapped Lara Stone for Spring 2009; but for Fall 2009, the campaign's usual photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin played with the formula a little bit.  Instead of hiring a male model, Raquel Zimmermann posed in the past few months in both the masculine and feminine roles. This upcoming month before all the Fashion Weeks get under way, she's planning to go to Vienna and then surfing in Hawaii.

>> It turns out the image of Anja Rubik curling around a handbag against a black background was for Gucci's Pre-Fall 2009 collection; the first couple of images from the actual Fall 2009 campaign, photographed by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin back in April, are here.  So far, Natasha Poly, Anja Rubik, Raquel Zimmermann, and Myf Shepherd are all pictured — as styled by Emmanuelle Alt — but Jacquetta Wheeler, Freja Beha Erichsen, Abbey Lee Kershaw, Dree Hemingway, and Jamie Bochert have also been mentioned as part of the campaign.