Tim Walker

>> Stefano Tonchi's W revamp involves a new italic logo; a new tagline — "it’s not just women’s fashion, but the world of style and, more exactly, our five Ws: the who, the what, the where, the when and the why in the world of style"; and a new direction — "It’s more about fashion in the context of contemporary culture."

The September 2010 issue, which gives a first look at Tonchi's front to back W makeover, features up-and-coming actresses Kat Dennings (Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, Kenneth Branagh's upcoming Thor), Jessica Chastain (Terrence Malick's upcoming The Tree of Life), Yaya DaCosta (The Kids Are All Right, Tron: Legacy), Greta Gerwig (Greenberg), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone, the upcoming X-Men: First Class), Emma Roberts, and Zoe Kravitz in three triple-page foldout covers, which according to Tonchi the magazine has never done before, photographed by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. The main cover headline reads "Great Expectations" because Tonchi "wanted to have some self-irony, because there are so many expectations about what this W will be," and Lynn Hirschberg's name is listed on the cover because Tonchi "want[s] to put writers’ names on the cover. The content — the writers — are going to have a strong place in the magazine."

What's inside? »

>> A number of rumors have swirled around, postulating that Stefano Tonchi asked close friend Anna Dello Russo to take the fashion director position at W — she was even spotted in the magazine's offices recently. But Tonchi denied to Daily Front Row that he had asked Dello Russo to replace current W fashion director Alex White (who remains from the pre-Tonchi era): "I love Anna, but she has a great job at Japanese Vogue that she quite likes, and I don’t have any idea to actually move her to New York. She’s a good friend, but I didn’t really even have a conversation with her about this seriously. She’s a fashion director, but she’s not necessarily the one that’s doing shoots and maybe that’s what I’m looking for. Alex is doing that, and that’s what we need at W."

He is working with new photographers for the magazine, however »

>> Tim Walker's Set Designer Talks the Fate of the Oversized Props —Set designer (and former Alexander McQueen art director) Simon Costin, who works with both Emma Summerton and Tim Walker, recently shared what happens to all the oversized props that have become a trademark in Walker's work: "It often breaks my heart to consign the props I create to the skip, but sadly, with them being so large, there is little alternative. When I work in NYC I can call Materials for the Arts and have things dropped off to them. Sadly London has yet to set something like that up. I’m pleased to say though, Tim has been able to store many things and has then displayed them at exhibitions of his work. The camera is one such prop." [Models.com]

>> ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —Cult favorite Tim Walker — known for his whimsical, colorful fashion photography — has a few new projects on hand.  He's said to have a couple of films in the works for release this year, which means we could have another Wes Anderson, Tim Burton, or Michel Gondry-type auteur on our hands, and he also snapped Acquascutum's Spring 2009 campaign.  He and longtime set design collaborator, Shona Heath, came up with the concept of kissing couples dressed in the brand's bestselling AquaMac based on Aquascutum archive images. [Vogue UK]

>> Tonight, The British Fashion Council hosted the British Fashion Awards — the British counterpart to the CFDA Awards.  Jourdan Dunn stole Agyness Deyn's Model of the Year crown, and looking shocked, managed to accept the award between tears: "My mum would like me to say I'm going to buy her a mansion but she's just going to have to accept this speech instead!"  As for Designer of the Year — an honor bestowed on John Galliano and Alexander McQueen four times each — Luella Bartley was the anointed one.

A complete list of awards, with winners in bold. »

>>  It's goodbye London, hellooooo Paris for Gareth Pugh.  Although he's only been showing since 2005, it was only a matter of time before Gareth took his business from the eccentric incubator that is London Fashion Week to the internationally prestigious Paris Fashion Week.

Thanks to an endowment of 150,000 euros, or approximately $233,549 — the largest international fashion prize of its kind — from the ANDAM Fashion Award, Gareth will be making his move to the next level in Paris this September with his Spring 2009 collection. 

Exciting times for Gareth, who is currently on a British Vogue shoot with Tim Walker, Tim Burton, and Helena Bonham Carter, and said of the win: "It think showing in Paris is going to give the me necessary kick in the back side, and it's also a change of scenery from London. I want longevity, of course, and I also want to be taken more seriously."
*image: source