in the looking glass

"When something is consuming your thoughts, you suddenly notice it everywhere," writes Carine Roitfeld in the editor's letter for the first issue of CR Fashion Book. "When I learned that my daughter, Julia, was expecting, I immediately began seeing babies and new mothers on planes, at fashion shows, in New York and in Paris. Birth and rebirth all around. I became obsessed."

That explains why the seminal issue of the new magazine, which has been teased with videos and photographs, is "filled with both images and ideas about birth, pregnancy, and family." A black and white picture of a pregnant Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, belly exposed by an unzipped leather jacket, accompanies the online version of the editor's letter.

Evidence of this obsession is readily available on the magazine's revamped website, which launched on Tuesday. An editorial starring Marie Piovesan called "Lullaby," for example, features the model posing with a baby doll.

A focus on the industry's new talents will continue in issues to come. "I've edited the magazine to be a who's who of the next generation, as well as an ode to fashion's legends and icons," Roitfeld writes. "Created with humor, joy, grace, and always a dash of irreverence."

A look at the birth of Roitfeld's new magazine, which will hit newsstands on Sept. 13, here in the gallery.

This week's lion's share of gorgeous looks by far belonged to the Venice Film Festival. Not only were some of the chicest actresses of the moment in attendance, but the sheer volume of photocalls, dinners, parties, and screenings also guaranteed that the opportunities for style inspiration would be plentiful.

At the premiere of The Iceman, Brit Marling looked angelic in a strapless, white Resort 2013 Gucci gown, the hem of which was printed with a garden of grasses and blooms. At the same premiere, Winona Ryder took the opposite approach in a darkly dramatic lace Dolce & Gabbana — and the results were equally as stunning.

But the true star of Venice, style-wise anyway, has really been Kasia Smutniak. The Polish actress, former model, and festival's host has looked flawless at every single appearance and in every single dress — from a gauzy floral Valentino to a Raf Simons Jil Sander to a streamlined, crimson Armani Privé.

See all those looks, plus more from around the world — including Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (left), Miranda Kerr, Selita Ebanks, and more — right here.

Worker bees, rejoice: In celebration of the many countless hours spent glued to your desk, this weekend has been extended to allow some extra time for rest and relaxation. And what better occasion than Labor Day to take a look back at some of the best office-oriented fashion editorials in recent memory? If art imitates life, then these imaginative images perfectly capture the bold-shouldered, power-suited silhouettes designers have offered up as workwear in the past few seasons.


Source: T Magazine

In honor of the US Open Tennis Championships, which started in New York on Monday, Vogue asked designers including Pamela Love, Peter Som, and Eddie Borgo to design tennis balls with elements of their signature motifs. The one-of-a-kind balls are decorated with everything from cloth flowers to rhinestones, lace, leather, and aggressive metal studs. Love shot an arrow through her design ("I have four arrow tattoos, so I thought, why not?" she says), while Som's sparkly entry takes inspiration from a diamond tennis bracelet. Dana Lorenz's Fenton ball, with brass chains and pearls, takes inspiration from Christian Lacroix and the glamorous supermodels of the '90s. A selection of our favorites from the project here in the gallery.

Photo via Vogue.

The Summer may be winding down, but that didn't stop this week's chicest from showing off their warm-weather best. At the premiere of Lawless in Los Angeles, Bella Heathcote was super sleek in a subtly printed dress from Jonathan Saunders's Resort 2013 collection, while at the premiere of Bachelorette, Kirsten Dunst's ruffled blue Resort 2013 Jean Paul Gaultier looked both glamorous and breezy. Perhaps the most beguiling look of the week was Gwyneth Paltrow's teal tweed minidress at the screening of End of Watch in East Hampton — although it's hard to imagine any ensemble looking horrible when Jake Gyllenhaal is at your side.

Those looks — plus Jennifer Missoni's pastel zigzags at the premiere of Lawless (left) — and more, here in our weekly best-of roundup.

Just because Summer's almost over doesn't mean you should wait to buy the perfect Summer house. Stefano Tonchi has just listed his own slice of paradise — a modern, minimalist home where he spent time away from his duties editing W magazine — for sale at $1.795 million. The house, located on over an acre of private land in Bridgehampton, NY, has two bedrooms and two bathrooms spread over 1,700 light-filled square feet. Outdoors, there's a pool with its own pool house and a deck large enough to accommodate a dining table and lots of chaise lounges — which may explain how Tonchi maintained his healthy tan. A look at his former home away from home, here in the gallery.

Photos via Saunders Realty.

The cool kids kept it coastal this week — and the styles were just as eclectic as the locales. In New York, Prabal Gurung and company celebrated the arrival of the designer's ICB collection at Barneys with tacos, popsicles, and a lively set by indie-dance duo Tanlines. Hanne Gaby Odiele, Elettra Wiedemann, Dani Stahl, Leandra Medine, and Mia Moretti — who also pulled double duty as DJ — were among those in attendance; some even sported looks from the just-in collection. "Tonight is all about celebration, love, support," Gurung told the crowd before the band took the stage at the retailer's darkened Chelsea Co-Op store.

Over in Los Angeles, there was another young label celebrating the launch of its collection at Barneys as well: Vena Cava. Hosted by Gen Art, the party featured a gaggle of Cava gals — including Tennessee Thomas, Malin Akerman, Jenny Lewis, and Busy Philipps — sporting the brand's Fall 2012 looks while St. Vincent performed to a packed-in house at Chateau Marmont.

A peek at all that — plus all of the gorgeous ensembles worn by Jessica Biel and Kate Beckinsale on their Euro tour for Total Recall — here, in our weekly best-of recap.