James Franco: Ph: Terry Richardson: Vogue Hommes International Winter 07-08

Does the designer think it's more exciting, more fun, if he puts bags everwhere? Is he trying to tell us that he's very good with accessories? I don't get it!
Calvin Klein in VHI #6 Fall/Winter 07-08

The New VHI hits the stands yesterday and it is champion. When Carine Roitfeld assumed the editorial chair skeptics tsk, tsked as if to say runnning both Paris Vogue and Vogue Hommes was a case of overextension. Last laugh goes to Madame because she is turning out one of the freshest and frankest men's mags on an overcrowded market. The James Franco cover is a sell. The "Fur Men" edit by Carine and Testino features all the skin the happily superficial will need. David Sims and Joe McKenna collaborate on a beautiful story titled "Ray Of Light" , an ostensible tribute to legendary stylist Ray Petri that ends up looking oddly like an early 90's Meisel sitting w. the great male model Sean Bohary. Hottie Lara Stone prances around with no pants on for Sorrenti. The video of Lara bouncing uncontrollably at the SS08 Prada is hilarious. Cleavage! That has not been seen on a directional runway in a decade.

Mario Sorrenti: PH by Kate Moss Vogues Hommes International Winter 07-08

Speaking of Sorrenti, the archival snaps by Kate Moss for his Q+A are alone worth the price of admission (7 Euros). But what makes the interview pop is Sorrenti's total openess as to his past promiscuity. For example, this disclosure in response to the question "The best sex you ever had?" Mario: "I was on acid... I wasn't even thinking about sex at that particular moment. I just wanted to experience the trip....We got naked and chased each other down the street. It must have been two in the morning and I ended up fucking her in someone's garden. It was incredible for both of us, fucking mind blowing. So much so that I had to come back the next day to photograph where it happened" I won't print Mario's response to the following question "Have you tried group sex".

Vogue Hommes International F/W 07-08 Editorial Highlights

But the piece de resistance has to be an exclusive interview with Calvin Klein that is so juicy, the pages of my copy are still dripping. Choice snippet? Calvin on Marc Whalberg at the time he signed him up as an underwear model, as follows " "He was crazy at the time-completely unpredictable. I'd seen him on the cover of Interview magazine. Back then he called himself Marky Mark, and he was a rap artist. A disaster, the worst kind of music you could possibly imagine. But women and gays were in hysterics over him...After noticing him on that cover, my friend David Geffen sent him his plane to fly him from Boston. We had dinner with him, and he took off his t-shirt. He had an incredible body-I'd never come across anything like it- and I've seen some bodies in my time. We wondered what made him tick, he came out with the weirdest things. He really was a fun person to be with....I met him at a cocktail party much later, when he'd already made a name for himself as an actor. At first he was very cold. I think he had a grudge against me for terminating his contract...Anyway, that evening he was in a double breasted flannel suit in the skin of the perfect Hollywood dream actor. I got the feeling that he'd moved in another direction.We talkeda lot. He's a really smart kid and a good actor". Calvin goes on to say much more about aesthetic integrity, his current doings and the good old wild nights (for which he has no regrets). This interview is why this issue is a must-buy!