The languid and mysterious Mr Style up close

I've been fascinated all year by Mr Style a/k/a Ray and his perfectly idiosyncratic and individualistic site ("http://wherethelightsend.blogspot.com) . Something about the pure and uncorrupted energy of his writing and the languidness of his beauty made me feel like here was a very interesting young talent to track. That is what makes doing TI so exciting for me these days. I feel like its been allowing me to mingle in an underground internet network , a kind of secret society of talented and beautiful new kids bent on making their mark on the worlds of taste and style. I hold Mr Style to be a prime example of this ideal. Around the time of the last Paris Fashion Week I planned to catch up with Ray but ... you know how it goes in that city. Decadent mayhem spoils the best laid plans. Last week Ray Q&A'd me for his blog so I insisted on returning the favor by investigating further the new brand of fabulousness represented our erstwhile Mr Style. This is what I found out

Kate Moss/IMG PH: Mert n Marcus for Interview Sept 2008 via tfs

“It’s time for a magazine to have well-executed visuals to counterbalance the culture of point-and-shoot "...“Quality needs to be put into magazines today, otherwise there will be no reason for magazines to exist.”

Fabien Baron in WWD on the new Interview

Lara Stone PH: Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin for Purple

IMG Pernille is a shoe-in for Top 10 Newcomer SS09

Eva Mendes:Mikael Jansson: Interview August 2008: via tfs

Claudia Schiffer rides again!Just ask VF

Question. If as hiss has it, Claudia is Chanel FW 08 and Naomi YSL with Kate set to log her inevitable 4-pack of camps, where does that leave today's mob of bright eyed newcomers? The magazines are awash with Top Newcomers edits. V must do one. German Vogue has one pending and the new incarnation of Interview under Karl Templer's stewardship kicks off with a visual ode to today's Top New Stars but these girls will not be populating the blue chip campaigns this season from the look of things.
This is not a new story. Clients are clear where they stand on this issue. In the rare cases that they cast from the current ranks of models, they still contract those girls with a track record. Think for instance about that certain haute editorial blonde who dropped out from the scene a few seasons back. She's in much demand these days proving that certain girls will always find a space on the call sheet waiting for them. Or you could be Lara Stone and find yourself constantly needed on those best sets. Now consider the curious political change-ups at that hallmark American label which seems to be hopping from girl to girl per season. The days of long term commitments seem to be over at that house.

The most expensive girls in the most reasonable clothes. Very Gap!

Catherine McNeil: Numero 90: PH: Greg Kadel

Kate Moss: Naomi Campbell: IMG: Vogue Paris Feb 08: via thefashionspot.com

Gianfranco Ferre's little store front

Prada, Calvin, Balenciaga ... Gianfranco Ferre? TI's been hearing the buzz, first in the form of the upcoming men's show in January that the Ferre label was about to be refashioned as the epitome of au courant hipness. The hippest male models on the face of the earth, as thin, young and androgynous as possible were being canvassed by a very blue chip casting director. Then today at lunch I picked up the buzz that Karl Templer and Fabien Baron have been harnessed to remake and remodel the branding of Ferre. That certainly explains Major's Egle as shot by David Sims for the SS08 campaign. Which means you should brace yourself for a rush of glossy mag raves about the cool new Ferre taste point. Wonder if it'll be a hit on the sales floor...Also Caroline Poznanski formerly of Next has just ascended to the throne of director of the editorial Women's board at Ford NY. Seems someone went shopping with their cash infusion...And model watchers posted outside the Meisel studios in NY and LA can stop spying now. Mr Meisel is done shooting for the year as of this weekend we hear. No more campaigns, no more editorials, no more Italian Vogue. Its a wrap as they say. Back on the agency front...are you done with your FW 08 show package yet? Women's Chris Gay has his locked. Paul Rowland was in Milk Studios for much of October and November lensing Supreme's . NY Model's has their vision worked out and TI's glimpsed them all. Can't wait to see them hit the desk in Jan! But there's a much needed vacation to savor first.