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The big girls are taking over. PA-POW! That's all I have to say about that! V Magazine's size issue hits stands today and should carry a warning label that says "Dangerous Curves Ahead." There's always so much talk in the fashion industry about using "real looking women" in magazines, and in past attempts I have to say that most publications have failed. It makes me laugh to imagine Anna Wintour, for instance, meeting with the Voguettes and picking out a "big girl": "I can see her when she turns sideways; must be what they want." But, V has a good sized selection. The ladies in the issue, especially in Solve Sundsbo's editorial, are vuluptous and vampy and curvy indeed.

As a woman who has struggled with her weight and has done battle with a eating issues her whole life, I can't explain the feeling of validation that comes from seeing women who kind of, sort of, maybe a little bit, look something like me and my body. This feels especially good coming from an industry that I love so much, and that has been so unified in its acceptance of nothing but boniness for so long. I don't blame the industry for my own image issues, but seeing beautiful bodies in glossy pages helps me feel good and sexy and PA POW myself. Thanks V! You done good.

All I Want For Christmas Is This.

Is it too early to start asking Santa Claus for gifts? I've been naughty and nice this year, so I think I deserve a little sumptin' sumptin. I want to give him enough time to save up his pennies to splurge on this Solve Sundsbo bag for me, or at least to get the elves to knock it off properly.

How hot is that big hunk of photo-realist love in the shape of a bag? I love it.

Click the image to get more information.

One/One-Thousand: Miles Aldridge

One of Aldridge's typically saturated fashion images.

Steven Kasher Gallery is hosting an exhibit of work by fashion photographer Miles Aldridge. His plastic fantastic photo style, pallet of bright, crayon colors, and super-lit, sexed-up scenes are classic examples of fashion's current flair for hyper-maximalism. With fellow snappers like Mert and Marcus, David Lachapelle, and Solve Sundsbo working in similar styles, it's interesting to see Aldridge's defining characteristics on display. His process is thought out pre-shoot.

He literally sketches his shots by hand in marker on paper. The pre-photo set pieces are on view right next to Aldridge's super-saturated portraits of mouths engaging in all sorts of lippy activities. The two subjects- Aldridge's prep work and his mouthy portraits- are the highlights of the show.

You can see more from the exhibit on Steven Kasher's website. You can get sparly gold lipstic here. Just in case...

Play With Your Fashion

Visionaire is a quarterly fashion publication that changes themes, formats, and contributors with every issue. There is a core team of editors and creative directors, including the fabulous Cecila Dean, who conceive of each issue and choose collaborators. Always featuring the work of brilliant established and upcoming artists with a fashion focus, Visionaire has managed to stay innovative and current even after 17 years and over 50 issues. Although I can't afford the $675 annual subscription cost, exploring back issues in their online gallery is a free taste of the couture mag's conceptual, cool fun. Lucky NYC'ers can also get their hands on the real issues at the Visionaire Gallery located at 11 Mercer St which houses back issues and stages exhibits related to the current issue.

Their latest issue is entitled Surprise! and is composed of a limited edition series of pop-up books from various artists and fashion world luminaries, including Sophie Calle , Solve Sundsbo, and Cai Guo Qiang.

The coolest thing about Visionaire, in my humble opinion, is their constant embrace of the new and their innovation. They've had issues you can taste, smell, light up, and wear. They play it so cool.

Smokin'

I don't condone smoking, but I do love a nice shade of red.

Image: Karen Elson photographed by Solve Sunsbo