It’s been widely covered but don’t want to miss posting the Buzzfeed article from yesterday, asking why runways are so white. Five top casting directors responded and it’s clear from some of their answers that the simple answer is that they themselves are racists–sometimes it’s actually that simple! Barbara Nicoli, casting director for Burberry, Marchesa, Gucci, Emilio Pucci, Armani Privé & Saint Laurent was the most egregious, taking an old worldview on not only body types but what is sexy:

“It’s also true that, for example, Caucasians have a specific body type, black girls have a specific body shape, and Asian girls have a specific body shape. So I guess there are some collections where it’s more perfect for an Asian body shape because they are more flat and less sexy, in a way. Asians, they are not curvy, so to put an Asian [who's] very flat [with a] baby body shape in a show where normally the designer knows they love sexy, beautiful, curvy girls, it’s a bit of nonsense.”

But as bad as she was, casting director James Scully was amazing, calling out some of the heaviest hitters in the industry:

“I feel the Dior cast is just so pointedly white that it feels deliberate. I watch that show and it bothers me — I almost can’t even concentrate on the clothes because of the cast. And recently they’re changing from a very diverse, worldwide, multicultural cast to just a very Germanic-looking white girl. If I were at Dior tomorrow, there would be black girls in that show. I was also disappointed that Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and kind of every other important fashion house — not one of them were racially diverse at all this season. My own personal stance is that the more diverse, the better. A lot of my casts were indicative of that, especially Jason Wu and Tom Ford.”

This is why I laugh when old media “journalists” complain and kvetch from their front-row seats about fashion bloggers ruining fashion, meanwhile oohing and ahhing about Chanel’s globe for half of their so-called reviews and complaining about who was or wasn’t invited for the rest.  The truth is if new media didn’t come along someone would have had to invent it because old media coverage of fashion was failing badly and the unfortunate part is that its classist/racist world views still dominate and continue to poison the fashion environment of today.

The Spring/Summer edition of French Revue de Modes comes with sixteen different covers featuring singer Rita Ora and models Alison Nix, Ashley Smith, Anaïs Pouliot, Ajak Deng, Camille Rowe, Anja Konstantinova, Carola Remer, Daniela Braga, Hirschy Hirschfielder, Kelly Mittendorf, Madison Headrick, Manon Leloup and Mila Krasnoiarova. All models pose in sexy looks from designers Roberto Cavalli, Burberry Prorsum, Christian Dior, Zadig & Voltaire, Jeremy Scott, Louis Vuitton, Diesel Black Gold, Jean Paul Gaultier, Ralph Lauren, Paco Rabbane and Chanel with images lensed by Thierry Le Goues.

Check all covers in the gallery on the next page.

Jennifer Lawrence is the new face for Dior’s Miss Dior handbags. The “Hunger Games” actress has been hired to star the Spring campaign of the French fashion house and assures with an elegant look wearing a slicked back and red lips. The campaign was shot by for the Paris fashion house’s spring campaign photographed by Willy Vanderperre and styled by Olivier Rizzo.

See all campaign images on the next page.

We showed some of our favorite items from Dior’s Couture runway for Spring 2013, and here’s a closeup on the hair & make up. Pixie cuts & jeweled lips–tres gamine! But I’m wondering as I look at this pics, to all our readers who are hair experts—are the models in wigs?? If yes, how on earth did they achieve such a natural look?

See another Dior backstage image, the girls can’t help but Vogue in these frocks!

Dior Couture Spring 2013 runway, shown today during Paris Fashion Week, was fluid, fresh and yet still appropriately beholden to the archives; add in the popularity of newly installed designer Raf Simons plus a community anxious to see the storied Dior house return to respectability and it’s no suprise the critics are cooing, (not too mention stylists to the stars drooling). Which, good for Dior’s handbag and perfume sales going forward. They will probably improve compared to last year.

See three more of our favorite looks on the next page.

Rap artist A$AP Rocky sits front row at the runway for Dior Couture Spring 2013, as photographed by Tommy Ton.  The Harlem rap artist was there in support of Dior designer Raf Simons who joined the label as creative director in April 2012, in replacement of John Galliano. Thus far, early read on the collection, shown today during Paris Fashion Week, has been largely positive.

Finally, the first ready-to-wear ad campaign images (above left) for Dior as guided by the brand’s new creative director, Raf Simons, have been released. The campaign brings a much lighter touch as compared with former Dior head, John Galliano (see images from the 2012 campaign he directed above right), who was known for his more dramatic viewpoint. Shot by Willy Vanderperre and featuring models Anna Martynova, Marie Piovesan, and Daria Strokous, the ads aim for a streamlined look, modernized with surrealist touches.

For all campaign images, click on the read more button to get to the next page.

WWD reports that Maison Martin Margiela as well as Alexis Mabille are now officially part of the haute couture houses. Next to Chanel and Christian Dior there are now 14 houses that have the haute couture appellation. Above is a picture of a fall couture look from Maison Martin Margiela. Margiela will show on January 23rd during Paris Haute Couture.

Singer MIA lands the cover of Jalouse magazine for December/January 2012, along with an editorial in which she is shot by Roman Gravras in high-low Spring 2013 looks from Paco Rabanne, Armani, Kenzo , Dior, Azzedine Alaïa, Sonia Rykiel, plus Carhartt, Vans and American Apparel. Via Shedonism.

See the editorial on the next page.

Dior has created a line of temporary tattoos made of 24 carat gold, designed by Dior jewelry designer Camille Micelli. For $120, the set contains a temporary tattoo in the shape of bracelets, charms and rings with an oriental touch. Guaranteed NOT long-lasting, the tattoo gets full marks for the most opulent one-night performance.