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.

For the March issue of Numéro Tokyo, songbird Lana Del Rey was captured by Mariano Vivanco and in the editorials wears the latest looks by Chanel, Valentino, Roberto Cavalli and Prada. The Manga-inspired editorial shows the singer posing under an extreme colorful sky with slightly exaggerated posing and make-up.

Check out the full editorial on the next page.

Prada’s statement piece for Spring 2013–a sequin platform sandal featuring gold patent leather straps. Defiantly different from last Spring’s much-celebrated car shoe, but still just as much fun. Via Saks.

What we have always loved about fashion is it’s potential to bring joy. We as HighSnobette editors feel so lucky to not only have witnessed many of these special moments but to also have come to know and watch grow many of the artists and designers behind some of our favorite projects. Below in no particular order we share what we regard as some of the best, joy-bringing efforts of 2012:

Designer Melody Ehsani’s star has been on the rise for quite some time now, but her “Queen of the Jungle” necklace (above) in many ways stamped her official arrival. We lost count of the stylish celebrities spotted in this vivacious fun piece.

Leah McSweeney has always been a force of personality. She literally is the MTTM brand, as backed by an intensely loyal supporting staff + fan base. Like many young brands the label went through its stumbles when investors pulled out, but the tenacious McSweeney was able to hold on to the name and this year the label found its own inimitable stride again, as marked by the brand’s “Supreme Bitch” snapback cap, which received the blessing of none other mega-style star Rihanna.

See many more “bests” on the next page. And a very Happy New Year to all. Thank you so much for your support in 2012.

Prada launches a capsule collection of slippers for women featuring five styles ranging from classic leather slipper to studded, embroidered and velvet version.

See them all on the next page.

As usual Prada comes up with a stellar campaign for Spring 2013. Beautiful product  galvanized by simple, color crisp  images and of course showcased by many of the industry’s top girls–Vanessa Axente, Saskia de Brauw, Irina Kravchenko, Eva Herzigova, Sung Hee, Irene Hiemstra, Kirsten Owen, Sasha Pivovarova, Amber Valletta, Maartje Verhoef, and Raquel Zimmermann. (And as good as all the product looks in images, it’s more delicious in real life–words cannot describe how this writer longs for a Prada bag!)

Except for Sung Hee, the girls are all white, a tendency for which Prada has repeatedly been criticized for, especially as it applies to its runways. In a way though, pointing out the color of models on runways is a shallow shot at brands. Modeling is an ephemeral job at best (career–implying as it does something with longevity/import–should never be used to describe the work of posing in clothing), with those landing jobs that set them for life about as rare as a Powerball lottery winner.

In reality you have to guess the bigger issue lies at the top of major fashion brands, which one has to bet are even less diverse than their runways. And if there is little to no diversity among decision makers, it would make sense that they are reluctant to represent the same in their ads and on their runways. After all, when one lacks everyday relationships with ethnically/religiously/racially different people, it’s easier to view them as exotics to be pulled out for special statement-making moments (or as tokens to appease the complaints) rather than as stellar beauties upon whom a brand can be built. I’ve said it before, fashion can do better and actually I believe it will in 2013….xox0

On another note, lol, more of those Prada ads on the next page.

Miuccia Prada has tapped models Malgosia Bela, Bette Franke, Martha Hunt, Doutzen Kroes, Adriana Lima, Arizona Muse and Tamara Weijenberg for the Miu Miu Spring 2013 campaign, as shot by shot by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. As usual for Miu Miu, the campaign does a great job showcasing the collection, with models featured in lingerie-inspired tops set against color-filled furs with New York serving as the setting.

See all images on the next page.

Ruby Aldridge stars in the latest issue of V Spain and presents some outstanding Fall looks including Louis Vuitton, Versace, Balenciaga and Prada pieces. The model, who has already catwalked for our favourite big designers looks absolute authentic and adorable in the spread shot by Aingeru Zorita and styled by David Gómez-Villamediana.

See all pictures after the jump.

During Paris Fashion Week, Miuccia Prada presented a rather wicked line for Miu Miu’s Spring 2013 collection. Coats made of latex, leather and denim over straight-line yet-lose-fitting skirts were heightened with paint-splash flower prints. Over-sized furs in various colors were more discreet, with colors made to blend with the clothing they covered. Once again a very female collection for the sophisticated women.

Take a glimpse at our favorite looks on the next page.

Prada showed a pure fun runway collection in Milan last week that appeared to be a tribute of sorts to Japan’s Harajuko girls. Not nearly as colorful as the label’s Autumn 2012 offerings or as graphics oriented as Spring 2012, nonetheless a theme of fearlessness remain with designer Miucca Prada continuing to blaze her own distinct path–torpedoes be damned.  (Meanwhile offering up yet another set of banger, must-have shades!) Images via Vogue.