We showed the cover shot of Nicki Minaj for V Magazine issue No. 69 and now the interior editorial, in which we see Nicki via her war-painted up face aint a woman who’s scared of much.  More on the next page.

Nicki Minaj lands another magazine cover. This time it’s V Magazine’s issue No. 69, where the headline declares “The Birth Of A Star.” It’s been interesting to watch Minaj’s rise over this past year and the magazine covers she has landed, with this one indicating she’s becoming one that the fashion world is beginning to watch. Certainly her timing is good; just when the media was beginning to tire of Lady Gaga’s over-the-top fashion statements, in strolls Minaj riding the wave of publicity from her Pink Friday album launch. Will she have the style chops to keep the fickle fashionistas intrigued? We shall see.

This V magazine video of the models standing around before they walk is kind of boring, but we’re fascinated by every molecule of this brand so there you have it. And on that note, we see via FashionCopious that Cathy Horyn has decided to go in on Alex Wang’s collection, calling him a thief and not even a very good one at that. It’s always entertaining when someone of Horyn’s power decides to hate on a popular designer/artist/entertainer to that degree. It’s almost as though her goal is to let you know how smart and informed she is and how the masses may be fooled but not her. Reminds me a little of Camille Paglia’s recent dismissal of Lady Gaga. So heavy handed as to mean more about Paglia than anyone else.

The somewhat enigmatic Kirsten Dunst is featured on the cover of V Magazine, issue No. 64.  She is photographed by Mario Testino, who does an excellent job capturing her cool allure, which has made her so appealing to U.S. directors seeking a little more heft than just another blonde. In the article, KD chats about her friendship with the women behind Rodarte, as well as Takashi Murakami.

Images of the cover shot, plus the rest of the pages from the editorial after the flip.

My partner is kind of vexed by this V Magazine photo shoot because she says it drains all the edge out of the duo, Salt ‘n’ Pepa, who insipred it. I agree, but then again that’s what fashion (and film and literature, etc) always do.  About five to ten years after the fact, they land on a movement that was raw and a little scary/alienating to the masses and redo it in a way that’s safer and more pallatable. And depending on where you’re coming from, the modernized version seems anything from annoying to amazing. I personally feel these two groundbreaking females have already been reinterpreted to death, but I’m U.S. based. There still might be some fascination for this European-based mag. The photographer for this shoot is Josh Olins and it was styled by Clare Richardson.

In the upcoming March issue of V magazine, No. 64, plus-sized model Crystal Renn is making her second editorial apperance in the magazine (first time was in issue No. 63 in the mag’s first-ever size-related issue). In the image shown here, she appears as a Spanish flamenco dancer, alongside the 15-year-old winner of the V A Model Search, Emma Dumont, and VMAN Ford Model Search winner Rico Nieves, shot by Richard Burbridge and styled by Robbie Spencer. The photos are gorgeous, but this whole “plus-sized” thing I just do not get.

In these parts we’ve always believed that beautiful comes in all shapes and sizes. Nonetheless, as much as there have  been shy statements towards ‘fashion for all’ or ‘embracing curves’ there are very few high fashion mags that have dared to actually feature models with plus-size curves and plain old un-retouched  fat . To our surprise  one of the authorities in edgy fashion, V magazine can be now counted as one of the few who dared,  to show the fleshier side of womanhood.

It’s not about bashing ‘thinness’, glorifying ‘fatness’ , praising ‘curviness’ or vice versa. More than ever  it’s showcasing the beauty in each individual,  regardless of shape size or color.Featuring the variety we all see out  there in the real world. Photographs by Solve Sundsbo; Styling by Nicola Formichetti.Models: Candice Huffine, Marquita Pring, Michelle Olson, Tara Lynn, Kasia P. More images on the next page. V Issue 63 on News Stands January 14, 2010.

For their V Magazine Issue 62 cover shoot, a Chanel clad Natalie Portman manages to play it cool while looking searing hot. To celebrate the issue, V commissioned young filmmaker Stephen Smith to create stop-motion footage that captures the eternal chic of Chanel. Here below you can check out the Coco In Motion Video.

A more detailed look at the Natalie Portman cover please head after the jump.

Here’s a look at  the latest V magazine editorial titled ‘ Live from NY’, shot by Mario Sorrenti with models Sasha Pivovarova and Freja Beha Erichsen. Styled by Jane How. Definitely captures the energy and contradictions of this amazing city that is NYC. More on the next page.courtesy of  V.

Here’s an inside look at the illustrious V Magazine  Issue # 60 Fall 2009 preview, Available on July 7, 2009 . A Touch of Class” photographed by Willy Vanderperre, Styling: Olivier Rizzo, Model : Iris Strubegger . More images on the next page.