in the looking glass

J.Crew eschewed models for very glamorous real people like Tank magazine fashion director Caroline Issa and Le Figaro deputy editor Virginie Mouzat for its Fall 2012 campaign. The ads include written messages directed at people who "recognize quality and appreciate the small details in life," according to a spokesman for the retailer. Issa's ad, for example, says, "You speak softly and carry a loud bag," while Mouzat's says, "You have a passion for Italian shoes and spaghetti westerns." All the images end with the line "We know you're out there," which is intended to let costumers know that J.Crew is committed to providing them with well-made products.

The women's ads, which launched on J.Crew's website Thursday, highlight shoes and handbags. Get a look at all the products — and the women who love them — here in the gallery.

Photos courtesy of J.Crew

Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Georgia May Jagger, and a slew of other famous British models turned the London Olympics closing ceremony into one of the world's most-watched runway shows Sunday night. The models — each clad in different metallic gold designs from some of the best designers working in London — were wheeled into the ceremony inside billboard-sized photos of themselves while David Bowie's song "Fashion" filled Olympic Stadium. The images were stripped away to reveal the live models, who walked to the center of the field to glitter and pose in front of the very global audience for a few moments before walking out.

"It's such an amazing platform for the brand, having billions and billions of people watching," said Christopher Kane, who spent some 80 hours working on the coat and pants Stella Tennant wore during the ceremony. "That's another reason why I wanted to do something different, instead of a dress."

Sam McKnight, who worked on the models' hair, observed that the closing ceremony "was about British icons, not just athletics." Jourdan Dunn, who walked the runway in a dress by Jonathan Saunders, called the evening the "highlight of my career so far." Karen Elson said she couldn't "begin to express how much I love Naomi, Kate, Georgia," and the other models who walked with her. Makeup artist Val Garland called the fashion portion of the show "the best moment ever!"

Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Erdem, and other British fashion houses also created outfits for the occasion. A look at who wore what here in the gallery.

Naomi Campbell's Fashion For Relief dinner in London may have been packed with models, but the style on offer was refreshingly low-key. Lily Donaldson, Karen Elson, and Georgia May Jagger each donned various versions of the LBD, while Jourdan Dunn went ultrasleek in a streamlined beige ensemble. Kate Moss, in her gold-embroidered vintage caftan, was the embodiment of easy elegance as well.

At an intimate gathering in honor of Brad Goreski's birthday in New York, the looks were just as breezy. The downtown crowd — which included Christina Ricci, Taylor Tomasi Hill, and Prabal Gurung (left) — was the picture of Summery fun with bright hues, botanical prints, and unfussy silhouettes.

See all those looks — plus Mischa Barton's tux redux in London, Jennifer Lawrence's snakeskin Narciso Rodriguez in Hollywood, and Dree Hemingway's Marc Jacobs prints in Switzerland — here, in our best-of-the-week slideshow.

Source: BFA

It's not over till it's over. And though it might be over sooner than we'd like, take solace in this: there are nearly two more months until the autumnal equinox officially hits. That means there's still plenty of time for bare legs, bright hues, and strategically placed cutouts — if that's your thing.

So, in honor of the last long days of sun — and all the breezy ensembles still to come — here are 99 gorgeous warm-weather looks. Who knows? Some are so chic, they might even inspire a whole new season's worth of style.

From the creation of Team Britain's performance kit to making sure her father had the perfect bespoke opening ceremony ensemble, Stella McCartney has been one busy designer. She's also been quite occupied with another pastime: Instagram. Days before London's big salute, McCartney was busy snapping pics from behind the scenes, offering an inside glimpse on everything from her own clothing choice ("From a fashion perspective, I went for a total gold look," she told Vogue of her shimmering track suit) to the vibe backstage at the stadium.

And though the designer has stated that she had nothing to do with Team Britain's official opening ceremony outfits — which drew some criticism from fans over the weekend — she didn't let the controversy dampen her spirits. "It was quite different to anything that I had ever experienced," she said of Friday night's extravaganza. "Everyone was high on pride and everyone had come together as one. The Olympics really do stand for something magnificent."

A look at the designer's Olympic Instagram highlights, here.

Supermodels, supermodels, and more supermodels — the week was filled with them. Victoria's Secret models Candice Swanepoel and Bregje Heinen, for example; the duo made quite the pair in two sets of corresponding dresses at the launch of Body by Victoria at the SoHo store in New York.

Coco Rocha was out and about in New York as well, where she walked the red carpet at the premiere of Total Recall. In a slim black dress with gold beaded sleeves and little black ankle booties, Rocha was (as usual) the picture of laid-back glam.

But the most exciting supermodel sightings of all? Carol Alt and Pat Cleveland. The legendary stunners turned heads at several events around New York in honor of the new documentary About Face: Supermodels Then and Now, in which both appear. At the very intimate Rose Bar screening of the film at the Gramercy Hotel, for example, the two were just as chic as ever: Alt in a curve-hugging shift dress and an arm full of beaded bracelets and Cleveland in an incredible ivory column dress with an asymmetrical neckline.

All those — plus Devon Aoki, Joan Smalls, and the many Total Recall premiere ensembles of Jessica Biel — here, in the slideshow.

Karl Lagerfeld's clique hit London for the opening of his Olympic popup in London, the ladies of Downton Abbey celebrated in Beverly Hills, and a host of chic young things turned up in Los Angeles for the Teen Choice Awards. Who exactly was there, and what did they wear? See it all — and more —right here, in our best-of-the-week roundup.

The intersection of fashion and sports has long been a favorite among photographers and stylists — particularly when it comes to the use of athletic equipment as props. Boxing gloves, racing bikes, parallel bars, fencing swords . . . you name it, it's definitely been paired with McQueen or Wang for the Vogues, Elles, and Bazaars of the world.

What better time than now, on the eve of those fantastical feats of competition and strength we call the Olympics, to take a look back at some of the chicest of sports-themed editorials and campaigns to ever grace the glossies? After all, with uniforms designed by Stella, Ralph, Ferragamo, and Hermés — not to mention a closing ceremony that will be packed with more supermodels than seems humanly possible — this year's Games are bound to be more fashionable than ever before.

There were plenty of high-profile soirees to keep the fash pack on their toes this week. In the UK, the Veuve Clicquot Gold Cup Final in West Sussex brought the likes of Christopher Kane, Henry Holland, and Jade Williams out in the rain for some good old-fashioned polo fun, while over in London, the European premiere of The Dark Knight Rises brought stunning looks from Marion Cottilard and Anne Hathaway.

In New York, Sergio Rossi creative director Francesco Russo joined Barneys in feteing the opening of its freshly-renovated shoe floor; Rachel Chandler and Filipa Fino were among the well-heeled who joined Simon Doonan to ogle the designer offerings whilst noshing on tiny ice cream cones. Across town and later that same evening, Hudson jeans celebrated the release of its Cabaret campaign with a party hosted by the campaign's star, Georgia May Jagger. A dj set by Au Revoir Simone and a live performance by Dragonette kept guests Leigh Lezark and Aimee Ruby dancing all night long.

But perhaps the most talked-about event of the week was Louis Vuitton's Shanghai takeover. In honor of the reopening on the brand's giant China flagship store, Marc Jacobs not only shipped over the brand's Fall 2012 show-opening locomotive, he also whisked over a gaggle of super-chic guests. Among them? Derek Blasberg, Alexa Chung, Poppy Delevigne, Clemence Poésy, and Candace Lake.

A peek at all that — plus looks from Diane Kruger, Mischa Barton, and more — here in the slideshow.

It was another busy week — one that was filled with nonstop chic. Among the style moments of note: the premiere of Farewell My Queen in New York, which brought Diane Kruger in her Azzedine Alaia finest, and the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles, where Jessica Biel stunned in a stellar Christian Dior frock and Zooey Deschanel — sans black tights — sparkled in Oscar de la Renta.

The week's best looks — including Michelle Williams's gorgeous printed Giulietta shift and Dita Von Teese's shimmering floral Jenny Packham gown — plus more, in the slideshow.