It’s officially that time of the year: Fresh school supplies and autumn sweaters and crunchy leaves are in the offing. To prep properly, be sure to pick up the Teen Vogue September 2012 Fall Fashion Issue on newsstands now! I would send it to you, along with—in the words of the legendary Mr. Joe Fox (a.k.a. Tom Hanks c/o the late great Nora Ephron’s pen in You’ve Got Mail)—”a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils, if I knew your name and address… on the other hand, this not knowing has its charms.”

Anyhow, I was honored to contribute to a stellar Victoria Lewis piece probing into the accessibility and historical roots of eccentricity in fashion, which can be found on pages 228-231 of the back-to-school issue.

Vogue October 2011 (Michelle Williams cover) — ”Sparkling Personalities”

• photographer: Patrick Demarchelier
• fashion editor: Tabitha Simmons
• contributing editor: Lynn Yaeger
• bookings editor: Valerie Boster
• makeup: Alice Lane

My most heartfelt of thanks to Patrick for the marvelous experience (and the exquisite book!) along with the brilliant Tabitha—and, of course, everyone involved behind-the-scenes—for an unforgettable day.

In the first image, Tabitha dolled me up in: Solange Azagury-Partridge diamond-and-white-gold headband. Harry Winston garnet, tsvaorite, and diamond brooch. Tiffany & Co. diamond-and-rose gold earrings. Rodarte F/W 2011 look #14 ensemble.

Pictured with my love Bip Ling in: Mannu/The Gem Palace earrings. Preen by Thorton Bregazzi F/W 2011 look #1 dress. My own Rodarte for Opening Ceremony hat. (Bippy looks ravishing in an Erdem dress and Fred Leighton jewelry.)

It was such an unforeseen bonus to catch up with old friends at Patrick’s Chelsea studio: including my dearest Bip (we first met in summer 2009 on a LOVE Magazine shoot in London), my favorite fashionfolk Lynnie (who I have always held in the highest esteem, even before we struck a friendship when I was just seventeen) and my style icon Alice Lane (she first did my makeup at David Armstrong’s home for the Chloë Sevigny for Opening Ceremony book, Reds).

What a sparkly dream.

Thank you. 

Apropos of nothing: guess who captured Lynnie’s contributor photo at her genius, sparkling Sundance Full Frontal Fashion column?

I snapped this just before we scoped out a Jeanette Farrier reclaimed antique fabric scarf at my favorite shopping destination and charity concept – Merci (111 Boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris). Merci, iPhone!