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>> Head not brimming with quotes and opinions from Pop editor Dasha Zhukova? The New Yorker's Sept. 27 issue profiles woman-of-few-words Zhukova and explores her relationship with Russian oil billionaire Roman Abramovich, which blossomed while Abramovich was still married to his second wife with whom he had five children (although at the time, Abramovich's spokesman called Zhukova nothing more than "a family friend").

Since, The New Yorker's Julia Ioffe writes, "The pair" — who have a 9-month-old son together — "has kept a low profile. Abramovich, notoriously press-shy, has found a good partner in Zhukova. She will not discuss how they met, or even if they are married. In public, the couple barely interact, floating past each other without words or eye contact. Her press corps rivals his in obstructiveness and obfuscation. She gives few interviews, and when she does, her answers are studies in evasion. When I asked her about her recent art acquisitions — since becoming involved with Zhukova, Abramovich is said to have spent record amounts on paintings by Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon — her airy Southern California drawl turned to lead. 'I don't really talk about the collecting,' she said, and then, as if by way of explanation, added, 'it's something that's quite personal and doesn't involve just me.'"

Ioffe continues: "It's tempting to suppose that such vagueness betrays a neophyte's lack of confidence, and a wariness about being portrayed as a rich dilettante. But Zhukova's almost virtuosic uncommunicativeness seems to apply to all areas of her life, and her infinite unquotability has earned her a kind of fame among journalists. At a fashion show, a reporter for Women's Wear Daily asked her what she thought of the clothes. Zhukova responded, 'I liked them, but that's off the record.'"

While at a June art opening Zhukova was hosting at her Garage Center for Contemporary Culture in Moscow, Ioffe notes: "Periodically, she collapsed on the gray couches, looking like a sullen child, and searched her purse for a pack of cigarettes. (Abramovich disapproves of the habit, and Zhukova denies that she smokes.) She was tired of having a reporter follow her around all day. 'Do you always have to have that tape recorder out?' she asked. She developed a makeshift way of going off the record, covering her mouth and whispering to her friends." And: "At one point in the evening, I came across Abramovich as he wandered into the room with the MOMA exhibit. He walked slowly around, chewing on gum and staring blankly at the works. When I approached him and mentioned that I was writing about Zhukova, she leaped up from a nearby sofa and sprinted over on six-inch Louboutin heels. 'Can I talk to you for a minute?' she said to Abramovich, in Russian, and, grabbing him by the arm, led him quickly across the room and out the door."

"Ultimately," Ioffe concludes, "Perhaps Zhukova doesn't speak much because she understands that her money and connections speak for themselves."

>> Britney Spears to Perform at Dasha Zhukova's Pop Party? —Gwen Stefani and Victoria Beckham have already RSVPed yes to Dasha Zhukova's Pop bash Friday night at the newly-revamped dive Don Hill's in New York, but neither is set to perform. Instead, the New York Times hints that there will be a "legendary guest entertainer with a notorious lust for life," and The Daily hedges a guess that it will be none other than Britney Spears, Pop's current cover girl: "Nothing's confirmed, we're told, but . . . The Daily hears whispers that the former pop princess is maybe/possibly/hopefully slated to take the stage." [NY Times, DFR]

>> Shala Monroque, with her propensity for kitten-heeled shoes — "I don't have a high threshold for pain. I have to have comfortable shoes" — and madcap mixmastering has earned her quite a few fashion fans. "Ironically," she tells Harper's Bazaar, "some of the outfits that receive the most attention from the fashion crowd are the ones that are a little off."

31-year-old St. Lucian Monroque, who is Pop's editor at large (and Pop editor Dasha Zhukova's best friend), has lived in Manhattan for the past ten years, although she apparently spends less than six months a year in her Upper East Side residence — due to her jetsetting lifestyle.

Zhukova, Miuccia Prada on Monroque »

A photo Stella McCartney's late mother took of the family's pet dalmatian, Lucky, serves as backdrop to McCartney's spring ad campaign, which also features Natalia Vodianova. Shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, McCartney styled the images, saying they were "fashion meets reportage, mixing color, and black-and-white. A family animal with an outside atmosphere meets studio lights, camera, action!"

“I love the way it’s very graphic and soft at the same time, due to its double exposure,” said McCartney of her mother’s photo, which was taken in 1976.” About working with Mert and Marcus, McCartney told WWD: “I have known Marcus since I was a teenager and Mert from when they first met, but we never had the chance to work together. I wanted to capture their high-glamour approach over my mum’s low-maintenance way of working.”

The ads break in March titles fashion titles, Pop, V, and British, French, and Italian editions of Vogue.

UPDATE: The cover has been removed.

>> The first POP cover under Dasha Zhukova for Fall/Winter 2009, featuring 13-year-old blogger Tavi from Style Rookie in artwork by Damien Hirst, is said to be the image at right.  Hirst's participation marks Dasha's push to make the magazine reach further than just the fashion world as it had primarily in the past; her goal when first appointed editor in February was to "provide a broader point of view focusing also on art, contemporary culture and the globalisation of all things pop-related."

We've had a blurry peak at one of the magazine's editorials inside; the cover also boasts a contribution by Juergen Teller, a M/M Paris "bookzine," a 25-year tribute to Naomi Campbell, and "a stem-cell research celebration by Rodarte."  If Tavi is indeed on the cover, it's worth noting that a couple of weeks ago, a preview from LOVE's upcoming issue circulated featuring Tavi — ironic that her first two major magazine appearances happen to be in Katie Grand's former magazine (POP), and her current magazine (LOVE).

On a more personal front: last month, Dasha Zhukova's relationship with billionaire Roman Abramovich was said to be over, and now she's being surrounded by pregnancy rumors.

Today marks the launch of the Alexander McQueen for Target range meanwhile photos from the next collab have already leaked.

Speaking of Target collabs, there's an accessories range poised to drop this summer desgned by Target alum Jaye Hersh. 

The agent of the model, Auguste Abeliunaite, who cried on the Jil Sander catwalk, called the Wall Street Journal to explain.  

POP's editorial director Ashley Heath talks to Fashionologie about the new masthead and first cover without Katie Grand. 

Today's designer has to know where to focus their collaborative attention and beauty is a now viable option--Tracy Reese can boast a sixth nail polish collection for Sally Hansen.

Dasha Zhukova, an art gallerist, has been hired as Katie Grand's replacement at Pop magazine. 

The Daily Beast dives into the fashion realm and offers a wrap up of London collection highlights. 

Marco Zanini reveals his first collection for Rochas in the wake of the experimental Oliver Theysken days--make room for more cocktail dresses.