For those of you unfamiliar with the term "freeballing" it refers to a man sans-underwear. It's also a look that Jon Hamm, a.k.a. Don Draper, is incredibly fond of. In photo after photo, it's easy to spot the Mad Men star's package roaming free in his pants as he smiles and waves contently to the paparazzi.

Despite his personal comfort, however, it has led to the discomfort of those faced with the rather distracting bulge. Hilariously enough, according to TMZ, this has now created a battle in the men's underwear world with Fruit of the Loom and Jockey going head-to-head in a bid to cover Hamm's, well, head.

Leslie Fremar: remember that name. She is the Toronto-born stylist that The Hollywood Reporter has just named the most powerful in the biz. With clients like Julianne Moore, Charlize Theron, and Scarlett Johansson, who all possess a regular spot on the best dressed list, it's no wonder. What's great about Leslie's roster is that each of her clients has a unique style. Rather than having them conform to her own idea of what's fashionable (like say, stylist Rachel Zoe), she works to enhance their own existing personal flair (instead of putting everyone in bellbottoms and fur coats, like say, Rachel Zoe).

I thought - hands-down - that the most exciting magazine cover for April was going to be Tina Turner on Vogue Germany looking H-O-T as ever at the age of 73. Then, I caught sight of Nicki Minaj, stripped down and stunning on the cover of ELLE. Ding, ding, ding—we have a winner.

Canada's favourite model export, Coco Rocha, is the new face of Banana Republic's Mad Men collection, but was she the best pick? That's what some are debating now that the ads have been released, revealing her slim figure as a representation of TV's curviest leading ladies.

Having worked in fashion for many years, I know that brands and editors strive to cast plus-sized models in their pages, but there is always talk of it needing to be "the right fit". In this case, I can't think of a better one.

If you haven't yet noticed a petite blonde with stark brown eyebrows and to-die-for cheekbones popping out from behind every runway curtain at New York Fashion Week, look a little closer. Her name is Cara Delevingne and the 20-year-old British model is easily the "It" girl of the moment.

She has already walked for Victoria's Secret, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and nearly every top designer that showed for Spring/Summer '13, but over the last few months, with the release of her Burberry and DKNY spring ads, and her Style.com and Love Magazine covers, Cara has become all but unstoppable. This week alone she has landed on the cover of British Vogue and walked for Rodarte, Derek Lam, Tommy Hilfiger, Tory Burch, Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta and Marc by Marc Jacobs...and it's only Wednesday.

As if magazine editors didn't already dislike bloggers enough, wait until they get a load of this: ThisNext, a U.S. social-shopping company, has created a new platform where anyone and everyone can create their own online magazine. Using what people love most about Tumblr and Pinterest, this new site, Glossi.com, provides a flippable, clickable online magazine format where people can compile their favourite text, images, videos, and audio bites.

Victoria's Secret Angel, Doutzen Kroes.

Last week a few blogs got hold of unretouched pics of the Victoria's Secret models and showed a comparison to the final ads that went to press. Unlike many Photoshop flubs, the changes are actually quite subtle—skin darkening, boob lifting, and a little hip trimming. All in all, not the worst we've ever seen. But then a few of the girls were asked to weigh in on the changes and their answers made up for any damage the images overlooked.



Fashionista.com spoke to both Erin Heatherton and Doutzen Kroes, two of VS' best known blondes, the latter of which is seen in the unretouched images that were released. Here's what Erin had to say: "It’s all about creating this fantasy. And I don’t think people should confuse fantasy and reality because no one is perfect." As for Doutzen: "I think people still want to believe in the fantasy and they just have to know that that’s not always the way it is [in real life]."

Canadian postal workers may want to invest in some weight lifting belts before the September fashion magazines roll out next week. The publishing industry is reporting record - and back - breaking book sizes for the most talked about issue of the year. The page boost comes in thanks to reinvigorated ad sales, which have been shaky ever since the recession.

We know all too well that Photoshop is an integral part of fashion imagery. I have a good friend who makes the brushes of Photoshop seem like magic wands. She can turn any shot into perfection and does so for many retailers and magazines, which I won't name here. I will say, however, that having seen her work, I was not surprised to read a piece posted on Buzzfeed by a professional retoucher, who also chose not to be named.

It takes fashion magazine editors months - sometimes years - to secure cover models. Certain subjects are always at the top of the most-wanted list—typically anyone who is considered a Vogue favourite, like Gwyneth Paltrow, Gwen Stefani, and Lady Gaga, who is rumoured to have landed the fashion bible's coveted September issue next month. And then others are but a dream, like say Kate Middleton.

Ask any fashion magazine editor who her dream 2012 cover girl would be and I promise you it's Kate Middleton. If they don't name her, it's only because she would be such an impossible score that it wouldn't even cross their mind.

That's why it's so surprising that the Duchess has found her way to the cover of Marie Claire South Africa, only not quite in typical form. You see the pub commissioned a hyper-real illustration of her highness, complete with a false headline "Fashion's New Royal Icon Wears [South Africa]'s Best Local Designs" which is clarified in small print beside an astrix below: *Of course she doesn't. But she should.