Harlem-born Azealia Banks is the latest to grace the spread of V Magazine for their March 2012 issue. Banks’ recent rise to popularity has seen the music artist epitomized on an increasing number of publications and websites. For the shoot, V Magazine enlisted the vision of famed fashion designer Nicola Formichetti to do the styling. From the piece titled “one in a million,” we’re given a special glimpse into the interview with Banks. The magazine will hit newsstands everywhere beginning March 1.

About being harder to get hold of than Britney Spears: “I dont go out. When NME said I was the coolest artist of 2011, I was like Really? I am not that cool. I, like, read my Kindle and east sushi rolls and hang out with my boyfriend. I stay home and play with my cat.”

About her Universal Record deal: “They offered me a deal! And I got a lawyer. It’s happening!”

About being the only girl in the world: “Ew, I feel so weird when people say that things to me like that because it’s just hype. I never want to be concerned with popularity. I am more concerned with making consistently good music.”

About her critics: “Everyone is racist at the end of the day. I had some random girl on twitter say ‘Can you just stick to the raunchy raps?’ and I retweeted to her to call her out. You know we are black, we’re white, we’re whatever, but we all have hearts, lungs, and genitals. We feel the same things. Music is music. Why not pull from the places and the things that you like to mix it all together and create something new? A lot of people think rapping is easy but it isnt, it takes a lot of mental work.”

About her role models: “I dont have any, except maybe Missy Elliot, because she is so loved and respected. Everything she puts out is of such quality. To see that is really inspiring.”

About her relationship with Nicola Formichetti of Mugler and fashion: “it’s been really incredible as a person who does not come from fashion suggesting something I want to do to Nicola and him saying ‘Oh my God, thats amazing!’ It gives me the best feeling, like, really?! Maybe I know more than I think.

American singer and songwriter Lana Del Rey is the subject of a new fashion piece at V Magazine. The eccentric songstress, dawned as the “gangsta Nancy Sinatra” by music critics, has a wide range of influences leading her to become the number one recording artist on iTunes in Holland, France, the UK and Germany. Establishing herself as one of today’s most exciting musicians, Del Rey’s undeniable beauty and fashion sense is captured with ease in this piece, accompanied by a brief editorial. Be on the lookout for the latest issue of V Magazine at your local newsstand, as well as Lana Del Rey’s debut album, Born to Die, releasing in January 2012 through Interscope Records.

Source: V Magazine

Alexander McQueen, whose visionary designs in fashion left an undoubtedly lasting impact, continues to inspire his namesake brand long after his tragic death in 2010. In McQueen’s lifetime he experimented with a range of dark and Gothic themes, and with Halloween nearly upon us, the Alexander McQueen fashion house has released a video that plays with these themes in a unique and beautifully symmetrical way–using a variety of McQueen’s signature silk scarves. Most of the scarves in the video, created by Parisian director Babette Pauthier, contain the famous McQueen skull motif, some of which can be purchased currently at the Alexander McQueen scarf boutique.

Source: V Magazine

The latest issue of fashion publication V Magazine features a special editorial shot by the ever-talented Hedi Slimane, dubbed “Gisele Unzipped.” Featuring Mrs. Tom Brady aka Gisele Bundchen, the shoot was executed in the usual Slimane black & white treatment with Gisele looking as sexy as ever. Look for the editorial within V Magazine issue #70.

Source: COUTE QUE COUTE

V Magazine give us a preview into their upcoming inaugural Summer Swimsuit Issue. Issue 59 will boast six different color coded covers, each featuring some of the world’s most famous models including Kate Moss, Gisele Bundchen, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Eva Herzigova, and Daria Werbowy, with photography done by famed photographer Mario Testino. The issue is slated to hits newsstands on Wednesday, May 6th.

Source: Qoute Que Coute