CHRISTY DOES ESCADA: After featuring a relatively unknown model in its fall campaign, Escada is adding some star power in front of, and behind, the lens for spring. Christy Turlington was shot by Patrick Demarchelier in New York for the campaign, which will launch next month. The German brand is also ushering in a new image with the spring campaign, shot as more modern and contemporary than past seasons.
— Amy Wicks

BLOW SUICIDE VERDICT: Stylist Isabella Blow committed suicide by swallowing weed-killer, according to a coroner's report released Wednesday. According to British press reports, the Gloucestershire, England, coroner Alan Crickmore told an inquest he recorded a verdict of suicide after he heard that Blow, who died May 7, told both her sister and nurses at the Gloucestershire Royal hospital she wanted to die. Blow's sister Lavinia Verney is said to have told the inquest that Blow had tried to commit suicide three times since she began to suffer from depression six years ago. Blow's psychiatrist, Dr. Ian Pennel, told the court that events including her grandfather's suicide, the death of her younger brother and "the perception of her waning celebrity," had contributed to her depression. Blow, who had a reputation for both outlandish outfits and championing the careers of the fashion industry's emerging stars — including Alexander McQueen — most recently held the post of fashion director at Tatler.
— Nina Jones

THE NOSE KNOWS: Scarlett Johansson told OK! Magazine she will take legal action against Us Weekly after its cover story in this week's issue implied the actress had rhinoplasty. But Us Weekly contends the magazine did nothing wrong — it never said Johansson had surgery and it included a quote from Johansson's rep in the piece. Us Weekly's Dec. 17 story on Hollywood plastic surgery uses two photos of Johansson, one from 2000 and a photo taken this year, on its cover and inside. The magazine quotes cosmetic surgeon Geoffrey Tobias saying, "It could be that the bridge was thinned out," in reference to Johansson's nose, but also quotes Johansson's spokesman: "She has never had a nose job — ever." They also use a quote Johansson gave The New York Times in 2003: "I definitely believe in plastic surgery," she said. "I don't want to be an old hag."