It's that time again. The Fall issue of ELLE Collections has finally hit newsstands. Although we say it is every season, the latest installement is definitely the best yet. Touching on the controversy that has dictated the fashion headlines over the last six months, editor Lorraine Candy introduces the issue by assuring us that it's still, as it should be, all about the clothes.

As always the issue features images that capture the key most memorable moments from this season. Nicola Formichetti's first bow as creative director of Mugler accompanied by Lady Gaga appears, as does a shot capturing the moment snow fell from the ceiling in the breathtaking production by Burberry - all of which is mixed amongst the latest campaigns and regulars like the season's best invites and Tommy Ton's best street style shots from the shows.

Pictures aside, what I most look forward to are the special interviews and this issue was no different. Susie Bubble was brought on board to talk to Alexander Wang about everything from those scathing comments from Cathy Horyn to his plans for the future and  in a candid interview with Nicola Formichetti, the stylist professed his love of all things social media, revealed all about his latest porn project (yes, you did read that correctly) and how he juggles his comepeting commitements. Avril Mair also sat down to talk to Victoria Beckham after the royal wedding in an interview ithat was refreshingly fashion based rather than the tendancies to focus on her 'celebrity'.

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The past 12 months have been busy for Roland Mouret and full of new beginnings. Back in November the French designer bought his trademark back from investors after five years and announced the launch of his new flagship store and yesterday he announced that he's working on a new project.

The 33 year-old has been tapped by accessories and footwear brand Robert Clergerie to serve as their creative director in a bid to appeal to a contemporary audience. It definitely makes sense. Mouret's followers range from editors like ELLE UK's Lorraine Candy to the likes of Victoria Beckham and Kate Middleton.

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Elle are a luck bunch aren't they? Last year they bagged Henry Holland to co-host their annual Style Awards and today the magazine announced that they've secured Alexa Chung again to join editor Lorraine Candy to host the event on Monday.

We couldn't think of a better candidate. After all, Chung does epitomise the ELLE girl. "It’s exciting to have Alexa back to present the ELLE Style Awards for the third time," Lorraine Candy explained. "She’s such a true ELLE girl, the woman everyone wants to be, and ever since we were the first fashion magazine to put her on the cover, in October 2008, we’ve enjoyed working with her – with two bestselling covers as a result. Her innate sense of style is an inspiration to our readers and young women internationally, which makes her the perfect choice to introduce the winners at the year’s most stylish awards ceremony."

Chung revealed that she's pleased to be back hosting the annual event. "It's an honour to have been asked once again to host the Elle Style Awards," she said. "It's a daunting prospect but will I'm sure be an incredibly fun way to celebrate Valentines day”

Just before the start of the next fashion season we get excited. It's that time again: ELLE has hit shelves and has released the latest installment of their biannual guide to the collections. The latest issue is more special than usual as it sees the magazine celebrate the 10th edition.

If you're new to ELLE Collections, the magazine takes the reader behind-the-scenes of all of the big shows, shows the complete catwalk looks from the big collections and includes articles by acclaimed writers like Robin Givhan as well as fashion blogger favourite, Susie Bubble. "ELLE Collections is unlike any other newsstand magazine in this country," Lorraine Candy said. "As well as being a tool for the fashion industry due to the breadth of information from the runway shows and the exclsuove access to designers, it also has very high production values and an extraordinary approach to design and layout."

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Now in its closing stages, it feels like a long time since ELLE announced the launch of its competition, Shopgirl to Stylist - the magazine's search for the next international styling talent from London's shop floors. Since we last spoke to the team, the hopefuls have been taking part in numerous tasks set out by the ELLE team and have now been whittled down to 10 finalists.

This week, the magazine announced that Lily Allen and her sister Sarah Owen - who have just launched vintage clothes boutique, Lindsay in Disguise - will join Lorraine Candy on the judging panel on November 2nd in an X-Factor style final. Also on the panel are Giles Deacon, Ben Grimes, Arianne Phillips and Katie Hillier.

Image courtesy of Talk PR

ELLE UK is on a roll. The last few months have seen the magazine bag a number of accolades. In June the magazine was awarded their first D&AD award in the Magazine and Newspaper Design category for their 'London Issue' fronted by Lily Allen and last month they reached a colossal 100,000 twitter followers, a reported 50,000 more than their competitors.

And it doesn't stop there. Today the magazine announced that designer and model Ben Grimes has come on board as the magazine's Contributing Editor. The role will see Grimes report on all the biggest events and launches happening in the industry.

"This is the first time we have had a contributing editor at ELLE who will work outside of the editorial content. Ben will be representing the magazine at a variety of events," editor-in-chief Lorraine Candy said. Although we're all thrilled by the news many were left wondering how Candy decided to appoint Grimes as opposed to the more obvious Alexa Chung but she was quick to explain why Grimes was the perfect candidate.

"Her knowledge of fashion, art, music and her spirited sense of humour made her the perfect choice to be ELLE's filter on everything new that is happening now," she said. "ELLE is the only monthly glossy that is predictive rather than reactive - it's our job to bring readers news on cultural and fashion trends before they happen, which is why we need people in the know to relay that information to us. Ben will be able to do that. She is already working on our Shop Girl to Stylist initiative and interviewed celebrities on the red carpet for us at the ELLE Style Awards. She will be our reader’s eyes and ears at events during London Fashion Week and available as a commentator for us as part of our in-depth coverage of British fashion."

Grimes seems thrilled at her new role saying today that "It's a new and exciting venture for me and as Elle is a favourite publication of mine, it’s also a big honour!"

Making the cover of three magazines this Summer is a mean feat at best for some of the world's top models (maybe apart from Freja), however as we reported yesterday, one very special (and noticeably popular) Miu Miu dress made the July cover of W, and both the August covers of British Elle and Vogue. And so following this treble victory for Prada's baby brand, Elle's editor in chief Lorraine Candy took the opportunity to dispel the myths and reveal the method behind choosing the winning cover look.

"We first see the look on the runway and note it down as a possible for a cover shoot. When we're back in the office, we call it in and match it to the right star. Contrary to popular belief, we don't shoot covers in sequence. If it fits the moodboard concept of the cover shoot and the photographer likes it, we take it to the shoot along with a rail of potential clothes," she explains. The photographer and mood of the shoot aren't the only deciding factors though - the cover star has to like it, too.

According to Elle, August cover star Lily Allen loved the Miu Miu creation so much she wanted to take it home. "When we saw this Miu Miu dress on the runway in Paris we knew we had to have it for a cover this year and August, the first new season cover, seemed the perfect fit. It ticks all the boxes for an ELLE cover; it's feminine and sexy but modern too. I love a playful element on a cover as it appeals to the ELLE reader who doesn't take herself so seriously. A cover dress should inspire you with the mood of the month and this one does."

Yesterday, the Fash Pack were lucky enough to join ELLE on the London leg of their regional tour on the quest to find an uber shop girl or boy to be crowned the winner of their Shop Girl to Stylist competition. The last few weeks has seen the magazine's fashion team travel across the country to meet and talk to hopefuls, answer questions and share their own career experiences.

Yesterday morning saw the magazine's senior fashion editor Natalie Wansbrough-Jones in the Karen Millen store in London's Westfield. "It's been going really well," she said before the event began. "It's really cool to get out there and talk to the people who read ELLE and have a one-on-one and get to chat to them," she said.

Readmore images after the jump

Do you work in a shop but have always wanted to be a stylist?

Do you look in magazines and constantly feel like you have the potential to do that, too?

Have you been longing for a fashion equivalent of the X Factor?

Well, you're in luck. Last week Lorraine Candy, editor of British ELLE, invited The Fash Pack - and other influential websites and bloggers - for a breakfast at the Mayfair Hotel to reveal an exciting project that we'll be helping along.

In the wake of its 25th-anniversary celebrations, ELLE is launching 'Shopgirl to Stylist': a six-month national talent search to discover the unsung heroes residing on the shop floors of the British high street. "This is a unique and exciting project which heroes the men and women who literally style the nation," said Candy. "They deserve more credit for what they do, and we'll give them that in the pages of ELLE." If that hasn't won you over already, the winner of the competition will get the opportunity to shoot and independently style a full editorial that will appear in the magazine, and will also have an internship and undergo an intensive mentoring scheme from the ELLE fashion team.

The competition, which is being run alongside big British retailers like French Connection and Whistles, will help kickstart the wannabe stylist's career. "Our winner will get the big break she's always dreamed of," said ELLE Fashion Director Anne-Marie Curtis. "She'll have the profile and the contacts she needs to start her life as a fashion stylist."

Full details on how to enter after the jump

In just a few weeks, "the fashion Oscars" are coming back to London. The 13th-annual ELLE Style Awards are scheduled for February 22, with editor-in-chief Lorraine Candy co-hosting with a friend of the magazine, Henry Holland. This is the first time Candy has led the festivities, but that seems only appropriate for ELLE's 25th year in print.

We're told that this year's awards (sponsored by Next) are going to be even more star-studded than normal, with a host of celebrity presenters lined up and "a special performance by one of ELLE’s favourite emerging British artists." We have our suspicions as to who that might be, but the real question is, who'll take home the big awards of the night? With previous honourees including Vivienne Westwood, Victoria Beckham, Freida Pinto and Christopher Kane, the bar has been set high for this year's crowd.