Jessica Alba is the cover of Elle magazine’s December 2010 issue.  The actress is pretty in pink wearing a gorgeous retro look from Christian Dior’s Resort 2011 collection.  Elle opted for a springtime cover for the winter Holiday season.  It was either crazy or genius to go for a warm weather look; though I suspect many are already craving a vacation in the Caribbean at this juncture.  The orange and pink YSL two-piece is one of my favorites from the photo spread.  Her shoot was feminine and pretty- girly pieces, soft makeup and tousled hair; the perfect beginnings for fun in the sun.

Anne Hathaway is Elle UK’s December 2010 cover girl.  She is wearing a gold Balmain dress from the Fall 2010 collection.  This is the same dress that has graced the covers of six other major magazines worldwide.  Anne looks stunning in the sparkling faux wrap number with beautiful embellishment; it’s ornate and festive, perfect for any December issue.  Her hair has gorgeous gold highlights to complement her attire and her makeup is smouldering.  The actress is all grown-up in this issue, she is strong, alluring and in control on the cover.

Related: Balmain’s Little Gold Dress — On Six Mag Covers

left to right: Kate Hudson in Prabal Gurung & Gwyneth Paltrow in Calvin Klein

left to right: Diane Kruger in Calvin Klein & Molly Sims in Elise Overland  

Left to right: Anna Kendrick in Reem Acra & Rachel Zoe in Calvin Klein

The stars came out for the 17th Annual Elle Women in Hollywood Tribute last night in Los Angeles.  It is the ultimate ladies night out.  Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Hudson, Diane Kruger, Molly Sims, Anna Kendrick and Rachel Zoe were only some of the celebrities who attended this worthwhile event.  The evening was more cocktail chic than black tie, and color was seemingly everywhere.  Calvin Klein dressed several of the attendees, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Diane Kruger and Rachel Zoe.  Kate Hudson selected Prabal Gurung for the evening and Molly Sims donned Elise Overland.

Lovely ladies from the big screen grace three covers for Elle magazine’s November 2010 issues.  Kate Hudson, Gwyneth Paltrow and Hilary Swank are not only Hollywood leading ladies, they are also Elle’s cover girls.  Kate wears a gorgeous Marc Jacobs dress that is simply perfection.  The ivory and pink combination is pure confection when combined with the lovey lace appliques.  Hilary wears a white long-sleeved Calvin Klein dress, it’s beauty comes from the sleek design and clean lines.  Column dresses always flatter the actress’ figure.  Gwyneth is in a blush colored Chloe dress with embellishment on the bodice, simple yet classic just like the actress.  Talent, beauty and style are winning combinations, and these ladies clearly have all three.

Julia Roberts is Elle’s cover girl for the September 2010 issue.  The actress talks family, botox and movies inside.  Roberts has a classic beauty that does not diminish with time, so we’re not surprised to learn she shuns plastic surgery and wishes to age gracefully.  Her new movie Eat, Pray, Love chronicles a woman on a journey of self-discovery, but judging from the interview, it appears Roberts has already reached her own destination.  The movie will be in theaters about the same time this issue hits the newsstands, August 11th.  You can bet the magazines will be sold out, as well as the theater tickets.

Drew Barrymore is the cover girl for Elle magazine’s August issue.  The actress is sexy in a strapless lace dress.  In her interview, she talks about being single, “[I]f you’re 35 and single and it’s a choice, it feels fine.  So I didn’t settle with the wrong person yet.  Big deal!”  We know her personal life is always under a microscope, and it great to hear that she does not feel pressure to settle down. 

Her outlook on the aging process is also very refreshing, “I don’t want to be vain or fearful, and I don’t think I’ll do anything [in terms of plastic surgery], but if I want to do something, I will.  From my perspective, there’s no reason to be afraid of aging, because if you age,you’re lucky!  The alternative is death.”  Drew has an open and  fearless attitude towards life, and this is what her fans finds so appealing.

Rihanna covers the July issue of Elle magazine.  The singer wears a gold and purple sequin mini dress that looks to be from Balmain’s fall 2010 collection.  Her cover was shot by photographer Tom Munro.  She opens up about her music, her thoughts on fashion, new love and past troubles.  Regarding her album art she states, “[I] wanted pictures that represented strength and fearlessness but still femininity—a strong woman who can be vulnerable.  Every woman is made up of vulnerability and strength; no matter what race you are, no matter what you’ve been through in your life.  Every woman has that strength that is undeniable, but we also have really big hearts.  It’s just us.”  Those are very empowering words from a 22-year old who has experienced so much in the last year.  Be sure to pick up your copy when it hits newsstands on Tuesday, June 15th. 

Fergie is on the cover of Elle’s May issue in a beautifully draped mint green Burberry Prorsum dress.  The singer looks soft and pretty, it could be a combination of the gentle waves in her hair and the classic make-up accompanied by nude lips.  Either way, it’s a great spring cover.  In the article she talks about gossip, dieting and high school.  Take a look at the behind the scenes video and see the gorgeous looks she wore for her shoot.

Demi Moore is a timeless beauty that continues to grace magazine covers at the age of 47.  She is the cover girl for British Elle for the month of May, and she is a stunner.  What is it about Mrs. Kutcher that fascinates us so much?  Part of the reason for the interest may stem from her younger husband Ashton, but I’m convinced that the other part comes from her beauty on the inside and outside.  Beauty is not only skin deep, it also has a soul.  Elle’s cover managed to capture both.  Black-and-white photography was an excellent choice for this image.  Her expressive eyes convey depth and thought, while her cleavage, well that’s pure bombshell.

Publishers and editors are no doubt going over the numbers for their ad revenues, as well as their competitors,  and the numbers are not unexpected.  The magazine industry has been rocked by the closings of well-known titles this year alone.  Ad sales were down across the board for fashion magazines, but some fared better that others.  When you look at Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar and In Style, you find that In Style had the most advertising pages out of the four this year.  In Style was followed by Elle, Vogue and then Harper’s Bazaar.  The most interesting piece of information from the numbers is that In Style and Elle took over the top spot that was held by Vogue in 2008.  Of course the recession has taken a chunk out of advertising, but Elle and In Style are making gains.  Cost cutting has been the mantra of the magazine industry in 2009, and fashion magazines are finding that they too must tighten their designer belts.

Fashion Mags Look for Rebound in 2010  [WWD]