Russh

The Fourth of July is about more than just barbecues, fireworks and baseball games. It's about independence! Beating the system, forging your own path, etc., etc. So we thought, what better time to highlight some of our favorite independent fashion magazines who are doing just that.

Here's the latest image of Charlotte Casiraghi for Gucci, shot by Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin. {Grazia} Nail polish company Ciaté has been

Dont judge a book by its cover... Unless it's a magazine, in which case, sometimes the cover is the deciding factor of whether or not to buy the mag altogether. The best covers of 2011 returned to a new naturalism and a fun aesthetic, like the Lara Stone T cover we're still drooling over, pictured at left. Sure, there's still room for artifice in fashion (see: Stella Tennant on Vogue Italia), but 2011 was a year for reflecting on natural beauties, incredible models, and stellar photography. After toiling over hundred of covers, we're bringing you "The Best" according to us. Did we forget your favorite? Let us know in the comments.

It happens every year: Our ever-growing pile of fashion magazines inches higher with each passing month, and by the time December rolls around, we can barely sift through the hundreds of stylish images we bookmarked for inspiration. 2011 was no exception, and in a year that celebrated retro supermodels, androgyny, vivid colors, and plenty of experimentation in the beauty department, choosing our favorites was particularly difficult. The best editorials of the year ran the gamut from huge ensemble casts of blue-chip models styled by greats like Katie Grand and Carine Roitfeld, to intimate, one-on-one portraits of our favorite girls like Lindsey Wixson and Daria Werbowy. The acid brights that dominated the spring collections allowed for some pretty trippy trend stories last season, but the fall glossies featured much moodier imagery, with a number of gorgeous spreads in black and white. Here are the editorials from 2011 that will stay tacked up on our walls and fill our inspiration boards well into the new year—and beyond.

The latest issue of Russh features a smiling Aymeline Valade dancing her way across NYC, captured by Will Davidson and with creative direction by Stevie Dance. Stevie Dance fans will be crushed to learn that this is her last cover for Russh--she has since resigned from the Aussie mag. But fret not! Dance is working on a bevy of new projects in the US that are sure to please. For now they're hush-hush, but you know, you'lll find out soon, we promise.

Magazine covers in 2010 could be arranged into two simple categories: the absolutely amazing and the offensively bad. But let's focus on the good here... 2010 was the year that brought us two sets of fantastic LOVE covers (including Alessandra styled by Katie Grand, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Lauren Hutton, styled by Fashionista columnist Sally Lyndley), Anna Wintour on the cover of the somewhat mysterious Industrie magazine, Dakota Fanning doing her best starlet in Dazed & Confused, and Lara's boobs, looking better than ever on the 90th anniversary issue of Vogue Paris. Overall, covers in 2010 were dynamic, bright, and a bit raunchy, so click through to see which ones hit the right note.

more We're absolutely in love with this spread styled by Fashionista favorite Stevie Dance for RUSSH magazine. Titled "Eniko Is Everything," this spre

In case you hadn't noticed, we love Russh. Their editorials never disappoint and their upcoming issue is no exception. Next month's cover girls are Devon Aoki and Ashley Smith. Click through to see Devon getting up close and personal with the Hollywood sign and check out Russh's relaunched website for more.

We love that RUSSH focuses on the art world for its September issue; it's a nice change from the repetitive market pages covering what we already know exists. But of course, fashion plays an integral role. We like this spread of models--it's called "The Kids Are Alright," and was photographed by Benny Horne and styled by our girl Stevie Dance. Enjoy!

Model Ieva Laguna plays both canvas and muse to artist Tony Ward in this Will Davidson-shot Russh editorial. Click through to see all of the images.

There's been much buzz on the interwebs about Rihanna's Italian Vogue couture shots by Steven Klein. The nudity! The bondage! The muzzle! While I gene