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International supermodel Bar Refaeli is taking over European editions of Elle magazine. Refaeli’s editorial for the Spanish edition of Elle has been reprinted and will cover no-less than five other European editions, including- France, Finland, Belgium, Poland and Turkey. (barrefaelionline)

Fashion designer Ralph Lauren is receiving a lot of heat since the debut of his US Olympics uniform in the opening ceremony. Even before uniforms were severely mocked on social media, controversy loomed that the uniforms were manufactured in China. (Hollywood Reporter)

Is Italy losing its high-fashion appeal? Yes, says fashion designer Miuccia Prada, who is concerned that Italy may be turning into a second-league market. Prada warns of the dangers surrounding the recent sales of Italian luxury labels to foreigners, which may take the focus off Italian fashion. (Telegraph)

Bollywood actress Sherlyn Chopra has made history for India, becoming the first Indian woman to strip down for Playboy. The relatively unknown 28-year-old actually got the job, by writing to Playboy and asking to pose for the sexy magazine. The photo results will appear in Playboy’s November issue, even though Playboy is not available in India. (Styleite)

Is Ryan Lochte the official fashion icon of London 2012? According to the Guardian and several other publications, he is certainly on his way. Lochte is one of the hottest names out there right now from the Summer Olympics, especially after winning a gold medal for the US Team, but its his personality and frat boy grins that may give him the edge over all the others. (Guardian)

Closing the list for this week’s fashion highlights, HBO’s documentary film About Face: Supermodels Then and Now has had its first screening this week on the popular channel. An official selection of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, About Face maps the ways the modeling business has changed and features a long list of legendary models. Take a look:

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Fashion Roundup: Bar Refaeli Covers Five European Elle Magazines, Olympics’ Newest Fashion Icon and Prada’s Italian Fashion Concerns