Anyone who has followed fashion editorials for a period of time sees the ghost of Carine Roitfeld all over Vogue Italia's December 2017 'The Celebration Issue'. It makes sense, perhaps, with members of Roitfeld's posse -- stylist Patti Wilson and photographers Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott -- orchestrating the sexy dinner table, with plenty of cooks in the kitchen.

Models Joan Smalls, Aube Jolicoeur, Bella Hadid, Luka Isaac, Taylor Hill, Natasha Poly, Kennah Lau, Kennah Lau, Anja Rubik, Lily Aldridge, Lea T, Mariacarla Boscono, Binx Walton, Anna Ewers, Cat McNeil, Jamie Bochert, Sara Sampaio, Irina Shayk, Noah Brown & Issa Lish deliver the visually delicious, if somewhat scandalous decadence just in time for the holidays./ Hair by Odile Gilbert, assisted by Fanny Fraslin, Sandrine Garcia & Yann Deschaud; makeup by Lisa Eldridge

Irina Shayk by Mert & Marcus for Vogue Italia December 2017 'Celebration' Cover

In its message to readers, Vogue Italia creates context around its celebration of beauty, food, irony, love and sex. And with no feelings of guilt. Light-heartedness and frivolity aren't always inane, writes Vogue Italia. The right to party is designed to give readers a break from what many consider to be a terrible year for the world.

Looking for a silver lining, the magazine says the political chaos of 2017 demands that we recall certain fundamental principles:

First, it’s unacceptable for anything or anyone to treat women’s bodies as mere commodities, and the same goes for any form of abuse or excess of power, in every condition and context. Hence recent news stories represent an unmissable opportunity to reassert the rules of the game in worlds (which certainly include fashion) where the balance of power has all too often compromised the basic respect owed to all individuals.

Part 2 link.