Kate Moss looks super sexy for Yves Saint Laurent

She is one of the highest paid models in the world. She creates huge public interest that can shift serious units of fashion products. And she is looking better than she has in quite some time.

So it's little wonder Stefano Pilati - creative director of Yves Saint Laurent - chose Kate Moss to appear in the fashion house's spring/summer advertising campaign.

What is slightly bewildering is why he decided to obscure Moss's famous face with door-writing in the majority of the 18 shots.

(Well suited: a sultry Kate Moss wears a light-wool tuxedo suit in navy, £1,715)

"He wanted Kate to be seen as locked out of the highly esteemed historic Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent Foundation in Paris," a spokesperson explained.

There is the added confusion created as Kate - seen without undergarments but wearing one of YSL's famously androgynous "le smoking" suits - appears to be holding an invisible cigarette. Is this a reference to the smoking ban?

(Twinkling: the model in a star-printed long-sleeved silk dress, £840)

But in the photos where we can see Moss clearly, she looks reborn and immaculate.

"This collection was focused around iconographies," Pilati said. "And in fashion, Kate Moss is one of the great icons. I am particularly drawn to her versatility as a model, and of course to her timeless beauty."

Chameleon Kate is nothing if not versatile: this season she personifies the "London look" for high-street make-up brand Rimmel, is grown-up and sophisticated for American designer Donna Karan, and now embodies timeless luxury for YSL. Three seasons ago, Moss appeared in 14 campaigns; the supermodel has been more selective this time.

(Bright side: Kate in a sleeveless silk-twill dress in pink, £840)

Pilati, like Saint Laurent himself, believes in the fairness of democracy, so these pictures will appear in 24-page magazine, Manifesto, printed on recycled newspaper.

Two million free copies will be handed out on Saturday in London and Milan, and then later in Paris, New York and Tokyo. "My aim is to speak to everyone with the same spirit and message," says Pilati.

Life-sized images from the Manifesto will be exhibited at the Old Truman Brewery, E1, Saturday and Sunday. A £2,000 dress may not appear "democratic", but at least a wide selection of the community will get to admire "Mossy" up close and personal.