SOURCE: VOGUE

ROLAND MOURET'S collection makes its first major appearance on a magazine cover this month - and the London-based designer isn't starting small: Reese Witherspoon wears a top from his spring/summer 2011 offering on the cover of US Vogue's May issue.

"I was so surprised when I saw that it was on the cover," Mouret told us. "Of course we knew they may shoot the piece, but honestly I thought the cover was mostly about advertisers so it was really a surprise."

Witherspoon, who married fiancé Jim Toth last month, has worn Mouret before - and the designer is a fan of her straightforward style.

"We have dressed Reese four or five times before and she's really loyal," Mouret said. "She's not pretentious about clothes, she just thinks they should do their job."

The cover, which is inspired by the Oscar-winner's latest film Water For Elephants, has a Thirties circus theme which also appeals to Mouret.

"I loved this kind of Thirties attitude she has on the cover," he said. "The depression period and the circus theme is an amazing mix. The picture has a really genuine attitude - it's a mix of boyish beauty with extreme glamour; a really complex beauty. The top shows the kind of simple draping I was doing before the Galaxy dress mixed with more structure. I love the picture."