Pirelli is celebrating 50 years of its iconic fashion calendar with a little help from its supermodel friends.

Photographers Patrick Demarchelier and Peter Lindbergh have captured Miranda Kerr, Alessandra Ambrosio, Alek Wek, Isabeli Fontana, Helena Christensen and Karolina Kurkova in a set of chic birthday images unveiled today.

The Pirelli calendar is a fashion phenomenon, issued to around 200 VIPs and not available on general sale despite featuring the A-grade of models and stars and being shot by equally starry photographers – think Richard Avedon, Annie Leibovitz and Mario Testino.

Demarchelier has had the honour twice previously.

Details about the 2014 calendar – which marks the half-decade milestone – remain strictly under wraps, with no word on who is shooting or starring in it.

It will be unveiled in Milan on 21 November.

Inside the September issue of ELLE