Here are my latest finds and news from style, fashion, film, photography and beautiful living.
The only edition of Vogue I buy monthly is Vogue Italia. It’s the only fashion magazine to my liking (that’s over the top just in the right limits) that still understands the meaning of being creative and that pushes boundaries. I absolutely love the March cover, featuring Saskia de Brauw and photographed by Steven Meisel. Wild is exactly how I would describe it. The cover story has stirred up some controversy, raising criticism of racism, but I really don’t think that is the case. Franca Sozzani, the editor-in-chief of the Italian Vogue, has, after all, always supported diversity in the fashion industry, published the Black Issue (being the first time a Vogue edition filled every page with black models, drawing attention to the lack of black models in the industry), and has mentored aspiring fashion designers in Africa. I think we’ve become too quick to label things and take sides, and to question something only because it’s different or unusual.
Another reason for choosing this subject for today was that I wanted to bring up the Vogue US April cover. And just for the record, I would always take a controversial cover over a tasteless, boring, mass-appealing, sell-out one. I think that everyone who is into fashion – and I mean really into fashion, because there are still too many who haven’t passed the cliché of seeing only aesthetics, trends and clothes in fashion – will agree that a fashion magazine shouldn’t just succumb to featuring what’s culturally popular (is our decaying, celebrity-obsessed, self-absorbed, trivial society really something we should relate to and promote by all means just because it’s the reality?), but instead try to shape up the culture. Or am I wrong? I’d like to think I’m not. And by that, I’m not trying to make the fashion industry more socially responsible than it should be, but I’m just saying … considering the power it has.
• The new film recommendation this week: The Grand Budapest Hotel. A delirious farse crafted in the original and inimitable style of Wes Anderson. A funny, witty, colourful, superbly detailed universe, with decors that seem depicted from an illustration book, a Ralph Fiennes who’s note-perfect and a great cast altogether.
• Director Jalil Lespert talks about the costumes in his film, Yves Saint Laurent.
• Giorgio Armani renews his bond with the cinema by launching the Films of City Frames project, involving students from six prestigious international film schools.
• Paris vs New York style in the opinion of Paris-born, New York-established fashion designer Joseph Altuzarra.
• This item is very similar to what I’m obsessively looking for. I would also like these handmade bracelets, made of 100% reclaimed wood.
• If you have the chance, don’t miss the David Bailey Stardust exhibition in London, at the National Portrait Gallery, until June 1st.
• A new idea for the black and white corner in our home.
photo: Steven Meisel | Saskia de Brauw styled by Marie-Amélie Sauvé
I’m trying to figure out how they got racism from that Vogue Italia cover … is there something I’m missing?!! When it comes to the Vogue US nothing surprises me anymore. I bet that issue will turn out to be a best-seller, which is probably the whole point.
That David Bailey exhibition looks very appealing … maybe I should look into a second train ride this spring!
don’t get why people are so upset over us vogue cover. paris hilton had a vogue cover at the height of her fame/infamy too, melana (then) knauss had a vogue cover in her very very expensive dior couture wedding gown before her wedding to trump, and people were upset about that too. anyway it’s a nice cover, and who cares it’s a fashion magazine cover. there are more important things in the world to be upset about anyway. hate them or love them, the karadashians wouldn’t be famous if people weren’t interested in them, and it’s impressive for a reality show to still be on air after 7 years. but maybe people have less of a problem with kim and more of a problem with kanye’s arrogance in the media. just my 2 cents anyway.
I think “upset” is too strong a word, and I really don’t think the part about “there are more important things in the world to be upset about” should even have been brought up. It was simply a discussion about a fashion magazine cover. Period. Anna Wintour is an intelligent editor and I’m certain she knew exactly what she was doing, and good for her to go that far to sell her magazine. She gives the public what they want. Too bad that they want THAT though (Paris Hilton? Kim Kardashian?) – these are the common values of today and I don’t think it’s ok. Anyway, I’m entitled to my opinion and that’s what this blog post is all about, and I think that my arguments were pretty clear.
My bad i wasn’t arguing with you at all.
no way my intention to cause offense.
I guess the whole negative attitude in the press in general towards the cover is essentially lost on me. but i don’t know/care much about us vogue other than i never found it appealing to me, even when i used to read fashion magazine whether in the 90s or the early 2000s. It seems to me they just recycle the same poses, the same locations whenever they feature someone (private jet picture: check, backyard garden of mansion: check, lying down in a ballgown: check) , whether its an actress, pop star, socialite, a political figure, etc… I don’t know if this is 100% true, but that’s the perception in my mind of us vogue of having this generic way of doing things. I think for such a polarizing couple the pictures could have been more provocative (not in a sexual way…but in the sense that the pictures would be interesting…) like Angelina/Brad’s spread in W(?) magazine right around his divorce/release of Mr&Mrs Smith, Beckhams in Vogue Italia many many years ago. Even Carine Roitfeld/Karl Lagerfeld did a much more interesting shot with pregnant Kim. Carine Roitfeld in general has that edge/sense of humor in the way she even uses “trashy” reality tv stars unexpectedly in fashion shoots (Dog the Bounty Hunter & Daria W. in Paris Vogue! or Big Ang in CR book), in a humorous, and memorable way. Ultimately, in a few months no one is going to remember this editorial, because the pictures aren’t anything special or unique. (But I will say the baby is adorable–and that’s just something you can’t fake!) I was actually more impressed by an editorial with Karlie Kloss inside the same issue.
No offense taken.
I don’t care much about Vogue US either. It’s never been my go-to fashion magazine, and I don’t think it will ever be. And if I don’t buy any fashion magazine for months in a row I don’t feel I’m missing much. I miss Carine’s editorials in Vogue Paris. I don’t think I’ve bought two issues of the French magazine since she left. Carine is in a league all of her own. Her editorials are sexy, without ever being vulgar. And that says a lot. As for the American Vogue, it’s just a pity the direction Anna Wintour has taken, and it’s been happening for a while. But I do agree that if a fashion magazine wants to be reflection of society and of the times we live in, then Vogue US is doing a damn good job.
I like how you wrote about the Vogue Italia cover, so true about the editor, I have such respect for her. I’m hoping I can find the issue here. Also love the black and white aesthetic in the home more and more.
xo Mary Jo
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