Rose Cordero for Paris Vogue

Rose Cordero channels a younger, softer Grace Jones for the March issue of Paris Vogue.

It’s bold without being brash.

Military mode in Paris Vogue, March 2010.

Love the strong makeup shades against muted tones in the clothing.

The stong shoulder, softened slightly with a knit and a knot.

Wake me up before you toga.

Ready for any style battle.

Rose also made the cover of the mag – compare it with other March issues.

All photos of Rose Cordero by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, courtesy of Paris Vogue.

Vogue Marches On

It’s that time of year again…time to get your wrists in training for the semi-annual trek from the mag stand.

The March issues are upon us.

The magazine industry has been under a lot of fire lately and the relevancy of tomes such as Vogue in particular, are in question.

Being part of a global fashion village (more than ever before – with the prevalance of blogs and social media),  I thought it would be interesting to compare international Vogue covers this month, to see how each country attempted to captivate us in print, for Spring.

Anja Rubik photographed by Patrick Demarchelier, Vogue Spain, March 2010.

Notice that both Vogue Spain and Vogue Brazil used different photographers but the look is quite similar – earth tones, dirty blonde hair, page composition – heads covering the same letters in the deck.

Barbara Berger photographed by Jacques Dequeker, Vogue Brazil, March 2010.

Vogue Portugal used similar tones as well,  but punched up the monochrome with contrasting text and went for a striking, action-packed shot of Kasia Struss. Orange and yellow are big colours for Spring and those are the perfect shades of both.

Kasia Struss photographed by David Sims, Vogue Portual, March 2010.

US Vogue went for all-American girl, Tina Fey for their March cover girl. She’s a great choice, but choice of photo is bland and boring for such an interesting personality.

Tina Fey by Mario Testino for Vogue US, March 2010.

Using one of the inside editorial shots – and dare I say it – in black and white (!) would have been revolutionary on this side of the fashion ocean.

This Tina would turn mag stand heads. Photo by Mario Testino for Vogue Uh-merica, March 2010.

Imagine this image of Tina instead, with a red deck and white and blue teaser text. (Anna, call me?)

Freja Beha Erichsen by Steven Meisel for Vogue Italia, March 2010.

It’s no surprise that both the Italian and Paris Vogue editions opted for full-on glamour and minimal text to capture our attention. I have to say, though, that I am getting slightly tired of Meisel covers for the Italian mag.

Rose Cordero rocks the Paris issue, however, and the colours are spectacular. Bonjour burgundy lips!

Also note that both the Brazilian and French issues highlight the army green trend for Spring.

Rose Cordero by Mert & Marcus for Paris Vogue, March 2010.

I couldn’t get over the similarity of these next two shots – taken by different photographers.

Anja Rubik photographed by Camilla Akran for Vogue Nippon, March 2010.

Spain cover girl, Anja Rubik appears again for Vogue Nippon – just not as classy or natural. I found both this and the Vogue Russia covers tasteless and tabloid-like.

Abbey Lee Kershaw by Josh Olins for Vogue Russia, March 2010.

Abbey Lee Kershaw also shows up on Vogue Oz – with a friend in tow.

Abbey Lee Kershaw by Max Doyle for Vogue Australia, March 2010.

Such a great use of colour and fonts on that one.

Vogue China brought two friends, and so on, and so on…for a cover entitled Fashion Forward.

Du Juan, Lily Domaldson, Anna Maria Jagodzinska, Constance Jablonski, Karlie Kloss, Liu Wen by Patrick Demarchelier for Vogue China, March 2010.

[If you are having a deja vu from this cover, I'll tell you why soon.]

British Vogue is always fashion forward, in my humble opinion and this month is no exception with girl of the moment, Alexa Chung.

As always, the look is rock star, edgy and something about their covers always says we can’t be fussed to make it perfect – but it usually is pretty close to perfect.

It’s a busy cover, but I’d still pick it up because the clothes (minus the shoes!) are well, perfect.

Alexa Chung photographed by Alasdair McLellan for UK Vogue, March 2010.

My fave Vogue cover this month? It has to be Vogue Germany by a mile. It’s retro and modern at the same time.

Frida Gustavsson photographed by Greg Kadel for Vogue Germany, March 2010.

Black and white with a (literal) splash of colour is a wonderful combination and it captures that feeling. You know the one – where your eyes meet it on the mag stand, you pick it up (a fresh one from mid-pile of course), it’s the one for you and you have to take it home to bed this instant!

That doesn’t happen much with mags any more these days. A girl can’t be too careful…with her mag dollars.

[To those of you who noticed that the object of my constant affection, Vogue India was missing from this post, the March issue isn't out yet. Indian Standard Time and all that. Look for it in this space as soon as the magazine-walla delivers it.]

It’s Christmas Eve…

…spread a little style wherever you go…

Winter Berry fashion illustration by Lauren Bishop, originally created for Jackpot magazine.

Steichen Snapped More Than Stars

Edward Steichen wasn’t as black and white as one would think.

He just took those kinds of photographs.

Actress Joan Crawford in a dress by Schiaparelli, 1932 Gelatin silver print Courtesy Condé Nast Archive, New York © 1932 Condé Nast Publications

Well, that was the medium, anyway – black and white photography – but his subjects, the artist and his inspiration were dense layers of greys.

I’ve been meaning to write about him for ages, having attended a first-ever joint launch by the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) and the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) for two photo exhibits that have been giving Torontonians a glimpse of celebrity in recent months.

The first is an exhibit of Steichen’s photos, entitled Edward Steichen: In High Fashion, the Condé Nast Years, 1923-37 at the Gehry-fied AGO.

Princess Nathalie Paley wearing sandals by Shoecraft, 1934 Gelatin silver print Courtesy Condé Nast Archive, New York © 1934 Condé Nast Publications

On George Baher’s yacht: June Cox wearing unidentified fashion; E. Vogt wearing fashion by Chanel and a hat by Reboux; Lee Miller wearing a dress by Mae and Hattie Green and a scarf by Chanel; Hanna-Lee Sherman wearing unidentified fashion, 1928 Gelatin silver print Courtesy Condé Nast Archive, New York © 1928 Condé Nast Publications

The second is Vanity Fair Portraits: Photographs 1913-2008 at the ROM, which I will feature in an upcoming post.

The Steichen ex was put on by a few great Museum minds – the Foundation for Exhibition Photography in Minneapolis and the Musée de l’Elysée in Lausanne, France collaborated with the AGO.

The international flavour was fitting for Steichen’s worldly photographs of other-worldly subjects. His photos are credited as the birth of modern 20th century portraiture as we know it and they still resonate today.

Poet William Butler Yeats, 1932 Gelatin silver print Courtesy Condé Nast Archive, New York © 1932 Condé Nast Publications

I had the opportunity to chat with William Ewing, Director of the Musée de l’Elysée, who provided a wealth of information about Steichen off the top of his head, while strolling through the exhibit with me…

Steichen was the most famous, most reproduced, highest paid photographer of the 20th Centry, but he didn’t start off that way.

He was a real Renaissance man – a writer and educator, an industrial designer, a glassware artist and he also worked at the photo department at the Museum of Modern Art.  While there, he worked on a photo exhibit called The Family of Man, which is still on display in Europe today.

However, Steichen’s first love was painting, so he gave up photography altogether.

Ultimately, it wasn’t in the cards for him. Frustrated that he wasn’t as good as Renoir, Cezanne and Picasso – the reigning painters at the time – he burned his paintings.

He was actually the first person to bring the works of Picasso, Matisse, Renoir and other painters to New York.

While in New York, he read an article in Vanity Fair that called him the greatest living portrait photographer (quite the dilemma since he had originally given up photography for painting).

So he called the magazine and was offered the role of Chief Photographer for Vogue and Vanity Fair.

The rest is photographic history.

Actress Pola Negri, 1925 Gelatin silver print Courtesy Condé Nast Archive, New York © 1925 Condé Nast Publications

The renowned ballroom dancing team Antonio de Marco and Renée de Marco, 1935 Gelatin silver print Courtesy Condé Nast Archive, New York © 1935 Condé Nast Publications

He snapped the couture collections of every major designer of the time; he shot actors, musicians, writers, artists, dancers and politicians.

Actor Adolphe Menjou, 1925 Gelatin silver print Courtesy Condé Nast Archive, New York © 1927 Condé Nast Publications

Actress Joan Bennett, 1928 Gelatin silver print Courtesy Condé Nast Archive, New York © 1928 Condé Nast Publications

Actor Gary Cooper, 1930 Gelatin silver print Courtesy Matthieu Humery Collection/Philippe Machecourt © 1930 Condé Nast Publications

His photos were always inventive; the light was always controlled, as any of the 212 prints in the ex will attest.

There was always a story behind the artistry.

Steichen invited you in to listen to it, with your eyes.

Self-portrait with photographic paraphernalia, New York, 1929 Gelatin silver print Courtesy Condé Nast Archive, New York © 1929 Condé Nast Publications

The exhibit runs through January 3, 2010 – not to be missed by photo or fashion lovers.

All photos © Condé Nast Publications, courtesy of the AGO.

Elle India Turns 150

It’s hard to imagine, but Elle India, one of the first western mags in the Motherland, recently celebrated its 150th issue.

Lara Dutta, actress, former Miss Universe and UN Goodwill Ambassador, rocks the cover of the November 2009 issue.

We’ve come a long way, beta.

Elle India's 150th Issue

Photos courtesy of Elle India.

Rei Rocks Tokyo with Beatles Launch

We first told you about the Comme des Garcons and Beatles collaboration in September. The launch party for the line was held last week in Tokyo at Trading Museum, a new concept store by the masterminds at CDG, chiefly, Rei Kawakubo.

The designer was hanging with the likes of one Yoko Ono – both dressed to match, natch in ultrablack, no doubt.

Can’t wait for the pics of the products, come Saturday. I’ve seen that one bag with the green apples, but didn’t think it was spectacular. Hope the next lot has some juicy things to share. More to come…

Image courtesy of WWD.

Déjà Vu: Interview, Revamped

The ahem, reVAMPed 40th anniversary issue of Interview mag is due out shortly.

I thought the cover was gorg - reminds me of the mag’s heydey.

Something about it also reminds me of the Patrick Nigel illustration on the cover of Duran Duran’s Rio album. Maybe it’s the angle, maybe it’s the ’80s colours, maybe it’s just the new wave vibe?

 

Mag image courtesy of wwd.com. Illustration courtesy of Patrick Nigel.

Bag Lady Madonna

Friday night might arrive without a suitcase, but there may be a handbag in tow.

Talk about an unlikely duo. Rei Kawakubo and The Beatles are the latest fashion celebrity marriage. The avant-garde goddess is designing handbags for Apple Corps – managers and marketers of the Beatles’ legacy.

The bags will hit the über cool Dover Street Market, the brainchild of Kawakubo herself, along with her beloved Tokyo.

More distribution and possible other fabulous things to follow.

Rock Star Rei

Photo source.

Anna on Dave Letterman Tonight

Don’t forget to set your TiVo, PVR and/or family member to program your old-school VCR. And while you are at it, adjust your yoga schedule, sleep schedule and your life as you know it.

Anna Wintour is going to be on David Letterman tonight.

You heard correctly.

Yes, *this* Anna...

...talking to *that* Dave

This is all part of Anna’s publicity tour for The September Issue doc. She’s even said to be signing (hold on to something here) t-shirts at a (you better sit down) Macy’s in (stay strong now) Queen’s for Fashion’s Night Out. Full deets on the t-shirt sich are here.

Will post the vid of the Letterman visit later tonight if you miss it.

Photo sources: Anna, Dave.

Looking Good is a Cinch

While all the flowy, a-line, drapy numbers are a must in our collective closets, sometimes a girl needs to show her waistline. And by that, I don’t mean baring your midriff à la Britney. I’ve been belt obsessed for the past year at least (still thinking about the Phillip Lim one btw).

There is nothing like a great belt to draw attention to your curves – in all the right places.

I have butterflies ON my stomach...

A loose white shirt goes ultra feminine with a nip at the waist, topped with a butterfly.

And Jean Paul Gaultier slings a suede number across a hip, for his Southwest collection for Hermès.

Southwestern Hipster at Hermes SS09

Karl Lagerfeld created a fantastic fetish-y one to complement his crazy hi-cuffs (still dreaming of those, too).

Yohji Yamamoto keeps it simple with a white double belt over all black with white sneaks. Japanese designers can make even the simplest elements (like white sneakers) looks new.

So hip it hurts

Simple Cinching at Yohji SS09

Extreme Waist-fullness at McQueen SS09

Of course, there is no such thing as simple at McQueen. This elaborate leather filigree corset is intricate enough on its own, but McQueen layers it over bias cut printed silk for that gasp effect!

Ports 1961 goes for the art factor with this sculptural copper adornment.

Copper @ Ports 1961

And while these may technically be from the Spring Summer 09 collections, we don’t live by seasonal clothes in this space. They are great inspirations for Fall, too.

Waist not, want not.

But who wouldn’t want these…

Photos from Style.com.

Déjà Vu: Seeing Red Squared

I was seeing red at Sol(e)d the other night. Hannah, a fellow blogger, was rocking red tights with her ’50s meets ’60s meets ’20s vibe.

Lady in red

Red tights + ’20s + ’60s skirt lengths = very Chanel Resort 2010.

She walked off with one of the best looks of the night.   

Photo of Hannah by Jyotika Malhotra. Chanel Resort photo from Style.com.