Feb Fab

The rather vastly overrated Emmanuelle Alt takes the Vogue Paris to Las Vegas for February (can you be any less imaginative) which features Daria Werbowy (again!) on the cover in a Prada bathing suit. Photographed by Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, it's an attractive, effective, sexy cover. Inside promises an exclusive short story by Douglas Kennedy, an interview with Marc Jacobs on the occasion of his 15th year with Louis Vuitton, and 66 Spring looks shot in Las Vegas. Yawn.

So Summer

"Summer afternoon - Summer afternoon... the two most beautiful words in the English language." - Henry James (1843 - 1916)

Darling Daria

Daria/ Balmain

Does this not look very Emanuelle Alt? Not to mention that the aesthetics of the ad looks very YSL?

Calender Girl

Daria in Vogue Paris's 2011 calender. It's 2011 already!!!

Khaki and Beige and Camel

This is the colour of the earthy moment in fashion. Heart.Cabat Bag: I've come to associate Bottega Veneta with this taupe-khaki. It has a rumpled, un-glitzy luxury.Celine Boot: Many labels sent out all-beige collections for fall, including my favourite Chloe.Vogue Italia September: Prada coat of course (with matching dog). Another picture to add to the unfortunately titled book Dogs In Vogue. I'm sure the humour is completely unintended.Chanel Nail Colour in Particuliere, which is like a mushroom soup colour - this kills me. I can't bear to feature the trio of khaki varnishes (yes, they are so nice) they launched for Fashion Night Out because they are for Fashion Night Out!Daria: In fast fashion khaki.Beige: There is a 2008 perfume in their Les Exclusif line but the original (which the new one in no way resembles) was from 1940. Of course Chanel was there first, as always!

Daria!

The Vogue Paris fall (2010) round up stars Daria Werbowy, shot by David Sims. Big heart! I think it's thoroughly modern that a denim brand like Diesel thrown in together with high end labels like Dior.... And what can I say? Daria looks amazing, and the clothes look styled to suit her, which makes much sense of this season's ready-to-wear, which weren't superb to begin with.

Pretty Much Everything

An Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin retrospective? Isn't it rather early in their career to have a retrospective? Celebrating 25 years their work, 300 of their photographs from 1985 to 2010, Pretty Much Everything will be displayed at Amsterdam’s Foam Museum (ends September 15). And next year, Taschen will publish a tome of 666 photographs of their work accompanied by original fiction. (I like the fiction part).
Inez van Lamsweerde on models: "Raquel Zimmermann, Daria Werbowy, Kate Moss and Anja Rubik. They all have this huge range. They’re mature, they’re grown up, they’re women who have had a life and experience. For about five or six years now we haven’t shot anyone under 18 for that reason, but also for the fact that we feel that the modeling business should not promote girls working under 18. They’re not out of school, their bodies aren’t developed yet, they don’t have a sense of self yet, sometimes they haven’t had sex yet. It’s hard to project all these things on someone who hasn’t had that experience."Inez van Lamsweerde on celebs: "I actually love it. It’s like a conquest each time. It’s kind of like — I don’t want to say seduction, but it has that part to it. I never really try to talk someone into doing something they don’t want to.We usually have an idea ahead of time what we would like to do, what our fantasy would be on a celebrity, what part we would like to bring out or change. Usually I get quite a good sense in the first five minutes as to how much they want to play with you and how open they are.The sitting is no longer than 15 to 20 minutes. A lot of people say that they feel hypnotized after they shoot with us because it’s a very, very, very focused, short period of time. Usually within the first five frames I have the picture."

YSL Fall Ad

Onwards, Carine!

On the cover of Vogue Paris Feb 2010 is Daria Werbowy, wearing Prada, from the collection much-excoriated by fashion editors elsewhere. I'm so pleased to see it, because I liked it. Shot by Inez Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, and in thier signature style, the cover is pure Carine. Heart.
Cover blurbs: Tom Ford, probably flogging his movie A Single Man; Kate Moss and her collaboration with Longchamp. These two are old Carine standbys: She's loyal to her oldies but goodies. Tom Ford and Kate Moss? Is it 2010 or 1990? The "Une Fille Un Style" features teen blogger Tavi Gevinson's style.

To The Point

Vogue, Dec 2009. This is an example of a good fashion spread that works on every level, not just a random collection of pictures.