Vintage Grace

2009 isn't exactly vintage as per say, after all it was only three years ago, but the timeless beauty instilled in this Vogue US shoot by the ever talented Grace Coddington has ensured the power of its whimsical aesthetic continues to be prevalent and captivating some five seasons after its creation. 

Grace’s work encapsulates the epitome of fashion escapism, creating wondrous world of magic and diversions of reality. It’s a Madcap World a highly romanticized representation of nonchalant grace and fierce energy, set amongst a contradiction of rubble and demise. The dramatic power, created through the bold shapes, bright colours and exaggerated movement, is counteracted by clever undertones of subtle arrogance and innocent purity. 

It’s a Madcap World, Vogue US February 2009

Photographer: Steven Meisel

Stylist: Grace Coddington

Love for Lily

Glamorama, Vogue US December 2005

Lily Donaldson, Gemma Ward & Caroline Trentini by Steven Meisel

The Now Mix 'n' Match, Vogue IT May 2008 

Lily Donaldson and Gemma Ward by Emma Summerton 

While searching images for my previous post, I couldn't help but stop to looking closer at these two editorials featuring the wondrous Lily Donaldson, with the alluring Gemma Ward. Both girls have an otherworldly aesthetic to their unconventional beauty which when paired together is only heighten and more prominent. Although slightly outdated, the fashion and style of both shoots creates nostalgic ties to the eclectic and experimental trends of the past, placing fashion in the forefront of everyday experiences and settings. The movement and fluidity of the images is what allows them to be continuously relevant, beautiful and boundary pushing. 

Body by Kloss

Despite the negative hype and controversy surrounding this particular K.Kloss shoot for Vogue IT, when looked at through open-minded, non-judgemental eyes, the simplistic yet provocative images capture a serene sense of strength and beautiful moments of power.

When aiming to push controversial limits and stereotypically boundaries, one will always fall subject to scrutiny, so by choosing to feature a lithe-like, elongated, mostly naked Karlie Kloss in her December 2011 issue, it’s no wonder Franca Sozzani has yet again found herself under the critic eye of the public, as they pick to pieces what was a simply beautiful representation of elegance and poise.
The drama surrounding the editorial stems from both Sozzani’s decision to un-publish one of the shots, removing it from the Vogue IT website, and the general public’s personal, unsupported opinions regarding Kloss’ health and figure.

“I did not remove the first picture from the site because I thought it set a bad example due to its thinness, but because I am aware of the fact that people can easily attach labels without thinking, so I believed I could avoid a pointless debate. I made a mistake. I had to do what I thought was right. [It would have been better to], leave the picture and let everybody express their opinion freely. The picture is beautiful and that’s all.” -Franca Sozzani

It’s not the first time experimental and provocative creative concepts in the fashion world have been ridiculed and wrongly miss-interpreted by the public, however as long as we have strong minded, greatly talented industry leaders, like Sozzani, prepared to fight for and defend what they believe, fashion will, as always, continue to cause controversy by challenging the notions of normality.

Images: Body by Kloss; Karlie Kloss by Steven Meisel for Vogue Italia December 2011.

Super Mods Enter Rehab

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