lara stone en noir

carine roitfeld does it again. and this time, she has black faced lara stone.

what do you think? offensive, artistic, over-the-top? the argument is not "why didn't she use a black model?" obviously, she didn't paint lara stone because there were no black models available.

a better question remains: is there a place for this in editorial fashion? is it our social penchant to simply make a big deal out of everything?

en vogue

An open air exhibition celebrating 90 years of Paris Vogue will take place in Avenue des Champs-Elysées from October 1st to November 1st 2009. Besides some of the latest Vogue photographers, you'll be able to view cover photography by legends such as Andy Warhol, Helmu Newton, Salvador Dali, Robert Doisneau, David Hockney, Joan Miró and many more. Entitled Vogue Covers, this retrospective will also get a photo book interpretation.

featured covers:









meanwhile, in the us...



get ready for november folks. a big 'ole celebrity orgy featuring four actresses from the feature film "nine." and, i mean COME ON. if you're going to, once again, throw some terrible pictures of celebrities in my face, at least pick ones of note! kate hudson? both sophia loren and dame judy dench also star in nine, where are they?

all of these women look terrible, and so blatantly photoshopped, it's a joke. after seeing the september issue and the painstaking care taken with the decision making process of which cover photo they choose...i have a very difficult time believing that was the best option.

although i very much want to see "nine," i'd rather just stick to seeing these actresses in the theatre. in the meantime, sign me up for paris.

photo credits: vogue.com, vogue.fr

paris vogue, a la stone

i think this shoot is ABsolutely stunning. the detail is just unreal, and the versatility of the look and hairstyles is wonderful to look at. the lighting, which is what i find to be one of the most seductive qualities of an editorial, is beautifully evocative.

i really love editorials that feature one model...i think it helps, in part, to getting to know them, and to seeing how well they can work the camera, and different looks. she has so much personality! and i love the gap in her teeth.












seriously...looking at paris vogue always makes me angry with what has happened to us vogue. this shoot is so FUN! and it's different...it has personality, and a point of view, and it hits it on the mark gloriously. here's a beautiful european model brilliantly embodying the kitsch and glamour and energy of broadway.

i think lara looks stunning and completely different from either of the other two editorials in which she's featured. how fun! what a joy to look at.

nudie la mer

so here's the paris vogue editorial, featuring a nude lara stone, that garnered so much controversy. i like how they balance the concept of the nudity with the softness of a "by the water" setting. i LOVE the bathing suit shot...the suit is amazing, paired with the boots and her pose.

i really like her body, and how very natural she seems...her presence reminds me of jessica stam, in that it just seems to exist, without imposition.

overall, i like the shoot. i wish people would stop worrying so much about nudity...blah blah blah, it's an age old argument for artists, but COME on. paris vogue has indulged in far more risque editorial faire than this. i mean, let's talk about when helmut newton was a contributing photographer...

i'll be posting some more editorials. they're what i'm finding most inspirational right now. i'm also watching america's next top model reruns and thinking about what it shame it is that these poor girls have no clue that they'll never have the career they want...or that they haven't been able to properly gauge for themselves the show's success level in model placement. i mean, it is the 12th "cycle," after all.