Two of the best covers of the month, made in Korea
TFS

Sometimes I feel like we get the short end of the stick when it comes to fashion magazines in Europe. Some of the newer international titles of publications like Vogue, ELLE or W are doing such interesting things abroad with reprints – what I call editorial recycling – of stories from the European editions.
Korea is really teaching everyone a lesson or two about how to use a previously shot editorial and make the most out of it. Exhibit number 1 is the cover of Vogue Korea, where they've used the Inez & Vinoodh story from the June-July issue of French Vogue as their cover. I did love the original Vogue Paris front picture but this one is a really powerful opener as well!
Exhibit number two used the 'Mighty Aphrodite' shoot from the June issue of Vogue UK for the cover of W Korea. This shot of Kate Moss in Atelier Versace by Mert & Marcus is a great call! The colours and the dark and sexy vibe of the picture are a perfect fit for W.

Daria Werbowy looks like a cupcake for the latest Vogue Japan
TFS

Pastel colours are most definitely in this season! So much so, in fact, that Vogue Japan is very much channeling delicious sugary pastel cupcakes on their July cover starring Daria Werbowy. The Canadian beauty is wearing a pink Prada skirt embroidered with yellow roses and paired with a Prada top, and the brand's famous jewellery from the SS12 collection.

Vogue Japan hasn't had that many hit covers this season apart from the Bianca Balti in Dolce & Gabbana issue back in March. So I am happy to see that they have recreated something as good as the August 2011 cover with Daphne Groenveld in Miu Miu (of course).

I like this cover so much that I am not even bothered by the heaps of text they've featured in it. It feels less heavy because of the soft font colours that work brilliantly with the cover photo by Inez & Vinoodh.

How do you like the cover?

TFS

I've blogged about before about my love for Arizona Muse. Lately, a few of my favourite covers have featured her. I love how despite of the short hair that could be a limitation, she always looks very different and really brings her personality to the picture.
I must also say that she should stick to editorials. As thrilling as it is to have her so close at a fashion show, I was not very impressed with her runway walk. Her legs are slightly shorter than other models' so she looks odd amongst them.

Just the fact of having Arizona on the cover would be enough for me to love the latest Vogue Paris cover. But in fact, I also really like it because it reminds me of some of the old covers from the magazine from the 80's and 90's. There is a slight vintage air to this picture by Inez and Vinoodh but it feels super fresh and I love how the red lip, the bowtie and the wavy bob really scream French.

Vogue Paris

I've been hesitating between posting the new cover of American Vogue with Sarah Jessica Parker in Burberry or the August cover of Vogue Paris. Eventually, I've gone for the latter because I really did not like SJP's one and I was once told that if you don't have anything nice to say is better to say nothing. A rule that I normally don't follow but hey, it's Vogue Paris.
I first chuckled when I saw the plane because, really, why would you put a plane on a cover? "Le best de la rentrée" gives the issue a sort of a theme and starts to make sense of the cover. Although I'm not sure of whether Lara Stone (shot by Inez & Vinoodh) has just come back from her holiday (plane leaves) and so she starts prepping for the new season or if she just arrived to the beach for her holiday and that's why the plane leaves.
The fact is that, whether the idea behind the cover composition is BS or not Emmanuelle Alt is at least trying something different. I really love the styling, very Vogue Paris, and how the black outfit really contrasts with the beach landscape.

Est-ce que vous aimez?

I've never hidden my fascination with Vogue Paris. It's my favourite of the magazine's editions and, regardless of what's been said, I think Emmanuelle Alt is doing a remarkable job with it after a somewhat weak first issue.

One of the stories in the latest Juin/Juillet issue, 'Down Town' shot by Inez and Vinoodh and styled by Joe McKenna, is a standout and my favourite. Sasha Pivovarova stars in it with a mixed inspiration of maculin, feminine and free alliances of always favourite pieces —a good coat, the classic jean or your accomplice blouse, in the words of the magazine.

To me, it's a brilliant amalgamation of two styles. Firstly, Gabrielle Chanel's garçon look, which she herself sported for the first part of her life, as illustrated by Audrey Tautou on 'Coco before Chanel'. It takes from Coco the manly tailoring and oversized fit (which also reminded me of one of Marylin's famous pictures) and the sportswear pieces she famously brought into high fashion such as the Breton striped t-shirt.

And secondly, Madonna's 80's style. From it they draw the references to popular urban pieces such as classic high waisted jean and elements like the headband bandana, the hoops and a rock'n'roll attitude.

J'adore.

[TFS]

I tend to forget that V magazine exists. I rarely buy it because it's not exactly my cup of tea and yet I often get excited or at least quite curious about their covers. I was over the moon when they featured Britney by Mario Testino last time.

The new issue seems a lot more interesting. For their "Asian Issue" they have featured Lady Gaga on the cover. I think it's a tricky but clever choice because Gaga's style does take a lot from Asian street style, party due to all the style work with Nicola Formichetti, who was born in Tokyo, where he party grew up.

I'm not particularly keen on the cover picture, shot by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, which I think could have been more interesting. It also seems to have been quite poorly edited, no?

The interview, by Elton John, who has made Gaga God mother of his twins, will definitely be, together with the Mugler clothing, the highlight of the piece.

[FashionGoneRogue]

Emmanuelle's first cover

I was anxious to see this. I  didn't know whether Emmanuelle Alt would swift from Carine's cover aesthetic to mark her reign as Vogue Paris queen or if she would instead progressively settle into the job by kind of continuing to do what Carine had done before and (maybe) slowly changing things to her aesthetic. I love the fact that Giselle is on the cover, especially in Dolce & Gabbana. For some reason supermodels give those southern Italian dresses a different flair than everyone else. I also really like the way the text has been laid out and how white completely takes over the page. It's not the most original of covers but it's better to be safe than to aim to high and fail massively on your first issue, non?

Shot by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin

I'm off.

[Picture: RDuJour]

Carine's colourful farewell

It's that time late in the month when pictures from all the new month magazines start filtering into the Fashion Spot before they magazines actually come out. And, of course, this means I have to post about the new Vogue Paris. And I don't only have to do so because the March issue is particularly good (I am in love with Giovanna Battaglia's story) but because this is Carine's last issue as Rédactrice en Chef. After the big controversy of the Tom Ford issue Carine seems to be making up for all the advertisers she left out then by making incredible over-the-top styling on the spring editorials. My favourite, by far, is Pop Égerie, styled by Emmanuelle Alt and shot by Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. Not only they have used an obscene amount of Jil Sander (officially my favourite SS11 collection) but also those Prada stoles that are everywhere, a lot of Blumarine and Miu Miu all modelled by Daria Werbowy!. Do you love?

I'm off.

[Pictures: TFS]

The Scent of Mellon

Jimmy Choo is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year and they are doing so by launching their first ever fragrance: Jimmy Choo Eau de Parfum. To create it, the brand's creative director Tamara Mellon wanted to combine ingredients that conveyed an idea of strength and beauty —namely "fruity Chypre with warm, rich, woody depths". Green top notes for an initial refreshment and an aura of Tiger Orchid. All of it with a "base of sweet Toffee meld with Indonesian Patchouli to leave a subtle, sensual memory on the skin." By the sound of it, Mellon has manages to create a visual image of the woman she has created her famous shoes for years. However attractive this may sound, it's clear that you'll have to head down to your closest stockist to see (or smell) for yourself if it lives up to the hype.

For the fragrance's campaign Mellon has used her own face photographed by the famous duo Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. I really like this particular ad. I am not the biggest fan of Jimmy Choo's accessory campaign but this works. There is something subtle and beautiful but strong about this image, which somehow makes me think of Christy Turlington. And I know it sounds sill but I like the fact that the dress matches the box.
I am also quite keen on the bottle. Not so much for its appearance but because of the thought behind it. Every bottle has been made from Venice's famous Murano glass but with very modern lines. Mellon wanted to convey the idea of tradition and contemporary design brought together.

I'm off.

[Pictures: Courtesy of Jimmy Choo]

EA's Greatest Hits

As days go by after the announcement of Emmanuelle Alt as the new Rédactrice en chef of French Vogue I think more and more that we can expect great things from her. Vogue Paris is the only version of the fashion bible that I have religiously bought every month for most of my "adult" life. No other excites me as much as it does. There's a question of affinity as well. Their vision and style is the closest to my personal one. And so I have looked back at my little archives to dig out some of my favourite Vogue Paris editorials styled by Emmanuelle. I stopped at three because I have an endless array and you'll guess from it that many of them include Daria Werbowy and are either shot by Inez and Vinoodh or by Mario Sorrenti.

September 2008

Lignes et Attitudes

Photographer: Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin

April 2006

Noces Blanches

Photographer: Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin

February 2006

Le crédo du soir

Photographer: Mario Sorrenti

Do you have a favourite Emmanuelle-styled shoot?
I'm off.

[Pictures: TFS]

harvest time

No one ever captured someone so stunning in such a beautiful way.
"Girl of the Golden Field" from Vogue Nippon
Daria Werbowy styled by George Cortina and shot by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin.

I'm off.