Every so often there is an editorial that just gets under your skin - something that stands out in your memory as being completely flawless in its execution. La Belle Americane is one such edit for me. Shot for Vogue Paris by Patrick Demarchelier and styled by Carine Roitfeld, it really doesn't get much better in terms of creative talent. Add to this the fact that it showcases Ms. Crystal Renn, looking fierce in the hottest designer looks and you've got a recipe for perfection. If there were a high fashion plus sized monthly (and lets cross our fingers that one day there is) I would hope that this is what some of the content would look like. Until then I have my old issues of Vogue Paris and a big dream.
Thanks to Kasper & West Mags from tFS for the scans
Food for thought : I feel like I've seen more plus sized models in Vogue Paris per capita than I've ever seen in US Vogue with the noted exception of the shape issue and even then... Anyone else notice this? Whenever I can find a great edit featuring a plus model I'll post for inspiration but I feel as though (at least based on what I've seen) the majority of these pictures are in European magazines as opposed to American ones.
14 comments:
Gorgeous!!! Tres belle!
Crystal looks stunning as always.
Now i'm just waiting for her to grace the pages of British Vogue.
It's probably no accident that you see more plus models in Europe. I have never lived there, but I suspect they don't have the same hangups about body size that Ms. Anna and them have.
*More* plus size models than just Crystal and Kate in Paris Vogue?? So far, US Vogue actually leads that number count with Crystal, Allegra Doherty, Kate Dillon, Mia Tyler and Jenny Runk appearing in editorials with their curves a showin' (albeit mostly the once-a-year Shape Issue - only Crystal and Kate have appeared outside of that in an ed) and Ashley Graham appeared in an lifestyle/comment piece as well (http://toofatforfashion.blogspot.com/2007/04/ashley-graham-shops-new-york.html).
Crystal has certainly scored eds with a greater level of undress and true fashion aesthetic in the euro magazines (Paris Vogue, Elle Italy, German Vogue's jewelry shoots, Paradise nudes, etc) than the others, but then Charlotte Patterson of 12+UK did a nude shoot for Vogue Italy's jewelry supplement which was pretty nice. They are out there if you know where to look for them...and if you are open to all of the various attitudes that inform the styling of such editorials. Just because one may not particularly like the photos is no reason to ignore their existence :)
DV, I feel like US Vogue does it once a year with great fanfare and for the strict purpose of The Shape Issue outside of that we don't see Plus models in Vogue. European magazines have thus far been more likely to show plus models without the excuse of a special issue. I know all the models that you've listed and they've all been for the shape issue. Not that I don't appreciate the yearly bone US Vogue throws I have to say that it would be better if they just had a plus model in an edit without it being in their token issue devoted exclusively to size.
As for the aesthetic sensibilities behind the editorials I'm not quite sure what you mean.
Ugh, how elegant!
Well Crystal's last edit in US Vogue wasn't in the Shape Issue, so that was something at least. I just can't think of anyone beside Kate Dillon and Crystal that has been in Paris Vogue?
My reference to aesthetics (in more detail) was along the lines that euro mags have a completely different take on beauty and aren't so dependent on sportswear looks from their advertisers. They show individual looks that you will see on the few, not the many. In "Belle Americane" they pulled top-notch accessories, hung a snake around her neck, and showed Crystal eating. Which wouldn't happen in the US, ever.
The edit with Hilary Rhoda? Or is there another? That one was also a part of the Shape Issue. I ask because I want to scan it if there is another :)
Vogue Paris has also featured Velvet as part of a Galliano article if I remember correctly. US definitely does have the quantities of plus sized models but I think Vogue Paris has the quality of editorial content. The way they display the models is fresher.
I agree that there is a different take on the European editorials - at lot more effort has been made for this particular edit to be fashion forward. American magazines seem more focused on the advertisers and looks with more mass appeal.
The edit with Crystal and Hilary was in the Shape issue? I guess the fact that there was more than 2 photos of her and that they actually named Crystal made me overlook that. My bad.
The edit with Velvet also showed Veronique and Johanna Dray among the cast, but noone in their right mind would put it up against Crystal or Kate's edits: there were no real body shots and only glimpses of faces around a table; the photos were stills from a video taken by Nick Knight of a bacchanal at the Paris Ritz, and Vogue did a real hatchet job on the whole concept, despite editor Roitfeld doing the "OMG beautiful!" response on TV at the actual show.
Some interesting reading and viewing around the Galliano show, here:
http://www.showstudio.org/projects/editingfashion/
totally gorgeous and absolutely sexy!
Please have a look...she is aamazing!
http://www.trendencias.com/2007/12/12-crystal-renn-protagoniza-un-editorial-para-elle-italia
Greetings ,
Morgan
that's so interesting given carine roitfeld's recent remarks in New York magazine.
Maitresse, I saw that too.
I miss Mode magazine. I laminated some of the pages from old issues.
*sigh*
Hi! I absolutely love your blog! Those pictures of crystal...oh my. I LOVE this woman- she is my fashion idol. Effortless. And her smile is so so genuine- I've got an hourglass figure similar to hers, I just hope I'll be able to be as fashionable as her one day!
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