Book Description

In Africa, beaded ornaments may mark an individual's progress through life, and intricate woven fabrics chronicle the deeds of warriors and kings. "African Elegance" delves into the ways in which such traditional objects as masks, jewelry, and wooden vessels are used in contemporary African society.

From the vibrant, carved coffins of Ghana and the treasures made by sixteenth-century Benin metalsmiths to the sleek objects in serpentine crafted by the Shona sculptors of Zimbabwe, "African Elegancce" dynamically explores how native Africans display themselves, exchange messages, and tell stories through craft. An object as beautiful as the work it celebrates, "African Elegance" is a stunningly photographed chronicle of art and personal adornment.
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Reviews (1)

Gorgeous book
This is a beautiful book, full of gorgeous color photos. It highlights the unique and extrordinary costumes of the peoples of africa. A delight! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

The Class of Click
What a fresh approach?This book kept me delighted page after beautiful page.Some pages were sexy, some funny and some dramatic.Mr. Moenks, I applaud you on your very creative book.You have a very sophisticatedapproach to color, lighting, and composition.I would recommend this bookto anyone who wants to see where the future of fashion photography shouldbe going (I hope).Kudos and Bravo!

Straight to the used book store
I can't imagine why anyone would want to buy this book unless perhaps they are in it or happen to know somebody who is (I, of course, bought it sight unseen).Otherwise, it is an irreverent, uninspiring, useless book ofphotographs by a new photographer who already seems bored with his craftbefore he has even begun.His book reminds me of the tasteless BeverlyHills homeowner a few decades back who had painted the nipples and pubichair on the marble statues on his Sunset Boulevard estate (the entirestructure was so trashed by this man's adolescent sense of style that ithad to be torn down and the lot has remained vacant ever since.)For thisbook, I would have preferred to see more attention placed on the models andtheir particular assets and less on the photographer's attempt at being"original" or "clever".I would have liked to haveseen carefully composed photographs that skillfully show off the models'beautyor other outstanding features, not this attempt at"parody" that yields nothing.This might have been okay in afashion spread if they were showing off interesting clothes, but this bookis not.Here, whatever beauty may be there is hidden behind a zany styleof vamping and tramping.Whoever compared this book to the amazing BruceWeber's "Chop Suey Club" has rocks in his head; the *only*similarity is that there are maybe three pictures of Weber's model, PeterJohnson, not shown to good effect here at all.In one picture of Johnson,he is the "class clown", all scrunched face and tongue lollingout; I wouldn't have even recognized him if he hadn't been identified.Inanother, he appears in the "Class of Click" section where all ofthe models are in dark, almost sepia-looking black and white photos withtheir faces looking like they have been darkened with a brown, greasymake-up--again, for what purpose, I can't imagine (maybe to make them alllook Hispanic?).To my taste, there really is only one beautifulphotograph in the book, in the "Sex Ed" section, showing a trulyamazing Asian girl lying her cheek against the lovely chest of a male modelwho, unfortunately, has a large tattoo marring up the middle of hisotherwise perfect body.I can only hope that the tattoo is a fake, butthis sort of thing should not be encouraged.All in all, I've had thisbook in my possession for less than fifteen minutes and already it's goingto the used book store.Unless you have a rabid fascination with modelseven when they are shown badly, you, too, would probably be better offsaving your money.

The best model portfolio ever made
I was astonished to see how original this book is. Apart from the really beautiful photography I was also very impressed with the presentation of this model portfolio diguised a a high school yearbook. Roger Moenks reallyknew how to take this concept and make it a really fun pop presentation ofthe model agency Click. Roger knows how to shoot his subjects in a reallyfun and sexy manner. I love the naked boys he has shot for part of theschool play and class trip..ingenious! There are an array of models here weall have seen in different magazines, ads and commercials... Here to name afew Tanga (the Ralph Lauren muze), Peter Johnson (The Bruce Weber muze fromthe Chop Suey Club) etc..Great stuff everybody should own...

A UNIQUE IDEA!
This Click Modeling Agency portfolio is unique in presenting their male and female models in a High School yearbook style.Although there is no nudity, some models are presented in semi-undress, and the lighting andcolor photography of Roger Moenks is truly wonderful.A feast for theeyes, and a unique book for your permanent library or for guests to enjoyon your coffee table.It was almost as good as "Male Super- Models:The Men of Boss Models", which was done a few years ago, but notquite.

Fabulous!
Roger Moenks "Class of Click" is more than just a book of fabulous photos for your cofee table (although it is this too). It is a nostalgic look back at high school, with biting, satiricalhumor as wellas striking photography, flawless lighting, and of course the hot looking"class". Rogers' work is new, fresh and highly distinctive. Whatan ingenius, refreshing, modern pop way to view an agency! I look forwardto seeing more of Roger Moenks' work in the future. ... Read more

Book Description

Sheila Metzner: Form and Fashion intermingles Metzner’s fashion work, her sensual and erotic nudes, and her formalist still lifes — a juxtaposition that conveys a romanticism balanced by precision. The transcendent quality of many of Metzner’s photographs is enhanced by a printing process invented by the Fresson family in 1895 in France, resulting in images that reveal an ethereal tonal range and color saturation. The end results are uniquely Metzner’s own, and have left a major impression on the history of photography. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Esthetic, ethereal, modernist, and yet timeless
Sheila Metzner's photography is transcendent, rich, refined, esthetic, ethereal, modernist, and yet timeless. Her images are fascinating as they exhibit an astonishing tonal range. Enhanced with informative and illustratively descriptive commentaries by Ralph Lauren and M. Raven Metzner, Sheila Metzner: Form And Fashion is a core addition to any serious American history of photography reference collection, and a "must" for any serious student of photography-as-art. ... Read more

Book Description

Over the last few years, the architecture of the human body has occupied a central position in Karl Lagerfeld's photographic work--just recently, his series Bodyparts was staged as an exhibition. With Waterdance and Bodywave, Lagerfeld now picks out courses of motion in the elements of water and air as a skillfully-used central theme. Here the photographic eye compares the different distortions of the body that result from submersion in either element. Lagerfeld's new work is presented in two large-format albums, whose dramaturgy leads the viewer to a new way of seeing nude photography in a playful way.

Two Clothbound books in a sleeve. 2 volume set ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Luxurious Work of Perfection!
This is a beautiful slip-cased edition of two larger-format books which is a delight for the lover of male beauty and creative art. It is a luxurious but sort of obsessive study of a Nordic blond model posing against the elements of water and air. Of course, the model is a work of perfection and adds to the beauty of these images. Lagerfeld compares the different distortions of the body and the results from the body being submersed in water and air. The human body has always been a major part of Karl Lagerfeld's photographic work, and his creative imagination makes this two book set another first in unique design. Lagerfeld's published works are so different from other photographers that one can only wait patiently for his next creation. A beautiful study of male nude photography that should not be missed by any fan or collector.

Joe Hanssen ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Amazingly elusively beautiful models
I've never seen a book with photographs of so many beautiful women all in one package. Looking through this book, one get's a feeling of the elusiveness of beauty. All (well most) of the women/girls depicted are very pretty, but you find yourself asking if there is any point to this book other than to show off this anonymous beauty.

While I periodically keep coming back to this book, I long for more. Maybe that's the point of the book. If it is, the book succeeds in piquing my interest.

A simple concept results in a fascinating photo journal
The term "go-see" refers to a certain photo encounter whereby an aspiring model hooks up with a photographer, with the understanding that neither one has a specified commission for the session's work. The model, also called a "go-see," is hoping for the one gig to launch a career; the photographer is hoping to discover the next new "face."

In a simplistic but strikingly revealing book, Juergen Teller has chronicled just under a year's worth of "go-sees" with over 460 photos taken in and around the entrance to his London apartment. Each page has one picture (most often color), the date, and the name of the model. The book is quite heavy (literally) for its size, and is put together with a high-quality cover, binding and paper.

It's easy to get used to perusing books by the top fashion photographers showing the most beautiful women, creative sets, perfect lighting, makeup, etc. This book is MUCH different. I'm turning the pages one by one, looking at face after face: so many walks of life . . . so much expectation . . . so much hope. Who succeeded? Who failed? Even some famous models are in there. Can you find them?

With no set, no makeup, and no special lighting, I can't envision Mr. Teller working very hard to get these shots. It doesn't matter. The variation obtained through the diversity of position, angle, expression, and even the weather, is fantastic. Some of the girls posed, and some hammed it up a little; others just stood there and gazed into the camera. And, what a metaphor the doorway is! This book is a wonderful alternative (and complement) to the high end of modeling and fashion photography publications.

teller all your friends
makes a great argument for photography. at the high school job fair, a copy of this book and a simple sign indicating teller's average annual income should suffice to enlist new photograhers for decades to come. nice work, picture-taking fella.

Snaps, but more
I bought this on a whim, but it surprised me how much this book fascinates me. Without make-up and stylists, these photographs could be just family snaps (and indeed, hilariously, some are). But they show a side of the industry that is hardly ever documented. Some girls are nervous, some outrageous exhibitionists, some can't turn off the uber-model look if they tried. Beautiful.

There's More to it Than Fashion...
The genre of fashion photography has a habit of repeating itself. We've all seen images that look like an Irving Penn, Avedon, or Turbeville, without realizing someone else took them. New talent without originality is a common sight, especially when opening yet another fashion magazine, or photo/fashion book. Juergen Teller's book, "Go-Sees", places a unique spin on fashion and the photography that helps promote the business. Almost as important as the designer, the model is chosen to not only wear the clothes, but to promote a lifestyle that is akin to the designer's vision. With "Go-Sees", Teller eliminates these superfluous layers, thereby creating a book that concentrates solely on the psychology of the fashion industry in its attempt to find the next new face. Original in both concept and layout, Teller takes a diary approach by photographing a girl or more each day during a year's period. The girl's name and the date her photograph was taken are all that appear below each image - one to a page. Each photograph is taken in or around the doorway of Teller's London studio. These informal, color snapshots (few are black & white) show the girls in their street clothes either before or after the photo-shoot with Teller. This casual snapshot approach further enhances one of the theme's objectives, by showing these 'go-sees' for what they really are: girls - not yet byproducts of the fashion industry. The photographs in Teller's "Go-Sees" are more often sad than beautiful. Knowing that only a small percentage of these girls, if any, will make it past the initial photo-shoot, fosters a compassion from the viewer, unheard of in most fashion photography. That these photographs are more documentary in their approach only adds to the book's uniqueness. Add to this, Teller's ability to make each photograph interesting - considering the limitations of his locale - and it becomes clear that "Juergen Teller Go-Sees" is more than just another fashion book. ... Read more

Book Description

Interviews with Richard Avedon, Suzy Parker, Eileen Ford, Lillian Bassman, Mary Jane Russell, and Lauren Bacall "Dahl-Wolfe freed color from convention and timidity. . . . Today, her pictures continue to seem just a little ahead of their time."

-Vicki Goldberg, American Photographer Louise Dahl-Wolfe (1895-1989) was one of the great fashion photographers of her era-a woman who contributed 86 cover images and thousands of interior shots to Harper's Bazaar between 1936 and 1959. Her elegant, beautifully composed photographs-many shot on location, in natural light, and in color-helped define a new American style that was wholesome yet worldly.This lavish book is the first-ever retrospective on this influential photographer. In addition to fashion images, the 140 photographs collected here include a sampling of Dahl-Wolfe's portrait work-unforgettable images of Josephine Baker, Edward Hopper, Eudora Welty, and Jean Cocteau, among other luminaries. Louise Dahl-Wolfe is a rare treat for everyone who loves fashion and photography.140 illustrations, 100 in full color, 9 x 12"DOROTHY TWINING GLOBUS is director of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York. VICKY GOLDBERG is an internationally known photography critic and historian, and a contributor to The New York Times.NAN RICHARDSON, former editor of Aperture, is curator of the Louise Dahl-Wolfe exhibition that this book accompanies.EXHIBITION SCHEDULE Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York June 12-Aug. 13, 2000 Center for Creative Photography, TucsonSept.-Nov. 2000 ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good presentation of Dahl-Wolfe's Photography
Louise Dahl-Wolfe shot some captivating images, as evidenced by the cover, and apparently was one of the best fashion photographers of the middle 20th C. The book contains 2 essays which kind of overlap in content and some plates of her B&W and color work, as well as outtakes, and some reportage work. The printing quality was okay, with the exception that a lot of the color photographs were scanned from either the printing plates (or more likely) magazines because they had visible dot pattern. I don't know if the original color images had faded beyond repair, were lost, or, the authors may have made made an aesthetic/representation choice here. One essay described how Dahl-Wolfe was very exacting with the printing presses and perhaps the printed images best represented her vision, however, for me the dot artifacts detracted from the pictures, which were quite excellent. It is easy to see why Dahl-Wolfe is regarded as an early master of color fashion photography. Worth picking up on overstock if interested in fashion or fashion photography. ... Read more

Book Description

Derek and Keith Brewer, identical twins from Redondo Beach, went from riding the waves of the California coastline to walking the runways of the world's fashion capitals. This bold, graphic biography chronicles their success story, featuring photographs by fashion's preeminent style-makers-- from Steven Meisel and Patrick Demarchelier to Blake Little and Peggy Sirota-- and showcasing the Brewers' appearances in top magazines, campaigns, and shows, from Esquire, Vogue, and Sassy, to Yves Saint Laurent and Calvin Klein. The Brewers also provide the inside scoop on their beach boyhood and extreme lifestyle, from surfing to snowboarding, and share what it's like to be celebrity twins. Derek and Keith are represented by Q, America's newest model management agency.
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Reviews (22)

The Twins Could Have Done Much Better
The book is pretty boring. The text is lacking, and skips anything in depth about these twin dudes. The pictures could be so much better. They really skipped over the Joe Magazine affair of their lives. Too bad, as that was the best of the Brewer boys as far as I am concerned. It was real, and heartfelt - this book is not.

Excellent Book!
Surfers/models Derek and Keith (with their editors) put together this great book in a very unique way by compiling tons of pictures of temselves while using creative design principals to tell you personal things about themselves. Don't be concerned about the durability of the softcover edition because the binding and pages appear to be of the best quality. The layout and design are done very professionally and this book is not to be missed for any fan of the Twins or just anyone who appreciates male beauty. Great job, guys, you scored big with this project! I can't wait for your next publishing creation.

Twins
They're brothers. They're twins. They're lovers? That's what many of their photographs suggest. Pictures of the twins undressing each other, holding each other, caressing each other, gazing into each other's eyes, and almost kissing each other. I don't know if the brothers were wanting to show the public their incestuous relationship or if the photographer somehow persuaded them to do it but it has made them into two of the most successful male models on the planet and for that I applaud them.

Boo!
Written for a child and about as thrilling as watching a Presidential debate on a hot summer day...

Don't waste your money or time on this - not even for a die-hard Brewer fan!

Mirror of Male Beauty
The Brewer Twins, Keith & Derek, would, each on his own, be among the most beautiful youths on the planet: it would be difficult to find anyone to match such perfection. But here we see this beauty mirrored - and more than just doubled. These are not just two exquisitely-formed guys who happen to be brothers: they are twins, with the shared intimacy that goes along with that. The striking point about most of the photos in this book is that their physical beauty is complemented and emphasized by the beauty of their friendship and fraternal love for each other. One does not simply admire their beauty: one cannot help but delight also in the sheer joy of seeing such closeness between two guys. We catch a glimpse of something very precious here, something that warms the heart as well as appealing to the eyes. Male beauty does not come better than this: these guys are the stuff of which the Greek myths of Adonis & Narcissus, Achilles & Ganymede are made - only the Greeks never imagined there could be two such fair youths. Buy it: you'll enjoy hours of pleasure gazing upon the beautiful Brewers - I know I have. ... Read more

Book Description

Sports Illustrated Knockouts: Five Decades of Swimsuit Photography celebrates the art of that uniquely American institution, the Sports Illustrated annual swimsuit issue.Beginning with the inaugural issue on January 24, 1964, which featured model Babette March in a modest four-page spread, Knockouts goes on to document the evolution of the swimsuit issue through five decades of models who, largely by virtue of their appearances here, became celebrities, including Elle Macpherson, Cheryl Tiegs, Tyra Banks, and Kathy Ireland.

Besides assembling a selection of the best photographs in book form for the first time, Knockouts offers an ample selection of outtakes and other previously unpublished photos, various quotes from models, photographers, art directors, and commentaries on the logistics and technical aspects of the shoots and the exotic ports of call in which they were staged.

ï Five decades of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Photography, beginning with the first issue featuring swimsuit photography on January 24, 1964.
ïIncludes models Elle Macpherson, Cheryl Tiegs, Tyra Banks, Kathy Ireland, and other favorites.
ïIncludes a selection of the best photographs plus previously unpublished photos. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Not quite perfect
Some great photography of some beautiful subjects. If you've seen the swimsuit issues you know the style. The photos range from around the days of Brinkley to Casta.

The only reason I say it's not quite perfect is that they seem to have been a little too ambitious on the size of the book. Almost every photo is stretched to the limits of the pages, which can make for great impact, but some of the photos have lost a little quality being blown up that much. You can see some graininess in several of the shots; I think most of them are the older ones. Most of the pages are fine however.

It would also have been nice to see some of the body paint pics in here but they are absent.

Overall a nice book.

Decades of Male Fantasy Photographs at the Beach
Caution: This book contains many images of naked and near-naked female models in sexually provocative poses. If the book were a motion picture, it would be required to carry an "R" rating.

The title of the foreword by Frank Deford says it all: "The Bare Facts." Mr. Deford describes the annual swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated as "walking a fine line between smoldering sex and suitable taste, lust and love, seduction and salubriousness." That balance is maintained by having women plan the issue, men photograph it, and the models being attractive young women who are "sexy and fit." He points out that the more modest Miss America contest has lost its audience while the racier Playboy has too. Yet, the audience for this issue has grown, now reaching approximately 56 million Americans a year and many others outside the U.S. for the magazine's foreign editions. At the same time, catalogues for lingerie are doing well, too.

The book is mostly devoted to oversized one and two page photographs from the various swimsuit issues, concentrated in the last ten years. These images are reproduced on better paper and in larger sizes so that their color makes them more vibrant than in the original magazine versions. Little peeks at female anatomy become larger as a result, making these images seem more like pulchritude than All-American Girl Next Door. The two page spreads are often awkwardly truncated across the middle of images.

To me, the most appealing images were those which emphasized the intelligence and personality of the model as opposed to her physical outline and skin quality.

For a lighter touch, there are famous quotations scattered throughout the book, as well as bits and pieces of letters about the swimsuit issues in the past.

The photographs are appealing mostly because of two characteristics, the unusually attractive female models who appear in them and the natural beauty of the settings that frames them. These same images taken with women of average appearance in a studio would usually be unremarkable.

The appeal of the images to an American audience says a lot about American culture. The images seem "out there" even though you would see more skin at a typical French beach resort. They seem to appeal to a desire for a more exotic and sensual lifestyle than a typical American ever experiences. I was reminded of the old television show, Fantasy Island, where magical changes in life could happen to any visitor. These images are mostly dreams of what could happen to women on a vacation to a little-known island. That angle helps explain the appeal to the many women who enjoy these images each year, more than twenty million of them.

Mr. Deford's essay also points out that the feature has grown. Originally, it was just a few pages. In recent years, the special has turned into a complete issue. Presumably, someday there will be a magazine with 52 issues a year comprised just of these bathing beauties.

I could not help but think that the most lasting impact of these images is the way that they have helped build the careers of some of the most famous and successful female models, such as Cheryl Tiegs, Christie Brinkley and Kathy Ireland.

The book will also arouse some nostalgia in you, if you are like me, as you recall what you were doing and how old you were when you first saw these photographs.

I suspect this book will be a very popular gift this Christmas for young bachelors who like the annual swimsuit issue.

After you finish viewing these images, think about what your idea is of an ideal woman. What are her qualities? How importance is her appearance? How would she grow better with age? What is her personality like?

Look for lasting beauty in all forms among those around you!

Old School
There is a wonderful quote in this book from a journalist (and a female one at that) which says:

"All the SI bathing suit models are muscular and lean and authentic. They don't mind working up a good sweat. They're proud of the bodies they've worked into shape. There is nothing powdery or gushy about them. In other words the women in the swimsuit issue are not the worse role models a young girl could have."

And she's absolutely right. If I had abs like that I would show them off proudly too!!! Knowing a little bit about physical fitness...I know that it takes a lot of discipline and hard work to get your body to look that toned. The last thing in the world I would do is criticize them for this. I came to SI just by chance I saw the 1995 special on TV and was left majorly impressed at how the young women conducted themselves. They were definitely no ones "hoochies". Actually I was so impressed that when I saw several of them on the covers of various magazines etc.. I immediately remembered their names. And that is not something that happens with everyone.

I never understood the hullabaloo people make about the SI swimsuit issues. I think that it is absolutely wonderful. My favorite period was when Jules Campbell was the editor. The woman definitely had an eye for (tasteful) beauty. It was pure old school: In that while the models were certainly appealing-it was always in a DIGNIFIED WAY-everything about these ladies said "respect me". These women carried themselves with the confidence of Queens. They exuded assurance and implied that they had the world on a string.

The pictures in the book are absolutely exquisite and are worth every penny.

Believe it or not in a world where actresses and film stars often look as if they work in the adult entertainment business. The SI swimsuit models are not the worst role models young girls can have. Thanks ladies for providing such an inspiration to me!

Great Collector's Item, a must have for the bookshelf
I've been subscribing to Sports Illustrated for over 6 years, and it's been amazing to see how the "evolution" of the Swimsuit issue has gone through the years.

It was a treat to see the some old favorites, going from Christie Brinkley and Elle McPherson to current cover girls Heidi Klum and Daniela Pestova. Great addition to the library!

Very nice!
A few of the pictures are grainy, and some of the shots are unappealing. But of the good ones, they are truly unique gems of glamour photos. The models in this book are all beautiful, healthy, sexy; and they all have a very positive outlook in their eyes. A very pleasing book to thumb thru on a cold or cast down day. ... Read more

Book Description

“If Patrick doesn’t take your picture you’re over; if he doesn’t say hello you don’t exist!” Michael Musto, Village Voice

This past May, world-renowned fashion photographer and photojournalist Patrick McMullan covered the 2000 Victoria’s Secret fashion show, one of the highlights of the Cannes International Film Festival. In Secrets of the Riviera: A Photo Essay by Patrick McMullan, he recreates with his camera the frenzy of the backstage dressing rooms, the glitz surrounding every exclusive party, and the glamour of the biggest fashion show in the world¯which was again broadcast live on the Internet, with over two million people logging in simultaneously to stream footage of the event as it happened.

Secrets of the Riviera: A Photo Essay by Patrick McMullan is a gorgeous, full-color work featuring the world’s sexiest supermodels of today and tomorrow at their best: gliding down the catwalk, frantically preparing backstage, and unwinding at the closely-watched festivities surrounding this year’s Cannes Festival. All of Patrick’s favorite photos are here, of Tyra Banks, Laetitia Casta, Heidi Klum, Karen Mulder, Daniela Pestova, Stephanie Seymour, Carmen Kass, and hot new Brazilian bombshells Gisele Bundchen, Ana Claudia, Caroline Ribeiro, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Adriana Lima¯and much more. ... Read more

Book Description

Albert Watson first came to public attention in 1994, with his first book, Cyclops, which has since become a collector's item. He is considered the eminence grise of top photographers, an intellectual loner who neither respects the boundaries of genre, nor is willing to compromise in matters of his own artistic demands. From advertisements for the fashion and cosmetic industry to portraits of celebrities such as Mick Jagger and Andy Warhol, to nudes, still life and landscapes, Watson's range is as impressive as the aesthetic forcefulness and the emotional intensity of his pictures. His curiosity appears to be as inexhaustible as his reputed chameleon-like changeability and the pleasure he takes in permanently inventing new pictures. ... Read more

Book Description

Archeology of Elegance is an exceptional and dynamic collection of 200 superb photographs by sixty-two of today's most acclaimed photographers from Robert Mapplethorpe to Peter Lindbergh, Miles Aldridge, Herb Ritts, Ellen von Unwerth, Nick Knight, David Lachapelle and Jean-Baptiste Mondino, presenting fashion photography as art. During the past twenty years, there is no question that fashion photography has become a driving force for new directions in fashion, design and cosmetics and a vital source of ideas for the visual arts and design-manifesting itself in forms as diverse as punk rock, glamour or high-tech futurism. According to culture critic Ulf Poschardt, fashion photography has become the new, almost self-sufficient leitmedia of international culture, a culture that is expressed increasingly in visual terms. As seen in Archeology of Elegance, this once commercial and functional craft has become, without question, an art form in itself.

The book accompanies an exhibition in Paris and Hamburg with upcoming venues in New York, LA, Tokyo and London. ... Read more

Book Description

Vogue Women is a dazzling tour through the history of Vogue magazine and the history of fashion and beauty culture stretching from early fashion magazines depicting debutantes and royalty in formal dress to the chic and daring fashions of the 1920's and 30's. We see the heroic sentimentality of wartime, the rebirth of glamour in Paris, the rising status of fashion models, and the creation of fashion icons that were the forerunners of the Supermodels of the late 80's. Vogue Women scrutinizes the emblems of beauty that survive radical changes in style from the days of Queen Alexandra to today. We see the 'Vogue treatment' that includes expert photography, makeup and hair, and meticulous attention to detail. But we also see something more in these faces, a less tangible side of glamour from Marlene Dietrich to Josephine Baker, Jacqueline Kennedy to Madonna that is timelessly alluring. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

okay
although this book was at times, nice to look at and read, they have appeared to leave out a lot of people. some of the pictures are good, good enough to be called photographs, they seemed to gloss over each and it left out some sort of magic. i guess by normal standards the book is okay, but you may be looking into the beauty and not the presense. i suggest you check out scavullo photographs 50 years.

stunning
This book is just stunning. The photographs all have such beauty in so many aspects wether it be in the composition or person in the photograph! This book really reminds the reader why vogue is a fashion icon. It contains many stories about its featured women which cover all walks of life and celebrity. A visual and (for it's genre) literary gem.

"reveals our aspirations and the changing place of women"
This book is brilliantly written and edited by Georgina Howell about the images of women in British Vogue. As fine as the photographs in this book are (done by many of the 20th century's most talented photographers), the thoughts about these images are even more interesting and valuable.

Conde Nast's original purpose for Vogue was to "produce the most beautiful and tasteful magazine that had ever existed."

The subjects for the photographs have changed a lot since Vogue was founded. Originally, all of the subjects were either royalty or society women. As Ms. Howell points out, you can never get rid of royalty if you are Vogue, but you can move on in other areas. At the start of the century, the aspiration was to look like an aristocrat or an actress. By the end of the century, the desire was to "look like television presenters and the wives of football [soccer] stars."

The book is organized around type of photographic subject, with a marvelous essay in each case exploring the meaning portrayed by those photographs. The sections are royalty, society girls, inspirations, muses, dynasties, models, stars, exotics/eccentrics, waifs, and icons. Here are my favorite photographs from each section:

Royalty -- Helen Windsor, taken by Lord Snowdon, 1982

Society Girls -- Jemima Khan, taken by Oberto Gili, 1998

Inspirations -- Mother Teresa, taken by John Downey, 1981

Muses -- Ines de la Fressange, taken by Albert Watson, 1985

Dynasties -- (Mother) Nena Von Schlebrugge, taken by Norman Parkinson, 1958; (Daughter) Uma Thurman, taken by Albert Watson, 1994

Models -- Cindy Crawford, taken by Arthur Elgort, 1995

Stars -- Charlotte Rampling, taken by Clive Arrowsmith, 1970

Exotics/Eccentrics -- Diana Vreeland, taken by Horst P. Horst, 1979

Waifs -- Marianne Faithfull, taken by David Bailey, 1965

Icons -- Diana, taken by Patrick Demarchelier, 1997; Greta Garbo, taken by Cecil Beeton, 1946

Where many books with photographs of beautiful women simply try to overwhelm you, this book instead features photographs to illustrate the essays. The theme here is to examine "beauty that survives radical changes in taste and fashion." The subjects are "distinguished or notorious, pretty or striking, and sometimes all four . . . ." This is done in a way consistent with Vogue's purpose to "dress the mind as elegantly as the bodies" displayed here.

The essays don't take the subject as seriously as all this sounds. For example, Ms. Howell is quick to point out that "happy endings have been few and far between" for those who have been portrayed in Vogue's pages. So we are dealing with an illusion of a perfect person and a perfect life. Illusions can be helpful in setting appropriate aspirations. The question the Vogue images raise is whether following the "trendiest" of the time is appropriate. The book itself suggests that it is not. In fact, I found the essays to be an interesting counterpoint to Vogue's usual monthly issue in suggesting what timeless values are and should be for women. And that was more than I expected or had a right to expect from this book. So I was very pleased with it.

My expectation had been to see some terrific photography done by great photographers. And there was plenty of that. But the social commentary is the most valuable part of this book.

To better put this book in perspective, you will find it valuable to take a look at David Bailey's "Birth of the Cool" to see lots of terrific Vogue photography from the 1960s. You will be struck by the contrasts immediately between establishing a look and a feel as fashion in that book, and seeing images here for establishing a socially meaningful perspective. I think you will enjoy both books.

After you have finished viewing these books and their fine images, why don't you think about what your aspirations are for yourself. Are these consistent with your own heart? If not, could some of these aspirations come from the popular media? If so, can you identify which ones? Then, examine each to see if it merits your support.

Be yourself, beautifully! ... Read more

Book Description

No photographer since the 1960s has had a greater impact on our perception of photography and the photographer than David Bailey. As famous as the famous faces on which he trained his camera, he opened up a world in which he was himself a central figure.

If Bailey and his work had been predominantly associated with London in the sixties, his subject matter in the seventies was truly international. The tone was set by his first major assignment for Vogue in January 1970, a fashion shoot in the context of dramatic environmental backdrops in Turkey. Throughout the decade—the last to witness lavish spending by magazines—Bailey appeared to use fashion sittings as a means to fulfill his childhood ambition to be the great explorer, while at the same time becoming a consummate master of studio fashion in the age of the "glamour revival."

Bailey's photography in the 1970s is most significant for the expansion of its range. Coinciding with the rapid growth of photographic galleries, he was determined to photograph cultures that fascinated him. His incisive documents of India, Mexico, Japan, Brazil, and New Guinea, many of them previously unknown, culminated at the end of the decade in the most political of his reportages, that of the Vietnamese boat people. At the same time, acclaimed TV documentaries on Andy Warhol, Cecil Beaton, and Luchino Visconti provided opportunities for extended series of stills, as compelling today as they were at the time. 250 illustrations in color and duotone. ... Read more