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Who even knows what we were searching for when we came across Coverbrowser.com, a virtual library of thousands of magazine cover images. The unexpected find ended up costing us a good hour of time as we perused a photographical archive of Vogue, Rolling Stone and GQ covers from as far back as 1916.
While preparing our best Labor Day whites for what we hope will be a restful yet fun-filled weekend, we came across this photo of this summer’s Dîner en Blanc, a secret, 10,000-person dinner party held in Paris each year. Looks ridiculously amazing. And just slightly more appealing than standing around the Hamptons with Demi Moore and Vivica Fox, no? Happy Labor Day.
Before there was Gaga there was Guggenheim, Peggy Guggenheim that is. The renowned art collector — who had a penchant for wacky, oversized glasses that were the inspiration of a Karl Lagerfeld-shot spread in Harper’s Bazaar last summer — was born on this day in 1898. She passed on in 1979. But her unique look reminds us that the jaw-dropping fashion seen on today’s biggest pop stars has likely been around the block a few times before, too.
I fail to understand why seemingly every single creative in the film, music and fashion industries deems it acceptable to continuously recreate old classics.
Take the photo shoot of Jennifer Aniston in the August issue of Harper’s Bazaar. Instead of conceptualizing and shooting an original spread, the magazine put Jen in current-season clothes, posed her like some of Barbara Streisand’s most famous old shots and called it a day.
I am a fan of Jennifer Aniston. She is adorable, endearing and let’s be honest, if I had her toned arms I’d be a much happier lady. And the pictures of her are really pretty. But Barbara Streisand is a living legend — a goddess among mortals who has accomplished so much in her life that even daydreams can’t stand up against her career. Not to mention that these images have been seen before, the first time around, when Babs was captured with that special something-something that, in my opinion, these photos lack.
I also get that there are major historical references present in fashion this fall (more obvious than usual, perhaps), but that doesn’t mean photo shoots need to be taken practically verbatim from their original state and re-used. I’m guessing that more than the majority of people responsible for this shoot chose their profession so they could be creative and show imagination, no?
Lets stop copying the genius of others and start making some iconic moments of our own. I don’t understand why the people who shape our current culture are so against that.
Which set of images do you guys like better?
All photos courtesy Harper’s Bazaar
This is the anti-Jolie/Vanity Fair magazine cover if I ever saw one. And, surprise, Laura Linney is the subject.
I am frankly floored by the disconcerting beauty of Hendrik Kerstens‘ shot for the cover of yesterday’s New York Times Sunday magazine, accompanying a profile by former NYT food critic Frank Bruni.
Get a paper copy. The slightly bloodshot eyes, the ghostly white complexion, the naked earring hole that was decidedly not photoshopped out—rarely do portraits of Hollywood actresses achieve this depth.
Kerstens shot Linney in a manner similar to this Vermeer-tinged portrait of his daughter, Paula, featured last year in the exhibit “Dutch Seen: New York Rediscovered.” —Krista Jennings
If you’ve been paying attention to the news, then you’ve been eagerly following the nuptials of Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky. The couple married this evening in Rhinebeck, NY. But at last night’s rehearsal dinner, the mother-of-the-bride — also known as former first lady and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton — looked incredible in a turquoise caftan. The cheery, summery number was a welcome departure from the staid suits we’re used to seeing Clinton sport on-duty. We can’t wait to see pictures of what she wore to the wedding.
Ah, it seems like only yesterday we were introduced to Tim Gunn’s thoughtful facial expressions, Michael Kors’ snark and Heidi Klum’s signature sendoff in her native German tongue. And tonight, the eighth season of Project Runway premieres on Lifetime at 9pm (8pm if you happen to be reading this from the humidity of central time). But before Heidi was Heidi — supermodel, super mom, TV host extraordinaire, jewelry designer…the list goes on — she was just Heidi, a German stunner who made her Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover debut in 1998 (in fact, she was the first German ever to be an SI Swimsuit issue cover girl). The above photo is from that first shoot. Crazy to think about what she has accomplished since then, no?
With the mid-century fashion thing set to go full swing in fall, there is no more appropriate reference than the swing coats, full skirts and cigarette pants of our beloved Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance, better known as Lucy Ricardo and Ethel Mertz. The pair looks chic even when getting into crazy shenanigans. And today, Vance would have been 101 years old had she not passed away in 1979. Hopefully she can still wear those groovy, full, house dresses from wherever she now is.
While putting on one of my favorite printed dresses earlier today, I was reminded of our awesome “Prints Charming” photo shoot we posted in April. Styled by Ronit Nabi and shot by Raquel Olivo, the gorgeous spread proves that mixing and matching prints is anything but off-limits.
Check out the full shoot here.
Today, the Brazilian bombshell turns 30. Yes, 30. Doubtful that she is having the same big 3-0 crisis that others her age are currently having.
