Day 2 of the Vogue Hommes Japan previews for Models.com featured the cover and editorial, "One Impression of Francis Bacon", shot by Tim Richardson, known for his amazing motion photography, and styled by the Creative Director himself, Nicola Formichetti. I was immediately impressed by the cover, effectively conveying the dark, brooding and haunting masculine atmosphere of the magazine to its audience.
The editorial explores the distortion of one's sense of reality, the juggle between what is true and what is false in our existence, represented by the figures captured in motion. These figures, being constantly in motion, force us to question their motive and role when placed next to the intimidating characters who are the embodiment of a man's obscurity and inner darkness, heightened by their piercing stares at the viewer, bringing one's claustrophobic fear to the surface. This editorial is both a conceptual and fashionable masterpiece, not seen in many fashion magazines nowadays.
The preview of the cover of Vogue Hommes Japan on Day 1
Nicola Formichetti, the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Hommes Japan, former stylist of Lady Gaga, Creative Director for Mugler and Head Designer for Nicopanda, is set to release the most anticipated issue of Vogue Hommes Japan this September. The issue features photography by Hedi Slimane, the Creative Director of Saint Laurent Paris and eerily beautiful artworks by the alternative "it" girl at the moment, Grimes, but most of all the issue is a chance for men worldwide to see the Fall/Winter menswear collections in a variety of editorials complementing the garment and the dark punk atmosphere that Nicola has injected into the usually glamorous Vogue magazine.
As it is the eventful month of fashion of September, Nicola began a series of previews of the issue in collaboration with Models.com - with the covers, digital covers, fashion films, and stop motion versions of the editorial images for everyone to see. I selected a few images to share, as I could not help but do so as the previews of the magazine so far have signaled to me that this issue will probably be my most prized in my collection, if I manage to buy it!
First of all, the covers were released according to what was being previewed on the day. On Day 1, the cover (above) was previewed, along with the editorial that complemented the cover featuring Gryphon O'Shea, shot by Hedi Slimane, with Grimes' artworks - "Bleached".
One of the artworks by Grimes
There is no doubt that Gryphon would've been the perfect man for this editorial - a beautification of the dark subcultures of Goth and Punk, particularly London's punk scene, whilst drawing from elements of maximalism. Hedi Slimane has shot this editorial emphasizing the mysteriousness of many men within these subcultures, and has captured how this aesthetic is now praised within the fashion industry rather than isolated from high fashion. Grimes has added to the atmosphere with her abstract morbid artworks, a style she is best known for.
As a loyal customer of Harrolds, I received a special invite from the company to preview their campaign for the Spring/Summer 2013 collections in stock. The latest collections from Rick Owens, Givenchy and Comme Des Garcons are all featured in the campaign lookbook and film, styled to exude the twisted perception of masculinity of contemporary men's fashion. The strong overlay of red on many of the campaign images and throughout the fashion film reflects on the abundance of red seen in many menswear collections in Spring/Summer 2012 and Fall/Winter 2012, particularly Givenchy. The campaign celebrates the man's form and how androgynous garments fit onto the man's body as masculine, a perfect insight into the ever changing men's fashion industry.
Louis Vuitton's latest campaign for their new collection, to be shown later this eventful month of September, is a strong reminder of the prominent trend of the fusion of old and new, seen throughout many fashion designer's collections in the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons. The film is reminiscent of the intriguing for the Sci-Fi and Film Noir genres, with Gattaca being a prime example. The sophisticated and nostalgic aesthetic of the Louis Vuitton dress, luggage and automobile is contrasted to the foreboding formation of metallic panels which the car is driving through to the mechanical monolithic structure, embodying both the fashion and film trends aforementioned. Lastly, the atmospheric music of famed DJ duo Justice sets the overall mood for the fashion film and collection - the unknown, and by that I mean we ask ourselves what the future of not only fashion, but architecture, the environment and the human race will hold.Of course, this film is only a campaign for Louis Vuitton's latest collection, but is more so a commentary on our society and it's progression.
Lady Gaga bares her face for the biggest September issue of Vogue
September is the most eventful month for Fashion in the calendar, with the change of seasons comes the New York, London, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks - giving a chance for establishing and prolific designers to showcase their Spring/Summer collections to fashion media worldwide. Along with the shows, fashion publications are expected to market the new season, with Oyster releasing their 100th issue and Vogue Hommes Japan's most anticipated issue set for release later in the month. But, there is no better opportunity for Vogue to release their largest ever issue during their 120th year in the industry. In celebration of the anniversary, designers and their muses have been featured in a breathtaking editorial in the issue.
Raf Simons, one of the fashion industry's most prolific designers in the current times, for Christian Dior
Givenchy's rebellious Creative Director, Riccardo Tisci, and his beautiful muse Rooney Mara
Florence Welch in her ever ethereal beauty
One of my favourite designers at the moment, Christopher Kane with models wearing his designs
It's official - you are not cool unless you are in this photo with Alexander Wang. His muses include notorious rappers Azealia Banks and A$AP Rocky, who are gracing his side in this photograph.
Amy, Tash and Sinan, all photographed by Rebecca Cook (a.k.a. Revka)
My dearest friend, Rebecca, otherwise known as Revka, has recently launched her online portfolio of fashion photography. She is currently doing freelance work, most notably recent campaigns for A Series of Fortunate Events, and there is no doubt her photography skills will get her far in the industry. We have been meaning to do a collaborative shoot but university is just getting in the way of things, but I promise you, we will bring out of the ordinary fashion photography!
ASOS's grasp on fast fashion is undeniably strong, and now the designers from the brand's underestimated architectural diffusion line, ASOS Black, is collaborating with the one and only Puma. Street fashion and sports wear is fast becoming more and more integrated into the world of high fashion, more so in the minimalist and structural streams of fashion, leading the birth of "Sports Luxe", in both menswear and womenswear. The fusion of guerilla street wear, functional sports wear and the dynamics of simplistic high fashion are executed brilliantly in this collection, with a focus on geometric and panel detailing and a calming colour palette with pops of fiery orange.
In the lead up to the launch of the collection, film maker Ben Newman and renowned Brazilian graffiti collective, Os Pixadores, were called upon to capture the very essence and inspiration for the collection - modern rebellious creation, which is a rarity in today's society, in two trailers.
