Observer » Italian Vogue

Steven Meisel Double Dips, Shoots Similar Spreads for W and Italian Vogue

Nate Freeman — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:30:37 -0400

Raquel Zimmermann, in W

Kristen Stewart's unrecognizably glam turn on the cover of W may have everyone talking, but a Steven Meisel spread tucked inside may start stealing the spotlight.

Today , WWD, made the connection between the famed photographer's contribution to W -- a then-and-now frivolity that dresses a model up on the left page and down on the right -- and a project he undertook for the August issue of Italian Vogue. The spreads have a nearly identical concept and model Raquel Zimmermann is used both times.

John Koblin at Women's Wear takes a look at the possible consequences.

The fallout will be worth watching. If it damages W’s relationship with Meisel, Tonchi will lose out on a big-name photographer he’s craved for the magazine. If Tonchi doesn’t act, it will demonstrate the lengths a fashion magazine editor will go to appease a photographer who holds considerable influence in the industry.

All this on the eve of Fashion Week, no less!

The Observer finally made our way through the September issue of W yesterday, waiting for a friend at Schiller's. The Meisel spread looked perfectly fine to us -- absorbing, even -- but then again Keith McNally doesn't stock Italian Vogue in his Lower East Side boîte, so we couldn't trace the similarities.

Carlos Campos To Use Only Black Models in His Debut Women’s Collection

Irina Aleksander — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:29:41 -0400

Carlos Campos, the men's wear designer known for his perfectly tailored suits, has announced that he will show his first women's wear collection on September 7 at the Altman building in Chelsea. But Mr. Campos, who was born in Honduras, doesn't plan to do it quietly: he will use only black models in his runway show.

According to a release, the designer's inspiration was supermodel Iman and the collection is described as "Jet set rockstar—think David Bowie and Iman on holiday in the South of France." You might recall that the July issue of Italian Vogue committed to featuring only black models shot by photographer Steven Meisel. And for Heatherette's Spring '08 collection, the designers Richie Rich and Trevor Rains began the runway show by sending out black models in frilly white frocks before bringing out white models in brightly colored garments.

While the Heatherette show didn't get quite as much notice as the "black" issue of Italian Vogue, throwing an African-American girl in front of cameras has suddenly become the perfect way to get the media's attention. We're all for seeing more diversity in fashion, but should we interpret Mr. Campos's show as having diversity for the sake of diversity, or just a publicity stunt?