Dossier Magazine #5

I knew those photos of Daria by Cass Bird had to amount to some press. Daria is on the cover and is inside the newest issue of Dossier. And yes, just because I didn't know what it was either ... Dossier is a biannual independent magazine published for people who like their magazines with some substance. They have a really well curated site if you want to take a visit.

Daria will be in a photo editorial shot at her home by Cass Bird. We've all seen her home in previous articles, but its nice to see different perspectives, especially from a photographer like Bird. Its also great to see Daria in lesser known publications like Dossier. I've written about certain artistic freedom present with freelance photographers compared to the well knowns like Testino and Demarchelier, and I think this freedom translates to publications as well. Its not often you see such an unretouched image on covers these days, free of hair styling or unflattering makeup. Its also a great testament to the fact that a smaller publication can make Daria look the most young and beautiful she's looked in a while.

Also, I just read up on some interesting information. Fashionologie recently posted a piece on Marc Jacob's Fall 2010 collection for Louis Vuitton. If you remember it was the collection heralding a comeback of sorts of the "womanly" model. In Marc's words: “I believe that these iconic, larger-than-life women are very Vuitton-like . . . This season we talked about it and we decided the criteria was, they have to be available on the day of the show and they have to be gorgeous,"  ... We wanted Daria [Werbowy], but she was booked for a shoot.'" It's interesting to hear his take on a new modeling phenomena. Seeing Daria on the Vuitton catwalk would have been great, in all of the Bardot inspired dresses. But at least we know there is a new shoot to come from this!

A new candid of Daria from the Viktor and Rolf fragrance anniversary party.

image sources: dossiermagazine.com, icanteachyouhowtodoit.com

Tsarine Daria

Making her second appearance in Vogue Paris this year, Daria is photographed by David Sims for Tsarine Daria in the April 2010 issue.

Tsarine Daria
Vogue Paris April 2010
Daria Werbowy by David Sims

Vogue Paris' loyalty to Daria is unfaltering and I am always excited to hear of a new collaboration between the magazine and model. Tsarine Daria is not an exception to the past hits this collaboration has produced. Maybe the powers that be have heard the countless pleas to switch up the photography teams - Inez and Vinoodh are not behind this series of photos but rather David Sims. By now I'm familiar with his aesthetic, studio shots interspersed with location shots. It provides for an interesting narrative and a variation of pictures.

I should give David Sims more credit than I let on. Although I don't think he can produce images like Bruce Weber or Mario Sorrenti he does manage to shoot beautiful portraits like the first, third and fifth images. I was expecting something brighter and livelier for such a Russian sounding title, but I loved the pared down simplicity in most of these shots. Daria is stoic and simple, and makes for a great Tsarina. My only garb about this editorial, because yes, there always needs to be one, is the last picture in the nude. Its just photo-shop done particularly bad, and coupled with an awkward pose that makes for a weird picture. But other than that this editorial is the latest in a great year of images.

image credit: scans by elsaskywaler at tFS

Tsarine Daria

Just a quick post to let you know Daria has a new editorial in the April 2010 issue of Vogue Paris. I told you that her output of editorials wouldn't slow down anytime soon! The editorial is entitled Tsarine Daria and is photographed by David Sims and styled by Carine Roitfeld ... it seems that Emmanuelle Alt loosened Daria from her grip for a little while! If the name alludes to any Russian inspirations then I am really excited to see this!

Daria Werbowy by Cass Bird

Thanks to MariyaS at tFS for the heads up on these beautiful pictures of Daria. I am sure you will become as much enamoured with them as I am, not just for the subject but for the beauty of the photos. Cass Bird is behind these lovely portraits, a great New York photographer. I've written of her before on my other blog, and visited her site often times, so I'm not surprised that she is behind these. If you have free time then please take a visit to her photography site, cassbird.com, to see her wonderful portraits and fashion photography. I have to warn you though ... she's photographed Ethan Hawke and Sam Rockwell so extreme jealousy may ensue!

Is is just me or do any of you find Daria's work with the more obscure photographers, Cass Bird and Derek Kettella, to be far more impressive than the ones with well known photographers like Testino or Demarchelier. There is something much more alluring and sincere about photographers that don't have to live up to the request of fashion magazines, and who are more focused on their subject than how this seasons shoe is lit. That's why its always so much more satisfactory to see such carefree images such as these where it is obvious thats its just two friends and the camera between them!

These candid photos aren't the only ones to be released as of late. Daria was out and about quite a lot during fashion week and this time she actually let herself be photographed once in a while. And with Jessica Miller nonetheless - I'm sure for you old time fashion followers this is a treat! There are a few nice candids, but most are blurred dancing shots - if you're really interested in seeing more then just visit thecobrasnake or guestofaguest (they have some blurry shots up there).

source: thearabparrot, thecobrasnake, guestofaguest, nylonmagazine.com

Mover, Shaker and Poser

The editorials don't seem to stop! After editorials in Vogue Nippon, V, and Vogue US in recent months, a new month brings with it an abundance of editorials. Both are in two of the most prodigious American fashion magazines - Daria has editorials in both W Magazine and Vogue US this April. And I have a feeling this won't be all that's coming from next month.

Training Days
Daria Werbowy by Annie Leibovitz
Vogue US April 2010

No, its not Daria on the April cover of Vogue (Gisele instead) but there is a one page article inside. Daria isn't often photographed by Annie Leibovitz so this will be exciting to see. Leibovitz's fashion work never really excites me but this seems seperate from the work Vogue usually commisions from her, and her nudes are always great studies. It's also Daria's fifth month in a row that she's been featured in Vogue ... maybe her cover will come some time in the future!

Movers and Shakers
Daria Werbowy by Mario Sorrenti
W US April 2010

Daria hasn't appeared in an editorial in W since that infamous July 2008 spread so this is quite a surprise. Its quite a long editorial as well, fifteen pages. So I will ignore the blocks on the cover and purchase this magazine just for the editorial (and possible for the Raquel/Freja Inez./Vinoodh editorial as well). No scans for now, just some low quality pictures from the magazine's site but I will make a proper post once there are bigger pictures. Oh, and the blue lines aren't part of the editorial just a feature added by the website!

image credits: Vogue image by matheus_s at tFS ; W editorial from wmagazine.com

Ave María!

I was holding out on scans of Daria's editorial to make a post, but time has passed (a lot of time) and I figured now or never. The time is specially fitting seeing as how I found a behind-the-scenes video of the making of Daria's latest editorial in V Magazine - "Ave Maria". Can I just say how much I love vimeo and its HD quality? This video is just endless shots of Daria smoking and posing, but for readers like you I'm sure you'll watch it more than once!

"Ave Maria"V Magazine #64 2010
Daria Werbowy by Mario Testino

Homage editorials are a fixture in Mario Testino's work and Daria is his go-to model for these types of works. She has portrayed everyone from Ava Gardner to an Alfred Hitchcock heroine and now takes her turn as Maria Félix, an icon of the Golden Age in Mexican cinema. Past efforts, although filled with colour and beautiful setting, always came off as too fabricated. I think its in Testino's nature to be too over the top and call in extravagant sets and styling. That's why I am so (pleasantly) surprised at this editorial and its simple set. I love that the focus is called to the styling and Daria's modeling. This editorial brings more justice to a character than an overly produced photo story would, especially in the beautiful fourth shot.

image credits: fashionising

Bits and Bytes

A quick post to fill you in on some news. Still in Paris, Daria made an appearance at Le Baron soaking up the Parisian fashion week parties. Erin Wasson and Lindsay Lohan were among the guests (I won't delve further into that last entity ...). It seems that all of Paris is on a non stop party circuit! I don't blame Daria for stopping by a few! I don't know if there are any major shows left to walk but so far Daria hasn't done any runway so this trip seems to be more for play than work.

Also, I can't download the video now but follow the link here to watch a new video of Daria. It is behind-the-scenes of an upcoming campaign for Canadian luxury retail store The Room. If you remember a while back, Daria was at the grand opening of the boutique. Daria looks great from the previews, especially in the pink feather dress at right. Thankfully that uber tan from her summer sailing has faded away a bit. Greg Kadel is the photographer and he always manages to produce a good studio shoot so I'm excited to see how this turns out. I'll pop by the Toronto store over the next few weeks to see if they have a campaign booklet!

Update Endless boredom and a screencapping frenzy later, I made a few stills from the video. I just really like the overall styling and direction of this campaign, and I haven't even seen the images yet!

Paris, Landing

Daria is in Paris! No Balmain runway but Daria made an apperance at two events over the past two days, Viktor & Rolf's five-year anniversary party for its scent Flowerbomb and Vogue Paris' temporary Fashion Week pop-up bar at the Hôtel de Crillon. Daria was in good company, or rather everyone else was, as Emmanuelle Alt, Natasha Poly and Grace Jones were among the guests she mingled with.

First stop was the Vogue Bar. Picture this - a bevy of fashion week models, Carine Roitfeld and co. .... and you have a quintessential Paris Fashion Week party. I hope the picture of Emmanuelle and Daria means more work in the near future. I'm guessing she is as curious as the rest of us to see how Daria's new hair will be styled!

After the Vogue Bar it was off to Viktor and Rolf's party where an impromptu appearance by Grace Jones made the night. Daria was overheard saying « She’s a legend. Very few people like that still exist » From an article in WWD Daria divulged that she would be devoting time to her art projects, mostly black-ink drawings. We've seen peeks of her art before, and hopefully she will be willing to show her work again!

Also a few quick words to say that Daria's newest Vogue Nippon editorial and her V editorial are both out and I will post on them as soon as I can! For now though, enjoy these candids!

image sources: vogue.fr, saywho, katelovesme.net