Cover Star : Vogue Paris August 2013

UPDATE A few preview pictures of the editorial have been posted here. I will update with a full post and comments as soon as scans are out!

For her fourth cover of the year Daria appears on the August issue of Vogue Paris, photographed by David Sims, wearing Ralph Lauren, fronting the London issue ... a little all over the place, I know, but we'll dissect that all in a bit.

Vogue Paris August 2013 : Daria by David Sims

I think August is quickly becoming my favourite month. The cover of the August issue of Vogue Paris has become somewhat of a tradition for Daria, and this is her third time on this months issue (August 2008 and August 2009 being her last two). And her eighth VP cover overall! 

General consensus on the internet is that this cover is a flop, from the transatlantic styling (an American designer for a London issue?), the text overload, and even Daria's nose ring! I can agree with a few of those qualms but I have to come to the defence of this cover ... or at least try to understand such an underwhelming effort. 

After being subjected to the text placement travesty that was American Vogue circa 2007 (*deep sigh*) I can't find too much of a fault with the art direction here. A lot of text, yes, but overwhelming, no. I've heard of a few comparisons of this cover to old Esquire magazine covers. Now, if that magazine had some British roots it might have been an ingenious reference. But alas, both American owned and run, so that aspect fails. The jacket, by Ralph Lauren - a symbol of the influence of London outside of London? Or just a monthly quota to fill for American advertisers? As for the nose ring, I like it! Its another testament to the status of Daria in the industry, when taboos like piercings and tattoos, normally airbrushed out of existence, are allowed to remain in the picture. Its not just another model on this cover, its Daria. 

I don't know if these are so much as redeeming factors than justifications for a subpar cover. London + punk + Daria should have produced something much more striking. And wasn't Anglomania like seven years ago?! But we still have the entire inside of the issue to convince us and if theres another 70+ page editorial inside then I'm sure we'll get a few great shots out of it.

In other cover related news, Freja Beha is on the August issue of Vogue UK. Although I've yet to see two of my favourite models work together, at least they'll be in good company at the new stands. And both sporting big grins nonetheless!

Vogue UK August 2013 : Freja Beha by Patrick Demarchelier

Alt, let's meet again next August?

sources: vogueparis.tumblr.com, designscene.net

In the Midst of Chaos

Trust Daria to walk in the most elusive show of Paris fashion week. In fact, I think Balmain is the most guarded presentation of all fashion weeks, save maybe for Maison Martin Margiela. What I mean to say is that pictures from Daria's appearance have been very hard to find. It seems that every backstage photography site that I come across has every show's images uploaded except for Balmain. In fact, the backstage images took a few weeks to surface! That is why, when visiting a favourite site of mine today it was quite the treat to come upon a beautiful image like this:

Daria was captured through the lens of Delphine Achard, a talented French beauty photographer who manages to capture great portraits amidst the backstage chaos. If you have time visit her site at www.delphineachard.com . I've written about backstage photography before but I will say it again - I love how photographers like Delphine manage to capture the little secluded moments in the busiest of times ...  Hopefully there are more images like this but for now I think we can be pleased! And if that image isn't enough to intrigue you take a look at more of Achard's images below.

P.S. Daria's appearance in a SS10 DSquared campaign is all but confirmed ... but more on that later!