By last week we'd all seen just about all of the major September issue covers but Vogue Paris was notably missing. That all changed today, though, as the glossy finally revealed their all-important issue and it's an interesting one.
As always, the cover was all about models with Vogue Paris favourites Kate Moss, Lara Stone and Daria Werbowy bagging their own separate covers. All three models appear sporting the same hair and make-up and black Dolce & Gabbana dress in line with the issue's black theme and that's where the similarities end. The issue also sees the magazine undergo a major revamp. 'The magazine features a calendar, airier design, with remodeled typography and the use of a craft-paper-like brown background - both of which hark back to its look in the Sixties and Seventies,' WWD reports.
Emmanuelle Alt has been under a lot of criticism since taking the reigns at the magazine and the September issue seems like a conscious step on her part to finalise the changes she's been making to put her stamp on things.
Throughout the day Victoria has been tweeting from Chanel's couture salons on the Rue Cambon but hasn't revealed what she was doing there. A Chanel spokesperson has since confirmed that Lagerfled is shooting her for an upcoming fashion story and cover for French ELLE.
To say that Vogue Paris' new direction under Emmanuelle Alt has been controversial would be an understatement. When she was announced as the magazine's new editor-in-chief she had no qualms in saying that the magazine will move towards a softer feeling and that sentiment has ran true ever since. It's this softer feeling that was the subject of much discussion recently when the magazine dropped their May cover starring Laetitia Casta.
Compared to the Roitfeld-styled Casta cover from the December/January 2009 issue, the latest version couldn't be any further apart. The latter was a lot less provocative and directional than you would expect from Vogue Paris and as a result, I was amongst the critics unhappy with the cover. Now that the whole cover editorial is out, though, I'm not as hostile as I thought I would be. The shoot is actually really romantic but in an interesting way especially with that black swan Giles headpiece. Am I convinced that this is the direction that Vogue Paris should go, well no, but hopefully as time goes on Alt will find a better balance to the magazine of old that w all know and loved and one more in tune with the reality that she's searching for.
Earlier on this week Vogue Paris dropped their May cover starring Laetitia Casta shot by Mario Testino and while the model looks beautiful, the cover hasn't been met with a good response.
The comments in the forum of The Fashion Spot, where the image was released, confirm what we've all been thinking for a while. The magazine underEmmanuelle Alt's direction is a far cry from it's aesthetic under Carine Roitfeld. All you need to do is look at the Roitfeld-styled Casta cover from the December/January 2009 issue to see that. The question is whether the change works? I'm not convinced that it does. Far from being directional, the covers seem to be moving in a commercial way, which isn't a term that you would have associated with the magazine under Roitfeld's reign.
Am I surprised by the change - well no. With her first cover as editor-in-chief, featuring a soft and romantic looking Gisele Budchen shot by Inez & Vinoodh, Alt made it clear that things were going to be different under her editorship. 'I always want a relationship with reality: nothing too sexy, or provocative, or fashion victim. We are French — we can show smoking, nudity. We have no boundaries, and it can be good to have them,' she said at the time. I wouldn't be surprised if the circulation was up as a result of the changes but is that really what Vogue Paris is about?
French Vogue's website got a sexy make-over back in February and just as they said when the news of the relaunch was announced, that's not the only thing they have in store.
On Friday the magazine took to their Twitter account to reveal that the website will follow in the footsteps of Vogue Italia by being made available in English. 'France gave the US the Statue of Liberty, now we are taking Vogue.fr to the wider world... get ready for #VogueParisinEnglish,' they tweeted. By next week Monday the site will have a British flag at the top of the page allowing readers to read the English version of the site.
I've always been a fan of the international titles. While Elle has always been my favourite British magazine, for as long as I can remember French and Italian Vogue have been amongst my montly magazine purchases but now my attention is turning to the the Australian editions. The April issue of Vogue Australia explains why.
It's really taken for granted today but it's so refreshing to see a fashion publication focus on using models on their covers rather than the current obssession with celebrities. Vogue Australia have also been a bit slow on embracing ethnically diverse models so it's great to see that Joan Smalls is being embraced on that side of the pond too. It's interesting to see the April issue take special attention to young designers, especially since fresh Australian brands like Dion Lee are starting to gain traction.
Charlotte Casiraghi is known to socialise in fashion circles and back in 2011 she covered French Vogue's big September issue shot by Mario Testino but now, the Princess of Monaco is cementing her relationship with the fashion world. Today Gucci announced her as the new face of the brand, following in the footsteps of Florence Welch, and will reportedly host a party for her tonight in Paris.
Since Emmanuelle Alt became editor-in-chief of French Vogue, many have criticised her for being cold and inaccessible but in a recent chat with Grazia she seemed surprised that people now perceive her in that way.
“Well, it’s my way of being! I didn’t [have to] force myself! I love to dance, I love to sing. I don’t think that I’m inaccessible?” she said when asked about that video she did to celebrate the relaunch of Vogue.fr. “‘I think we shouldn’t take this [fashion] too seriously. In the end, it’s just clothes and we’re in a very privileged world.” She continued: “I didn’t really [have to] think about it too much, because you know, I love Wham and George Michael!’ she said. She chose that particular song because it was easy: “the set is just white, with white clothes…and it’s easy [to sing] for French people.”
Last month we were all left wondering what French Vogue would do after they announced that they are relaunching their website. Their website has arguably not been as strong as their international counterparts but that's all a thing of the past as Emmanuelle Alt proved that they are force to be reckoned with as she unveiled the new design today.
To celebrate the relaunch Anja Rubik, Karmen Pedaru, Kendra Spears, Jasmine Tookes and French TV personality Mademoiselle Agnès, joined Alt to perform Wham's 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go'. All the models serve as back up singers for Alt, with Agnes playing the guitarist.
Since taking the role as editor last many have criticised Alt as coming across as unapproachable and frosty so this video will undoubtedly serve to dispel such allegations and besides, can you honestly imagine any other editor (besides Anna Dello Russo, of course) letting go and releasing something like this?
French Vogue's website hasn't quite stood up to the standard of its international counterparts over the years but that is set to be a thing of the past. This morning Condé Nast confirmed that the site is getting a major make-over that will be unveiled on February 6, ahead of fashion week.
'Content wise, the new Vogue.fr blends the digital and print editions, feeding off each other under the watchful eye of Emmanuelle Alt, and aims to be the digital extension of the magazine, adapted to the time frame and use of the media,' the press release reads. So expect backstage access to shoots and video interviews with fashion curators and key feedback from the shows.
