Review: Vogue Paris August 2012 Issue

It is my honor to present the first Vogue Paris review by our fabulous contributing editor Heather Dunhill in which she looks at the August issue of VP and tells it like she sees it... Merci beaucoup, Heather!

Review: Vogue Paris August 2012 Issue
By Heather Dunhill

I’ve had seven days to pore over Emmanuelle Alt’s August issue of Vogue Paris for my first review for I Want To Be An Alt. I have opinions on some highlights and some low points; unfortunately (and much to my dismay) Emmanuelle’s styling contribution falls in the latter category.

To begin, I loved the series of interviewees toward the end of the famed French fashion journal; it shows that Emmanuelle Alt has her finger on the pulse, as a proper editrix should. She gets high marks for being a woman of our time by educating us on those in fashion’s history as well as keeping us informed about who to know and what is trending. The subjects of the interviews ranged from Saint Laurent Paris creative director Hedi Slimane to Balmain wunderkind designer Olivier Rousteing to fashion icon Pierre Cardin to the visually creative Jean-Paul Goude to French rapper Joey Starr, among others. The most interesting standout of the group was Marion Cotillard. Not for the obvious reasons of her beauty, talent, and success, but because the fair and lovely Dior fashion muse landed both the cover of Vogue Paris and Vogue US for the month of August. I can’t imagine Anna Wintour was pleased to learn of this significant snafu. I am actually curious how many times this has happened since Wintour has been in power in charge of the fashion tome.

All right, so this is the part I have been dreading... I want to wax poetic about everything Emmanuelle Alt does. I really do. But, I have come to be incredibly underwhelmed with her styling. She seems to be one note with the story she tells. The photos are not all lacking, in fact, most are visually fabulous like the Alexander McQueen dress opening "Paris mon Amour," but often her styling is... is... predictable. In a layout, it’s a sure bet that she will throw in a cross or two, a wide belt, pointed pumps, hoop earrings, and a nod to either rock 'n' roll or the 80s. It just makes me want to hit the snooze button.

Emmanuelle certainly lands the prime real estate on the pages of Vogue Paris. In fact, her collaboration with Mario Sorrenti "Paris mon Amour" ran from pages 134–199. As the editor-in-chief, however, shouldn’t she be focusing her efforts on steering the fashionable yacht rather than fluffing the Missoni pillows down on the sundeck? I really want her to delegate the styling to Géraldine Saglio and allow her to be Alt’s Grace Coddington.

Just a quick comparison of two August editorials in closing: "Chic Ultime" by Saglio and "Paris mon Amour" by Alt. Notice how Géraldine has realized a look that could be styled by Coco Chanel herself for today’s modern woman. And, even though I love the clothing along with the hair and makeup that Emmanuelle puts together — I just want something more. Again, the photos are art but is that the work of Alt or Sorrenti?

Vogue Paris editorial images © 2012 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

Comments

[irene]

Theres always something missing in her work.. its always lack of something- vulgarity i guess?

[Kate]

Picture one is gorgeous. Picture two and three remind me of Stifler's mom. I say bring back the leather pants.

[kellina]

Irene, there is a lack of vulgarity, but for me it is the lack of story in her pictures.

[kellina]

Kate, thanks for the giggle! Love the mantra, bring back the leather pants!

[Mike]

Great first review, Heather. If Emmanuelle had any sense, she'd read this and take notes.

[bernie]

Marion Cotillard and Christian Dior benefited a lot in this issue...the cover itself is a complete dior cosmetics promotion (and also her last Paris Vogue cover why it has to be in complete faceshoot?)

[kellina]

Great comment, Michael, true dat!

[kellina]

Bernie, I could apply any number of cliches to the situation, but you know the deal. And I agree about the extreme close up, quite sick of them in general. Did you see the September issue of Vogue yet? The head to toe shot of Gaga is utterly refreshing, I am surprised at how much I like it.

[bernie]

Yeah to please the advertisers but well she could at least do it in a nice manner but anyways the Vogue new Gaga cover is so surprising its very european magazine and a super record breaking 912 pages i wonder if they will make a film about it lol

[renee hamad]

am shocked at the picture of the model actually lighting up a cigarette and holding a Chanel bottle!!!! Even in Paris they have banned smoking and isolated smokers in restaurants; you get fined if you throw a butt on the sidewalk...... Have they lost it????? BIG FAUX PAS

[kellina]

Right, right, B, must keep the money flowing in... But yes, nicer is possible.

I know, 912 pages, it's going to be gigantic. Would love to see a documentary about the issue but I haven't heard anything yet... But brava to Grace Coddington for the gorgeous cover and one interior shot I've seen so far.

[kellina]

Renee, perhaps they are taking inspiration from the old days in Paris, not just with the styling but the setting. In the period they portray here, smoking would have been de rigueur in cafes in Paris...

[kellina]

Bernie, for now here is a glimpse of the making of the September issue of Vogue...

http://www.vogue.com/videos/behind-the-scenes-on-lady-gaga-vogue-120th-anniversary-issue-cover-shoot/

[bernie]

Ayayayay thanks madame d.b

[kellina]

But of course, darling!

[sasha]

@ renee... chill out. smokers are not the anti-christ. I don't care to see a smoker or a bottle of whiskey or whatever it is. whether it is on the street or in a magazine. I grew up in times where smoking ads were allowed, people were smoking everywhere. Well, I neither turned out being a smoker nor an alcoholic. I have had it with people blaming others for their weakness.
"Balmain wunderkind designer Olivier Rousteing": I don't see that. Balmain is done. Christophe Decarnin was the wunderkind, the sparkle... And no, he didn't have Kate's or Emmanuelle's scratchbook.
Time will tell...