Okay, let's fight.
I could be wrong, but wasn't it Charles Eames who once said the opposite of ELEGANCE is VULGARITY? In photography, especially fashion photography these days, images are swinging toward V. There's a lot more nudity in fashion photos. And blatant sexuality. I received this email today from one of my favorites: Editorialist. Provocative, yes. Borderline V? Um, maybe? The model is Nina Agdal. the girl you'll find in the bebe campaign. Girl aside, (because it might have worked better on a smaller-breasted, high fashion girl) let's break down this photo. Her hair is perfect. The styling (on the left half of the page) is perfect. It's great that they went black and white to give it a classic air. From purely a photographic standpoint, it's a beautiful, well-composed, and well-lit image. But you have to admit, the large breast 'hangin' out' takes it OUT OF FASHION. It makes her look, just, so...large. The word BIG next to her certainly doesn't help. When I first saw it I instantly thought plus-size girl. She's not a plus-size girl, right?
It's hard to take a Sports Illustrated girl and make her look high fashion—especially if you're going to show that she has huge boobs. That's my opinion of this model and of Kate Upton. I love Kate in swimwear, but not in Vogue.
Then I get this photo today from W magazine of Amanda Seyfried, shot by one of my all-time favorite photographers, Craig McDean. This is not McDean's style. He's always elegant. It's like he's shifting to the V of the times. Noooo! No, Craig, don't do it. Let's leave all the V to the king of V, Terry Richardson.
Amanda Seyfried by Craig McDean in the new issue of W magazine. V or E? I say V, for sure.