Soldiers, Saturdays and a heap of Couture
I could lower myself to writing open letters to Alexandra Shulman, asking why they have tried to blind me with such a bling-bling cover featuring Victoria Beckham on their new April issue (it's not the person I object to but the unnecessary tackiness added to the cover.... though inside images are slightly more redeeming...).... but instead, I'll just focus on the constant joy that is Tim Walker. A solid collaborator with UK Vogue, he has done it again with this 'Soldier, Soldier, won't you marry me?' editorial (styled by Kate Phelan) featuring January's couture creations modelled by Karen Elson looking sinister whilst clouded in tulle and surrounded by oversized toys and a toy soldier that is actually a real life male model. No, complaining would be futile. So, I'll let the good wash over the bad because the good is very very good indeed...
*EDIT* I have unfortunately had to remove all images because scary Conde Nast people have contacted me about copyright issues. I didn't scan the images in and referenced TFS... eeshk.... no prettiness on this post unfortunately...
I was surprised to see Victoria Beckham on the cover of Vogue too, but I did like Alexandra Shulman’s article "The Victoria principle", Shulman even mentions that she had no intention of featuring Victoria but was “charmed” by her!
Posted by: Stylist Stuff | 08 March 2008 at 10:48
I guess Elson was the perfect model to do this editorial. UK Vogue is each day more over... Victoria Beckham... I haven't seen it yet, and I am not sure I want to
Posted by: atelier | 08 March 2008 at 11:30
whoa..the gowns are lovely. i wish i could sew. i just want to compliment you susie on your writing style. it's amazing and one-of-a-kind. your fashion sense and writing style are a great blend of your personality. you appear shy and fragile, but when you dress up and write you are iconic. you truly are one-of-a-kind.=)
Posted by: Mej | 08 March 2008 at 12:08
This makes me feel like adding british vogue to my list of magazine subscriptions i need to get when my student loan money comes!!!
should i pay more attention to british vogue??? hmmmm.......
Posted by: Sophia | 08 March 2008 at 13:31
Nice pictures.
Posted by: Ane / Unrealized fish | 08 March 2008 at 13:56
Ohhh I want that polka dot dress! This is why I really want to be British.
Posted by: Noel | 08 March 2008 at 14:22
great pics - though somewhat reminds me of the movie "Mommy Dearest" which is not so good........
Posted by: Londyn | 08 March 2008 at 14:38
Gorgeous!!!
Posted by: Lise | 08 March 2008 at 16:07
Oooooh, I LOVED this!
Posted by: Iheartfashion | 08 March 2008 at 16:13
Such a beautiful editorial
Posted by: Allure | 08 March 2008 at 16:18
The gown in the bottom row is divine!
Posted by: WendyB | 08 March 2008 at 16:48
That polka dot dress make me want to forsaken my "No more polka dots" new year resolution..
Posted by: miss woo | 08 March 2008 at 17:03
Love this editorial... not so much Victoria Beckham, but sh*t sells... Karen Elson looks beauuuuuu-ti-ful here!
Posted by: Stylish Thought | 08 March 2008 at 17:19
I agree, there is unnecessary tackiness all over this editorial. I am tired of creepy, surreal editorials that try too hard!
Posted by: hazelnutStudio | 08 March 2008 at 17:40
thats a phenomenal editorial.
Posted by: fashion pirates | 08 March 2008 at 18:43
Hehe...hazelnutstudio, I was referring to Victoria Beckham's cover when talking about unnecessary tackiness..... but I take your opinion that these sort of creepy/surreal editorials might be overly 'done'.
Posted by: susie_bubble | 08 March 2008 at 19:40
Thanks for posting about this! I'll look for the new British Vogue when it gets here .. . I love Tim Walker and I love Karen Elson so it sounds absolutely wonderful.
Posted by: Rhiannon | 08 March 2008 at 19:41
Heres a short movie from the Victoria bechkam photshoot....
http://www.showstudio.com/projects/showtime/movie/
taken from Showstudio.com.
it made me understand the cover more.
Posted by: Sophia | 08 March 2008 at 19:44
I love this, reminds me of all those creepy fairytales about toys coming alive on their own. Especially love the last one with the bandage dress and the crutch. and oh, those chanel mary janes... so pretty... and the tin soldier boy! pure love.
Posted by: headmistress | 08 March 2008 at 22:41
Isn't this type of editorials repeated over and over in every magazine imaginable? The "Alice in Wonderland" stuff has been done since, i don't know, prehistoric Vogue?
Posted by: EnoughCliches | 09 March 2008 at 03:56
This is nice. I really like the atmosphere.
Posted by: enc | 09 March 2008 at 06:13
OOh I totally agree with the whole Victoria Beckham issue. And I love Tim Walker's UK Vogue editorials. This one looks pretty, although I think I still like the Lily Cole one (from a few yrs back) more.
Posted by: Harrods Girl | 09 March 2008 at 11:02
Tim Walker is holding fashion photography back from moving into the 21st century, in my eyes. Maybe I'm just a bitter photographer.
You can't dislike VB if you like drag queens, I think.
Posted by: Lola | 09 March 2008 at 17:29
I have to say I really hated this fashion story! It was quite similar to other Vogue ones like the Pantomine they did one Christmas (which did have some beautiful pictures) so I was instantly quite bored...then I found the whole thing with the solider and dolls quite sinister! Having said that it was better than the fashion story with Gemma Ward in all sorts of horrible outfits...all in all a disapointing issue of Vogue I thought!
Posted by: Deborah Jones | 10 March 2008 at 10:08
I love these colors and they go great with the upcoming spring season! For more colors that accentuate the spring mood, go to artfulwears.com...it's an awesome website that I always visit!
Posted by: BagLady | 10 March 2008 at 17:19
Ooh, giant penny-wooden doll - I was obsessed with those as a child after reading The Doll's House by Rumer Godden.
Posted by: Sarah | 11 March 2008 at 03:11