of...Anti-Fashion.

Vogue January 2006

Steven Klein is one of the most notable photographers of the fashion world. He is praised by top editors such as Anna Wintour and has worked with the most highly acclaimed celebrities including Madonna and Brad Pitt. The irony: Mr. Klein views the fashion and celebrity worlds with acute aversion, wishing to shatter its transparent façade of glamour and perfection. 

"Mindlessly glam fashion photography is a dead or dying form, and Steven Klein, the anti-fashion fashion photographer, helped strangle it." 

Vogue Paris February 2009

Madonna

His work extends far beyond the realm of conventional photography and typical attraction, seemingly breaking down preconceived notions of what is beautiful, what is known, and what is flawless. He has injected ambiguity, perversion, and seediness into his work creating photographs that exude reality and fascination. A paradox exists within his photography in that he is able to maintain the allure and beauty of fashion in the context of an ominous and rather demonic photo.  Klein does not consider himself an artist on the brink of creating a new photographic paradigm for the fashion world. Rather, his photography is an extension of his profound perception of people and actuality, which tends to unveil hidden truths of their existence. Shooting Brad Pitt in bondage and a straight jacket isn't to simply provoke a dark image; Klein uses this imagery to emanate his perception that Pitt is vulnerable and hidden despite his fame. After reading the New York Times article, one becomes mystified by the brilliance of his creativity; it is realized that his talent is both enigmatic and mysterious. What can be deduced however, is that the genius behind Klein's photography at least lies partly in his conceptual edge, enlightened understanding of reality, and twisted sense of beauty. 

Read the full article: Fashion Photographer Seeks Models/Celebrities for a Little Rough Play (New York Times, By: Simon Dumenco) 

Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie

Vogue Italy 2003

 Vogue Italy September 2004

into...Modern Love.

Vogue September 2011.

The discovery of the following article is credited to a remarkable friend of mine; she is fair, wise, and intelligent far beyond her years. She is one of those intellectual hipster girls you see walking Central Park, leather bound book in hand, listening to a song by Mr. Little Jeans on repeat (or at least this is how I envision her as I blog from Boston). 

This article truly makes you reconsider the ways we perceive fate, love, and happiness. Are we setting ourselves up for failure by believing that true, preordained, infallible love can only exist within the context of a good story? When we are so blinded and preoccupied with fairytale love, how can we ever expect for it to take its most natural course -- for love to seemingly choose us? 

Read the New York Times article by Sarah Healy, When the Words Don't Fit. 

The author notes, a good story is nothing more but a good story; love doesn't effortlessly fill the pages and the ending isn't one necessarily comparable to that of Cinderella. However, what is worth realizing is that love extends far beyond a unique meeting of two strangers, it is a journey filled with kindness, fights, devotion, flaws, and forgiveness. And as the journey stands the test of time, love seems to inexplicably and unboundedly grow. And if to outsiders, that sort of journey is considered conventional (even in the slightest) then so be it -but for two people, that journey is their very own version of fairytale love. 


this post is dedicated to the fab four; my backbone and inspiration.