Meisel and Vogue Italia parting ways?

[Miss Dalloway]

^ Yes, and that he defo did not shoot the cover. Man!

 

[vogue28]

Maybe it's also why Meisel was suddenly back shooting for US Vogue?

 

[anlabe32]

Perhaps Franca wanted a non-Asian model to front the cover (like Miranda Kerr on Japanese Vogue Japan Issue) and Meisel was mad about it (and in revenge shot Fei Fei for Vogue US).

 

[Miss Dalloway]

Ok so this is what i heard, and i might get in trouble, but i dont care. TFS always seems to be withheld the good gossip, so here it is (no idea how truthful, but the person who told me works as a PA to one of the major Photographers );

So it doesn't seem to be about KK (i think), however it was a huge blow out between Sozzani & Meisel! She wanted him to exclusively shoot the China story only for VI cover ed, however he agreed to shoot Fei Fei for Wintour's May issue. And Franca really resented the fact he chose them over VI, after years of loyalty she has showed him. And despite of Meisel having a very bad relationship with Anna, especially in last few years, Sozzani always had his back. But when he picked US Vogue over VI, she decided its time to use someone else to shoot the China cover story.

It's most certainly an end of an era, so unless they have KK in super Chinese look on the cover, its the matter of personal resentment, and perceived betrayal which led Sozzani to go with someone else for the cover.

 

[Melancholybaby]

This is getting juicier by the minute. I hope the new issue deosn't take forever to appear so we can see if these rumours hold any truth. Thanks for the info Miss Dalloway!

 

[Benn98]

Oh my God!! The juice! I suppose I can understand why Sozzani would be so angered by that MET editorial, which is really nothing special imo. Perhaps Fei Fei was also slated as the covergirl? That said, didn't Meisel shoot Edie Campbell for US Vogue's MET-Punk feature?

 

[vogue28]

Thanks ever so much for the info and clarification, Miss Dalloway. I'm intrigued! As much as I sometimes rant about how dark and depressing the majority of Steven Meisel's cover stories can be, I cannot imagine a single issue of Italian Vogue without him. Vogue Italia's a relativity mundane edition, especially all those awful Miles Aldridge stories. I wonder if Meisel will be shooting August? Or are Franca and Meisel DONE?

 

[Miss Dalloway]

^^ Yes Fei Fei was supposed to be used, but i dont know, its a strange tale to me. Why would Sozzani be so upset? He shot for others before? Maybe not the same theme, but come on! It seems a classic tale of Fashion Ego, one refusing to be put under "exclusive", and to chose, and the other being offended. Meisel most likely wanted both. No idea what this means long term, but if she went with another Photog for the cover, the relationship is broken. Maybe it means more Meisel for US Vogue?

New VI better drop soon!

 

[anlabe32]

Meisel was what gave Vogue Italia it's fame and name. Aside from his contributions, the magazine is full of crap and B/C-list photographers and models.

IF Meisel is to be replaced as an exclusive photographer, I highly doubt that Vogue Italia will remain a popular, big name magazine.

 

[Wolkfolk]

Thank you for the explanation MissDalloway


Honestly as much as I love Meisel and I can't believe in a fashion world where he doesn't shoot VI cover story , I understand Franca's position.

I really don't get why he chose Anna over her afte being kept out of US Vogue for so long. And it's not like Anna Wintour let him shot the cover again. She really is almighty powerful...
Unless he did want to shoot Fei Fei for the cover and Franca wanted someone else. That June issue is officially the most anticipated issue of the year.

 

[Miss Dalloway]

^ That is the rumor insiders are talking about now, but i still refuse to believe it! If it comes true, i will be sad to see Meisel's almost 3 decade cover reign come to an end, but i suppose it could never go forever, and at one point every party ends. So in the end Mert&Marcus end up shooting the VI cover, eek!

And i would urge any other TFS member (there are several) who has more info on this to come out, and write what THEY heard, when it comes to rumors, every gossip has a different take!

 

[MON]

Thank you very much MissDalloway!!! Ah!

The plot surely thickens. From that rumor, I just perceive Franca to be someone who's immature (but who isn't right?) I mean come on girl. It was just an editorial and it's not like the China theme is exclusively made for VI alone. I just don't get how she'll get hurt over an editorial. I'd understand if she got hurt and pissed if the idea her and Meisel created were used for US Vogue by Meisel. But for an editorial that's different? Come on. There are a million ways to illustrate that theme under the same photographer... And if it's true that Meisel wanted FeiFei and Franca didn't so Meisel used her for VI, then so what? What's the big deal there? I don't get why she's mad.

Here are my questions about the issue:
1. So basically Anna and Meisel really had a fallout. Anyone knows what it's about?
2. Is Meisel really out or is he benched for June and back for July?
3. Who are the photographers on the shortlist as replacements?
4. If Meisel's tie up was really severed, did anyone from Condé Nast step over and overruled Franca's decision? anlabe32's right. Meisel is Vogue Italia and without him the magazine might be close to nothing and I'm sure the higher ups of CN knows this to be true.
5. Who was the girl Franca wanted for the cover?

So many questions!! June come out already!

 

[Benn98]

^^ Yes Fei Fei was supposed to be used, but i dont know, its a strange tale to me. Why would Sozzani be so upset? He shot for others before? Maybe not the same theme, but come on! It seems a classic tale of Fashion Ego, one refusing to be put under "exclusive", and to chose, and the other being offended. Meisel most likely wanted both. No idea what this means long term, but if she went with another Photog for the cover, the relationship is broken. Maybe it means more Meisel for US Vogue?

New VI better drop soon!

Purely speculating here, I'm sure this has everything to do with Fei Fei and the setting we saw in US Vogue. We all know Meisel can at times duplicate his editorial themes (VI August 11 vs W September 11/VI August 14 vs Moschino Toy). Perhaps Franca wanted to prevent having to deal with a similar situation? How can she save face when her cover looks like a secondary US Vogue's edit, from the previous month?

Meisel for US Vogue might appeal to many, but Anna will never grant him the same degree of liberty he gets at VI. Can you imagine the BP oil spill edit in US Vogue? Never. And yet it's almost a work of art.

Surely there must be some form of contract in place, which would mean we'll still see him from July onwards? My absolute nightmare would be Steven Klein as Meisel's replacement.

God, I've never been so anxious to see VI!!

 

[MON]

Purely speculating here, I'm sure this has everything to do with Fei Fei and the setting we saw in US Vogue. We all know Meisel can at times duplicate his editorial themes (VI August 11 vs W September 11/VI August 14 vs Moschino Toy). Perhaps Franca wanted to prevent having to deal with a similar situation? How can she save face when her cover looks like a secondary US Vogue's edit, from the previous month?

Meisel for US Vogue might appeal to many, but Anna will never grant him the same degree of liberty he gets at VI. Can you imagine the BP oil spill edit in US Vogue? Never. And yet it's almost a work of art.

Surely there must be some form of contract in place, which would mean we'll still see him from July onwards? My absolute nightmare would be Steven Klein as Meisel's replacement.

God, I've never been so anxious to see VI!!

Same!! Imagine month after month of bondage, highly saturated covers with editorials rehashed from the same venue... oh dear. At the same time, I somehow wish that Mario Sorrenti gets the job.

 

[Miss Dalloway]

^ Mert&Marcus apparently! They always wanted to replace Meisel, i suppose they got their wish.

Benn98: That is a good point about Sozzani not wanting to look like a second fiddle. Meisel will never get so much freedom he enjoyed at VI, so there must be more behind this. I think its possible he received an ultimatum, and he was NEVER good with restrictions like that. Based on what i read about him through the years, and those few interviews he gave. In the late 90s he once remarked about Wintour; "i refuse to kiss a**, no matter whose it is".

Also he had a major contract renewal with Conde Nast around 2004, pretty sure it was for life, so his work will be fine, he will get plenty. I could even see him contributing more regularly at W. But this could be just one cover, and he is back shooting like before, but it feels significant, if he indeed did not shot June.

 

[TheoG]

^ M&M, Edward, and Franca were all in Instanbul recently could they have working on something?

 

[DutchHomme]

Please no M&M!!
I rather see Italian Mario Sorrenti for VI

I like M&M photography but they always give their fav. models all the jobs!
At least Meisel gave new girls the chance to be on VI.

 

[Miss Dalloway]

^ M&M, Edward, and Franca were all in Instanbul recently could they have working on something?

Really? Ugh!!! It might mean they are shooting for an upcoming cover story if all of this turns out to be true!

 

[MON]

If Meisel is gone and if M&M would replace him, is it why the duo stopped working for VP 3 months now after a consecutive streak? I just don't see VI x M&M working. Meisel's work was based on his ideas while M&M's work based mostly with the ideas of the stylists (Alt, Roitfeld, Enninful ++). I'd die if VI reverts to studio shots for covers. Imagine VI being styled by Enninful month after month and photographed by M&M?? W is dying a slow death because of Enninful x M&M and Enninful x Klein.. imagine VI suffering the same slow death? Ugh. Enninful x M&M is although produces visually strong content, is the most repetitive pair I've seen.

Even if Meisel comes back to VI, it's weird because his reign would be marked July 1988 - May 2015, July 2015 - ... he can't even celebrate 3 decades because of that 1 issue. It's sad really.

 

[LastNight]

Oh wow this is such an interesting development. I adore Meisel and he has created some truly magical images for Italian Vogue, but maybe it is time to move on. It has to end at some point and maybe this is it. I hope that if it's true then they revitalise the whole magazine, expecially the design/layout. It makes me sad that it's possibly ended with bad blood but I guess these things happen. Hopefully Meisel will make a glorious return to US Vogue and do more work at W, where he can continue to flex his creative muscle. Having said all that, I just can't see it happening - I can't picture a new Italian Vogue thread title with anything other than '...by Steven Meisel'.