UK Vogue December 2017 : Adwoa Aboah by Steven Meisel

[Phuel]

Someone upthread mentioned that it feels (and looks) like Edward's last stint W, and that’s exactly how this is. Very disappointing for an unofficial inaugural of a publication that needed new vision and spirit.

The 70s-vibe of the cover that I had hoped would be a predominate tone seems to just be random… There’s no sense of that 70s-flair in the rest of the stories at all. Thee’s no flow— just directionless and all over the place— like W. Adwoa looks great of course— but I’ve always thought she was unusually gorgeous; her shoot is just Meisel going through his usual motions, which means copying Avedon. It’s nice… and also totally forgettable.

So far, it’s another W— with the hyped promise of diversity, of which I hope he really does bring with models of all ethnicities, not just Black models, as well as model of various ages. At least then, it’s something different than W.

(I have no idea why anyone would want to spend £75 for a signed hardcover of such mediocrity…)

 

[Benn98]

Well, the moment it was announced that Venetia would assume a directorial position, I was convinced his British Vogue will morph into W! Because just like Alexandra, Tonchi doesn't seem the hands-on editor. He said it himself, he allowed Edward complete creative control to basically run the fashion roost at W. That may have been his biggest mistake yet. To that end Edward is as complicit as Tonchi for W's irrelevance, and now he's here. Lets hope the weight of dwindling sales will force him to pull up his socks or else he'll have a fully grey head by June.

 

[Phuel]

^^^ I'm the eternal optimist then!

Edward’s role was the most exciting hype that I allowed myself to give into of any fashiondom news… and the results are so… W LOL

Had they at least made an effort with Adwoa’s Meisel story, there would be at least something there. Some of the images of Juergen’s story are rather impressive— looked like at at least he stepped out of his usual template and did some work. But then… that shot of the naked model on the horse… I can’t roll my eyes any further back.

 

[Lola701]

Let's be honest, this issue is actually quite lazy.
I love the main ed but it's classic Meisel/Enninful and the rest is a non-event. I think Edward should focus on showcasing british talents. I want to see Nick Knight...etc.

I'm tired of Demarchelier! Seriously!

I still have hope because it's still the first issue. I'll wait to see his vision and then i'll be fix in what to expect from his magazine.

 

[Scotty]

Adwoa
Photographer: Steven Meisel
Stylist: Edward Enninful


Digital Edition

 

[Phuel]

Yes, Lola, extremely lazy offering.

The art direction— or lack thereof, is such a glaring shame.

One would think that with such scattered fashion stories that have absolutely no direction to a concept, hiring an AD with some skills to pull everything together into a unifying aesthetic would be a logical first step in rebranding…

McDean’s "On The Streets Where You Live” is my fav: It’s able to bring that brand of forever young street spirit when i-D had something creative to say— and likely Edward’s concept of when he was running that magazine-- when he had something to say, into a sort of relevance that’s nostalgic for the older readers and fresh for the kidz.

(BTW, Bruce’s story is absolutely dreadful, and even beats Steven's lazily going through motions here. Looks like it was mistakenly included when it should have gone to Better Homes & Garden. )

 

[Scotty]

Cover image with less text.


UK Vogue Digital Edition

 

[Benn98]

With Adwoa's edit, one can tell she's not used to these energetic type of storylines. Normally people just ask her to stand and stare expressionless into the camera. The change here is good and it's still my favourite editorial in this issue, but a bit more whimsy and genuine smiling would've amplified this. Last shot should've been the highlight but her running is too mechanical. She does have a stunning body and such toned arms and legs to make Tina Turner weep, which I never actually noticed before.

 

[KateTheGreatest]

The content itself is not enough to get me to buy this but I did see the magazine today in a store and it definitely stood out, it's really a beautiful cover.

 

[Phuel]

The cover looks a gorgeous statement without the obnoxious wall of words/ namedropping. Just Great Britain was all they needed.

But then again, the cover’s tone has nothing to do with the fashion stories: Except for one shot of Adwoa in Avedon-turban, there’s absolutely nothing else that conjures the effortless glam-spirit of the early-70s.

Adwoa is still amazing with a (forced) smile, Benn… She is very one-note but she’s a regal stunner— although in that shot of her in SLP, she resembles too much of Jared Leto’s The Joker for my taste… And much like Mica; who, besides doing a beautifully moody, smouldering Jim Morrsion-as-a-woman, can’t seem to embody much else. Her recent British Vogue cover with that creepy smile, looking like some Guidette at the mall circa 1986, was all kinds of hilarious… Some models, especially the new ones, aren’t capable of more than a singular signature look. But if they’re as cooly gorgeous as Adwoa, Mica and Lineisy, that’s good enough for me these days.

(I know that Steven, along with Raquel and Meryl Streep are catnip around here, but this is so Steven Meisel-by-numbers, it’s not even funny. How lazy were they all that day…???

 

[Lola701]

The cover looks a gorgeous statement without the obnoxious wall of words/ namedropping. Just Great Britain was all they needed.

But then again, the cover’s tone has nothing to do with the fashion stories: Except for one shot of Adwoa in Avedon-turban, there’s absolutely nothing else that conjures the effortless glam-spirit of the early-70s.

Adwoa is still amazing with a (forced) smile, Benn… She is very one-note but she’s a regal stunner— although in that shot of her in SLP, she resembles too much of Jared Leto’s The Joker for my taste… And much like Mica; who, besides doing a beautifully moody, smouldering Jim Morrsion-as-a-woman, can’t seem to embody much else. Her recent British Vogue cover with that creepy smile, looking like some Guidette at the mall circa 1986, was all kinds of hilarious… Some models, especially the new ones, aren’t capable of more than a singular signature look. But if they’re as cooly gorgeous as Adwoa, Mica and Lineisy, that’s good enough for me these days.

(I know that Steven, along with Raquel and Meryl Streep are catnip around here, but this is so Steven Meisel-by-numbers, it’s not even funny. How lazy were they all that day…???

I think that people loves Meisel because it shows in his photos that he loves fashion and the people in front of the camera. There's an emotion in his photos that i don't find in a lot of his peers lately.

But you're right, it's lazy. But it still stand-out.

I think that Meisel is at his best when he work with someone who is willing to push him also.
Lori G. did wonderful things with him in the 90's and early 00's, Edward did marvelous things 10 years ago. But the reality is that working together today put them in a comfort zone.

You see it with the Meisel/CDD collaboration. It's great, it's fun but does it add something new, fresh on interesting...NO!

I loved what Meisel did with MAS because i think she pushed him. Their work sometimes made me uncomfortable and i like that. I think that today, Meisel does wonderful things with Benjamin Bruno.

I believe that Meisel will be a regular but i hope that they will move on from their comfort zone.

 

[YohjiAddict]

Couldn't care less about the content in this issue. Maybe I'm a fool asking for something fresh from Meisel, but that edit's nothing especial. McDean's story feels very Interview-I mean it as a compliment. Maybe I'm just not in the right mood but this issue is not a very promising start...

 

[fierrousa]

I had big expectations about this first issue, but i feel really desapointed. i dont see a clear vision or what it was supposed to be groundbreaking.
the editorials lack impact in my opinion. The Miesel one is the same as we could see in Vogue Italia for years. Only Adwoa saves it.
Teller and McDean are an unexpected bad surprise , i would have never expected them at the firt issue, no impact whatsover, same old...
and then u have grace coodington as an editor doing a couture ed and they manage to create that absurd illustation history about an redhead orangutan. Such a wast of her talent.
i desire new exiting visuals and ideas. Nick Knight, Roversi, jamie , Harley could be great aditions, even Meisel doing his old conceptual stories.
I am a big admierer of Edwars work. love and enjoy his work as fashion editor at W. I only wish he can find a new and amazing vision for British Vogue that make me run to the newstand to get a copy!

 

[GinAndTonic]

I've finally received my copy. And it's true that the issue is a bit underwhelming because we all expected that sudden change. But I think it will be done gradually. And with a magazine that sells well, it's the best move imo. The cover in itself is already such a statement, but in a beautiful and subtle way. I can't wait to see how it will go with time. I'm still excited for what's coming!

 

[Les_Sucettes]

Edward needs to send Miesel a very nice Christmas gift this year because his contiribution is the only good thing of this new Vogue.

Indeed, it's the only thing this new issue has going for it.
I had my doubts about buying this, but i was afraid i would regret not buying the first issue, but man, it is really underwhelming, looks like a mash up of all the Vogues, i think i even saw ID in some places. I can understand it will take time for this magazine to find an identity, but the non Meisel editorials and the random photographs (they look like outtakes from Vogue Paris) are really bad, i do find that a bit inexcusable.

 

[Fiercification]

It's true that after Meisel's editorial everything else goes downhill quickly, but it's Edward's first issue and let's not forget December; not exactly an obvious/easy month to take over.

I'm going to wait to see what the March issue looks like before forming a proper judgement, hopefully he'll go fashion-hard. I'm not a big Enninful fan, but he has produced some truly stunning work (even occasionally at W), plus it's not like there's much else competing with what he's looking to produce here.

 

[Deleted member 141523]

I think that people loves Meisel because it shows in his photos that he loves fashion and the people in front of the camera. There's an emotion in his photos that i don't find in a lot of his peers lately.

Karma!

 

[VogueGirl8910]

"On the Street Where You Live"
Models: Hussien Abdulrahman, Eildith Alexander, Amara Blake, Iris Dubois, Joseph Griffin, Jasmine Hussain, Mara Kasanpawiro, Stephanie Omorojor, Georgia Palmer, Kit Warrington & Dahlia Winter
Photographer: Craig McDean
Stylist: Alastair McKimm
Hair: Anthony Turner
Makeup: Lynsey Alexander
Manicure: Marian Newman




awake-smile.blogspot.com

 

[jeremydante]

the most exciting issue we've seen of all vogue's for a while, a new beginning for sure.

 

[Zorka]

I reckon this (")revolutionary(") issue deserves the Cover-story in UHQ the least:



ADWOA
Photographer: Steven Meisel
Stylist: Edward Enninful
Hair: Guido Palau
Make-Up: Pat McGrath
Model: Adwoa Aboah



Vogue UK Digital Edition