UK Vogue February 2020 : Lupita Nyong’o by Steven Meisel

[tigerrouge]

On first sight, the cover story isn't my sort of thing at all, but the one word I would definitely use to describe it is vibrant. I'm looking at my subscription copy in front of me, and the glossy finish gives something extra to that sense of contrast between the white background and the colours.

Flicking through it, there's a one-page 'values' type of pronouncement made by Edward about the magazine committing to looking at stuff "we deem to be forces for positive change". Right below this are the logos of the official partners for Vogue "Forces for Change", which are Nike and BMW.

So with the power of £££ behind him, Edward is continuing to make his own manifesto for the magazine, and using his own branding for it. "Forces for Change" was the coverline of the Meghan-edited issue - who needs to follow the herd by repeating a "Vogue Values" press release on your January cover when you've already been making global headlines with your own message on your September issue, months ahead of any of the others.

The one-page Love preview with Zendaya is the usual childish nonsense, sunflowers in her hair while she's blowing bubbles, with a few butterfly images stuck round the white border of the image.

The Hollywood portfolio... it's not terrible by any means, but it makes you realise how much fashion magazines miss that Testino style of celebrity imagery, with all its flattering glamour. For one reason or another, we've lost the work of so many photographers, and mediocrity has taken its place.

This is an issue I'll probably have to put aside for a while to see if I find something to appreciate about it in a week or so's time. I don't hate what I see, but nothing is grabbing my attention either.

 

[VogueGirl8910]

Stunning cover, Lupita looks gorgerous & her editorial reminds me other photoshoots of Meisel in the mid-90's.

 

[Vision Ruan]

This collaboration is unexpected...But I do not like it.It looks much like Nick Knight's work.
Not a fan of Lupita,but her US vogue covers are better than this...

 

[Miss Dalloway]

Are they seriously giving credit to Nicholas on all their IG posts? What concept?!!! Most Meisel's cover shoots look like THIS! Ghesquière didn't invent it, just because he was present at the shoot!

 

[Srdjan]

^ Well he had to squeeze himself in it, how on Earth can a story he's involved in not serve as an opportunity for self-promotion? He's the worst.

 

[Lola701]

The more I see it, the more I miss Meisel for US Vogue!
Come on Anna!

Are they seriously giving credit to Nicholas on all their IG posts? What concept?!!! Most Meisel's cover shoots look like THIS! Ghesquière didn't invent it, just because he was present at the shoot!

I mean, it’s not usual to have the designer present at the shooting when he is not shooting with the cover girl...

 

[aracic]

Nicolas is that kind of drag queen that praises herself in the confessionals only to deliver the weakest presentation seconds later and go home embarrassed, but proud of herself nonetheless cause in her delusional eyes she's talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show-stopping, spectacular, never the same etc. I can't stand the man! But then I find myself conflicted cause he's just so gorgeous to look at and I can't wait to see his portrait so there's that. However, still not enough to ignore the mediocre mess he 'designs' season after season, that's just something I can't tolerate so I really hope this whole LV advertorial trend ends with Lupita. Advertise anyone else besides D&G in 2020 pls

 

[JPineapple]

Nicolas is that kind of drag queen that praises herself in the confessionals only to deliver the weakest presentation seconds later and go home embarrassed

Nicolas your smile is beautiful!

 

[matheus_s]

Stunning cover, Lupita looks gorgerous & her editorial reminds me other photoshoots of Meisel in the mid-90's.

where is the editorial?

 

[VogueGirl8910]

where is the editorial?

To this editorial
1997 editorials | Message Board

 

[Benn98]

Are they seriously giving credit to Nicholas on all their IG posts? What concept?!!! Most Meisel's cover shoots look like THIS! Ghesquière didn't invent it, just because he was present at the shoot!

Good God, are you serious? Louis Vuitton needs to be stopped! When something or someone blows up this big, the burst of the bubble is usually equally spectacular.

I do hope this means Vuitton will eventually sway Meisel to shoot their campaigns though....

 

[Lola701]

My poor beloved Nicolas...
Thankfully, there’s still one person that loves you and your work here on TFS

 

[Marc10]

I would've appreciated the cover story so much more if it wasn't such a shameless LV ad. I mean if she was at least a spokeswoman it would make some type of sense, but this is so....

 

[TheoG]

If this wasn't so brazenly LV (which I'm a fan of most the time) I'd might like this. Even the damn handbags?

 

[vogue28]

I’m always down for a Steven Meisel moment on British Vogue but I do have mixed feelings on this, despite marking Luptia’s overdue debut on the magazine and the whole vibrancy and freshness of the photographs. Personally, I couldn’t care less about the overuse and sheer blatancy of the Louis Vuitton collection but just despise how every single shot (including the cover) is a full-length shot.

Meisel is clearly capable of producing astounding portraits (i.e Zoe Kravitz back in July) and I can only imagine what he would’ve achieved photographing Lupita like so.

 

[Fiercification]

I saw the issue was on stands already? Another filler issue from Edward, pretty nothingness!

I don't understand the set design at all in Craig's editorial, totally swamps what is effectively a collections edit and you can't see any of the clothes! Shame because Piers Hanmer (or sometimes Stefan Beckman) always do fantastic sets with McDean, even when the edit is basic. It's really a key feature of his work. Plus I'm also getting bored to death of Rianne (she's doing annoying contortionist poses here) and B.) Grace's work at UK Vogue makes even the most forgettable US Vogue edits she produced with Anna look wild and innovative . That says something right there.

MCB's edit by Venetia is alright I suppose but forgettable. A bit like most of the fashion stories from this publication latterly.

 

[dior_couture1245]

Lupita is so astroturfed.

 

[Phuel]

For one reason or another, we've lost the work of so many photographers, and mediocrity has taken its place.

…Don’t forget non-stop virtual-signalling gimmicks; a tactic that’s predictably defined Edward and his Vogue.

Other than a consistently more visible Black-presence from month to month, he’s brought absolutely nothing that Alexandria’s hasn’t already presented with her tenure. If anything, his Vogue is even more watered down, more conservative-catalogue and downright frumpy. when it comes to its fashion identity: Anna has nothing to worry about with him. The cover story is as basic as it gets for department store signage. The MariaCarla by Venetia “All About My Mother” is the monthly frumpy accessibility but catalogue-safe brand of eccentricity that, had it been from the Alexandria-era of British Vogue, would have been outright dismissed as outdated and dusty. But since it’s from the hypeman himself, it’ll likely be applauded as modern quirky allure...

(And LOL @ Jennifer Hudson getting a full page gushing for her Cat’s monstrosity, while Park So-Dim gets half a page for her superior Parasite in the “View From The Top” awards promo… Edward couldn’t be more transparent.)

 

[Royal-Galliano]

this is awful.

 

[aracic]

Life In Fast Forward

Photography: Steven Meisel
Styling: Edward Enninful
Hair: Vernon François
Make-up: Pat McGrath
Manicure: Jin Soon Choi
Set Design: Mary Howard
Cast: Lupita Nyong'o


British Vogue Digital Edition