US Vogue September 2009 : Charlize Theron by Mario Testino

[WinstonH20]

There’s something about this era…I didn’t like it in the moment and I still don’t like it.

The 40’s Meisel editorial is charming with several great shots. I’m always a sucker for anything late 30’s/early 40’s in nature.

But the rest is rather uneventful and kind of tacky.

I totally get what you mean. I can't pinpoint exactly why, but I've always felt the '06-'11 period in fashion was kind of tacky. Perhaps it's because I lived through it, so I don't look back on it with rose-tinted glasses? I'm not nostalgic for it...YET.

That said, what a treat to see US Vogue filled with photographers who are in total control of their visions and craft. Despite the results not always being to my liking (particularly during this era), I can't deny what a privilege it is to see an issue of Vogue filled with fashion photographers of this caliber. Testino, Meisel, McDean, Sims, Mert and Marcus, Klein and Leibovitz in one issue? This used to be the norm.

Things have really sunk so low that if any one of these editorials (or contributors) were in Vogue today, my heart would skip a beat simply because it would mean a break from the mediocre photographers that fill the magazine today. Damn, I guess I am nostalgic for good fashion photography.