Vogue Italia November 2024 : Lana Del Rey by Steven Meisel

[penny609]

I just... hate... modern... Meisel... so... much...

I just... echo your words.

There might be no bad picture, there's nothing worth getting excited or thrilled at all. Not a tiny little bit.

He used to be one of the greatest storytellers in the page of the old, old version of this very same magazine. Now it's just... I don't know. I can't dislike but I'll have it all forgotten within the next five minutes and for the rest of my life.

That's just lazy from him. It's like old singers/actors/whatever kind of artists getting seriously old, having no inspiration left, no ideas anymore. And that's blatantly dishonest from the magazine : just put Steven Meisel's name on the cover and a five-page editorial (to keep nostalgia running wild in our mellow hearts) and expect it to sell better than something more creative baring an unknown name at the bottom end of the page.

 

[Legolas]

Well, if we get over the fact 2007 colorful and experimental Meisel is dead and now every single campaign and cover looks just like this. I'm taking it still. Every single bit of it. What a time to be alive: Lana getting her biggest fashion moment + cover is gorgeous + all the Lasso updates. 1st Vogue Italia issue I'll be getting since forever.

 

[penny609]

Well, if we get over the fact 2007 colorful and experimental Meisel is dead and now every single campaign and cover looks just like this. I'm taking it still. Every single bit of it. What a time to be alive: Lana getting her biggest fashion moment + cover is gorgeous + all the Lasso updates. 1st Vogue Italia issue I'll be getting since forever.

Totally see what you mean and just saw his latest campaign for Lanvin (I like it better than this series, by the way).
But I'm not even asking for something in bold colors and I have no hopes for something both experimental and truly interesting.
And as I already said, there is no picture I dislike here...
But,
they use the codes of the old version of VI and rely on Steven Meisel's name. It almost looks like some pastiche of his own past works. You can immediately recognize the style, the touch, and they made the cover look like old issues of Franca's Vogue.
Without the twist, the spark, the soul. Which were what really mattered and remain what I expect when I read Meisel and Vogue Italia back to back in the same sentence.
I know these days are the days of watered-down, toned-down contents (and covers) when it comes to fashion magazines. Minimal effort became the rule. But in terms of visual experience, this is even worse than watered-down. As pretty as the pictures are, and as much as I do actually like those people involved in this cover and series.

 

[ivano]

I still like it. I don't know the whole story about why he's doing studio shoots, no one knows, but if there's some sort of limitation for him, and this is the only thing he can do now, I celebrate he still working. I'm loyal fan, my opinion will be always by his side (except those Anna Sui's ads, ha). I have a deep respect and admiration for this man, part of his team over the years, and Franca Sozzani. When I have enough (and there's lots of reasons, personal or not) I look back to the archive to enjoy the beauty of his work. I do the same, but not so often, with Lindbergh and Ritts. I feel good again, I discover something new from the old stuff.

 

[MModa]

I still like it. I don't know the whole story about why he's doing studio shoots, no one knows, but if there's some sort of limitation for him, and this is the only thing he can do now, I celebrate he still working. I'm loyal fan, my opinion will be always by his side (except those Anna Sui's ads, ha). I have a deep respect and admiration for this man, part of his team over the years, and Franca Sozzani. When I have enough (and there's lots of reasons, personal or not) I look back to the archive to enjoy the beauty of his work. I do the same, but not so often, with Lindbergh and Ritts. I feel good again, I discover something new from the old stuff.

I agree with you. These days, I feel like Meisel comes out of his comfort zone for Zara and Dolce & Gabbana more.

 

[blueorchid]

Meh. I think it's even worse to give an established photographer a pass for poor work than a new talent, in all honesty. If you've lost it, you've lost it. It's so funny to me that people act like every half-a*sed editorial Meisel creates is worthwhile, yet have fun tearing Annie Leibovitz to shreds (putting her name out there as a photographer with a long career who still gets work). Culturally, she's just as important (maybe more) as Meisel and people don't go soft on her, yet people go soft on Meisel. It's weird.

 

[jeremydante]

The got it SO right. Welcome back, Meisel to VI.

 

[Cocteau Stone]

Wonder if she’s going to do a DG campaign now. I can see that happening in the near future.

 

[Mr Yayo]

Wonder if she’s going to do a DG campaign now. I can see that happening in the near future.

Let’s hope she keeps taking her ozempic

 

[tigerrouge]

Meh. I think it's even worse to give an established photographer a pass for poor work than a new talent, in all honesty. If you've lost it, you've lost it.

I don't think he's 'lost it' as much as it's Meisel-by-numbers in a world where the best decades of fashion magazine photography are behind us, but if people are still willing to throw money at him, they'll get the basic package in return.

It's was same with Helmut Newton at the end of his career, I seem to remember he was happily admitting he was putting out work that was recognisably "Helmut Newton" for anyone who was happy to pay his rates, but he wasn't doing it for the art. Those days were long gone.