I disagree with you guys on Vogue Paris lacking quality. I'm not saying I like the content 100%, but it showcases a unique point of view on fashion that would be missed if it didn't exist.
And magazines are not just 100% pictures. I guess you don't have that perspective when you don't understand the language of the publication, but Vogue Paris is definitely an important source of information for me in terms of fashion, beauty, culture, art, etc.
I totally agree with you. I must admit that I find the editorial content in this issue to pale in comparison to past September issues of
Vogue Paris, but, in my opinion, a
Vogue Paris issue with mediocre editorials is often just as good as or much better than what we see in other worldwide editions of
Vogue, or any other magazine for that matter. I think everyone has written of these editorials just because many of them adhere to standard
Vogue Paris formula, particularly the editorials styled by Emmanuelle Alt. While the images styled by Alt are quite repetitive, I, however, still find something fun and fresh about them. The Kate Moss editorial reminds me of a combination of two well-known female pop culture figures: Selina Kyle/Catwoman (I am particularly thinking of the
Batman Returns version with Michelle Pfeiffer) and Sandy from
Grease (more specifically, the transformed sexy Sandy at the end of the film). The head-to-toe leather, the big, permed Medusa hair (which also reminisces Glenn Close's infamous villainess Alex Forrest in the film
Fatal Attraction), and the sultry come hither poses all bring to mind the key costume elements and personalities of these two characters. In regards to the Natasha/Richardson editorial, though I have seen the styling countless times before, I think the concept is quite tongue-in-cheek and funny. The ever-haughty and domineering Natasha plays the perfect army dominatrix.
The rest of the content is pretty standard
Vogue Paris. I absolutely ADORE the Freja editorial and think it is the standout editorial of the issue. When I first saw the scans of her walking the huge wildcat in the streets, I instantly thought of Josephine Baker. Freja never fails to compel and magnetize me with her extraordinarily sultry elegance.
I appreciate the "Rive Gauche et Libre" editorial merely because it features fresh models that have (I think) never been in the magazine before (except, of course, for Malgosia). It is surely not Carine's best work with M&M, but it is still visually appealing.
I really don't think it is fair to judge a magazine on its editorial content alone. Besides its usually phenomenal editorials,
Vogue Paris also has frequent fantastic features on art, film, music, public figures, and culture. I think
VP is certainly a cultural authority and covers key topics/people sometimes YEARS before other magazines do. I find that when I read
VP, I am instantly updated on what is happening CURRENTLY (and also often futurely) in the fashion, art, beauty, film, and music world. Honestly, I think VP is light-years ahead of other magazines when it comes to reporting trends and topics of significance.
Editorials only make up a fraction of a magazine, so I think it is ridiculous that some of you have already written off this magazine without even glancing through it.