May
Vogue: Nicole Kidman on the cover
Photographed by Irving Penn, couture dress by Christian Lacrioux. It's been years since their work appears on the cover of US Vogue, but the cover girl herself was featured last September. This has got to be the shortest time for US Vogue to use the same actress on its cover. But Nicole is so lovable.
Enjoyable read, but the editorials are disappointing:
*Steven Meisel shoots Isabeli Fontana, Daria Werbowy, Karen Elson, Hana S., Lily Cole, and Guniveere in "City of Angels." I like the selection of wardrobe (office chic) very much, but the models themselves look pretty awful (air-brushed + fake tan) except for Isabeli. Daria needs a rest asap.
*Nicole Kidman's couture ed with Irving Penn isn't as great as the cover.
*Raymond Meier shoots Julia Stegner in an accessories ed. I have never seen her look better. My favorite in this issue.
*Annie Leibowitz shoots Gisele Bundchen, Karen Elson, Gemma Ward, and many others in a group story. Blah.
Bazaar: Courtney Cox on the cover
It's started to introduce a bit of fall fashion with a nice selection of runway pictures. The editorials:
*Patrick Demarchelier's couture ed w/ Gemma Ward is whimsical and has won raves but despite the creativity I don't like it very much. Or maybe I just don't like Gemma.
*Tom Schnek's ed with Eugenia Volodina is chic and excellent. It looks more polished than his work for UK Vogue, but maybe that has to do with adjusted lighting and air-brushing.
*Laurie Bartley's group shoot of Elise Crombez, Karen Elson, and Hannelore and Eva Herzigova is anything but spectacular. We saw exactly the same lighting/shadow work in the March issue.
*Lindbergh shoots Charlotte Gainsbourg and Charlotte Rampling in a trench spread. Dull.
Allure: The Olson [sp] twins on the cover, awful. Michelle Bosworth wins the fashion spread, while Lilliane S. and Tiiu appear in the beauty spread. Consistently sucky. The saving grace is a 2-pg style watch on Charlize Theron.