Carine Roitfeld For Tom Ford Fall/Winter 2013

connect with iwtbar  bloglovin  |  facebook  |  pinterest  |  tumblr  |  twitter

Tom Ford advertising images © 2013 Tom Ford. All Rights Reserved.

CR Fashion Book: Dance With The Wind

CR Fashion Book: Dance with the Wind
By Dara Block

What is not to love about the spring issue of CR Fashion Book? The second publication is dedicated to the theme of dance and each editorial is a stunning combination of movement, fluidity, and spring 2013 fashion. It is difficult to pick a favorite layout because each one is so special and unique in its own artistic way, but if I had to choose one that captures my eye it would be "Dance With The Wind" photographed by Brigitte Niedermair. I was so glad to see that Carine Roitfeld chose Brigitte Niedermair again for the spring issue. I am still mesmerized by her "How Do Hue Do?" editorial from 2012... she certainly took creepy-chic to the next level with all those dynamic wigs and fall fashion. It's no surprise that in this issue Carine amps it up again by incorporating more cutting edge visual style. With all that said, let's take a look inside the pages of this gorgeous layout! 

The first image in the editorial features a backshot of model Sui He wearing a silk kimono and vintage obi from the Kimono House. I love the overall Japanese feel and that added element of her hair flowing in the wind. It looks as if nature itself is choreographing a dance with her hair. This is not your literal interpretation of dance, which I find so fascinating!

The next image features Sui He again and also model Soo Joo. This time, they are both dressed in Louis Vuitton. I love the way in which their bodies blend into each other. They look so unified and statuesque in their white ensembles and I love how Brigitte Niedermair captured their hair. There is so much fluidity and motion with their long tresses... looking very much like a dance, itself!

The following image features model Soo Joo once again, this time in a transparent Rick Owens dress and Jen Kao shoes. I love the body language she is giving to the camera and the way her hair looks as if it is taking over her body. There is some kind of agony and ecstasy with this image almost reminding me of choreographer Pina Bausch. I am not sure if Brigitte Niedermair was inspired by her dance style, but I can totally see a connection. Either way, I so appreciate how painfully-chic this looks.

What I admire most about Brigitte Niedermair is that she is able to find such strange beauty in the most mundane, much like this image. I love the way in which those hands are placed. It almost looks as if they are about to perform a dance. Perhaps, some kind of hand ballet. Visually, I love the angle at which this image is photographed and let's not forget that striking Dior ring. This is pure obscure-elegance, something at which Brigitte Niedermair excels!

Yet again, we see Soo Joo and Sui He modeling together. This time they are both camouflaged together in black. Soo Joo is wearing Hermès and Sui He is adorned in a black kimono from the Kimono House. I so love the way in which their bodies morph together and that stark contrast of their blonde and black hair. There is a painterly quality to this image and I love the dark ethereal aspect of it all. It's very noir, with a Japanese edge!

The following image is my favorite from the editorial. Soo Joo and Sui He virtually melt into each with their angelic hair. I can't help but be in awe of the fluidity of their locks. This is double-vision at its best… it's very rare to see such an image that looks so haunting and breathtaking at the same time. For some reason, it also reminds me of Madonna's 1998 Nothing Really Matters video. Perhaps, it has something to do with the overall Japanese look and the ebb and flow of this editorial, especially this image. Yes, it is a strange connection, but I see some striking similarities.

I think it is quite interesting how the editorial almost ends the way it started. Once more, we see Sui Hee in that very same kimono with her dazzling hair flowing, except this time, she has an elegant pair of hands grasping her around her neck. What that signifies will most likely remain a mystery, but I love the transcendental aspect of this photo... so mysteriously chic!

In general, I appreciate how this is not your literal interpretation of dance, but more about the forces of nature with spring fashion and Japanese culture. I am not sure what goes on inside Brigitte Niedermair's head, but I like the imagination and feminine perspective that she brings to CR Fashion Book. I don't know about you, but I certainly feel like dressing up in a kimono, straightening my hair, and pressing that start button on that wind machine... love it when an editorial has that effect. Brava to Brigitte Niedermair and Carine Roitfeld, for yet another remarkable editorial, this one is a true classic!

[Editor's note: To see more, view the short film The Silent Wave produced by Brigitte Niedermair during the photo shoot for the editorial "Dance with the Wind" exclusively for CR Fashion Book.]

More from CR Fashion Book Issue 2: Dance

CR Fashion Book: A Tribute To Dim Dam Dom
By Jessica Eritou

CR Fashion Book: Clearly
By Kristin Sekora

CR Fashion Book: High Performance
By Montse Ocejo

CR Fashion Book: Waiting In The Wings
By Jessica Eritou

connect with iwtbar  bloglovin  |  facebook  |  pinterest  |  tumblr  |  twitter

Editorial images © 2013 CR Fashion Book.

Carine Roitfeld: The Animal Nursery

For her latest installment of "Carine On The Collections" for Harper's Bazaar, Carine Roitfeld created a wildly engaging editorial, "The Animal Nursery," with models Senait Gidey, Tilda Lindstam, Soo Joo Park, Irina Shayk, and Kate Upton posing as caretakers for tiger cubs, baby monkeys, and leopard cubs on safari. Of course the world's cutest veterinary nurses are dressed in garments from the Pre-Fall collections, accessorized smartly with shining stethoscopes, pert caps, and elbow-length surgical gloves. Notice the flasks and first aid kits, these women are prepared for any emergency in their enchanting animal nursery. Carine shared her excitement about the project with The Cut, "The shoot was a dream come true because I had never held a baby monkey and baby tigers before… Kate was so incredible, very cool. She was the most relaxed out of all the girls with the animals. You can tell she feels very connected to nature. I was very surprised how wholesome she is." Carine worked with creative director Stephen Gan and photographer Sebastian Faena to produce "The Animal Nursery."

 View a brief video of the creation of "Carine on the Collections: The Animal Nursery" on Harper's Bazaar

connect with iwtbar bloglovin | facebook | pinterest | tumblr | twitter

"Carine Roitfeld on the Collections: The Animal Nursery" images © 2013 Hearst Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.