Written and Curated by Parker Paige Blackburn. June/July editions only.
With much anticipation, the first fashion covid restriction-free summer did not disappoint readers and fashion fans alike. June and July have been full of whimsical, outlandish fashion moments from creatives around the globe, not just on the runways but also between the pages of some of our most beloved publications.
Beyoncé Turns Up the Heat for British Vogue - July 2022
Shot by Rafael Pavarotti, Styled by Edward Enninful
Beyoncé is a collaborative genius in her own right, and through these images, you can really get a sense of her own point of view within the editorial. Since this is the press kick-off to hype her new album, Renaissance, debuting on July 29th, both British Vogue Fashion Editor Edward Enninful and Bey wanted to give fans a preview of what kind of vibe to expect from the upcoming album. Together they begin to visualize modern takes on disco culture, as elements such as a painted red horse on the dance floor referenced Bianca Jaggers's iconic entrance into Studio 54 one faithful night in 1977.
The headpieces are again another 1970s nod to disco culture mixed in with modern elements. These headpieces were done by none other than the non-binary disco-loving force that is Los Angeles-based designer Harris Reed. These pieces, in particular, are from the designer's Sixty Years a Queen collection, based on the designer's regal queer club experiences. "I got into fashion because I was obsessed with performance, alter ego, and being a heightened version of yourself," Reed says in a Vogue interview about the shoot.
If those feathers look familiar, it's because they are. The peacock feathers that were originally seen on Iman for the 2021 met gala were repurposed for Beyonce. This meant bleaching, re-dying, and painting the feathers, a process that took both Reed and his milliner Vivienne Lake over 300 hours to complete. The Harris Reed look itself is also made from repurposed 150-year-old Italian tapestry and upholstery fabric given to Reed while on holiday. "In the past, people have been quite nervous about doing something so dramatic, opulent, and extreme," Reed says.
Enninful and Beyoncé begin to focus on this theme of Retro-futurism, a trend in fashion that starts in the late sixties during the early space age with the exploration of futuristic textiles such as lycra, vinyl and PVC. It then made its way back in style in the 80s with space-themed alien-like collections from designers such as Thierry Mugler and Claude Montana. In the 90s and early 2000s, retro-futurism was all about cyberpunks and hackers, best demonstrated by the rise of movies such as The Matrix and Star Trek. But now, retro-futurism takes on a different form, as tech and fashion are becoming more intertwined than ever before in the metaverse. At the moment, it feels revolutionary; but the movement begs the question, what will we think 20 years from now?
Work It - Anne Hathaway for Interview Magazine Summer 2022
Shot by Collier Schorr, Styled by Dara
The best thing about this Interview is its unique Q&A format. The interview is comprised of several of Anne Hathaway's peers and collaborators, Rick Owens, Octavia Spenser, Anna Wintour, and more, asking her the questions, allowing her to recount relationships, tell stories and open up to readers seamlessly.
This shoot, set in a gym, brings an element of toughness to fashion's favorite It girl. Whether Dior football pads, a staple Prada tank, or Balenciaga towels are your fancies or you're just a fan of fashion, this shoot has a fashion moment for everyone. The Prada tank, in particular, has become synonymous with brand DNA and plays on Raf Simon's referencing of 1980s gay culture. Anne's striped socks, wet hair, smokey eye, and red lip give a vintage flair to the look. Another image, one of Hathaway lifting two dumbbells, is a reference to an image of Marylin Monroe. This editorial is modern in styling yet vintage in vibe.
Anne's personal favorite fashion look of the shoot was the black belted Alaïa Gown that was shot by the weights section of the gym, but my personal favorite is the Balenciaga towel.
Zendaya Mania for Vogue Italia June 2022
Shot by Elizaveta Porodina, Styled by Law Roach
Zendaya's style mindset is similar to her relationship with acting. "Playing a character, it's kind of what Law and I do on the red carpets; we pick and create these characters," she tells Jordan Anderson at vogue. This approach to method dressing has transferred to the duo's editorial work, as Zendaya portrayed a foreign being landing on earth for the Directors' Issue of W Magazine just months prior. In this shoot, however, she's paying homage to the embodiments of black girl magic that came before her, women like Josephine Baker, Sade, and Eartha Kitt.
"I feel incredibly grateful to be in this position because without the women of the past, especially iconic black women who have done what I've done before, I wouldn't be able to exist in this space," Zendaya says.
Law Roach also made a conscious choice to style Zendaya in Italian designers such as Philosophy Di Lorenzo Serafini, The Attico, Maison Valentino, and Bulgari. The makeup and hair styling is very reminiscent of the 1960s, combined with the fine jewelry and adornments that clearly reference the icons that came before Zendaya. Still, there is a modern element incorporated through the face gems and 3D facial tears that have become synonymous with the actress's work on the HBO hit series, Euphoria.
Zendaya and Vogue Italia team portray a psychedelic exploration of icons of the past and present, taking past themes and ideas and flipping them on its head while presenting them in a new way, is what innovative editorial fashion should be about, and I think that Law Roach, Elizaveta Porodina, and Zendaya have achieved that and executed it beautifully.
Girl about Town for W MagazineThe Music Issue 2022
Shot by Joshua Woods, Styled by Imruh Asha, Modeled by Amar Akway
What immediately caught my eye about this editorial is the use of haute couture in an urban location, which is something that I almost always appreciate as we deviate from a typical studio, runway, and red carpet setting that the public is used to seeing these garments in. This shoot sets out to explore a wide range of haute couture moments as we look towards the coming couture season ahead while keeping with a central theme of proportion and perspective experimentation.
This editorial goes back and forth between a studio and location setting, but keeping the same edgy, almost goth-inspired makeup throughout adds a level of cohesion to the shoot and makes the change of setting all the more interesting. Many of the plays on proportion are exaggerated to the point of questioning where the look stops and the model begins, something that I think is extremely interesting in this cityscape context. This experimentation with haute couture is so refreshing because readers get to view these elevated looks in an unfamiliar environment, which I believe you could argue is the main ingredient in the formula of a great editorial.
Sydney Sweeney for Vogue Hong Kong July 2022 Issue
Shot by Petra Collins, Styled by Dena Giannini
Something that I love about this shoot and Petra Collins's work, in general, is that she has this knack for bringing an edge to women who typically have this "good girl next door" persona to them. There's an eeriness to Petra's images, and I think it works really well here with Sydney, who is typically shot in romantic editorials, as sort of this "male fantasy dream girl" that she embodies while playing Cassie in the hit HBO series Euphoria.
This shoot highlighted the highly anticipated Gucci x Adidas collaboration, and while I admit I was not the biggest fan of the collection at first, I think it works extremely well here and plays into Sydney's athletic side, and works best when paired with edgier fabrics such as latex and fishnet. The makeup and hair styling is also fantastic; I love this little 80s short bob combined with the 90s bleached brows and simple black liner; it brings a kind of natural edginess to Sydney that we've never really seen before.
In the editorial, Sydney Sweeney makes it clear to readers that she tries to separate herself from her characters as much as possible, going as far as to create separate playlists and favorite colors for her characters. I think these images embody that separation. IRL, Sweeney is a force to be reckoned with. She enjoys MMA fighting, kickboxing, being her own personal car mechanic, and directing her own films. I think this shoot does an excellent job of tapping into those sides of her personality and trying something new while also remaining genuine to the badass powerhouse that she is.
Evan Mock for Cultured Magazine Summer Performance Review 2022
Shot by Micaiah Carter, Styled by Mecca James Williams
This was a feature on the pro-skater, model, and actor multi-hyphenate mind of Evan Mock. I definitely think he is going to be a force in menswear to watch; I love his signature pink hair and experimentation with silhouette and men's suiting - I mean, who could forget that corseted ruffle suit and Cartier necklace he wore to the Met? For this shoot in particular, stylist Mecca James Williams plays with the whimsical world of Gucci, intersecting casual pieces like knee-length boxer style shorts with an over-the-top feather shag coat and white cowboy boots. Another thing I love about the styling of this piece is the use of face jewelry that perfectly coincides with Mock's exposed silver zipper, as well as the large flower motif that perfectly matches his signature pink buzz cut. I love when we get a new take on traditional menswear, and I think this shoot cements Mock as a potential fashion star to watch.
Cardi B for Vogue Singapore July 2022 Issue
Shot by Lea Colombo, Styled by Law Roach
The first thing that struck me about this piece was its emphasis on motherhood, which is a side of Cardi that doesn’t get talked about often. It's great to see that the now mother of two is really embracing this phase of life. This translates through the styling of the piece extremely well. Law Roach styles Cardi B in the two Toms, Thom Browne and Tom Ford, the juxtaposition between the two is so fun and showcases both the artist and mother side of Cardi while keeping true to her Avante Garde but still sexy aesthetic.
The editorial vibe shifts as Cardi begins to reminisce on her rise to fame and life in the Bronx before her hit single Bodak Yellow smashed records and airwaves; these next looks feel nostalgic to Cardi's former career as a dancer in a local strip club. We get two catsuit looks, one a vintage Poster Girl piece, and the other is a beautiful Richard Quinn catsuit, covering everything but the star's enticing eyes.
Richard Quinn is a designer that is known for creating looks that are BDSM-inspired, using latex and spandex fabrics, but often done in delicate prints or even sometimes religious motifs such as crosses and stained glass. This was a perfect choice for Cardi, as she mentions the dichotomy of working at the Amish bakery before heading across the bridge to work nights at the strip club. This is great styling, not only the ability to create beautiful dramatic moments but creating moments that make sense for the story, the designer, and the artist themselves.
Worlds Collide for L'Officiel Summer 2022
Shot by Matt Colombo, Styled by Giulio Martinelli, Modeled by Emily Schiffman
Meet your fashion avatar, a place where digital and IRL have the freedom to interact. I think this is a really great example of how digital art can be used to elevate what else would be a relatively simple studio shoot. These 3D rendered images have movement to them, and I think the stylist really leaned into elements of 90s punk with the tartan print, oversized clothing, and hair and makeup styling. This shoot was a precursor to a conversation between Ukrainian designers behind the digital fashion brand Dress X and Iris Van Herpen, a brand known for incorporating 3D technology into their intricate designs. I think this was a great way to introduce digital fashion to the L'Officiel audience and get readers excited for their potential fashion journey into the metaverse.
Keke Palmer for Glamour Magazine July 2022 Issue
Shot by Lea Winkler, Styled by Justin Hamilton
One thing I like about this editorial is its focus on Keke Palmer's wide range of interests in the entertainment industry, from talk show hosting to comedy, drama, animation, and most recently, horror. We see Keke in this in this knit Diotima cut-out dress with a Philosophy blazer, holding a vintage camcorder, signifying as she said in the interview that she is looking forward to directing and producing in the future.
Next, we see Keke pictured here in a beautiful Et Ochs gown in the control room of a studio, an image that quite literally portrays her control of where she is in her life and career. We then see Keke in this Jean Paul Gaultier coat and heels amidst a set of vintage TV sets and wiring. I love how the art deco-inspired illusion of the coat pulls in her waist and almost mimics the pattern of the tv screens disrupted behind her. I also love the exposed wires as they lay amongst her singular long braid, the styling contributing to her overall boss b*tch vibe.
I think this is a fun shoot that really celebrates where Keke Palmer is in her life and makes readers excited about her next chapter and to see her new summer blockbuster, NOPE, premiering on July 22nd.