STUDIO AUDIENCE

The studio shoot is an endeavor unto itself. While pure simplicity of such editorials places the clothes into the forefront the monotony of the concept itself can draw it’s fair share of groans. With their beige backdrops and straight of the runway styling Vogue US’ studio edits have more often than not been the source of mockery. The repetitious motif of jumping blonde Brazilians (Trentini, Zimmermann & Bundchen respectively) and soft focus lighting has worn a bit too thin and judging from Jezebel’s LOLVogue model macros and some of the more acerbically written letters to the editor it would seem as though everyone has a bone to pick.

The cover of Vogue’s January 09 edition promises, “change” and while phrase itself has become something of a buzzword the issue delivers – at least in terms of the featured studio shots. Never has the importance of good casting been so blatantly evident as it is here – Chanel Iman and Jourdan Dunn work overtime. The combined force of their energy enlivens the stale concept. While it is rather unsubtle to follow an Obama-themed article with an editorial featuring the two biggest black models one forgets Vogue’s sloppy attempt’s at diversity the moment they see Jourdan’s icy glare or Chanel’s mega-watt smile. David Sims’ ultra slick style takes center stage and while his love of photoshop goes a bit overboard at times (note the almost cybernetic quality both muses have in some shots) it’s still a plesant respite from Vogue’s typically tasteful ideology.