Thursday, May 22, 2008

Ali Stephens Back Stage

To get this project started, we sent Magnum photographer, Christopher Anderson, into the wilds of the Fashion Weeks. He shadowed ascendant model Ali Stephens, the established but still indie designer Maria Cornejo, the ineluctable superstar Karl Lagerfeld, and two less visible stars—stylist Katie Grand, and hair wizard Eugene Souleiman. We honed the trends, from classic (we’re overjoyed to report, black is still back) to sexily regressive (lace!) to recklessly avant-garde (collars now resemble origami). At the end of this pursuit, there may not be agreement on a singular image or individual that represented a definitive moment, but the affair is now at least confined to the pages here. Immediate and thorough; that’s as singular as a fashion magazine can get.


Models backstage at Zac Posen, New York, February 7.
(Photo: Christopher Anderson)