A Winning Combination

Great editorial to match a great cover. No complaints from me here. I love everything about this, especially the second shot with Freja reclining so haphazardly. She's looking as fresh faced and beautiful as ever, very much the woman I've always known her to be. Freja, Lucinda and Josh is a combination I can get used to:

Colour Shock
Vogue UK August 2010
Ph: Josh Olins
Styling: Lucinda Chambers

Part of the reason I love Freja's work with Josh is that he seems to draw out a fluidity of movement in her that no one else does. If you look at all three of their editorials together (first on here, second one here), Freja has expanded her posing repertoire and been more innovative in her movements. I really believe that's a result of Josh's direction and what he wants/requires from the models he shoots. This vibrancy is quite kinetic and maybe sometimes a little awkward, but always organic to the story at hand. The lines of the body draw your eye in, and while you look at the angle of limbs or the skewed positions of hands and feet, you also begin to see the clothing. It's a great way to display clothes on a model's body. A lot better than just dressing her up in one designer from head-to-toe and telling her to jump.

The styling is perhaps a little safe, but the first few editorials showcasing new season looks always have to be. These are the first time the clothes are displayed in the magazines and to the "general public," so of course you don't want to over style them or mix and match them too much to the point where they're unrecognizable. Expose them and show them in all their glory, and cultivate that desire for consumption that you do so well Fashion.

The colors are a dream though (as well as those Balenciaga heels), proving the talents of Lucinda once again. So bright, fresh and light. Not only does she manage to take Fall/Winter clothing and create a story appropriate for the summer release of this issue, she also makes the clothes express a whimsy and cool, refreshing quality that belies their colder weather purpose. Lucinda is the type of stylist who makes you realize that it isn't always just the photographer or model who makes or breaks an editorial. Styling plays a large, albeit much less obvious, role as well. From the first time Freja and Lucinda worked together back in September of 2005 to this time nearly 5 years later, I can honestly say it's a working relationship that I love and always look forward to seeing because it never disappoints me. Think of all the great work Freja has done for the magazine, and nearly every instance you'll see Lucinda credited as the stylist. It's really an amazing history and I never want to see it end.

Well folks, after a bit of a quiet spell for the months of May, June and July, it appears that Freja is back in full force and ready to tackle the Fall fashion months ahead! Couple this with all the ad campaigns breaking and Haute Couture shows starting shortly (Monday, July 5th!!) and we've got enough Freja news to hold us over until the SS10 runway show season.

Image Credits: scans via tFS member fearless123