I don't usually boast about Christmas presents for two main reasons - too many people out there can't afford to buy anything for their dearest ones and I usually favour presents not directly linked with fashion. Yet I felt this present from my brother had to end up on the site since it's a very clever example of “art meets fashion” or rather a rare example of “comics meet fashion”.
The present in question is a portfolio released for a 1996 comic fair including seven prints by Italian comic book artist Vittorio Giardino for Vogue Paris. Giardino illustrated for the December/January 1994-95 issue of Vogue Paris a graphic novel of noir film The Big Sleep. The graphic novel allowed the artist to play with his characters and dress Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart in Versace and Lanvin.
For a long time Vogue Paris' editor in chief Joan Juliet Buck had wanted to include a comic in the magazine, but she struggled to find an illustrator able to create stylish, elegant and sexy characters until she stumbled upon Giardino's “Vacanze Fatali” (Fatal Holidays) series that completely charmed her.
Readers were enthusiastic and asked for more, so for the July 1995 issue Giardino created a new story this time following the vicissitudes of three girls who, coming back from their holidays, find it hard getting used to every day routines and life.
Giardino's work reappeared on the Christmas 1995 issue of Vogue Paris this time to celebrate the magazine's 75th anniversary. For the occasion he drew Vogue's ideal reader clad in glamorous designs according to the different decades.
The specific portfolio I was gifted features Giardino's works from the May and July 1995 issues of Vogue Paris and portrays the comic artist's heroines clad in designer clothes by Ferré, Krizia, Mugler, Dolce & Gabbana and many more, meeting celebrities and famous actors.
In 2012 we have seen Alan Moore and Malcolm McLaren's Fashion Beast finally being released after 27 years, but we haven't seen any new and exciting collaborations between a proper comic book artist and a major fashion magazine. Guess the time has come to finally rediscover the "comic meets fashion" connection.
Member of the Boxxet Network of Blogs, Videos and Photos
Member of the Boxxet Network of Blogs, Videos and Photos
Comments