Vanity Fair Portraits...at the LACMA! Leibovitz, Newton, and Herb Ritts astound...

LACMA will unveil an installation of Vanity Fair Portraits (1913-2008) in what promises to be the first major exploratory exhibition to meld together the magazine's historic archive of rare vintage prints with its tantalizing collection of contemporary photographs from leading media artists of the day.

The exhibition runs October 26th through March 1st at the 2009 Hammer Building.

According to the curators, the insightful foray explores the myriad ways in which photography and celebrity have interacted and transformed each other in an almost mystical way.


The landmark exhibition at LACMA will feature portraits published during an earlier period between 1913 thru 1936 - and in conjunction with - a select few pieces from a later more contemporary time frame at Vanity Fair 1983 to the present day.

The Los Angeles presentation, which is sponsored by Burberry, will be the only U.S. stop on an international tour.


Photographers in the much-anticipated exhibition include Cecil Beaton, Harry Benson, Julian Broad, Imogen Cunningham, Annie Leibovitz, Man Ray, Steven Meisel, Helmut Newton, Herb Ritts, Edward Steichen, Mario Testino, and Bruce Weber.

Stills posted here are representative of the work of a handful of artists in the stellar show.

A collaboration between Vanity Fair and the National Portrait Gallery

Karl Lagerfeld...fashion excess, Fall '07

A bellwether trend for fall puts the big focus on trench coats - in the menswear arena, at least.

Now that there is a nip in the air and storm clouds beckon from the north, outerwear function makes a lot of fashion sense.

The one in camel hair, pictured above, is an elegant addition to any man's wardrobe, and is easily mixed-and-matched.

But, according to Menswear Designer, John Bartlett, every guy needs a classic black coat in their wardrobe (2nd publicity still) with simple details which can be worn on a variety of occasions.

Throw it over a classic suit or team it with casual attire underneath without much angst over clashing patterns or styles.

The trend for eye-catching topcoats is splashing big this fall!

From simple, classic silhouettes, woven in traditional fabrics, to the very extravagant one by Karl Lagerfeld (Photo 3) above trimmed with animal skins.

If you want to avoid the ire of animal rights advocates, though, it may be wise to go with faux fur.

Some argue that if an animal has been bred for its pelt, that there is no cause for alarm; but the jury is still out, in my estimation.

Any wild animal on an endangered species list is a definite no-no.

In most menswear collections this fall, significant outerwear was featured prominently on the runways - full length, mid-length - you name it.

After hours, the ubiquitous attention-getter, was teamed with well-styled straight-leg dress slacks, topped with pristine dress shirts, or a myriad of jazzy, patterned sweaters to add a zap of color - some with viking motifs stitched in for an individualized look.

A couple of designers toyed with the idea of long over shirts, which floated out from underneath shorter jackets and waistcoats, to create an illusion of tails.

The daring may go one step farther and don the provocative offerings John Galliano unveiled in recent days. (Photo 4)

I'm betting only a handful of macho men will have the ***** to try to pull the look off.