Summer Surf City

Great fashion/photo essay from this month's issue of Paper magazine. Photographs by Martin Sanmiguel.

Lara Stone on Vogue Paris

Lara Stone of the July issue of The Sartorialist Vogue Paris. This is the one magazine I wish I could subsribe to. Photographed by: Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott. (Via Vain and Vapid)

Dreamgirl

I love these photos of Kate Moss. W magazine, June 2007. Photographed by Ryan McGinely.

Missing Domino

Last week, I received my first issue of Glamour the offical replacement of Domino. Sad face. I'm glad that English Muse is posting Domino favorites from the past. Pictured is Carolina Jr.'s Madrid apartment from the premiere issue, Spring/Summer 2005.

Nivea Made Chic

I love these Nieva ads from Italian Vogue. Who knew a face cream could be so glamourous? (Via The English Muse)

French Vogue: “A Toutes Jambes”

If there were one magazine I wish I could buy every month, it would be French Vogue. Check out the editorial pages from the June issue. (Via Refinery 29)

Domino Tag Sale

This Saturday, former Domino staffers and their fabulous designer friends are having a giant tag sale of furniture, fashion and decorative objects. Everything is under $500 (and most things are under $10). It will be held at the 19th-century brownstone of Tom Delavan, Domino's former editor at large. Amazing!
Saturday, May 9, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 13 West Ninth Street, garden apartment; cash only; haggling welcome. (Via NYT)

Back To The "Drew"ing Board...

The "Drew"ing Board from SPD Videos on Vimeo.
I am a huge fan of Nathalie Kirsheh over at W magazine. Here's a video of her design process for the April 2009 feature of Drew Barrymore. (Via spd.org)

Beyoncé on the Cover of Vogue

Thank You SPD

I am loving the new work section on the SPD website. It's great to see new work and the process behind it. The top spread is from Hector Sanchez, the new Creative Director of Portland Monthly magazine. Apparently, Portland is home to an amazing creative community and is truly, the "beardiest city in America!" The second spread is from Scott Dadich and his creative team over at Wired. It is worth reading his post about "design under constraint." And the last two pages are from Boston magazine which was redesigned by Patrick Mitchell, founder of PlutoMedia. All of these are wonderful examples of smart, simple and sophisticated design.

Michelle Obama on the Cover of Vogue

I just found out about this. I haven't gotten my issue in the mail yet. Can't wait!

Marie Claire: Running in Heels

We all know that the current business model for magazines is no longer profitable. Partnerships with television networks seem to be the latest avenue for staying power. This Old House, Wired, Seventeen (America's Next Top Model), Elle Decor (Top Design), Elle (Project Runway and Stylista), and even Real Simple all have corresponding shows. It's still not 100 percent official that Marie Claire is replacing Elle as the magazine partner of Project Runway, but the Hearst-owned title is already making its second foray into reality TV. Running in Heels, a "docu-series" about "the real drama of life at a major fashion magazine," will debut on The Style Network in March 2009. Stay tuned.

So Much for 'Change': Vanity Fair Reuses 2007 Obama Cover for March 2009 Issue

Barack Obama is on the cover of the new Vanity Fair as part of the magazine's photo portfolio of his team and supporters taken by Annie Leibovitz. (Not to be confused with The New York Times Magazine's photo portfolio by Nadav Kander from earlier this month.)

If President Obama's sideways position and stern expression look a little familiar, they should: It's the same photo that ran on the cover in July 2007 as part of a 20-part celebrity-filled spread devoted to Africa, albeit with some small differences.

A call to the magazine's spokesperson confirmed that the two covers use the same photo and that the credit inside the new issue acknowledges that Ms. Leibovitz took the portrait of then-Senator Obama in 2007.

We're just excited to play "Check... and Double Check," which we hadn't done since our subscription to Highlights ran out in the fourth grade. (Via The Observer)

Flashback: First Things First

The First Things First 2000 manifesto, written and launched by Adbusters magazine in 1999, was an updated version of the earlier First Things First manifesto written and published in 1964 by Ken Garland, a British designer.

The 2000 manifesto was signed by a group of 33 figures from the international graphic design community, many of them well known, and simultaneously published in Adbusters, Emigre (Issue 51) and AIGA Journal of Graphic Design. The manifesto was subsequently published in many other magazines and books around the world, sometimes in translation. Its aim was to generate discussion about the graphic design profession's priorities in the design press and at design schools. Some designers welcomed this attempt to reopen the debate, while others rejected the manifesto.

The question of value-free design has been continually contested in the graphic design community between those who are concerned about the need for values in design and those who believe it should be value-free. Those who believe that design can be free from values reject the idea that graphic designers should concern themselves with underlying political questions. Those who are concerned about values believe that designers should be critical and take a stand in their choice of work, for instance by not promoting industries and products perceived to be harmful. Examples of projects that might be classified as unacceptable include many forms of advertising and designs for cigarette manufacturers, arms companies and so on. Adbusters has been a significant outlet for these ideas, especially in its commitment to detournement and culture jamming.

The September Issue

The September 2007 issue of Vogue magazine weighed nearly five pounds, and was the single largest issue of a magazine ever published. With unprecedented access, The September Issue, directed and produced by R.J. Cutler, tells the story of legendary Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour and her larger-than-life team of editors creating the issue and ruling the world of fashion.

The September Issue won the Grand Jury Prize for Excellence in Cinematography at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival (Via apr.tv).

Latina Magazine

I love this spread from Latina.

Black Models in Print

I have noticed more black models in magazines and advertisements. The latest installment of Banana Republic ads caught my attention. Beautiful Somalian model Yasmin Warsame is the sole brown face in the campaign. In them she's paired with a white male model, which marks the first time I can recall seeing an interracial romance themed ad from BR. Also, Liya Kebede & Jourdan Dunn are featured in February 2009 issue of Vogue. I do think the "all black" issue of Italian Vogue helped surge the appearance of black models or maybe it's because we finally have a black president. Go into any newsstand and Obama is the leading cover boy. Regardless, this topic is always up for discussion. PROGRESS.

The Domino Effect

Today, I heard the news that Domino magazine is folding. I am truly heartbroken. Not only was it one of the best places I've ever worked, but it's also my favorite magazine (I have every single issue and March 2009 will be the last). I am shocked! And I am fearful of what's happening to my industry, it's disappearing right in front of my eyes. :(

Surprise

Check out the intro to Visionaire's latest collector's publication, Visionaire 55 Surprise. The holiday issue presents intricate pop-ups by various artists including Steven Meisel and Mario Testino. Executed by renowned paper engineer Bruce Foster, the issue features moveable images, 3D scenes, and surprise reveals. The pop-up folios are housed in a dark purple cloth-covered case with a magnetized closure and engraved numbered metal plaque. Plus, I love the "Rock With Me" mix.

Let Go

I was reading this month's issue of Vogue – I hate the cover line, but I am a fan Jennifer – and one particular quote resonated with me. "Everything you want in the world is just outside your comfort zone." This is very true for me. I am so controlled, I'm always worried about what other people think. I know my New Year's resolution should be to let go.