Front Row/Backstage [Hardcover]

Mario Testino (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1999

"Fashion shows have become a kind of performance art. It is a case of be there or be square as models, clothes, music, and light make new ideas come to life in front of one of the most discerning and critical audiences for any art form. In his new book Front Row/Backstage acclaimed Vogue photographer Mario Testino has captured the excitement and drama of the international shows in Paris, London, and Milan. Testino has conjured a collage of images from these intense, hectic, beautiful events, contrasting the chaos and reality behind the scenes with the moment on the catwalk when a woman is transformed into an icon of chic. Testino invites you to share his coveted seat in the front row to witness the fleeting moments of fashion as it happens. Then he celebrates the hidden world behind the scenes as the worlds most beautiful women are unceremoniously hurled into their next outfit from Lacroix, St. Laurent, Gucci, Chanel, Dior, and Givenchy. Front Row/Backstage is a chance for us to witness firsthand the most exclusive fashion moments through the eyes of the world's hottest fashion photographer."

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In Front Row/Backstage, Mario Testino's relaxed photos capture the fantasy of the high-fashion world. They take readers to recent fashion shows and are organized in an almost play-by-play manner. In the book's introduction, Vogue editor Anna Wintour reminds readers how Testino's signature style is clearly visible in his portraits of the late Princess Diana: "Although we had seen a million pictures of Diana, we had never seen her looking so relaxed, accessible and modern as when Mario photographed her." This accessible feeling is one that Testino projects onto all of his subjects. Here Testino shows the backstage preparation for the top designers' runway shows, the photographers preparing, the audience being seated, the models dressing, and the show itself. He has captured some of the most groundbreaking collections and innovative presentations, such as Alexander McQueen's flooded runway and his winter collection, during which snow poured down onto all of the models. Other noted shows include Yohji Yamamoto, Givenchy, Chloe, Christian Dior, and John Galliano. The moments Testino captures are timeless: they seem to hold so much beauty and effortless style that they feel current. Only a peek at the date of a show reveals that some images are from many collections ago. The action and movement of the shots give a whole new life to past and present visions of our fashion gurus and icons. --Amra Brooks

Product Details

• Hardcover: 132 pages
• Publisher: Bulfinch Press; First Edition edition (November 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821226320
• ISBN-13: 978-0821226322
• Product Dimensions: 15 x 10 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #231,436 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Being there, February 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Front Row/Backstage (Hardcover)

I think Amazon's review comes close to capturing my sentiments about this book. Yes it's grainy, that's what the shows feel like with all of the smoke and noise and haste of all the magazine editors swooping in and out again for the next venue (did you read Suzy Menkes' Preface?); I find this to be a truthful documentary on what a fashion show IS. As far as Joesmoe taking these pictures...was HE there to do it? Only disappointment: where is that splashy production quality one associates with the jetset fashion world? Hint: is the next project going to be the longawaited book of masculine nudes!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars i'm straight and i love your book, November 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Front Row/Backstage (Hardcover)

like his last book, testino explores the subcultures of society, this time the catwalks of fashion capitals. sure we may have seen this subject attemted before, however, testino's eye is less forgiving, bringing us the gritty realism of supermodeldom. long live testino

9 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I wish I could give it NO stars at all!, November 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Front Row/Backstage (Hardcover)

The pics are AWFUL-extremely grainy black and whites,I mean I suppose they're meant to appear that way but WHY I haven't a clue.They just look blurry and EXTREMELY grainy to me.And they look like they could have been taken by any average Joe or Jane off the street.Furthermore,you can barely make out the people,and definitely not the fashions.I actually returned this book,I hated it so.Obviously,I do NOT reccomend it.Mario Testino's OTHER book,however,called Any Objections,is really cool and fun.It has a priceless shot of a lesbian trio of models,including my fav,Jenny Shimizu(plus Alice Temple-cool tattoo!-and some other gorgeous one I don't know the name of,but she has a cool lip ring...).By all means,buy that one.But don't waste your money on this one.