Unseen Vogue: The Secret History of Fashion Photography [Paperback]

Robin Derrick (Editor), Robin Muir (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2004

Unseen Vogue goes beyond the cliches and often repeated "greatest hits" of fashion photography and tells a completely new story. Drawn from the archives of British Vogue, the book presents hundreds of images never seen before—the killed pictures, rejects, and outtakes—to form a fresh, new history of fashion photography. Features the first attempts of many now internationally famous photographers, great pictures by forgotten masters, outtakes from famous shoots, and many other extraordinary and sometimes controversial pictures. By showing contact sheets and unedited film Unseen Vogue opens up the process of making fashion images, previously the reserve of fashion's inner circle.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Whatever happened, you might ask, to Twiggy and Bianca Jagger and Jean Shrimpton, among other supermodels of yesteryear? British Vogue creative director Derrick and sidekick Muir sifted through 1.5 million images housed in the magazine's library to produce a multidecades-long tribute to the artists, photographers, and beauties parading through its pages. It starts at the earliest, in the 1920s, with a black-and-white picture of three aristocratic women; all photographs, at the very least, identify the photographer, the subjects, the credits (hair, outfit, cosmetics)--and at the very best, tell some fascinating stories. Like Vivien Leigh's sensitivity about her large hands. Or Marlene Dietrich's amazing knowledge about lighting, printing, and photography. Even a politely heated exchange between editor Audrey Williams and Cecil Beaton about his then most current project. Fantastical, ethereal, yet a very real portrait of many ages. Barbara Jacobs
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“… a stunning visual catalog of fashion as seen by some of the great photographers of our time.” -- People Magazine Best in Gift Books

“… just when you think you’ve seen everything there is to see, there’s always something else.” -- Newsday

“Fantastical, ethereal, yet a very real portrait of the ages.” -- Booklist

“The photos, running from 1930s to 2001, are richly showcased…. A great addition to any fashion collection.” -- Library Journal

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316727660
• ISBN-13: 978-0316727662
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 7.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #397,824 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT SURPRISE, December 22, 2003

By 

albert champion "albertchampion" (CONROE, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Unseen Vogue: The Secret History of Fashion Photography (Hardcover)

The book is essentially the companion to one of the most fascinating shows that I ever stumbled upon. Last November in London, I went to the Design Museum[founded by Terrence Conran] to view an exhibit of aluminum[aluminium].

Coincidentally, there was this Vogue show. Having paid my admission to the museum, I viewed this exhibit as well. Now, I don't pretend to know much about fashion nor photography. And this show blew me away. And so does this book, but not as well as the show, of course.

An assemblage of insights into the culture and history of the twentieth century that I would never have encountered on my own. Not only does the story reveal how conde nast's money financed some of the more significant technical innovations in photography[which intrigued me since I try to follow the history of science and technology], but I was also fascinated to discover how it was that Vogue may have had the most energetic and brave war correspondent/photographer of WW2: and it was a beautiful and talented woman - Lee Miller. Do take the time to find out all you can about her.

And lastly, the photos are knock-outs. I wouldn't have done this show or this book deliberately, but having stumbled into the show, I have to pronounce it one of the most educational exhibitions that I have encountered.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fashion Guru Must-Have, February 9, 2006

By 

Samantha Glasser "Maliejandra" (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Unseen Vogue: The Secret History of Fashion Photography (Hardcover)

As a fan of the fashion industry, I was excited by this book. It is absolutely filled with major stars. It spans several decades and features models like Jean Shrimpton, Twiggy, Penelope Tree, Pat Cleveland, Veruschka, Uma Thurman, Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Shalow Harlow, Claudia Schiffer, Karen Elson, Maggie Rizer, and Gisele Bundchen. All of the photos are breaktakingly beautiful and interesting from classy old Hollywood style photos, strange modern poses, and glamorous high fashion spreads.

For those of you who actually read these coffee table books, you will not be disappointed. This book is filled with useful information about the industry, Vogue, and how fashion has impacted culture.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A visual history, January 3, 2007

By 

Blondie From Pa. (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Unseen Vogue: The Secret History of Fashion Photography (Hardcover)

I was looking for a book that would inspire me while also giving me a sense of fashion photography's history, and this is just the book. I've turned to it many times as a springboard for ideas or for the pure enjoyment of looking at the images. The copy in the front, though difficult to read because of the small font size, gives interesting gossipy tidbits about the shoots. Though not a complete history of fashion photographer by any means, its focus on Vogue keeps the book from being overwhelming.