HORST: PHOTOGRAPHER OF STYLE - V&A MUSEUM EXHIBITION REVIEW

If you're seeking some post-Christmas culture, I'd like to point you in the direction of the Horst: Photographer of Style exhibition at the V&A. When American Airlines invited me to visit the retrospective of Horst P. Horst's work I have to admit I was unfamiliar with the German-American fashion photographer. A trip to the V&A opened my eyes to his influence in the industry; Horst references are everywhere. Throughout his incredible 60 year career, the photographer created iconic images that transcend fashion time; mastering light, composition and atmosphere illusion to illustrate his predominantly female muses as goddess-like figures. Following the advancement to colour photography in 1930's, Horst's work took a dazzling, colourful direction, with a playful feel that no doubt evolved photography towards the pop art movement. 

With a closing date of January 5th, there isn't long left to visit the exhibition. Book your tickets sharpish here. 

AN EVENING WITH BRITISH VOGUE EDITOR ALEXANDRA SHULMAN AT THE V&A

Last Friday evening I was lucky enough to attend an Evening with Alexandra Shulman at the V&A with my fashion pal, Style and Then Some's Katie Wright.

Held in the V&A's impressive domed Lydia and Manfred Gorvy lecture theatre, the venue for the event was equally as imposing as the British Vogue editor's journalistic credentials. However, if  members of the audience had come to the talk expecting to find a Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada type-character in the British Vogue editor, I suspect they would have gone away dissapointed. Shulman's public persona is about as far removed from the traditional stereotype of a Vogue editor as I can imagine; a quality which continues to make her enduringly fascinating twenty years on from the date she inherited Britain's fashion bible.

'God, what am I going to wear??' Shulman told interviewer Francine Stock was her first thought when she found out she'd got the coveted job of editing British Vogue. Talking through her most memorable covers from her career at the magazine, Schulman shared several of Kate Moss because not only is she beautiful but 'Vogue sells when Kate is on the cover'. The evolution of the celebrity clothes horse was apparent through Shulman's choices, with the 'trashy/perfect' Robbie and contraversial Victoria Beckham covers selling well, 'I think I had the last laugh putting Victoria on the cover now that she has become a successful designer own right' Alexandra told the audience. Putting a Marks and Spencer shirt on the cover of the May '96 issue also proved to be controversial cover for Shulman, as some believed the magazine should only be synonymous with luxury fashion. Shulman also discussed the Princess Diana commerative issue with whom Vogue shared 'a real relationship' with. 

Alexandra also took the time to answer the audience's questions on a variety of subjects from the possibility of Vogue moving into e-commerce to her desert island luxury! Continue reading after the cut for the Q & A responses..