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Distributed for Hirmer Publishers

Vernier

Fashion, Femininity and Form

Edited by Alistair C. Layzell

Distributed for Hirmer Publishers

Vernier

Fashion, Femininity and Form

Edited by Alistair C. Layzell

Eugene ‘Gene’ Vernier (1920–2011) worked as a fashion photographer for British Vogue  from 1954 to 1967, during one of the most exciting periods in fashion history. Shooting of-the-moment looks from the likes of Christian Dior and Emilio Pucci and top models including Celia Hammond, Jean Shrimpton, and current Vogue creative director Grace Coddington, Vernier worked with some of the biggest names in the industry. Yet he was relatively unconcerned with celebrity. Interested only in bringing out the very best in each frame, Vernier was a true craftsman in the fashion photography trade.

Featuring more than one hundred of Vernier’s own favorite photographs drawn from Vogue’s extensive photo archive, this lavishly illustrated volume reveals remarkable innovation in the use of props, backdrops, and location. Whether he was photographing his subjects by the sea, with a canine companion, or perfectly positioned atop a pale pink convertible, Vernier’s careful composition enhanced the essence of his subject. Vernier shot mostly in black-and-white, and his trademark “look” is one of classic femininity. He sought to capture models when they were relaxed, enjoying the clothing, and confident that their photographer would show both only at their best. Providing commentary on the photographs are fashion history expert Becky E. Conekin and Vogue historian Robin Muir.
 
This is first book to focus on Vernier’s work at Vogue and it allows readers a rare glimpse of his inimitable blend of technical excellence and an eye for experimentation.

189 pages | 22 color plates, 93 halftones | 9 x 11 | © 2012

Art: Photography

Design


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Table of Contents

Introduction
      Alistair C. Layzell

Vernier: A photographer’s place in Vogue history
      Robin Muir
Taking Off: London Fashion changes charted by Eugène Vernier
      Becky E. Conekin
Photographic Plates
Eugène Vernier: A Life
      Alistair C. Layzell
The stories behind selected Vernier shoots
      Alistair C. Layzell

Endnotes
Acknowledgements
Source of Quotations
Illustration Credits

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