Emmanuelle Alt

Emmanuelle Alt, whom i have already mentioned with her work with her Husband Franck Durand, is a force in her own right with her roster of Clients including Isabel Marant, Balmain, Gucci, Chanel and Giuseppe Zanotti to name but afew, she started her journey in Fashion at Elle France at the tender age of 17 and went on to work with Mixte where she was Fashion Director and then onto 20 Ans where she became Editor In Chief in 1993, in 2001 Carine Roitfeld then chose her to join her on the new team of Vogue Paris and was employed as Fashion Director and there she stayed until Roitfeld handed in her notice and was then front runner to be the successor of Roitfeld and was then indeed promoted to front and continue on the success of the French publication. 

Within Emmanuelles career she has built upon her natural sense of style of no frills and straight to the point, casual dressing, which is a complete opposite to her successor who was centered around controversy and sexuality. 

Emmanuelle regularly references her love of Music and builds upon her love of movies such as Saturday Night Fever, throughout December 2011 Emmanuelle complied a playlist for everyday during December filled with the sounds of George Michael, Nick Kamen, Michael Jackson and to coincide with the re-launch of Vogue Paris' website Emmanuelle Alt and her staff, best friend Agnés Boulard (also known as Mademoiselle Agnés - French TV Presenter) and regular models who feature in the Magazine Anja Rubik, Karmen Pedaru, Kendra Spears and Jasmine Tookes all re-created the iconic Wham video 'Wake Me Up Before You Go Go' [Below]

Alt has created some of my favorite images in History that regularly feature her favorite cast of models which include Kate Moss, Natasha Poly, Anja Rubik, Isabeli Fontana, Karmen Pedaru and Daria Werbowy and worked with some of the most inspirational photographers such as David Sims, Mert and Marcus, Patrick Demarchelier and Mario Testino.

Not only is her work celebrated but her Personal Style is also centre of topic during Fashion Week(s) for her relaxed, casual and super stylish attire, usually sporting some of the latest pieces by her favorite designers such as Rick Owens, Balmain, Givenchy, Ralph Lauren and Isabel Marant, her relaxed attitude to style and simplicity also supports her lack of IT Bag in her hand or on her arm as she is regularly seen carrying nothing less than her Blackberry (occasionally being seen with an Alexander McQueen clutch or her Louis Vuitton X Sofia Coppola bag).

Fabien Baron

Fabien is a man of many talents, not only is he renowned for his impeccable Creative Direction for Fashion Magazines and Publications but he is also a Photographer to which he has lensed for eponymous brands such as Alexander Wang, Giorgio Armani Cosmetics, Calvin Klein and this isn't forgetting work for publications such as Vogue Paris, Intermission, W and Interview Magazine (to which he is also Art Director at the publication).

I particularly find his grunge-style work for Alexander Wang incredibly inspiring and spine tingling, the way in which he directed model Raquel Zimmerman in the promotional video for the Fall Winter 2011 collection particularly summed up the collection beautifully. 

 He is however behind some of the most iconic images in Fashion history, particularly this iconic series of images of legendary supermodel Linda Evangelista by Patrick Demarchelier for Harpers Bazaar September 1992, to which he was Art Director on the issue, he has also gone on to do work with Vogue Italia and Madonna on her Erotica music video.

Atelier Franck Durand

Classic, Simplistic and Youthful seem to be 3 words that sum up Atelier Franck Durand, their Artistic Direction has helped define brands such as Isabel Marant, Balmain and Giuseppe Zanotti and have continued to help shape a brands image by not only creatively directing their ad campaigns but assisted with the website re-designs for Repossi, Balmain and Faith Connexion.

The above campaign for Isabel Marant Fall Winter 2010 featuring model Kate Moss photographed by Inez and Vinoodh echos my sentiments on how pin sharp and on point their work is, but ultimately they work with brands who echo their design aesthetic and love for simplicity and not wanting for a better word - Cool. 

Atelier Franck Durand is aside from one of the most exciting creative direction agencies in the industry at this given moment but in his personal life he is married to French Vogue Editor in Chief - Emmanuelle Alt, who is not only his wife but also a collaborator within many of his Campaigns, they both embody the same aesthetic and principles around design and style. 

A feeling i usually get that radiates from a majority of the work Atelier Franck Durand command is a cool, rock chic attitude to life and style, this easy and effortless way of dressing and living - showcased wonderfully above in the Fall Winter 2008 campaign for Balmain with Natasha Poly and once again shot with long time collaborator, the photographers Inez and Vinoodh.

Giuseppe Zanotti Spring Summer 2012 with Model Anja Rubik by Inez and Vinoodh.

This is particularly one of my favorite campaigns of the season perhaps its reference to Helmut Newton ? i don't know but its sultry elegance and flirtatious quality to the campaign and the burst of color in the background gives it an eye catching quality - its not overtly complicated and the products are showcased to its maximum and it really makes them desirable products.

M/M Paris

Givenchy Haute Couture Spring Summer 2012 Invitations 

M/M Paris are renowned within the industry for both their intricate Graphic Design or their immaculate Art Direction within Publications such as Vogue Paris and Man About Town, their roster of clients reads like a who's who of fashion and entertainment including Kanye West, Inez and Vinoodh, Givenchy and Balenciaga - Their work is asymmetric and reminiscent of Art Deco architecture, particularly evident in the work above for Givenchy, who they regularly collaborate with on their annual invites issued to attendees of their presentations/shows.

Balenciaga Spring Summer 2002 Ad Campaign

They really capture the essence of style and the atmosphere within Fashion and Entertainment at this moment in time.
Their work really excites me and their collaboration with Inez and Vinoodh on 5 consecutive seasons (S/S 00' F/W 00' S/S 01' F/W 01' & S/S 02') at Balenciaga, elaborating exceptional pieces of advertising that have helped define a decade in fashion, that have truly helped put them on the map as one of the most imaginative duos in Fashion, also known as Michael Amzalag and Mathias Augustyniak, not only do they turn their hand at exceptional art direction for some of the biggest power houses within Fashion but they started their careers as budding Artists.

Vogue Paris October 2002 : Model Ann Catherine Lacroix by Inez and Vinoodh

Their work is exciting, raw and such a feast for the eyes, their eye for details makes their pieces of work iconic in itself with cheeky details, like the example above with Ann Catherine Lacroix peeking through the O in the 'Vogue Paris' mast head and positioned again on the E, which is quite reminiscent of british currency GBP. - Richard