As part of its 100-year celebrations British Vogue is releasing a landmark, limited edition book on 15 September of which only 1,916 will be made – to mark the year of the publication’s first issue.
Published by Genesis Publications, Vogue – Voice of Century, is a 504pp volume that includes 32,000 words of new interviews with 100 Vogue contributors as well as 400 photographs, illustrations, correspondence and covers.
The book contains previously unseen letters from legendary photographers Helmut Newton and Cecil Beaton, as well as candid exchanges between Vogue editor Audrey Withers and ground-breaking American photographer Lee Miller.
Editors, models and photographers recall their special collaborations: model Jerry Hall remembers iconic shoots with Grace Coddington and Norman Parkinson; Jean Shrimpton recollects her famous partnership with David Bailey; Kate Moss relives a shoot riding on elephants with Christy Turlington in Nepal; Bianca Jagger talks about her Vogue moment for a cover shoot in the Seventies in Paris; and Juergen Teller remembers his first rather surreal meeting with fashion editor Isabella Blow.
Alexandra Shulman
Vogue editor in chief Alexandra Schulman said the new book stood out from all previous books on the subject of the magazine. “During the lifetime of British Vogue, there have been many Vogue books published. But never a book such as this. Vogue – Voice of A Century is the ultimate anthology of the magazine, a celebration of 100 years of the many talents that have created the thousands of pages of magical images and interesting and inspiring journalism,” she said.
Some choice quotes from the book include:
“When I got my first Vogue cover, I was like, ‘That’s it. I can give up now. I’m done.’ That was all I wanted: a British Vogue cover.” Kate Moss.
“I first worked for Vogue in 1956 and I can’t imagine life without it. I’ve always been excited to see my pictures in a Condé Nast magazine. Vogue has been my life.” Lord Snowdon.
“Vogue is the pinnacle of style and fashion. It is always an honour to have my clothes photographed for the magazine. Ever since I was a young boy I dreamed of having my designs in there.” Christopher Kane.
“As a business it means a huge amount to have Vogue support your brand and shoot your clothes. To have that acknowledgement is priceless.” Victoria Beckham.
The collector’s item books are presented in a solander case, with a shutter, underneath which a photographic print is revealed. They have been hand-made by Milanese craftsmen. Each of the 1,916 books is signed by at least seven of the 100 contributors and copies are available to pre-order now at the price of £590.
A behind the scenes documentary showing life at British Vogue will air on 8 September on BBc2 at 9pm.
