This year is Vogue’s 120th anniversary. Can you believe that? Vogue has been around for OVER 100 years, for many of us this is three to four generations of our family. Can you imagine all the fashion, models, designers and celebrities that this tome of our culture has covered? To celebrate Vogue has released a biblical sized September issue and Anna Wintour recounts her experience editing her first issue of Vogue. The picture, below features Israeli model, Michaela Bercu forecasting what would become mainstream in fashion: the high/low mix.
Bercu is seen wearing a Christian Lacroix sweater with simple denim. It had never been done before on the cover of a major high-fashion magazine, and as legend goes (or Anna recounts) the printers even called the Vogue offices to ensure that they had received the correct cover. It was groundbreaking at the time, but now mixing high and low is common place, even amongst the super rich. In fact, wearing all one label, or wearing head to toe designer is often seen as crass or an indication of nouveau riche. I think this just further proves why Anna is so successful at Vogue. She is always foretelling the future, like a stylish couture-clad gypsy, Anna always knows what will be in next. It’s that sort of talent that has kept Vogue’s name alive and well for over a century, even as print has to contend with fashion blogs and online media.
So…what do you think of Anna’s first cover? How do you mix high and low in your daily wardrobe? For me its always about the high for bags and shoes, and low for clothes. Trends come and go so frequently, I can’t see myself spending a lot on most of them. Black pants, great blazers and a simple winter coat, sure I will splurge for those, but everything else I try to stay mid-stream with picks from Zara, Topshop and independent retailers. If I do splurge on clothes it’s in bulk during sale seasons when many retailers mark things off up to 70%. More than that I can’t afford, or don’t see it as a good investment.
Share your high and low tricks in the comments below or tweet me at @Icon_Concierge.
