Synopses & Reviews
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.
About the Author
Robin Muir is a former editor of British
Vogue and the author, most recently, of
Norman Parkinson: Portraits in Fashion. Becky E. Conekin is a senior lecturer and senior research fellow in the Department of History at Yale University. She is the author or coauthor of several books, including The Englishness of English Dress, The Autobiography of a Nation, and Fashion Theory.
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