 September
2001 : Traditions
A paper cut-out heart adorns the cover of Flaunt September 2001, situated
directly under the bulging cleavage
of a black corset and planting a kiss on the cheek of Pamela Anderson as
you open the page. A clever introduction to this fun issue of the feisty
fashion periodical Flaunt known for design avante garde and frank photography
editorials.
The cover article on Pamela Anderson, photographed by James
White, lets the diva have her say, about opportunism, her faux action
series V.I.P., and larger-than-life female
fantasy figures like Mae West. Wearing a tuxedo by Victor & Rolf,
shot open with no blouse, Anderson seem untouchable, the opposite of her
pop persona.
A fold-out multi-section beauty editorial shot by Warwick Saint highlights
sultry dark hair and soft burning complexions, with oversized jewelry
by Bulgari.
A special photography editorial series titled, "The Restoration of
Traditions," by proprietor Long Nguyen seeks to renew our spirit of
tradition in fashion culture. Jeremy
Scott scenes shot by Bill Owens celebrate the matte trash appeal of
Tradition : Suburbia.
Dana Lixenberg presents provocative sexual inspection photography of Dior
Homme by Hedi
Slimane in Tradition : Sex Tourism. To the other end of the personal
boundary spectrum, Ellen Stagg shoots a richly colored series with Prada
models in Tradition : The
Exclusive Country Club. Tradition : Back to School pushes our collective
goth
buttons with models in plastic classroom chairs donning black Dolce &
Gabbana.
On cue for recess, Fausto Puglisi silks, body jewels, and decadent furs
decorate thrashing bodies in Tradition : The Myth of the Original Sin, photographer
Jeff
Burton. And coming home to cross-generational motifs, Tradition : The
Bridal Shower shot by Gillian Laub frames society women of all adult ages
prim in Yves Saint Lurent Rive Gauche by Tom Ford.
Pulling this spacious issue of Flaunt off the collector shelf and thinking
back to that
singular month, one finds reassurance in a simple biopic of Manhattan
graphic designer Deanne Cheuk, wherein photographer Matthu Placek captures
Cheuk in a quite Japanese
moment of ballerina repose. Cheuk published a short-lived journal MU
in 1997, followed by a graphics zine NEOMU. Writer Gitty Daneshvari
tells us that Cheuk emerged as an inspirational leader of design innovation,
and her
oceanic illustrations embody the mood of this timely issue.
References Flaunt
Magazine | Luis A Barajas, Long
Nguyen, Jim Turner, Founders | Salvatore Ferragamo
| international fashion photographer Warwick
Saint | Pamela
Anderson | actor Jesse
Bradford | hip hop soul
singer Mary J. Blige | New York elite
bar Suite 16 | Prada |
METROFASHION GLAMOUR INDEX
