Did you wear a black armband when they shot the man

At this very moment it is 25 years ago that the relatives of prime minister of Sweden, Olof Palme, were informed he had been shot dead in the heart of Stockholm. I wont bore you with my political opinions - but I will say that his death was a great tragedy for the Swedish people.

The images of him also shows the beauty of expression and intelligence. Without that, physical perfection is only boring.

Explosive is Your Dior

This famous shot by von Wangenheim for the Dior collection of 1977 makes you clamour for that year, doesn't it? Yearn for the days when artistic genius was something that brands boasted about rather than brushed under the rug for fear of disturbing delicate sensibilities.

Just imagine a young von Wangenheim discussing the ideas for the campaign this image comes from with a major brand today. This would be off the table immediately, of course, for "promoting violence".



This could be Jerry Hall because she does appear in the editorial this comes from. Regardless, this is a beautiful lingerie shot.


Geoffrey Beene ad that has one eagerly awaiting summer. This ad is a text book example of the great aspects of the 70s ads. The image is improbably compelling given the nature of the shades. And this despite the fact that large pores are showing by the model's scalp as well as a most uneven fake tan application. The hair is sweaty-looking and the mascara is somewhat clumped. But does it matter? Not one bit. Is this ad better than all ads published so far 2011? Indeed.


The desert - how can something that looks so good feel so bad....Do not plan this nap in the desert for your next excursion.

Everything's gone green

On this beautiful cover samples of the fall collections of Yves Saint Laurent, Cardin and Ungaro from 1971 meet. The most perfect shade of green...







Roger Gallet ad.

Let there be Yves

These images are from a retrospective of Yves Saint Laurent made in 1982. Looking at these images, that regrettably stems from a source of decidedly subpar quality, it is easy to see why companies go through such trouble to revive/resuscitate brands created by a genius like YSL. But obviously, once the person is gone so is the soul that put that final, crucially important stamp on everything he did.

First off, a return to the 40s from the collection of 1971.


Center is of course Yves Saint Laurent himself with Brigitte dressed in saharan unisex.


The pink Jean Cocteau tribute alongside a runway shot of Jerry Hall and others, all the 1980 collections.


Catherine Deneuve, 1970.

Scare the skies with tiger eyes

If I had to pick one ad series that was the best, I would, on most days, pick the Dior make-up ads by Serge Lutens. They were around from 1974 or so until the (very) early 80s. Louise Despointes is said to be the model in most (all?) of them. This is a beautiful example of this ad series. I never saw this in the American magazines of 1977 so chances are that it only ran in the European editions.

For whatever reason it is tradition that beauty advertisements contain nearly no pores at all - as some sort of example of impeccable perfection presumably. These ads are no exception to that philosophy but nonetheless the soul of the person (or what the person was asked to evoke) is captured in the image.



Some 1977 bridal hair complete with flowers in the hair and a frightened appearance.


Easy, breezy 70s lady on the beach in the south of France.



Possibly, just possibly, the most delectable Cacharel ad I have ever laid my eyes on. The embroidery is so lovely.

Pierced with sunlight and dappled shadows

Photographed in Tobago against walls pierced with sunlight and dappled shadows.


White lace pinafore on a blue linnen dress.



Some of the most popular fabrics of 1965.

A sweet switchblade knife

Bitten Knudsen, effortlessly pulling you right through the lens, as she modeled Corum watches in 1977.




Jerry Hall with Halston bikini and a horse.



Juli Foster in a Giorgio Sant' Angelo sheer lace camisole and harem pants.



Some pretty perfume bottles from Elsa Peretti.

Let the winter sunshine on

Wrapped like candy in blue blue neon glow

Snejana Onopka with a gaze that literally floored me when I unpacked this Christmas gift.



First shot, Hilfiger denim.


























Slightly altered versions of some of the images:

Eyes stare through the darkness with no form

The kind of forbidding sideways glance that goes so well with a Givenchy coat such as this.



Angelica Huston and Bob Richardson. Lanvin and Feraud are in the credits but it is not clear to me who wears what.


Half-kneeling Angelica Huston on the arm of Wallis Franken. All happening in clear blue Dior.


The sort of perfect yet sensuous photograph that can only have been produced by one photographer. The resonance between the smooth fur lining and her hair, the blending of the dress with the texture of the wall. Not to mention the balance of light and dark. And this work of art that should have a prominent wall dedicated to it in a museum is in fact an unreferenced gem hiding in an old magazine. From what I understand it has drawn very little attention for the last 40 years.