Paris, Je t'aime

I was reminded of this editorial during a re-watch of The September Issue (a documentary must-see for people interested in fashion and the inner-workings of Vogue). Although shot in 2007 by Steven Meisel and evoking the photographs of George Brassai. Like George Brassai, the photographs hearken back to a forgotten era and stolen moments a street photographer might capture--friends gossiping as seen through the window of a cafe. Of course unlike Hungarian Brassai, these photographs feature svelte and effortlessly chic models styled by Grace Coddington. It's easy to see the similarities in a side-by-side display, but one has to wonder if some of the original appeal is missing when everyone looks...so perfect; that shift from stolen moments of street photography to the staged ones we often find on blogs and in magazines today leaves something wanting.