Karl Does Dior (Homme)

These images are from the latest Spring 09 campaign for Dior Homme. The campaign features Brazilian model, Marlon Teixeira in a series of black and white photographs by Karl Lagerfeld. Looking back on his work behind the lens, it seems rather clear that Uncle Karl has quite the affinity for black and white photography.

In all honesty I feel that shooting in black and white is something of a double edged sword for most. On the one hand the monochromatic nature of the film allows the photographer to focus on the aspects of light and shadow alone, without the interference of colour. Yet there is also an inherent danger, in that it is so stark and clean cut, it can be hard to manipulate the light properly, to the extent that photographs can come out with no real tonal range. Photography wise, whilst I am not blown away by the campaign, as a whole package I think it works well. The clean cut design has a certain masculine feel, and the black and white style works well with the visual aesthetic of Dior Homme as a brand.

The clothing displayed in the campaign also piques my interest to say the least. The third image with that almost reptilian feeling shirt, through the use of scales created by the negative space, looks particularly interesting and creative. Throughout the Dior Homme collection for the season, there seems to be a sense of elegant and classic design, that has been teased and manipulated with the use of creative destruction.

I find the concept of cutaway design itself inherently intriguing. The use of cutaways plays upon the visual importance of the garment, for the viewer uses the negative space to construct their image of the design, rather than the cloth that is left. As such the designer is able to create the feeling of having moulded 'space' itself using the garment. The visual highlight, provided that the clothing is worn with nothing underneath, is inherently that of human skin and the body. This therefore means that the clothing gives an importance to the wearer. I always feel that is what a garment should achieve, allowing the person wearing the clothing to garner the visual attention of a viewer as a whole look, rather than them simply looking at the clothing alone.

What are your thoughts on the campaign?

I would also like to extend a special thanks to the lovely Krystal of What is Reality Anyway? for featuring me in one of her excellent interviews. Make sure to check out her wonderful site!


Currently playing: Bust It Baby Pt. 2 (Instrumental Version) - Plies & Neyo

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