VidFlip: V Magazine #56

MONDBLOG VidFlip: V Magazine #56 from Raymond Navarro on Vimeo.

When I first caught site of the cover of the recent V issue I was honestly a bit confused. The site of Beyoncé Knowles,
or Sasha Fierce — I get confused, had a very sobering effect on me unlike the fourteen intoxicating covers hailing Daria
Werbowy, Lara Stone, Naomi Campbell, Eniko Mahlik and other new and fav faces.

And you would've thought that a cover star like Beyoncé would've at least fattened up the issue (she was making Coco dance
in Home Depot instead), but the spring preview just about matched my last year's butt-bearing Giselle fall preview
issue — which, may I mention — marked another time V Magazine shrunk its height (but hey, dropped the price!).
Advertising is down in the many media mediums so my guess was fashion magazines might have to sell more sex, generate
more gasps and tactfully find a way to appeal to a more financially conscious consumer. Ads, a main staple in any fashion magazine's identity,
were a bit lackluster. Neither Chanel or Prada sought to buying one of the opening ad spreads. Nor are Dior
or Givenchy ads anywhere to be found. They were maybe waiting to buy the space in the just out spring issue with
cover star Grace Jones. (Soon to come!)

How V went at it this issue was with a lead Steven Miesel editorial titled "Dogging" — British slang for doing the dirty
in public — whose styling and modeling performances were muted by the raunch and night-vision photo treatment. It can
get your attention at times, but its sometimes hard to focus on the clothes or appreciate their colors, textures and the
overall luxury of the high-price fashion mixed in with brands Ksubi, Converse and Diesel . Still, the editorial begged to question:
how far is too far; is blatant, nana-peaking leg spreading the en vogue or am I all of a sudden out of touch? It's a good question. My friend Samantha and I conclude
it's all really based on the taste level. This one's taste — well, I wouldn't want to yuck your yum so I'll let you decide.
The photos to me are what might be if Ryan McGinley chose the spots for the party moments of
Paris Hilton and Britney Spears to evolve and never cease. When you reach the last page of it, you're not begging for too much more.
Still, the issue comes with some great shots with Kim Noorda, Heidi Mount, Lakshmi Menon
and an articles on the openly transgendered fashion model Teri Toye. You've got to check it our for
yourself. VidFlip and enjoy. (And don't forget you can head over to my Vimeo and watch it in much higher definition!)