Annie Leibovitz: Our Favorite Fashion Photography Icon

By Paige Mckirahan 

 

 

One of our favorite fashion photographers of all time took the industry by storm in 1970 when she landed a job at Rolling Stone at the tender age of 21; Annie Leibovitz, born in Connecticut in 1949, is a world renowned portrait photographer most famous for her jaw dropping editorials that have dazzled the public for decades. Prior to the start of her high-profile career, Leibovitz studied at the San Francisco Art Institute where she discovered her passion for photography. After being offered a position as a staff photographer at Rolling Stone, she was quickly promoted to chief photographer after a mere two years and held that title for the following decade. Her success at the company gave her the opportunity to document the Rolling Stones band on their international tour in 1975, solidifying her icon status only a few short years into her professional career.

 

 

The Rolling Stones by Annie Leibovitz (Pinterest)

 

During her time at Rolling Stone, Leibovitz slowly began developing her legendary aesthetic that features bold primary colors and mind boggling poses. Many of her magazine cover shots are considered to be collector’s items; pop culture aficionados fight everywhere to get their hands on original issue of John Lennon Wrapped around Yoko Ono, which was the final photo taken of the Beatle before his death in 1980.

After leaving her position with Rolling Stone shortly after in 1983, Leibovitz was hired by Vanity Fair where she was presented with a wider variety subjects to feature in her enchanting portraits. Her over the top shoots would feature everyone from the president of the United States to teen heartthrobs that graced the pages of TigerBeat. Though her stunning photos have captivated the attention of millions, many are also famous for their controversial compositions; a very pregnant and nude Demi Moore, Caitlyn Jenner's first photoshoot as her true self, and Whoopi Goldberg half-submerged in milk all brought Leibovitz criticism after the profiles were released.

 

 

Whoopi Goldberg by Annie Leibovitz for Vanity Fair (Vanity Fair) 

This amazing artist has also shot photos for a multitude of famous marketing campaigns, including a collection of American Express portraits depicting Tom Selleck, Elmore Leonard, and Luciano Pavoritti that won her a Clio Award in 1987. As woman of many talents, she has also taken photos at the Olympics, published multiple books featuring her work with accompanying essays, and became the first woman ever to have a solo exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. in 1991.

Residing in New York City, Leibovitz is still hard at work today and remains an iconic figure in the photography world. With such a grand portfolio, we her knew work would feature the best of the best photos depicting some fabulous fashion accessory moments. Here are our top five favorite Leibovitz fur and glove shot finds! See anyone you know?

 

Lady Gaga By Annie Leibovitz for Vanity Fair

 

Sofia Vergara by Annie Leibovitz for Vanity Fair

 

Uma Thurman by Annie Leibovitz for Vogue

 

Cameron Diaz by Annie Leibovitz for Vogue

 

Drew Barrymore by Annie Leibovitz for Vogue

 

If these amazing photos have you feeling inspired, head over to our collection to snag some fur and gloves of your own that would be sure to stun in any Annie Leibovitz portrait!

Sources:

Annie Leibovitz. (2016, January 08). Retrieved from https://www.biography.com/people/annie-leibovitz-9542372

Dazzling Dressing Tables: A Brief History of the Vanity

By Paige McKirahan

 

Though the world of luxury furniture is very much alive and well, the type of pieces we see popularized now are worlds away from the specially crafted styles that previously dominated the market. If you are someone with cosmetics, accessories, or perfumes, it is likely that you have some sort of container to hold them all (or so we hope!). But, we ask, have you ever stored them in an ever-so-glamorous vanity?

The dressing table is one piece of furniture that reveals a great deal about the culture in its time; few other items tell us more about leisure pursuits, trends, and changing social customs than this. This is an ever evolving piece and it has held a variety of names including the dressing table, dressing stand, vanity, and toilet table. But, we wonder, where did this fashionable furniture come from and how did it achieve the elegant status is possesses today?

 

(photo credits to the metmuseum.com)

Of course, the vanity comes from humble beginnings in ancient culture; its earliest ancestor is considered to be ornate boxes that were crafted for holding beauty products in Egypt and Greece. The use of boxes for this storage purpose continued for centuries until the 1600s in Europe, where the early vanity began evolving. The original name of the piece was the toilet table and they were used in the bathroom for hygiene purposes with a wash basin for freshening up. High society in this century and into the next began wanting more delicate designs; they started commissioning specialized furniture pieces that were modeled after shaving tables, poudreuses, and the low boy. Poudreuses hailed from France; they boasted a small tabletop for holding perfume, along with a small amount of drawer storage for makeup. Low boys were more so popular in the U.S. and England and were often custom made. In addition to their decorative elements, they typically offered one or two rows of drawers for storage purposes.

Poudreuse (top) and Low boy vanity styles

(photo credits to pinterest.com)

As we headed towards the 19^th century, these tables started to become larger with more decorative features. They now included mirrors and an increased number of drawers, making them a more cabinet-style. With their newfound function, they began being included in bedroom furniture collections and were commonly accompanied by a small stool. The variety of styles offered also increased in this century; colonial, Queen Anne, and Chippendale style vanities were elaborate and were often made of oak, walnuts, or mahogany. We saw huge art movement influence on these tables and many revivalist styles including Gothic, Elizabethan, Rococo, and Renaissance. 

 

19th Century Rococo Vanity

(photo credits to inessa.com)

The early 20^th century brought the Art Deco movement alive; this artistic style is synonymous with the 1900s rise of the vanity as luxurious dressing tables became the epitome of prestige. Old Hollywood films of the ‘20s and ‘30s painted a picture of a femme fatale sitting in her Manhattan apartment decorated with an elegant vanity table. Since then, vanity table's luxurious standing still prevails with influencers and couture queens alike creating entire rooms surrounding their vanity space. Do you have a vanity you are looking to fill! Well say goodbye to those empty drawers and hello to our collection for a solution any accessory lover would adore!