The Emma Edition: X Chromosomes

Paper Magazine, September 2011. "Girlfriends" photographed by Diggy Lloyd.

Last month I purchased the September Issue of Paper Magazine. I’ve always love Paper because it’s one of the few fashion magazines that has interesting fashion editorials and writing of SUBSTANCE. Especially as my senior year draws close and I start to solidify actual college plans to propel my aspirations in the world of fashion journalism, I often think about this: as much as fashion magazines have the job to present unique commentary on style, first and foremost, a magazine is a business, and more often than not individuality gets thrown out the window if it’s not lucrative. I get so frustrated when I see fashion editorials where models stand, hair slicked back in front of a gray background or editorials of a woman looking wistfully out a window (although, this could be cool if it had a Rear Window-spin to it). I want editorials of models on carousels, at a discotheque, or at a 50’s diner sharing a milkshake, real pictures with some fun!!! Yet fun is often such a foreign concept to fashion magazines, which is in part why I want to be a fashion journalist so badly… I want to bring the fun back! While I do like many of Vogue’s editorials, their covers are lately the same to me. I always compare them like this: the controversial Lady Gaga one where she has that amazing bubblegum hair vs. the one with Natalie Portman where she is a nude color dress. Which is more interesting? As much as I don’t like Lady Gaga her cover was AMAZING! And Natalie’s was super snooze yet everyone seemed to love it. I feel like Jenna Rink in 13 Going On 30 when she’s getting ready to present her Poise magazine relaunch design. HAH. I have big dreams.

The theme of September 2011 issue of Paper was dubbed Girl Power, which I thought was really original. I really admired what Kim Hastreiter, the Editor-in-Chief of Paper, wrote in her editor’s letter. She talks about how the issue was a long time coming, but the choice for the theme was solidified after reading in The Economist that on this year’s Forbes 500 list, only 15 of the CEOs are female, a very striking imbalance indeed. I, too, have always found it ironic that some of the most well-known and wealthiest fashion designers dictating the trends for women are men: Karl Lagerfeld, the late Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, Marc Jacobs, the late Cristobal Balenciaga, and so many more. So in taking a stance, Kim made sure everything in the Girl Power issue was styled, photographed, modeled by, and designed by women. In my mind, Paper is one of the few magazines out there right now that is still so exuberant and original.

Just a little heads up, my scanner is broken so I tried to take pictures of the photos...I’ll try to find the real versions of the editorial online. The main fashion spread for the issue was entitled “Girlfriends,” photographed by Diggy Lloyd and styled by Martha Violante. Martha Violante is my all-time favorite stylist. She does a lot of the editorials for Paper, especially their Style of the Moment feature and presents the concept of “trends” in a effortless and quirky way. My dream is to go on a shopping date with her so if any of you know Martha Violante PLEASE tell her I am looking to be her new fashion bff!

So let’s talk about these photos. I picked up this magazine when I was at a store in SoHo helping one of my friends shop for sneakers. I wasn’t being much help though because I was so entranced by an errant copy of the magazine that had been left on the table. Never before had I seen an editorial that had captured the ethos of my personal style so accurately. So, if you want to get my personal style look at this editorial! Everything was very schoolgirl meets modgirl which is my absolute favorite combination.

Things I have stolen away from this photo: I always love wearing stripes with my plaid skirts, but now I have this pulsating desire to buy neon heels and strut down my school's hallway with my friends like were in a fashion gang.

Things I have taken away from this photo: Prada A/W 2011 was crawling with throwbacks to the 1960’s. On the runway, models wore it with these sick heeled boots, but I love how in the editorial the dress is paired with biker boots, an outfit I could actually get away with at school.

Things I have taken away from this photo: I was so glad they put in the pink Philosophy di Alberta Ferrreti because that was (in my opinion) THE BEST collection of A/W 2011. Everything was so pastel and pretty-- it was heaven.

Things I have taken away from this photo: I’m sorry but as much as I love what this model is wearing, could they have given her some tastier food to eat?