Grace: Thirty Years of Fashion at Vogue

by Grace Coddington

A chronicle of Grace Coddington's formative years at Vogue Thirty Years of Fashion at Vogue showcases some of the most memorable photographs published in British and American Vogue from 1972 to 2002, stories created by the iconic fashion editor Grace Coddington. Both monograph and memoir, the book shows how Coddington transformed static studio portraiture into modern vivid tableaux and turned location shoots into cinematic narratives. Grace's commentary gives behind-the-scenes insight into many famous images and fashion personalities, from the iconic shoot of a bikinied Naomi Campbell in Irving Penn's studio to Steven Meisel's boundary-pushing grunge aesthetic in nineties Vogue. This volume features photography by Irving Penn, Helmut Newton, Cecil Beaton, Guy Bourdin, Mario Testino, Steven Meisel, Annie Leibovitz, Steven Klein, Peter Lindbergh, among others. First published in 2002 and reissued by Phaidon in 2015 to great success, this paperback, midi-sized edition includes forewords by fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld and American Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.

Genres: Fashion, Photography, Nonfiction, Art, Coffee Table Books, Biography, History

408 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2002

Reviews

[Jennifer Mills Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

After watching "The September Issue," I had to learn more about Grace as a fashion editor. This book taught me a great deal not only about her work, but top photographers and their styles of expression. I used to dismiss fashion as an art form... now I don't. This book opened my eyes. As a fiction writer, I could see the visual narratives Grace creates... some explicit, others more subtle. Also interesting is the synergy of place & atmosphere with the models, stylized so well they were playing characters rather than just posing.

This book gave me a fresh perspective of fashion. But I think it would also be interesting for those more experienced. Such inspiring images!

[Christy S · Rating 5 out of 5]

The documentary The September Issue brought Vogue’s backroom decisions to the world. If you saw it, Anna Wintour fulfilled every expectation you already had of her, but a woman named Grace Coddington single-handedly kept the humanity of Vogue intact. Or perhaps you’ve known the secret character and talent that is Grace for years, as it seems many have. After all, she got this enormous coffee table book of all of her modeling and style editing exploits published some years ago– and now it’s worth $1,000 used on Amazon.com (several weeks ago it was $5,000). Coddington has created some gorgeous, gorgeous photos for Vogue through the years, and was in many herself when she was young. This book includes her anecdotes and opinions on many of these–it’s a fun look at her amazing career, and at the evolution of Vogue in the last few decades… Good luck getting your hands on one!

[Aspopnly Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an amateur fashion photographer, while reading the book, I felt an authentic pleasure from the fashion-forward photos featured within. Besides, I appreciate her writing because her clear and concise language captures the interest and intent behind the fashion photography, allowing the reader's to avoid getting lost too soon in the superficial language of fashion. Somehow, the way the writer and editors structured this book provides a broad yet focused map of fashion photography. If you are looking for a book to dive into fashion, this is definitely of the ones you can't miss.

[sara frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grace continues to amaze me (amazing grace?). Lovely, lovely photographs!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neat pictures.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pictures are beautiful.

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great coffee table book - beautiful photos and work

[Manny Villa]

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[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous book. A piece of fashion history.