Photography by Hedi Slimane

Fabian Baron and Carine Roitfeld (pictured)

Fabian Baron has left his creative directional role of French Vogue (or more intimately known as Vogue Paris) after fives years of a wonderful partnership with Carine Roitfeld. The close working relationship has highlighted the unique aspect of the publication being both trendsetting in high end luxury fashion whilst also bringing an original direction to editorial design. It is why French Vogue is the most treasured and highly valued, closely followed by Vogue Italia.

Madame Charlotte Gainsbourg, Vogue Paris December 2007/ January 2008

It somewhat marks an era of French Vogue with Baron’s wealth of experience heralded when he introduced himself closely to Liz Tilberis, who gave such a prominence rise to Harper’s Bazaar after being editor of British Vogue. End of the time of society’s utter concern with perhaps the most popular individualistic desires of clothing with a beginning of opportunities for highly directional experimental photographers. It is forthcoming that Thomas Persson, Editor-in-Chief and Creative Director of Acne Paper eloquently converses in the fifth issue of Acne Paper, “the magazine as of mind as much as appearance.” Harper’s Bazaar under Tilberis would regain to seek authenticity in 1992, self-value and integrity through the beauty of spanning high-gloss pages. The creation of Harper’s Bazaar under the strength of leadership by both Baron and Tilberis brought a succinct and highly desirable title, leaving behind the over-saturated and self-dependent urge to retain elements synonymous with the invigorating dirty personal tastes of music, fashion and sex all scourged together during the late 1980′s.

Snejana Onopka for L’Icône, Photographed by Mario Testino – Vogue Paris August 2007

Is is sad to think that this cruel world takes away those who had talents and a presence so desirable and infectious down to the bones lasting more than a lifetime. Liz Tilberis passed away in 1999 from Ovarian cancer. It left a legacy and a total abundance of recklessness which would see Harper’s Bazaar losing its self-governing identity and be buried to this day, squashed in between the modern American culture. Persson again speaks in VoicePlus, “the theme of Elegance seems obselete, eclipsed by the hype of sex, money and celebrity.” These disposable elements are a reflection of America’s ultra and obsessive wealth for power and the willingness to be nothing more than number one.

NOCTAMBULE by Terry Richardson, Styling by Emmanuelle Alt – Vogue Paris May 2007

The continuance of Tilberis’ memory and the way she understood Harper’s Bazaar carries forward through Baron and when he tool the position of Art Director of French Vogue in 2003, it further progressed the magazine’s allure in his twenty-first century to remain classic but contemporary, avant-garde in design and keeping in touch with the newest and most recent collections from diverse fashion designers.

The challenge for creating a completely new direction has been of asking and questioning the need for self-restraint. The desire to create less but enough, to serve its great appeal whilst not suffering imagery and content. This pragmatic ideology was at the heart of Baron’s work spanning across not only Harper’s Bazaar but French Vogue and his present and future work in Area Homme Plus and his own creative agency, Baron Baron. French Vogue over its past five years with Baron has achieved large areas of white spaces on pages but with his long love of personal photography, the abstract use of intwining models with vast and green and sometimes luxurious background landscapes, his ultilisation of portraiture and Typography excites the consistent and astonishing imagery captured in every issue.

Harper’s Bazaar, September 1992

Baron now leaves French Vogue to re-discover his 1980′s title, Interview but what of the Parisian highly influential and cultural intuitionist magazine now? What will and does it offer now Baron’s presence has gone? The position will remain in awe of his silhouette and Johan Svensson will take charge with the publication in his existing position as Art Director.

Though Fabian Baron gave charm and the level of prowess to alert any Art Director and Graphic Designer for the fine art-work and they way it is produced and received, French Vogue will continue to behold balance, allure and sophistication and a vast breath of open shoots, characterised by the strikingly chic Editor-in-Chief Carine Roitfeld.