There’s nothing like having high quality prints of Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, Steven Klein, Annie Leibovitz, Steven Meisel and several other established photographer’s work in the confines of your own home. I had the opportunity to snag a copy of Dolce & Gabbana’s collaborated photo compilation, Extreme Beauty In Vogue, before it hit’s shelves in October, and I must admit, I feel like a child staring at a picture book, completely mesmerized by every photo. Edited by Phyllis Posnick with an essay by Eva Respini, Extreme Beauty In Vogue exposes photographic, stylistic and journalistic perceptions of female beauty and opinions on allure. Featuring two centuries of work, the evolution of cultural attitudes on women is exposed in this coffee-table must have. And for those of you hung up on Vogue’s typical conservatism, there’s enough nipples, asses, bestiality and blood to suit your fancy. Shove your Beatles anthology to the side folks, because this $55 investment is what your dinner guests should be snooping through!

GALLERY: Extreme Beauty In Vogue

For more information, check out Extreme Beauty In Vogue here!

Shot for the New Yorker in 1995 by the legendary Richard Avedon, this creepy shoot seems worthy of a concept for Americas Next Top Model. Featuring gorgeously style models that appear to have no idea that their loves are merely skeletons, Avedon creates many shots of sheer passion and romance. In agreement with WickedHalo, this shoot has a striking resemblance to the Corpse Bride, but with a ‘Corpse Groom.’ As creepy as these decomposed grooms seem, you can’t help but notice the beauty in each shot, and have a hard time looking away from the photos, no matter how gruesome the concept may be. Each shot brings the couple into a different scene, of love or catastrophe. There’s even a sex scene, which could perhaps be followed by the family portrait with the child as a very creepy doll, even more so than the skeleton. A few of the shots seem straight from a horror movie, but the concept overall would do Tim Burton proud.

GALLERY: In Memory of the Late Mr. and Mrs. Comfort

LINKAGE: Wicked Halo

With spring break just around the corner, I find it more likely that some indies will be making the transatlantic  journey to Milan for a fabulous fashion themed getaway. If you happen to be one of those lucky few, I advise that you make time to visit Milan’s Palazzo della Ragione for the “Extreme Beauty In Vogue” exhibit. In honor of Dolce & Gabbana’s makeup collection debut, the exhibit analyzes the role of beauty in modern culture via Vogue spreads over the past 75 years. The breathtaking works of world renowned photographers like Annie Leibovitz, Irving Penn, Richard Avedon and Steven Klein appear in the exhibit created and curated by American Vogue. Excuse me while I go book plane tickets to Italy. 

Gallery: Extreme Beauty In Vogue

Thanks Style!

If your plans for the weekend include sleeping in, working off a hangover and huddling by your fireplace to keep warm, I beg you to reconsider. Starting today, the International Center of Photography, located next to the fashion famous Bryant Park, launched their year of fashion exhibits. Three separate collections, titled Weird Beauty, Edward Steichen, and This is Not a Fashion Photograph, will make their museum debuts throughout the year. Each collection focuses on a different angle of fashion photography including classic, contemporary and street-style. And if the three collections weren’t enough for your fashion sweet-tooth, a series on Richard Avedon and Paris fashion is slated to hit ICP this spring! So, wake up, get dressed and prepare for the best museum exhibit 2009 will ever see! 

Check out ICP for more information! 

Thanks Nylon for the heads up!