An American in Paris: Karlie Kloss for Vogue UK

Magazine: Vogue UK May 2012
Editorial: An American in Paris
Model: Karlie Kloss
Photographer: Angelo Pennetti
Styling: Francesca Burns
Interview: Harriet Quick
Location: Paris

The May editorial of Vogue UK featuring Karlie Kloss is by far one of the most interesting concepts I've seen lately. The photographer Angelo Pennetta prepared for this shoot for weeks in advance to make it a thorough couture week guide of one of the hottest models nowadays. Although it's not a true hidden camera, model off-duty documentary, the editorial is a mix of posed and styled shots taken at different moments during Fashion Week - at fittings, Parisian landmarks, parties, backstage and even in her hotel room getting ready for a good night's sleep. Sliding easily between couture gowns and personalized silk pajamas, Karlie Kloss is very fresh and endearing.

We get to see the glamorous backstage of the Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week starting with the hotspots of fashion such as Karl Lagerfeld's atelier, the Valentino Atelier in Place Vendome, the Givenchy one at the Hotel d'Evreux or the Ecole des Beaux-Arts for the Atelier Versace show. Then we get to enjoy the legendary bars and restaurants such as the Lasserre restaurant or Harry's Bar, home to many expat American writers during the last century (Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald or Gertrude Stein to name just a few!) and finally the sumptuous rooms of the Hotel de Crillon.

I'll leave you not only with the pictures, but also with an extract of her interview that brings a lot of insight into the St Louis born model. She talks about her life in fashion, her beginnings into this fantasy world and also about all the hard work she puts into every show and photo to bring life into the garments: she feels that her job is "helping to evoke the feeling, the emotion that the designer is trying to inspire. It's not just about walking".

Fitting for Chanel

Fitting for Valentino

Fitting for Valentino

Fitting for Givenchy

Atelier Verasce show

Backstage at Jean Paul Gaultier

Backstage at Dior

Tribute to Amy Winehouse at Jean Paul Gaultier

Harry's Bar

Laurent-Perrier and Maison Martin Margiela

A good night's sleep at the Hotel de Crillon

Hotel de Crillon

Playful vs. formal

What do you think about this editorial? Don't you just love to find out what's behind the scenes in one of fashion's most important moments throughout the year?

Photos: Vogue