Vogue September issue featuring the Ice Queen.

I vaguely remember reading the particular phonebook size Vogue two years ago. The first 100 plus pages or so are all ADS. Instead of mindless brand propaganda, it was about art, art, art and slap brand on art. To my surprise, they weren't boring at all.

So when The September Issue was on screen in New Zealand, I figure I had to watch it. Couple of things I gather from the film (can't say it's amazing because... that's how all documentaries/reality films are done now anyway, but it's great nevertheless).

One: I didn't know that what you are wearing right now as you're reading this traces back to The One Single Point in the fashion kingdom known as Anna Wintour (at any point - could be a year, two years, some years, but always That One Point). I mean, yea, she's the renown Editor of Vogue and she's powerful, but I didn't know she was that powerful. She basically has the world's greatest designers wrapped around her little finger, all gingerly waiting for her precious little nod to seal the confidence before their runway production. So now I know. You want to hold others on their ___ ? Then you've got to be in media. And you've got to be VERY big in media. As a matter of fact, VERY big media. And Vogue is VERY big.

Two: It was equally enlightening to see what really goes on behind those unassuming doors which separate fashion's greatest creative energy from rest-of-the-world. The systems they employ to produce their monthly issues are really insightful. A system which holds individuals together without them losing their technicolor creativity to become part of the monochrome factory-line. We've been trying to 'create' systems too in this office because we were trying to counter the problems of being too personnel dependent especially when the turnover of this industry is worrying. But at the back of my mind, I've always gotten more worried about creating an advertising factory line - churning out FAs mindlessly - which loses the entire point of being in a creative communication business. We must have a system, because it protects the business. But we must not lose the individual's fingerprint in the process. Hmm. Very intricate business.

But seriously, if the opportunity arises, please go watch it.

Also, if you like fashion and will queue forever for Anna Wintour, you may want to watch this male version called Valentino The Last Emperor. Love defies rules. Here's the trailer :)

If fashion is a religion. Then Vogue is the bible.

We've never really talked fashion in Sparks. But I think this 'coming soon' is gonna be quite a big one, looking at the overwhelming response of 'The Devil wears Prada' in the women/fashion world. I think partially it's because a minority of women has finally achieved equality. As high fashion moves forward, feminism becomes a thing in the past. Can you imagine, last year (or was it year before last), the covers of Vogue's September issue held the publication's highest recorded number of advertisements. That issue was close to 700 pages if I could recall clearly! Suddenly, ads were no longer ads. They were the artistic showcase, a photographic journey, an embodiment of what's gonna hit the both the fashion conscious and the art world in the coming year. As someone rightfully said it - September is the January in fashion.

Anna Wintour. The most powerful figure in the fashion world, yet isn't exactly famous famous (at least to consumers' mind). It's interesting to see how she helms and drives that side of the world.

Let's get inspired. Watch and learn.

The September Issue - Anna Wintour & the making of Vogue. A film by R.J. Cutler.