Welcome at Vogue Australia Magazine May 2023 Issue

Riley Keough is remarkable. She is her own woman and so inspiring in the way she approaches her acting roles and carefully private in what could have been a glasshouse of a life. She is a Keough and also undeniably a Presley – her voice a reminder, delivering such a resonant and tender performance as the lead in the recent series, Daisy Jones & the Six. Her own legacy is unique and defined in some ways by the parts she chooses to play; roles that are a testament to her bravery.
We photographed Riley for this month’s cover story in the most intricate Dior on a beach in California. It was around nine degrees with high winds. Too cold, really, but Riley shone and worked hard to create the images with Emma Summerton and myself. So much goes into these productions. From all the work done by Rikki Keene, our unstoppable photography and talent director, and the rest of the team – making it happen is immense but rewarding. Karl Lagerfeld left an undeniably incredible body of work. He influenced us all for so many decades – from his time at Chloé through the 1960s and 70s, to the astounding 54 years as creative director at Fendi and over three decades as the life force at Chanel. The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute exhibition: Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty – opens this month after the Met Gala (dress code “in honour of Karl”) and promisesto celebrate his entire life and work. In this issue, Annie Leibovitz photographs some of his favourite models – Naomi Campbell, Gigi Hadid, Natalia Vodianova and Amber Valletta among them – in a special Vogue tribute from page 112. Set against the restoration of the Grand Palais in Paris, they’re wearing iconic Chanel pieces interpreted by other designers who also share fond stories and personal memories of meeting the designer. It’s both epic but personal.
The challenge for anyone taking on a design legacy is to pay respect but also to challenge with the amazingly unexpected. Casey Cadwallader talks about his vision and, in many ways, coming of age as creative director at Thierry Mugler whose sculpted tailoring is so on season right now (from page 108). Alexandre Arnault discusses
his stewardship as executive vice president of product and communication at Tiffany & Co,. where he has already brought Beyoncé and Jay-Z to the fabled house; worked with Pharrell Williams and now introduced the latest clever Lock collection (page 42).
And so, to creating newness. Vogue Vanguard features an ongoing showcase of fashion designers and musicians, too – it is packed with Australian talent to watch. Whatever stage we are at in our lives, whatever we are doing, making it count is important. This issue is about celebrating positivity, taking chances. Go for it.
SINCE 2014, VF contributing photographer Mark Seliger has created a warm and welcoming studio space at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, where the evening’s triumphant stars come to pose with their little gold men, and other decked-out guests sit for pictures to commemorate the occasion. The portraits that emerge feel timeless; in fact, they are accomplished in less than five minutes on average, a feat all the more remarkable given that Mark shoots for about nine hours straight amid the buzz of Hollywood’s biggest night out.
I was struck, watching this year’s Academy Awards ceremony, by the moving speeches from so many first-time winners, from Michelle Yeoh to Brendan Fraser to Ke Huy Quan—each acceptance a reminder that though awards aren’t synonymous with value,they can be richly deserved symbols of recognition and accomplishment. The mood at this year’s party was jubilant, the spirit of victory infectious.
And Mark’s portraits, as ever, provide a beautiful, intimate window into the night.

CHRISTINE CENTENERA Editor-in-chief

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• Art & Antiques – May 2023
• Vanity Fair UK – May 2023