Condé Nast are opening up their archives for a new exhibition on June 15th as part of the Edinburgh Art Festival. Featuring an impressive collection totalling 160 of fashions most beautiful photographs from the past 100 years including early work by David Bailey, Cecil Beaton, Edwin Blumenfeld and Corinne Day, this is a great opportunity for see these works of art on display.

The exhibition curator Nathalie Herschdorfer was given access to the international Condé Nast archives in New York, London, Paris and Milan. The pictures themselves offer an amazing insight into a century of fashion imagery, taken by more than 80 photographers. Nathalie credits publisher Condé Nast himself for building the foundations of such an impressive archive, after he scouted Irving Penn, Edward Steichen and William Klein.

"Mr Condé Nast understood that a powerful cover would bring him more readers," said Herschdorfer. "The first Vogue covers are works of art. In the early Twenties, he realised what the photographic medium could bring to his magazines. He was a man of his time and was looking ahead. He wanted to work with people who were talented artists and not necessarily good practicians. The vision of the photographer was recognised as a value, and then the photographer was asked to adapt it to the magazine's needs."

She described her selection process, "I was looking at strong, powerful works which announced the mature work of these photographers. There is a Helmut Newton style, a David Bailey style, a Peter Lindberg style, a Miles Aldridge style. The works in the show announce the best of these styles. This is a walk through the 20th Century because looking at fashion images shows also the way that the society has changed and evolved. Each image tells a story and invites us to engage with it, but it also encapsulates something of the tastes, the aspirations and the dreams of its time."

Coming Into Fashion: A Century Of Photography at Condé Nast opens June 15 until September 8 at Edinburgh City Art Centre.

Albert Watson for Vogue, May 1977


Deborah Turbeville for Vogue, May 1975


Vans Lamsweerde & Matatin for French Vogue, October 2002


Edward Steichen for Vogue, December 1923


Norman Parkinson for Glamour, October 1949


John Rawlings for Vogue, March 1943


Clifford Coffin for Vogue, June 1949


Guy Bourdin for French Vogue, February 1955

All pictures: Norman Parkinson

Written by Rose Humble 

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Sofia Dourvari has launched Sofia Couture in July 2012, a high-end, luxury range of women's clothing inspired by the designer's Greek roots.

All items are bespoke and Sofia Couture offers an alterations service on all garments, making them truly customized and unique to the wearer.

The designer behind the luxury ladies wear brand is Sofia Dourvari, age 30, originally from Athens, Greece. The up and coming designer has lived and worked in Manchester for ten years and she is looking to break into the vibrant UK fashion community. Sofia studied Fashion Design at Salford University then went on to complete a Masters in Textiles Technology at the University of Manchester. During her studies, she won the Best Designer Award in the International Student Festival (2007).

Sofia has many signature elements to her designs, fishtails, ruffles and gathers, elegant flowing dresses, low scoops. Black will be a key theme for the show, with graceful, feminine dresses featuring stand-out details. Many of these will feature silver and gold highlights.

Sofia says: "Fashion and design have always been my passions and since graduating I have worked for many fashion houses, both in the UK and abroad. My philosophy is to create elegant feminine designs that are creative, unusual and suitable for a wide range of occasions, from parties, galas and events, to weddings and formal dinners and even for the office. I like to create timeless designs suitable for ladies of any age, in both classic, practical shapes, in either pencil or skater-style, as well as dramatic floor-length gowns".

www.sofiadcouture.com