Women in Menswear

Top: ¥9,000 (nuance / alpha PR Tel. 03-6418-9402)

Viviane Sassen is a photographer at the forefront of fashion photography. She has helmed advertising campaigns for renowned houses such as Miu Miu andLouis Vuittonand Carven. Her work, which also captures Black men and women through her unique lens, is highly acclaimed in the art photography world. This series, shot exclusively for the Scandinavian menswear brand "Our Legacy," is a fascinating exploration of women modeling menswear—a truly unique concept. (Some images feature no clothing at all.) While fashion photography typically aims to present clothes attractively, this is undeniably outside the "orthodox" approach. Yet, these monochrome images possess a dignified presence that seems to disregard such conventions, as if to say, "Beauty is enough."

"Sol & Luna"
Artist: Viviane Sassen
Publisher: Libraryman (www.libraryman.se)
Size: 225 x 305 mm / Hardcover
Pages: 32
Price: ¥6,510
Available at: twelvebooks nationwide
Published: 2013
*Limited Edition of 1,000 copies (Second Edition)

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Playing with Fashion Photography

Pants: ¥25,500 (Auguste Presentation / alpha PR Tel. 03-6418-9402)

Paul Elliman is an artist based in London. His new project is a glossy, approximately 600-page magazine, comparable in thickness and weight to a special issue. Yet, it bears no logo and no text. Instead, faceless models fill the pages. The source material consists of photographs from fashion magazines and pornographic publications, from which Elliman has extracted body parts—hands, feet, foreheads, chests, and so on. Elliman explains, "The world is awash with images that are so similar they're indistinguishable at first glance. But when you focus on details like knees, backs, or shoulders, there's something there that truly captures our attention." In this way, withered flowers are brought back to life through "Elliman's magic."

"Untitled (September Magazine)"
Artist: Paul Elliman
Publisher: Roma Publications (www.romapublications.org)
Size: 220 x 290 mm / Softcover
Pages: 592
Price: ¥6,300
Available at: VACANT
Published: 2013

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A Time Slip to the 1980s!

Shoes: ¥25,000 (ORPHIC / alpha PR Tel. 03-6418-9402)

Just as Paris has Rue Saint-Honoré and New York has Fifth Avenue, Los Angeles has its own area lined with luxury brands: Rodeo Drive. It's the place where, in the film "Pretty Woman" (1990), Vivian, played by Julia Roberts, was snubbed by store staff. In 1984, emerging photographer Anthony Hernandez brought his camera to this iconic street. Known for consistently capturing and presenting the "now" of Los Angeles, alongside contemporaries like Lewis Baltz, his aim wasn't to document the 1980s fashion of the time, such as shoulder pads and bodycon dresses. Instead, he captured the light and shadow of the place: the people who frequented the area, clad in trendy fashion and enjoying their wealth, and those who, while watching them, perhaps with longing, harbored the desire, "I wish I could be like that someday."

"Rodeo Drive, 1984"
Artist: Anthony Hernandez
Publisher: MACK (www.mackbooks.co.uk)
Size: 300 x 300 mm / Hardcover
Pages: 96
Price: ¥7,770
Available at: twelvebooks nationwide
Published: 2013

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Atsushi Hamanaka
Representative of twelvebooks. In March 2010, he established "twelvebooks" as a platform to promote the activities of publishers and artists with unique styles, focusing on contemporary photography. In addition to handling domestic distribution of foreign books and magazines, he engages in activities related to books and images, including planning and curating exhibitions, and art direction. www.twelve-books.com

Photo by Daisuke Hamada