Christmas Stars

These dreams of grand dresses come to you from French Vogue (date unknown), photographed by Dominique Isserman. The setting is the magnificent Château de Maisons-Laffitte.

I really like how the Christmas aspect is so pared back: just a few baubles and garlands of tinsel here and there. There is such a beautiful, cool mood to these images – a quiet elegance. It is that which I find more attractive than the gowns themselves. The only one I could ever see myself wearing (if I was tall and slim enough!) is the divine gold lamé Thirties style dress. But who could pass up Yves Saint Laurent?

I have always admired Isserman’s photographs – they have such a dreamy, poetic mood. That has much to do here with the ambient lighting, the gracious lines and open space of the interior, as well as the soft focus lens and grainy texture. They’re restful to contemplate after facing the bedlam of city Christmas shoppers. If only we all had a French château to retreat to!

Looking at these pictures now makes me want to go and watch La Double Vie de Veronique, one of my all-time favourite films, and visual poetry from the Polish master Krzysztof Kieslowski.