Guy Bourdin is one of the most influential fashion photographers of all time. Even though he died in 1991, his work continues to be an inspiration for the top fashion photographers of today. In fact, Madonna was so inspired by his work, she had to settle a lawsuit by his son Samuel Bourdin after she ripped his style in her ‘Hollywood’ music video a few years ago.
Here at Trend Hunter, we’ve been tracking an increased interest in violent and aggressive themes in fashion photography. Guy Bourdin was one of the first artists to boldly introduce this controversial concept into the beauty and fashion world with his ad campaigns and his editorial work at Vogue.
Guy’s work has been published in Vogue from 1955 until 1987. Here we present you with a sample of this visionary’s Vogue work that introduced the concept of dead-chic.
Dead-Chic Photography
The Morbidly Sexy Work of Guy Bourdin in Vogue
Trend Themes
1. Violent and Aggressive Themes in Fashion Photography - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore the use of provocative and controversial concepts in fashion photography to stand out in a crowded market.
2. Influential Fashion Photographers - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Study the work of historical fashion photographers like Guy Bourdin to draw inspiration and create unique and memorable visuals.
3. Dead-chic Aesthetics in Fashion - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Embrace the concept of combining death or morbidity with fashion to create a bold and unexpected style.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion Photography - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Experiment with unconventional themes and styles in fashion photography to set new trends and capture audience attention.
2. Fashion - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporate edgy and controversial elements in clothing designs and marketing campaigns to attract a daring and unconventional customer base.
3. Publishing and Media - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore the inclusion of provocative and boundary-pushing visual content in fashion publications to stay ahead of competitors and cater to evolving audience preferences.