Skip to main content

Mario Testino: In Your Face

The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is currently holding an exhibit titled Mario Testino: In Your Face. Testino, a photography legend, discovered his passion for documenting people at a very young age. In the span of his iconic career, his work has been featured in Vogue, V, Vanity Fair, Allure, among many other publications. His books include Kate Moss by Mario Testino, Let Me In!, Kids, and Alive. He is considered by many to be among the most influential fashion photographers in the world.

Walking into the exhibit is, as the museum advertises, like walking into the pages of a Vogue catalogue. Immediately visceral, larger-than-life portraits of familiar stars and models glow down upon onlookers.

Recommended Videos

Set against dark walls, the pieces are softly backlit and elegantly displayed. There are plenty of enormous, brightly colored portraits featuring naked bums, breasts, love scenes, and pouty lips. But these are interspersed with quieter, black-and-white candid shots of celebrities caught in the moment.

In one frame, Emma Watson wears a simple white dress, slicked short hair, and minimal makeup – she cups her hand and peers into the camera, lips slightly upturned. She is thoughtful and stunning, as something of her essence leaps right off the wall.

Testino challenges gender roles in several portraits (we see a man wearing a dress in one, another wearing lipstick in another), but he continues to celebrate traditional, raunchy sex appeal. One shot spotlights a naked couple, entangled in the waters of Rio. In another, femme fatale favorite Angelina Jolie peers over a nude, tattooed shoulder blade. Gisele Bundchen, Jennifer Lopez, and Keira Knightley are just a few of his favorite subjects.

The sets, makeup, and wardrobes (or lack there of in some photos) could not be more beautifully captured. Kate Moss’s mesmerizing face, decorated with luminous pastels, is difficult to give just a passing glance. But for all of the props and glam involved, the magnetism of almost every Testino piece rests in the subject’s eyes, dead center. With images like these, the exhibit is deliciously, unapologetically in your face.

Lindsay McCormack
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Lindsay McCormack is a contributing writer to TheManual.com. Previously, Lindsay studied book and magazine publishing at the…
Tiffany & Co. revives legendary Atlas watch collection
Tiffany & Co. has officially relaunched its iconic Atlas® watches
the Atlas watches feature graphic Roman numerals and streamlined silhouettes

To the surprise of absolutely no one, Tiffany & Co. has resuscitated its storied Atlas collection, reimagining the legendary Roman numeral motif for today's discerning watch collectors. Released originally in the 1990s and inspired by the iconic Atlas clock at Tiffany's Fifth Avenue flagship, these timepieces bring together timeless elegance and contemporary sophistication.

Precision craftsmanship, unmistakable style

Read more
Adidas Originals dominates Paris Fashion Week with bold style
Adidas Originals takes over Paris Fashion Week
person tying adidas shoes

With just under a year left until the FIFA World Cup lands in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, it’s no wonder that every brand has football fever. Brands like Nike and New Balance have launched their football iterations, which will gradually build excitement over the next year. However, football isn’t only coming to our wardrobes, it’s officially landed on the runway. Last month, Adidas Originals took their football inspiration to the next level via a series of collaborations with multiple fashion designers during Paris Fashion Week. While it seems like football-inspired looks, also known as “blokecore”, is here to stay, no one has established this trend more than Adidas. With new iterations of their various football-inspired footwear, Paris Fashion Week becomes the center of Adidas Originals’ football world, and their multiple collaborations are only a piece of what to expect over the next year from the brand.

Adidas brings football to the runway at Paris Fashion Week

Read more
The art of timeless design: Why Urban Jürgensen is one to watch
How Urban Jürgensen redefined haute horlogerie with its remarkable comeback
Urban Jurgensen has returned to the forefront of horology

The revival of historic watchmaker brand Urban Jürgensen has been a marvel to witness as it once teetered on the brink of obscurity. Today, UJ has re-emerged as a benchmark in the industry, working under the direction of a visionary new leader. Founded in 1773, the brand faced the possibility of extinction in the late 20th century before being revitalized by a group of watchmaking purists. Currently, Urban Jürgensen is getting rave reviews for blending centuries of craftsmanship with modern innovation — proving that true luxury is timeless.

Tradition meets state-of-the-art innovation

Read more