Philip-Lorca diCorcia

This month's (may) hot buy other than Fabian Barron's tweaked Interview has got to be fashion magazine W. Although the cover image is the obligatory beautiful Hollywood actress, this issue definitely deserves a big mention. The back end of the book which is usually a selection of interviews, still life and fashion productions has given away 22 spreads to the most fantastic series of photographs taken by legendary photographer Philip-Lorca diCorcia.

The images are incredibly rich, some are lit and composed like old master paintings. DiCorcia has captured what seems like a very accurate and genuine slice of the life and urban environment of Cairo. Of course being W and Condé Nast, the story is styled (Camilla Nickerson). The Prada dress, Balenciaga jacket and odd Miu Miu top makes an appearance.

Not all the photographs feature fashion brands; there are plenty of spreads that show only street scenes and interiors of homes etc. The feature has achieved a balance of both reportage and fashion, any more reportage and less fashion would have been off brand for W and admittedly an unreasonable proposition in light of pressures faced by editors, especially those working for Condé Nast.