Slim Aarons: Women

"Attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places." Though this statement might seem simple or shallow, when it comes to the professional photography of Slim Aarons; the results certainly are not. In the lavish coffee table-sized book "Slim Aarons: Women," the opulence of high society, international royalty, jet-setters and film stars is a veritable collection of time and travel spent with his eye focused on the fairer sex.

The lifestyles of the rich, renowned and famous from the decades of the 1950s through the 1980s and most importantly, the women who Slim Aarons captured truly represent a history of femininity, class, social structure and the changing guard of fashion and style. With an exemplary 21-page salute of an introduction by Slim's "girl Friday" and colleague Laura Hawk, she opens the lens of his life. Learning that Aarons served in the army in World War II and worked as a photographer capturing the death and devastation of war, his decision to follow his passion for surviving this ordeal was by photographing the good life and the beautiful people in it in the aftermath. This led to countless doors being opened by his remarkable talent as a photographer featured in magazines such as "Town & Country," "Holiday" and "Harper's Bazaar."

In his own inimitable style, Aarons chose to not manufacture a photo with an entourage of makeup and hair professionals to enhance the glow of the women he shot. It was simply whatever their own makeup style or hair style happened to be... no hairdresser or touch up was required. So, even in the opulence of international travel or Palm Beach, this added to the esthetics and interesting beauty of his photography work. It must be stated though that more than likely, these women had an entourage of their own to beautify themselves!

"Slim Aarons: Women," is truly a stunning and at times, astounding look at society and the women who became both his subjects and lifelong friends. There are over 200 photographs with a majority in color. One of the most absurd yet reflective of a certain era; is Slim's wife in a swimming pool lounging on a raft with a real Christmas tree set up and floating in the middle of the pool and ornaments floating in the water around it. Seeing that Slim Aarons traveled the globe constantly during his life, this scene shot at their home in Hollywood during Christmas of 1954 brings his work home.

"Slim Aarons: Women"
Laura Hawk
Abrams
$85.00