Atlas Gallery, London

From 1955 to 1965 while working for ‘Vogue’, Klein chose to photograph his models out in the streets. The contemporary norm for the time was to photograph fashion models in a controlled studio environment,so Klein’s work helped pioneer the idea of street photography for fashion shoots. The present work,exhibited at a one man show at the flagship fashion store ‘Jaeger’ in London in 1960,is one of his most recognisable images.It shows the models Simone and Nina on a pedestrian crossing,the lines of their elegant dresses complimenting the ‘Zebra’ painted markings of the street surface below. While posed, it captures a whimsical moment in time. Nina has passed Simone and while her path is intercepted by a speeding Vespa she takes the opportunity to, rather wryly, check her rivals couture. It would appear that in this instance Klein supported the adage that women do indeed dress for women!