Fashion's Front Line : Fashion Show Photography from the Runway to Backstage

Before the live streaming of international fashion shows and the instant publication of runway images online, the collections were strictly 'invitation only'. It was the photographer, runway's unsung hero, who allowed us a glimpse of an exclusive and fascinating spectacle.

A visual journey through three decades of photographing runway shows in Paris, Milan, London and New York, Fashion's Front Line showcases dazzling images taken by long-serving catwalk photographer Niall McInerney, whose life's work has been painstakingly preserved and made available through Bloomsbury Publishing's Fashion Photography Archive. Giving readers the complete picture, the book captures many rare and never-before-seen images of iconic moments on the runway as well as famous faces on the front row and the buzzing atmosphere backstage.

With commentary from the photographer himself, as well as interviews with top international fashion insiders, Fashion's Front Line is a unique window onto the world of late 20th-century fashion. As good as a front row ticket, this book will be a must-have for fashion lovers.

Interviewees include:
Designer Antony Price; model agent Sarah Doukas; PR and lifestyle guru Lynne Franks; hair stylist Sam McKnight; director of photography Simon Chaudoir; editors and fashion commentators Caryn Franklin, Debbi Mason, Kathryn Samuel, Elizabeth Walker, Brenda Polan and Iain R. Webb; photographers Andrew Lamb, Niall McInerney, Chris Moore, Anthea Simms and Mitchell Sams; set designer and art director Simon Costin; fashion consultant and former show producer Mikel Rosen; show producer John Walford; and digital entrepreneur Jonathan Chippindale.

“I'm so happy that Niall is doing a book, a chance I hope for people to see pieces from my fashions starting from the beginning, and he does capture the excitement. He has always been generous in giving me copies of his photos and with this we built our archive. Lots of love, Vivienne.” —Vivienne Westwood

“Niall McInerney's images burst from the page in this fashion feast matched by Nilgin Yusuf's fascinating insights into the colourful culture of an evolving catwalk. Conveying its excitement, glamour and creativity, this is a must-have for fashion-lovers and aficionados… this book will be my fashion bible from now on!” —Felicity Green OBE, fashion journalist and former newspaper executive

“With fashion weeks attracting ever-increasing media attention, the catwalk show is critical to a fashion brand's success. This book gives a fascinating insight into the history of the 'show' from all angles – the early supermodels, famous FROW characters past and present, and the secrets of production, with an archive of pictures that beautifully illustrates the rise of this modern fashion phenomena.” —Trish Halpin, Editor-in-Chief, Marie Claire, UK

“Fashion's Front Line absolutely crackles with the excitement, drama and thrills that make a great catwalk show. The models, designers, celebrities, and great fashion moments are all here captured superbly by the lens of Niall McInerney and Nilgin Yusuf's dazzling and informed writing.” —Marcelle d'Argy Smith, former Editor of Cosmopolitan, UK

“Reading Fashion's Front Line takes me back to the excitement of when I started attending the shows as a rookie reporter. Niall McInerney's own story on fashion's front line - a war zone all of its own - is a fascinating insight into how the shows - and the industry itself - has developed. And of course, Niall's photographs are gems, each and every one, from a (pre-selfie) snap of him with a fresh-faced Kate Moss to backstage images of designers including Karl Lagerfeld and Alexander McQueen - from a time when photographers had far more access than they do now.” —Tamsin Blanchard, Fashion Features Director, Telegraph Magazine, UK

“This volume collects the life's work of fashion photographer Niall McInerney, including rare images previously only glimpsed by fashion insiders. Among these images are iconic moments on the runway as well as off-runway; McInerney captured famous faces in the front row at shows and scenes backstage documenting the frenzy of work that goes into these events. Besides the high-quality images, the work contains commentary from McInerney and interviews with top international fashion insiders. Both commentary and interviews demonstrate the variety of perspectives on the fashion world and document the state of constant change characterizing the industry. Twelve chapters organize the narrative and accompanying photos spanning three decades and shows in London, Paris, Milan, and New York. The focus is on the ‘runway as a culture and construct,’ not so much about changing hemlines, proportions, and fashion trends. Essays touch on the effects that digital technology and culture's changing ideas about beauty ideals have wrought upon fashion and photography, and the extent to which they have altered the concept of runway shows from the staid walk of one model coming down the catwalk to today's high-concept shows more aligned with art installation or performance. Images included are part of Bloomsbury's Fashion Photography Archive, launching in 2016. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers, two-year technical program students, and professionals/practitioners.” - CHOICE

“Fashion's Front Line showcases the archive of fashion photographer Niall McInerney. Nilgin Yusuf has written a stunning and original text to accompany the sumptuous images, approaching the narrative of fashion from unexpected and thought provoking angles, an eloquent account delivering new insights and reminding us that fashion is not some trivial decoration to the serious business of life, but resides at its heart.” —Elizabeth Wilson, author of Adorned in Dreams

“Paris, New York, Milan and London. This book takes you behind the hype and glamour that surrounds the fashion runway show. It reveals the pressures and extravaganzas of catwalk models, photographers, journalists and designers. Written in an accessible and witty manner, Fashion's Front Line explores the catwalk as a culture with its own rules that are made and broken. If you love fashion, then you will love this book.” —Vicki Karaminas, Massey University Wellington, New Zealand

“An inspiring documentary record of one of the fashion world's most assiduous and talented photographers introduced through the perceptive observations of a true industry 'insider'. Fashion's Front Line provides an indispensable introduction to a unique visual resource and the workings of this most fascinating of creative cultures.” —Christopher Breward, University of Edinburgh, UK, and author of Fashion's World Cities and Fashioning London