Woman Vs. Woman

Dolce & Gabbana S 2009

Vs.

Meisel, Living Green, Vogue Italia, February 2008

I have been fascinated by these two sets of images for sometime. At first I thought they represented a contrast of styling. One the one hand, the urban Italian, possibly Catholic woman with decorative head covering. On the other, the provincial, possibly Protestant, girl in an Amish style bonnet. But then I realized they both embody female strength.

While the styling suggests these women are within entirely different circles of people, or even different historic eras, they both communicate a sense of power and endurance beyond their circumstances.

Women can be both commanding and obedient and this duality is what unites them. The images are both powerful and feminine and neither as simple as they appear.