Celebrating Phyllis Posnick’s Book Stoppers: Photographs From My Life at Vogue

“For quite a few years, people kept saying to me, ‘You have to do a book,’” said Vogue’s Executive Fashion Editor, Phyllis Posnick, at a party for her new book at the Pace Gallery last night. The legendary editor has just released Stoppers: Photographs From My Life at Vogue, featuring her work with iconic photographers including Irving Penn, Helmut Newton, and Annie Leibovitz. “I didn’t just want to do a picture book,” exclaimed Posnick. “It needed to be focused.” That focus came from a leader from Condé Nast’s past, Editorial Director Alexander Liberman. “I remembered Alex Liberman calling Penn’s pictures ‘stoppers,’” said Posnick, adding, “I thought it would be a great title because it completely focused my edit.” That attention to detail was echoed by Vogue Editor in Chief Anna Wintour, who said, “Phyllis is such a precise editor. I think that she was able to bring out the best in so many great photographers and bring a sense of precision, and also an idea that they might not have thought of by themselves.” With so many iconic snaps under her belt, does Posnick have a favorite? “No,” said Posnick. “People have asked me that. I love many of them. Some better than others, of course, but I don’t have a favorite.”