Franca Sozanni

When Franca Sozanni passed away late last year, the fashion world lost a singular talent. As Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Italia (the longest-serving Vogue editor other than Anna Wintour), Sozanni created some of the most visually arresting and provocative fashion photography of our time—often confronting subjects we might otherwise choose to ignore, but so unfailingly gorgeous we never wanted to look away. 

Franca Sozanni, above all, believed in the power of a beautiful image. From Vogue Italia’s 2008 Black Issue, exclusively featuring women of color, to the Curves Issue in 2010, she used photography as way to tell essential stories, exploring subject matter that might otherwise be off-limits. Under her guidance, fashion was never escapism: “Fashion isn’t really about clothes,” she has said, “it’s about life.” True to her vision, Sozanni raised the bar for fashion photography, and in the process our idea of beauty was elevated as well.

Sozanni’s son, Franceso Carrozzini, has created a fascinating tribute to his mother with the film Franca: Chaos and Creation. The critically-acclaimed documentary includes interviews with Karl Lagerfeld, Bruce Weber, Baz Luhrmann, and Courtney Love among others, and gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse into Sozanni’s creative process as well as her vulnerabilities, past and present. After watching the trailer (above), you won’t want to miss it.

Enjoy a few of Franca Sozanni’s most iconic editorials and images, below.