Fashion Faux Parr is the latest release by renowned British photographer Martin Parr, and the first book that takes a comprehensive look at his fashion photography. Published by Phaidon, it delves into his many shoots for acclaimed clothing brands such as Gucci, Balenciaga and Stüssy, as well as for iconic fashion magazines like Vogue and Elle.

As Scottish fashion designer Patrick Grant notes in the book’s introductory essay, “Martin Parr is not known as a fashion photographer”, and yet, as the photographs in this book attest to, he certainly has an eye for such imagery. They reveal how he effortlessly turns his hand from his bread-and-butter documentary approach to fashion editorial, all the while maintaining his signature style.

Wry, yet never judgemental, Parr’s own brand of photography more often than not focuses on subjects such as class, wealth and national culture. He is known for his flash-lit portraits of British beachgoers, his vibrant still-life shots of food and drink, and his humorous take on the mundane and the everyday.

In his fashion photographs, this observational, tongue-in-cheek approach remains evident, blurring the lines between genres. The images featured in the book show international supermodels playing bingo and arcade games, fashion influencers taking silly, self-aware selfies, and catwalk queens filling up their cars at petrol stations.

As a result, the glitz and glamour of the industry is beautifully offset by markedly ordinary moments, showing that, contrary to popular opinion, fashion can be fun. The visionary designs of world-renowned fashion houses are brought to earth in a positive sense, providing space for them to engage with the real and the quotidian.

Speaking of her experience working with Parr, shoe designer Tabitha Simmons recalls “Martin’s ability to find beauty and intrigue in the most unlikely places was eye-opening…. Through his photography, he challenges our preconceived notions of what is beautiful and reminds us to find joy and fascination in the seemingly trivial.”

This notion is evident throughout much of Fashion Faux Parr, with Parr training his lens on diamond-adorned stuffed toys, watches hidden amongst greasy spoon tableware, and designer shoes conspicuously sat on the weathered bark of tree trunks.

His attention to detail, witty sense of humour, and strong eye for form and colour come through in all of his work, and these qualities remain constant – whether he is shooting a busy British beachtown or a new clothing collection by a leading designer.

Fashion Faux Parr is published by Phaidon; phaidon.com