Hot and Sultry Nyaueth Riam and Vaughan Ollier in Clio Peppiatt's Fall 2022 Campaign AOCFashion

Clio Peppiatt launched her eponymous label in 2015, with an internship at Alexander McQueeen confirming her love of fashion and a passion for slow-fashion, hand-sewn embroidery. Her collections often include entire hand-sewn garments.

It was David Vail’s [IG] photograph’s of Clio Peppiatt’s fall 2022 campaign that caught AOC’s eye. Oliver Volquardsen styles models Nyaueth Riam and Vaughan Ollier in images that resonate as a scenes in a modern-day southern-nights play.

In the next moment — totally unrelated to the campaign — Melinda Gates entered stage left, with daughter Phoebe, a student at Stanford, and her boyfriend of color. Phoebe adores her Clio Peppiatt dress — see IG snap at end of campaign images — and Melinda was doing well with the boyfriend.

I note this fact because this true global citizen — Phoebe Gates at 19 — endured serious hate online this summer as a result of her romantic relationship.

So you see where AOC is coming from with this southern nights, Tennesee Williams playwright connection.

I always want to know who wears these clothes. What’s the background of the designer or model or photographer? What makes her tick?

Learning about Phoebe Gates was a pleasant bonus just now.