Confirmed: Stefano Cantino Will Exit As Gucci CEO, Replaced by Francesca Bellettini
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The Dries Van Noten FW 2025 Campaign Mines Opéra Garnier Aristocratic DNA
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The Dries Van Noten FW 2025 Campaign Mines Opéra Garnier Aristocratic DNA
The Dries Van Noten Fall/Winter 2025 Campaign showcasing the first collection under new creative director Julian Klausner is shot by in-demand photographer Carlijn Jacobs [IG]. The location of the ‘Behind the Curtain’ Campaign is Opéra Garnier, located in The Palais Garnier and commissioned by Napolean III for the Paris Opera and built from 1861 to 1875.
Watching the fashion show video, it was obvious that the new Dries Van Noten collection embraced old Dries, but Klausner had also injected a new vibe into the collection that could only be his own.
As I noted on Tuesday in a deep dive into the Prada Galleria bag campaign, the ancient history of rituals goes far deeper than the pursuit of shiny hair while admiring ourselves in the mirror. Like Prada, the Dries Van Noten brand has credentials when the focus is rituals.
Having watched us trivialize the concept of duality into nothingness, I sincerely hope we don’t put the word ‘ritual’ through the same meat grinder.
Read MorePrada Galleria Bag Fall 2025 'Totem of Change' Rituals Film with Scarlett Johansson
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Prada Galleria Bag Fall 2025 'Totem of Change' Rituals Film with Scarlett Johansson
Prada ambassador Scarlett Johansson fronts her third Prada Galleria [IG] bag campaign, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. Prada regular Ferdinando Verderi provided creative direction for a handbag Prada calls a “totem of change.”
It’s the first time the two creatives Johansson and Lanthimos have worked together.
A totem of change: It’s indisputable that the Prada Galleria campaign is focused on rituals, which have evolved among humans for thousands of years and are closely aligned with religion and spirituality. When you call a handbag a “totem of change”, this creative team is placing the Galleria on a significant pedestal.
The Prada campaign lovingly mocks rituals with Johannson embracing a very long — and seemingly absurd to-do list given her by an ‘other’ self — in the execution of her particular ceremony.
From the standpoint of human psychology, Carl Jung called Johansson’s other self, the “shadow self”, and we see her operating in the film.
Read MoreMoncler x EE72: Edward Enninful Launches Moncler Genius Collaboration and 72 Magazine for NYFW
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Moncler x EE72: Edward Enninful Launches Moncler Genius Collaboration and 72 Magazine for NYFW
Edward Enninful [IG] embarks on a big week in his latest — and greatest — fashion industry, personal metamorphosis with his inaugural Moncler Genius collection, titled Moncler x EE72. Edward has worked with Moncler in the past, but not in his official capacity as designer.
Moncler and Enninful bring this Moncler x EE72 vision to life with a window display at Saks Fifth Avenue’s New York Flagship, timed with the start of New York Fashion Week. The presentation spans seven windows at 5th Avenue and 50th Street.
Tonight September 12 Edward will officially launch his new quarterly 72 Magazine.
My copy of 72 Magazine is on the way, and you can buy yours right on the landing page. Smart. It’s not oversized at 9x12 [shucks] and the price is $20 + $10 shipping.
Read MoreMila van Eeten for Mytheresa As YNAP Acquisition Creates LuxExperience Platform
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Mila van Eeten for Mytheresa As New YNAP Acquisition Creates LuxExperience Platform
Model Mila van Eeten wears the latest pieces from Aquazzura, Chloe, David Koma, Dolce & Gabbana, Khaite, Magda Butrym, Saint Laurent, Stella McCartney, Tom Ford and more, photographed by Jorin Koers [IG] for Mytheresa [IG] Hair by Alessandro Rebecchi; makeup by Carlos Saidel
The New LuxExperience Platform
Last week the Munich-based, German e-tailer Mytheresa said that about 700 employees might be impacted as the profitable e-tailer integrates Yoox-Net-a-Porter [YNAP] into the new company LuxExperience.
The acquisition positions the new luxury brands internet platform to become the largest player in luxury e-commerce. Swiss luxury conglomerate Richemont, YNAP’s previous owner, is footing the bill by recapitalising YNAP with €555 million in exchange for a 33 percent stake in Mytheresa, and an additional €100 million six-year revolving credit facility.
Read MoreTory Burch FW2025 Campaign, $1 Billion Goal for Women Entrepreneurs
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Tory Burch FW2025 Campaign, $1 Billion Drive for Women Entrepreneurs
The Tory Burch [IG] FW 2025 Campaign gives us a moment to check-in with one of AOC’s favorite brands. Models Hejia Li, Ida Heiner, Lulu Tenney, Nora Attal, and Selena Forrest bond in New York City in a campaign lensed by Jamie Hawkesworth [IG].
Strong performance in 2024: Multiple reports from early 2025 cite Tory Burch's financial strength in 2024, noting the brand sold an estimated $1.8 billion worth of products.
Huge Ambition Goals at the Tory Burch Foundation
In early May 2025, the Inaugural Tory Burch Foundation Founders Breakfast honored Martha Stewart, while Burch unveiled an ambitious new pledge: to generate more than $1 billion in economic impact through women entrepreneurs by 2030.
Read MoreBurberry Fall/Winter 2025 Campaign at Wolterton Hall, Norfolk England
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Burberry Fall/Winter 2025 Campaign at Wolterton Hall, Norfolk England AOC Fashion
Burberry [IG] Creative Director Daniel Lee takes us to Wolterton Hall in Norfolk, England, a historic British setting that served as a key source of inspiration for the Fall/Winter 2025 collection and now the campaign.
Lee brings the sumptuous yet restrained location to life again in the appropriately-named Burberry Fall/Winter 2025 ‘A Grand Escape’ campaign, lensed by Sam Rock [IG].
Britain’s favorite heritage brand is far from being out of the woods, but Burberry CEO Joshua Schulman cited recently a notable uptick in Burberry’s brand desirability. Best of all, he said the Autumn 2025 collection is being "well received by a broad range of luxury customers".
AOC shares strong praise for how creative director Daniel Lee has delivered a strong reboot collection that is sumptuous and elegant with major visual appeal.
Read More2024 Rumor Confirmed: Louis Vuitton Is At Bat for Beverly Hills Cheval Blanc Axed Property
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2024 Rumor Confirmed: Louis Vuitton Is At Bat for Beverly Hills Cheval Blanc Property
California Dreamin’ . . .
There are many reasons why Louis Vuitton adores America and has an extra deep love affair with California. Progressive, multicultural, artistic in multiple disciplines, great weather, big money, and a maverick spirit all make the list for why LVMH and several maisons — but especially Louis Vuitton — have California Dreamin’ in their blood.
WWD shared in February 2024 the unconfirmed rumor that Louis Vuitton hopes to take over the defeated proposal for a 109-key Cheval Blanc hotel on the 50,000 sq foot property on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Louis Vuitton Chairman and CEO Pietro Beccari plans larger and grander retail attractions and fashion show events for Louis Vuitton locations around the world.
Today — on Labor Day 2025 in America — the rumor has been confirmed by Bloomberg, who has seen the filings with the city of Los Angeles for Beccari’s big new dream baby.
‘Huge’ Takes Many Forms and LVMH Has Human Assets
Vuitton CEO Pietro Beccari arrived at Louis Vuitton in January 2023, with a key priority of recruiting Pharrell Williams to the world’s biggest luxury brand to replace the beloved, and sorely missed Artistic Director of Louis Vuitton Mens, Virgil Abloh.
AOC was first and early, to the best of our knowledge, in calling for Williams to join LVMH Men.
We were the only media source with the moxie to criticize the team that lost the 2023 special vote for the Cheval Blanc in Beverly Hills. And we proposed a far better team to deal with LA politics, if the Louis Vuitton takeover of the site was true.
Prepare for takeoff!!
Read MoreHailey Bieber's Rhode Rolls into All Sephora USA and Canada Stores September 4, 2025
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Hailey Bieber's Rhode Rolls into All Sephora USA and Canada Stores September 4, 2025
Hailey Bieber’s sustainable skincare brand Rhode [IG] is in high gear, with less than 3 weeks to go for its Sephora launch on September 4.
The recently-acquired, sensational-success brand Rhode will be carried by all Sephora freestanding stores in the U.S. and Canada, as well as on LVMH-owned Sephora website.
Bieber has expertly walked a business tightrope with plenty of social media dazzle and celebrity PR grounded in product manufacturing expertise and distribution goals.
Focus, or better yet ‘clarity’ has been Hailey Bieber’s middle name since launching Rhode, and she has not faltered. With the acquisition of Rhode by ELF Beauty for $1 billion, Bieber has moved into an exclusive club of successful new business launches
Read MoreBrunello Cucinelli 2025 Transeasonal Campaign, Good Business Results, Commitment to Italy
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Brunello Cucinelli 2025 Transeasonal Campaign, Good Business Results, Commitment to Italy
Models South Korean heritage Hyunji Shin and Spanish heritage model Pau Ramis front the Brunello Cucinelli summer 2025 Transeasonal Campaign.
Brunello Cucinelli’s Commitment to Italy
Always the philosopher, one of the world’s most important humanists commented about his obligations to shareholders and his equally important obligations to Italy, after reporting a revenue increase of 10.2 percent in the first half of 2025 on his July analysts call.
"The fact is that we have an Italian company pay taxes in Italy... this is our struggle, you know, with regard to improving the profits. We will never bring or transfer our company to the Netherlands, to Luxembourg," Cucinelli added.
Cucinelli explained that his motivation for staying in Italy is in large part to support the wider supply chain. "We are serious Italian entrepreneurs who believe in made-in-Italian manufacturing with high-end craftsmanship, high-end exclusivity, high-end quality. We want to work on a local level in Italy."
Read MoreAnne Talks Louis Vuitton Men Pre-Fall 2025 Collection and Dior Men Spring 2026
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Anne Talks Louis Vuitton Men Pre-Fall 2025 Collection and Dior Men Spring 2026
Flaunt Magazine [IG] Issue 199, ‘Fleeting Twilight’ shares key looks from the Louis Vuitton Men’s Pre-Fall 2025 Collection. Creative Director Pharrell Williams previewed the collection in Miami December 2024, with the upcoming Met Gala dandy aesthetic on his mind.
I just reviewed again Jonathan Anderson’s swoon-worthy debut men’s collection for Christian Dior, and like Pharrell, he also tapped the ‘young aristocrats’ trend. Anderson added skirts for men and nipping his waists with overtly-femme swagger and white bow ties.
Louis Vuitton Men Compared to The Absolutely-Brilliant Jonathan Anderson Dior Mens Debut
Pharrell played his ties straight and long, Anderson likes bows. Both designers did white ties and the Louis Vuitton man does go to the office to afford his wardrobe preferences. He’s a working man. Anderson’s Dior man is a trust fund kid — or maybe the growing number of men — at least in America — living at home with parents.
Dandyism is a design key to writing about both collections — Dior Spring 2026 and Louis Vuitton Pre-Fall 2025. Yes, Pharrell was off to India with lean and long fluidity for his Spring 2026 collection, which AOC loved.
Read MoreFendi Takes A Modern View of Roman Style in Fall 2025 Campaign by Steven Meisel
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Fendi Takes A Modern View of Roman Style in Fall 2025 Campaign by Steven Meisel
AOC loves Paris and the south of France. But we’ve been saying for many months now that it’s an Italian moment, and nothing — not even the king of cashmere’s current Italian sweatshop scandal — will dampen AOC’s love affair with la dolce vita.
Fendi’s fall-winter 2025 campaign film begins with a visual dose of sophisticated retro nostalgia, peppered with modern reinvention. In speaking with WWD about the fall-winter 2025 collection, Silvia Venturini Fendi stressed the reality that the fall 2025 collection presents “a contemporary and comprehensive vision of the brand”.
Fendi is also aiming to convey this modern message with ancient roots with the inauguration of a new sprawling flagship on Milan’s Via Montenapoleone.
Anne Is Swept Away
Depending on your age, the soundtrack will completely sweep you away. OMG! Barry White.
If you have lived a privileged life resulting from family heritage — or are a working girl who made good and led a privileged life based on your smarts — and you regularly kissed the ground landing in Italia, you will be swooning.
Personally, Anne is destroyed with this campaign video.
Read MoreLouis Vuitton FW25 Offers Express Bag for High Speed, High Performance, High Self-Expectations Lives
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Louis Vuitton FW25 Offers Express Bag for High Speed, High Performance, High Self-Expectations Lives
Louis Vuitton Women taps House Ambassadors Emma Stone and Hoyeon Jung for the Fall/Winter 2025 Campaign, lensed by Ethan James Green.
Before Speedy Came Express
Bags and luggage are the visual currency of the Louis Vuitton brand. They also ring the cash register at critical levels to support LV’s position in the LVMH heirarchy. The FW25 Campaign is focused on its latest handbag: the Express, a roomy reprise of the original name of Vuitton’s signature Speedy handbag.
Louis Vuitton’s Chairman and CEO Pietro Beccari delivered press comments detailing the important role ‘The Louis’ marks on the new journey the luxury brand is taking into the DNA of Louis Vuitton itself. Reinforcing key buzzwords, Beccari stressed the importance of Louis Vuitton’s spirit of travel being experienced not only by crossing national borders, “but through ideas, emotions and inspiration.”
Anne drills down on exactly what Beccari’s words mean.
Read MoreLVMH's Michael Burke, New Chairman and CEO of its Americas Division Steps Into the Frenzy
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LVMH's Michael Burke, New Chairman and CEO of its Americas Division Steps Into the Frenzy
It may be LVMH’s newly-named chairman and chief executive of its Americas division Michael Burke, who first introduced the term ‘hodgepodge’ to the popular press and select financial analysts’ LVMH lexicon.
Anne will explain, but first the latest news.
The Burke appointment comes at a critical moment when the luxury sector is haunted by waning demand and US President Donald Trump’s ever-changing, often daily, tariffs landscape.
LVMH also appointed Burke as nonexecutive chairman of Tiffany’s board of directors. He retains his 2024 appointment as Chairman and CEO of LVMH Fashion Group.
In June and July 2025, AOC has been obsessed with the word ‘hodgepodge’ being bandied about by select financial analysts, with the tangential support of several fashion journalists. Their focus is a lack of branding clarity around Louis Vuitton in particular.
Referring last evening to the issue, I set off again this morning, trying to document the original source of the word. The person may be none other than Michael Burke.
Read MorePrada Balm in Banana Yellow Celebrates the 'Days of Summer' Campaign 2025
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Prada Balm in Banana Yellow Celebrates the 'Days of Summer' Campaign 2025
AOC returns to Prada’s ‘Days of Summer’ marketing campaign, where the Prada pink gozzo is moored beside the Prada Capri boutique, in Via Roma 2, until July 13th.
Prada Beauty Lip Balms in Macaron Colors
This Prada campaign is being executed with such colors of comprehensive precision that Prada Beauty lipstick glosses are the mouth-enticing colors of French macarons. Scratch that. I mean Italian Macaron colors.
Read MoreGoldman Sachs Adds LVMH to European Conviction Buy List, Ignoring Analysts and Fashion Writers
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Goldman Sachs Adds LVMH to European Conviction Buy List
My case for LVMH got a big boost Monday, July 7th with Goldman Sach’s decision to add LVMH to its European Conviction Buy list. Goldman’s Louise Singlehurst recommends investors "look through Q2 softness and Buy into LVMH" as a clear winner in the next luxury upcycle, noting asymmetric risk reward with potential upside of 69% versus 5% downside.
The Goldman analysis also mentioned that the steep selloff of LVMH shares borders on being irrational. This was welcome news after the June 22, deeply-personal, Bloomberg supplied hit piece on LVMH published on BoF.
I then read — again from HSBC, the same financial institution that financed all of Donald J. Trump’s bankruptcy business messes, when no other bank would — that the current Louis Vuitton brand strategy is a “hodgepodge”. Seriously!
Read MoreTyler Mitchell Shoots Ralph Lauren Pre-Fall 2025 Campaign | AOC Talks Values
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Tyler Mitchell Shoots Ralph Lauren Pre-Fall 2025 Campaign | AOC Talks Values
We’re living in a moment of small victories,and surely photographer Tyler Mitchell [IG] feels great pride — and his family even moreso — over Mitchell shooting the Ralph Lauren [IG] Pre-Fall 2025 Campaign. Ralph Lauren carries great symbolism and respect in the Black community.
Ralph Lauren 2024/25 Business Results
The top leadership got big raises coming off an excellent 2024 performance that resulted in a 16.8 percent increase in the stock price for the year ending March 31. Since March 31, the stock has risen another 20 percent.
Like Hermès, Brunello Cucinelli, and Prada, Ralph Lauren’s Asia business is very strong. In China Ralph Lauren saw 20 percent growth in China in their 4th quarter ending March 2025.
Louvet has definite opinions about why the business is strong in China:
It’s important to keep in mind that Ralph founded this company on values that are pretty universal: optimism, authenticity, timelessness, elegance, family. Those are globally relevant and are resonating wherever we play, including markets where you might be concerned about anti-American sentiment.
Read MoreLouis Vuitton Is Soul of LVMH 'Strategic Layering' Paradigm-Busting F1 Deal
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Louis Vuitton Is Soul of LVMH 'Strategic Layering' Paradigm-Busting F1 Deal
Formula 1 [FI] has moved into the fast lane, striking new business alliances with Apple and LVMH starring Louis Vuitton in 2025.
Today we focus on LV and F1, with visuals from the new Formula 1 and the Apple Original Films' highly-anticipated movie movie in F1. The movie starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris opens June 27.
Fresh off winning the prestigious 2025 Cannes Lions Grand Prix for their partnership with the Paris 2025 Olympic Games, this new F1 relationship announced in late 2024 represents what is called the LVMH “strategic narrative layering” approach across its maisons.
The fastest growing segment of F1 fandom is young women. From AOC’s perspective, layering bottles of Moët & Chandon into the F1 celebration experience, tying it directly to the Louis Vuitton brand experience is simply brilliant.
But hey — what do I understand understand about business in a purely transactional Wall Street world universe? ~ Anne
Read MoreReflecting on Abercrombie & Fitch Danzy Estates Tennis Closet Drop and Coco Gauff
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Abercrombie Danzy Estates Has Sporty & Rich Vibes
I’ve spent a couple hours really looking at Abercrombie — and I admit the Sporty & Rich connection in my brain got my attention. It’s valid as the first data bit, but another topic was working its way to my frontal lobe.
It seems that Danzy Estates has an open door to create very aspirational marketing — even if a luxury hotel in the south of France probably isn’t in the making. Mike Jeffries’ whites-only brand messaging — to say nothing about his sexual proclivities — will hang around Abercrombie’s neck for a long time.
Anne had an upfront and personal view of the brand’s struggles around race, as Jeffries built his ‘empire’. She is happy to know that Coco Gauff is welcome at today’s Abercrombie.
Read MoreDom Perignon's 'Creation is an Eternal Journey' Ode to Humanist Thinking
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