Birthday-girl Irina Shayk celebrated her 40th birthday on January 6, several months after being the lead-off cover girl for the Winter 2025 issue of The Face [IG]. Irina puts on her best sexy woman face, styled by Danielle Emerson in lingerie-inspired images lensed by Drew Vickers [IG]./ Hair by Olivier Schawalder; makeup by Yadim
Two divinely-talented, beautiful and sexy women — that would be Hailey Bieber and Maty Fall — launch a Victoria’s Secret Valentine’s Day [IG] campaign for love: self-love and the family, friends and lover[s] who feel your glow. Photographer Adrienne Raquel [IG] captures the retro mood and music, with Hailey and Maty styled by Gabriella Karefa-Johnson. Executive creative direction by Adam Selman./ Hair by Bryce Scarlett; makeup by Mary Philipps
Fashion, beauty and bridal veteran Amandine Ohayon becomes CEO of Givenchy, effective Friday, January 9th, in a sequence of executive moves at LVMH. Ohayon succeeds Alessandro Valenti, who becomes deputy managing director in charge of commercial activities at Christian Dior Couture, effective Monday, the 11th.
The former CEO of Stella McCartney, before the designer separated her brand from LVMH, Ohayon reports to Pietro Beccari, who assumed the title of CEO of LVMH Fashion Group on January 1st. Beccari retains his title of chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton. LVMH Fashion Group brands include Fendi, Celine, Loewe, Kenzo, Marc Jacobs, Pucci and Patou in addition to Givenchy.
The Mombasa, a bag created by Tom Ford for Yves Saint Laurent in 2002, is reintroduced by today’s Saint Laurent [IG] creative director Anthony Vaccarello with a new campaign headlined by Bella Hadid.
Photographer /director Glen Luchford [IG] captures details of the bag, including the leather handle, which was made of deer horn in the original Mombasa. Hand-carved, no two handles were alike.
Top model Awar Odhiang received a lovely honor today as the Models.com Industry’s Vote for Model of the Year: Women.
She’s had many high moments in her five-years career, but Odhiang’s October 2025 closing of Mathieu Blazy’s debut as Creative Director of Chanel sent most of us soaring into its spontaneous joy and beauty. Read AOC’s response.
I promised recently to share a tribute about Awar that appeared on photographer Rafael Pavaroti’sIG. Raf included Awar in a Chanel exclusive story for Vogue’s December issue. His words about the moment affected me deeply and expressed exactly what was going through my own mind in that moment when Awar Odhiang broke formation like she was running in the home stretch of the Kentucky Derby.
Watching her make that runway her own — note, Odhiang and Blazy are very tight — you knew that Awar Odhiang is a thoroughbred filly who is destined to live in the winner’s circle.
Gisele Bundchen quietly married her life partner Joaquim Valente in early December. The couple was first romantically linked in November 2022, following the supermodel’s divorce from NFL quarterback Tom Brady, after 13 years of marriage.
In February 2025, Gisele gave birth to her third biological child, a baby boy, and her first with Valente.
This image of Gisele is from Vogue Brasil’sDecember 2025 cover story, shot by Lufre. The photo shoot was timed to close out Vogue Brasil’s 50th anniversary year, while simultaneously opening celebrations of Bundchen’s 30 year career as a supermodel.
Dear G. Is it fair and reasonable to say that Trump is the most hateful President ever in America?
Dear A. Whether it is "fair and reasonable" to label Donald Trump the "most hateful" U.S. President is a subject of significant debate among historians, scholars, and the public, often depending on whether the focus is on rhetoric or historical policy.
Read the Arguments for the Claim (Focus on Rhetoric and Division) and Google AI’s arguments against the Claim.
Players is a 2025 project by Carine Roitfeld and her son Vladimir Roitfeld, focusing on the intersection of sports and style. The premium, large-format magazine features athletes and fashion icons in curated editorial content.
AOC noticed this morning the “First Annual Players of the Year” where the Players IG highlights “the best dressed talent across sports, fashion, and entertainment” with one pick in a category.
Players wrote about Best Designer Debut and Best Dressed Man:
A$AP Rocky just became Chanel’s new house ambassador, right as Matthieu Blazy’s debut turns the industry on its head.
There’s a new Maison Hennessy era opening on the high seas with the transatlantic maiden crossing of the wind-powered cargo ship Neoliner Origin.
The sustainability-conscious queen of the seas is now headed for Baltimore, arriving on October 29, 2025. For thousands of years ships have been essential in bringing the world together in the name of commerce.
Powered by wind energy, Neoliner Origin reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 80 to 90% compared with a conventional ship of comparable size.
tt was expected among fashion insiders that when Dakota Johnson’s contract with Gucci was up for renewal, that the actor would rejoin her close friend at Valentino.
From the perspective of Valentino, this partnership as an extension of its engagement with figures embodying artistry and cultural significance
Johnson has a book club called the TeaTime Book Club, launched in 2024 through her production company, TeaTime Pictures, making her a perfect fit.
Fendi’s new Chairman and CEO Ramon Ros concisely summarized the expanding role of the LVMH Creative Directors at select maisons:
I’m thrilled to welcome Maria Grazia into the team. The role of a creative director is no longer to simply design beautiful clothes but to curate a culture and hold a mirror to the world we live in. Her talent and vision will be instrumental in fortifying Fendi’s heritage, shaping the future talent in the house and deepening our commitment to Italian craftsmanship.”
The Chiuri appointment means more to many of us than LVMH understands. Losing her would have been a low blow, and I am grateful for their continued confidence in her talents as a perfect fit for Fendi.
Examining the 3rd quarter results, few media reports note that the 2025 comps are up against the Paris 2024 Olympics. The projected 4% decrease, not the 2% decrease reported today by LVMH, affirms the reality that flying into strong headwinds, the fashion and leather sector delivered news to applaud, not critique as an extension of a “long-running decline” now entering its 4th quarter.
The “Long-running Decline” Label Belongs to Gucci
For the full year 2024, Gucci revenue fell 23% on a comparable basis. In the first half of 2025, revenue was down 25% on a comparable basis.
There is great confidence in the business leadership and financial acumen being shown by new Kering CEO Luca de Meo leading the parent company Kering and the Gucci turnaround, in particular.
AOC’s issue all year is that the business reporting on LVMH has bordered on reckless and just plain wrong at times. As a result the LVMH stock price has taken needless hits in valuation that could put a smaller, less-well run business in deep financial distress.
The woman of the hour the day after Matthieu Blazy blew the doors off the House of Chanel with his monumental October 6, 2025 Chanel Spring 2026 debut is Awar Odhiang.
Not only did Odhiang become the third Black model in history to close a Chanel show. Blazy’s goodwill closer circled the catwalk like she owned the place and wanted a uniquely-memorable sendoff for the top dog of Paris Fashion Week.
The ancestors were rockin’ and yes — Coco had Arthur ‘Boy’ Capel by her side and even Karl Lagerfeld had a front row seat in the divine universe and was god-blessing Blazy over and over and over again. Lagerfeld always championed exceptional talent.
The Beverly Hills Planning Commission unanimously approved the proposed Louis Vuitton flagship store and exhibition space at its September 25th meeting. In a LVMH saga AOC has followed for several years, the commission approved a Development Plan Review, a Conditional Use Permit and Rooftop Dining Permit. designed by architect Frank Gehry.
Designed by architect Frank Gehry, and located on Rodeo Drive, the Louis Vuitton cutting-edge, experiential design complex will span the block of South Santa Monica Boulevard between Rodeo and Beverly Drive.
Gehry’s sculptural design imprint for three-story windowless building includes two buildings with pedestrian bridges and an inner courtyard. Peter Marino is in charge of interior design.
Gucci CEO Stefano Cantino is expected to exit the helm of the brand in hours to days, report multiple business media Sunday evening in US. Cantino, a veteran of both Prada and Louis Vuitton, has been Gucci CEO for about nine months.
Francesca Bellettini, currently Kering’s deputy CEO for brand development, is expected to succeed Cantino.
Monday is new Kering CEO Luca de Meo’s first day at work. If the action proceeds as reported, the new Kering CEO will have demonstrated to financial markets that he is indeed now in charge at Kering.
In Rome, Pharrell will co-direct with Andrea Bocelli the ‘Grace for the World’ closing celebration of the third World Meeting on Human Fraternity. The “landmark cultural and spiritual event” will take place in St. Peter’s Square and will stream live on Disney+, Hulu, and ABC News Live on Sept. 13 at 3 p.m. ET.
According to a press release, the concert will “bring together music, reflection, and visual storytelling in a singular live experience,” and feature live performances by Bocelli, Williams with the Voices of Fire Gospel Choir, Teddy Swims, John Legend, a 250-person international choir and more talents. There will also be an aerial drone and light show by Nova Sky Stories, including imagery inspired by the Sistine Chapel.
Pharrell called the upcoming gathering “a rare cultural moment where the world stops and collectively tunes in. It is a message of unity and grace for all of humanity”.
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.
Candice Swanepoel, Devyn Garcia and Imaan Hammam front the new Victoria’s Secret [IG] 2025 Very Sexy Campaign. As sexy comes roaring back, photographer Yulia Gorbachenko [IG] turns her woman-friendly lens on three of the hottest women riding the VS carousel.
Celia Azoulay styles the campaign with strong woman props and a smoldering color palette with shades of black, burgandy, fuchsia and plum.
Supermodel Edie Campbell covers the September 2025 issue of Vogue Korea [IG], styled by Kihoh Sohn in Prada for three covers lensed by Sean & Seng [IG]./ Hair by Luke Hersheson; makeup by Janeen Witherspoon
Actor Nicole Kidman made news last week with her skincare routine under scrutiny, now that the ‘Moulin Rouge’ actor became a new global ambassador for Clé de Peau Beauté [IG].
Clé de Peau Beauté has never pursued a superficial, external approach to physical beauty and the appointment emphasizes the shared values between the beauty brand and Nicole Kidman’s actions as a humanist.
Intelligent, Intentional, Illuminating Beauty
As a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, the actor dedicates herself to advancing gender equality, supporting education, and combating violence against women. Her humanitarian work echoes Clé de Peau Beauté’s core mission: to empower individuals and transform beauty into a vehicle for confidence, purpose, and positive impact.
