Amanda Gorman Covers WSJ Magazine Fall 2021 Women's Fashion Issue by Cass Bird

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Amanda Gorman Covers WSJ Magazine Fall 2021 Women's Fashion Issue by Cass Bird AOC Fashion

American poet and activist, 2020 Harvard College graduate, and the youngest inaugural poet in US history, Amanda Gorman covers the WSJ Magazine Fall 2021 Women’s Fashion issue. Jason Bolden styles Gorman in luxury looks from Bottega Veneta, Loewe, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello, Valentino and more. Photographer Cass Bird [IG] is behind the lens./ Makeup by Ophelie Crommar

Clover Hope conducts the Zoom interview Why Poet Amanda Gorman Wants to Be President.

The poem Amanda Gorman wrote for President Joe Biden’s inauguration, ‘The Hill We Climb’ defined her as an overnight cultural phenomenon. Describing the reading as “an out-of-body experience”, Gorman explains that when former president Bill Clinton told her it was the best inaugural poem since Maya Angelou delivered ‘On the Pulse of Morning’ at his own 1993 inauguration, she knew she now lived on a new page in American history.

AOC has written about Amanda Gorman multiple times now. We learn from WSJ Magazine that Amanda’s presidential aspirations declared themselves at age 11. The idea actually was a suggestion from her sixth-grade math teacher who cracked a joke. Gorman recalls responding to him in earnest, saying, “You’re right. That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

Presently, Gorman’s target year is 2036. When she confirms on the record again to WSJ Magazine that, yes, she seriously wants to run for president, Amanda Gorman makes her presidential run seem entirely feasible. “I think to make the impossible more proximate,” she says, “you have to treat it as if it’s in reaching distance.”

So focused is Amanda Gorman on her future, that she will not be required to clean up her social media. Her posts always align with her future goal of being president.

We who follow Amanda Gorman know she loves fashion — and Miuccia Prada loves Gorman. Her gracious hostess skills will be on display as a co-chair of the September Met Gala, the annual party honoring the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. The night gives Gorman an opportunity to explore growing intersection of art and politics.

“All art is political. I would say especially fashion,” Gorman explains. “I think about what it meant for the Black Panthers to wear tilted berets, what it meant for African-Americans to show up in their Sunday best while marching during the civil rights movement. And what it’s meant to wear rainbow colors in terms of queerness. What it’s meant to wear white as a feminist. I love getting to find more superpowers in what I wear.”

AOC has left out much in this rich interview. Read on at WSJ Magazine Why Poet Amanda Gorman Wants to Be President.

Adut Akech Wears Sustainable Chloe in 'Earth Song' by Zoe Ghertner for Vogues

Adut Akech Wears Sustainable Chloe in 'Earth Song' by Zoe Ghertner for Vogues AOC Fashion

Superfemme, supermodel Adut Akech graces the pages of both British Vogue and Vogue US in ‘Earth Song’, a Chloe exclusive fashion story, styled by Camilla Nickerson for images by Zoe Ghertner [IG] in the August issues. / Makeup by Ana G de V

See AOC’s review of the entire Fall 2021 Chloe collection. We are taking this moment to be certain that we’ve captured all of Adut’s latest work, with our curated eye, of course. But when does Adut do anything mediocre or work with mediocre photographers? Let’s just say rarely.

Gant Offers a Fashion Vision for a New Colored America in Vogue Scandinavia

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Gant Offers a Fashion Vision for a New Colored America in Vogue Scandinavia

Gant launched a high-voltage, sponsored fashion story ‘Gant is leading the glorious return of ‘preppy dressing’ in the debut issue of Vogue Scandinavia. The visual fashion mashup is lensed by Marco Van Rijt with styling by Fernando Torres. Talents include Caitlin Tamsyn Soetendal, Fredrik Quiñones, Lamin Holman, Levi Anijs, Idsa Mikado, and Miyake Mugler.

Gant has long done better in Europe than in America. But there is high potential in this reinvention of the New Haven-born, Stockholm-headquartered brand that is redefining prep. Founded in 1949 by Bernard Gantmacher in New Haven, Connecticut — the home of Yale and, arguably, the epicenter of American prep — Gant sits at an intersection of ‘Gossip Girl’ meets Black Lives Matter and Yale meets Howard University.

As America struggles with a full embrace of its own identity as a nation, fashion itself shows us what we can be. We can be colored; we are the world.

“I think prep has made a natural return,” says Gant's Creative Director Christoffer Bastin. He notes that in the early aughts, Ivy League attire was very much a uniform — the club blazer, the chino, the button down — reflected in the skinny Thom Brown suits favored by Pharrell Williams and the cotton candy coloured polos popularized by Kanye West. “Balenciaga and Vetements came in with their streetwear influences and committed this mercy killing on prep,” he says.

Gant’s Autumn/Winter 21 collection and the ways in which it’s interpreted by a fresh, youthful crop of Gant enthusiasts is inspiring. A hoodie may be worn under a tweed coat, for instance, and the chinos are decidedly looser. Cardigans are open and oversized. Patchwork and patches are employed liberally, offering a renegade take on iconic collegiate items.

The key word here is ‘renegade’. In a moment where a majority of America’s young people reject capitalism as we know it, fashion is making a big statement. As summer winds down in COVID-world, fashion is creating a new American style heavily influenced by the reality that global creatives want America to embrace and celebrate our multicultural identity.

Sixteen months after the murder of George Floyd, this new America may not make it. The forces fighting this deep embrace of a colored identity — that we are a nation of mutts with staggering potential — may lose the fight against the forces of white nationalism.

But I am clear that fashion really is taking a stand on multiple fronts. This Gant advertorial for Vogue Scandinavia is truly a roadmap for the better-angels vision of an American future. — and I love it. ~ Anne

Arizona Muse Moves Family to Ibiza As Ambitious Farmers in ELLE Espana September 2021

Arizona Muse Moves Family to Ibiza As Ambitious Farmers in ELLE Espana September 2021 AOC Fashion

Top model and sustainability expert Arizona Muse covers the September 2021 issue of ELLE Espana. Sylvia Montoliú styles Arizona in country woman luxury looks from Celine by Hedi Slimane, Chanel, Dior, Fendi, H&M, Isabel Marant, Max Mara, Louis Vuitton, Oscar de la Renta in images by Mario Sierra [IG]./ Hair & makeup by Kley Kafe

Reading the translated interview in ELLE Espana, AOC learned that Arizona Muse, her husband, Boniface Verney-Carron, whom she married in 2017, Arizona’s son Nikko, and little Cy Quinn, 2, have moved to Ibiza.

AOC has written about Arizona Muse’s deep commitment to regenerative agriculture. The concept of regenerative agriculture involves a series of farming and grazing practices that rebuild soil organic matter as the foundation for rehabilitating and enhancing the entire ecosystem. Beyond its bedrock focus on soil, maintaining excellent practices in animal welfare and farm workers fairness are fully integrated into regenerative agriculture.

Forbes has an article tonight Regenerative Agriculture: The Next Trend In Food Retailing.

Arizona tells ELLE Espana’s Laura Somoza that her ambition is to be a farmer, and there’s a lot of regenerative agriculture in the Balearic area. “It is incredible what farmers are doing, reclaiming previously desert areas and turning them green again. It is exciting to see how it happens, and I want to be part of this movement.”

More Arizona Muse projects include founding her new charity ‘Dirt’ in June 2021, which sees farming as the future of sustainable fashion. Muse made the announcement coordinated with Sustainable Angle’s Future Fabrics Expo in London, an organization where Muse is a board member.

Arizona will be linking fashion brands to sustainability projects connected to regenerative farming. She notes that certification by Demeter will be required in any projects that she oversees in [another name] biodynamic farming.

In January 2021 Arizona Muse became Aveda’s first-ever global ambassador. She also is a Greenpeace ambassador and recently collaborated with Extinction Rebellion. Muse continues to work closely with Livia Firth, founder of Eco-Age. Call me inspired. ~ Anne

Related: We’ve expanded the Arizona Muse narrative about biodynamic farming with a more detailed and VERY interesting explanation of the origin and beliefs of biodynamic farming. ‘Holistic’ is an understatement. Why Is Arizona Muse So Passionate About Biodynamic Farming in Ibiza? AOC Sustainability

A Pregnant Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Talks RoseInc Beauty in Sunday Times Style

A Pregnant Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Talks RoseInc Beauty in Sunday Times Style AOC Fashion

One of America’s fav Brits Rosie Huntington-Whiteley covers the August 22 issue of The Sunday Times Style magazine. Photographer Sonia Szóstak [IG] captures Rosie, styled by Karla Gruszecka in the beauty queen’s preference for modern, neutral, fluid silhouettes.

The original reason behind Rosie’s feature in The Sunday Times is the launch of her beauty brand Rose inc featuring nine makeup and skin-care products, beauty brushes and reusable cotton pads. People can also sign up for early purchase access on RoseInc.com ahead of the August 24-26 sales period for Rose Inc.-registered members.

In America, Rosie’s beauty brand will be sold exclusively at Sephora and RoseInc.com. On August 27, Sephora Canada and SpaceNK in the U.K. live the former VS Angel’s beauty brand, with Australia joining the family at Mecca before year’s end.

Huntington-Whitely has carefully tended her beauty garden for the last two years, creating a relationship with her potential customer.

“We see a lot of people launching brands all the time. Some feel authentic, and some that don’t. There has to be that trust, authenticity and integrity built between you, your consumer and your audience,” Huntington-Whiteley said. “I wanted to build a site to get across my passion for beauty, to learn, to build a community — and I was also looking for the right partner to build our beauty brand with.”

That partner is Amyris Inc., the public company behind Biossance, Pipette and Costa Brazil.

Recent Rosie Huntington-Whiteley on AOC ALL Rosie Archives

Madonna and Family Celebrate Her 63 Birthday in Puglia Imaged by Ricardo Gomes

Madonna and Family Celebrate Her 63 Birthday in Puglia Imaged by Ricardo Gomes AOC Fashion

Madonna celebrated her 63rd birthday last week, hosting a birthday party in a deconsecrated, 6th-century Puglia church. Madonna’s frequent photographer and videographer Ricardo Gomes [IG] documented the event exclusively for Vogue Italia.

Madonna’s entire family was on hand to celebrate one of the world’s mystical goddesses, a woman who has a relationship with religion and spirituality that AOC relates to. Madonna has been photographed wearing religious iconography including cross pendants. Masks and headdresses are another favorite of the singer superstar, as she always probes the intersection of religion and sexuality.

Madonna’s children Lourdes Leon, Mercy James, Stelle and Estere Cicione, Roco Ritchie and David Banda joined the birthday party. Rita Melssen styles the shoot, which also includes actor Debi Mazar and Madonna’s boyfriend since late 2019, dancer Ahlamalik Williams. / Hair by Andy Lecompte; makeup by Aaron Henrikson

Gucci Off the Grid' X A Vibe Called Tech Collab Lensed by Amber Pinkerton

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Gucci Off the Grid' X A Vibe Called Tech Collab Lensed by Amber Pinkerton AOC Fashion

Gucci took a step forward this summer with its evolving Gucci Off the Grid Collection, shot here by rising photographer, ‘jamaican gyal in london town’ Amber Pinkerton [IG]. Danish stylist Anders Solvsten Thomsen styles models Fabio Silva and Kieza Kanda.

This ‘Gucci Off the Grid’ sustainability campaign is a collab between Gucci and A Vibe Called Tech, a new creative agency founded by Charlene Prempeh, to explore the intersection of Black creativity, culture and innovation. Prempeh is an FT How to Spend it columnist and contributing editor who writes about Black innovators, design, travel, and culture. She is a graduate of Oxford University with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics [PPE].

Lewis Gilbert is the creative director of A Vibe Called Tech [IG]. AOC will flush out the agency in a separate post.

Returning to photographer Amber Pinkerton in this abundance of Black creativity moment, she was profiled in an August 2020, T: New York Times Style profile: The Rising Photographer Inspired by Her Home Country.

When Gucci announced its first Off the Grid collection in June 2020, Jane Fonda was holding a new bag made of sustainable material.

We now know the material is Econyl, and it’s heavily featured in these Gucci Off the Grid campaign images.

The upcoming Louis Vuitton Charlie unisex, 94% sustainable sneaker has pieces made of Econyl. The fabric made by Aquafil, using large amounts of recycled nylon, is also in heavy use by Prada — who led the Econyl drive — and Burberry, also a founding driver of the material. Track Econyl here.

See entire campaign: Gucci Off the Grid' X A Vibe Called Tech Collab Lensed by Amber Pinkerton AOC Fashion

Margot Robbie Delights in Lachlan Bailey Flamingo Estate LA Fashion Shoot

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Margot Robbie Delights in Lachlan Bailey Flamingo Estate LA Fashion Shoot AOC Fashion

The real magic of British Vogue’s August 2021 cover story with actor Margot Robbie is that it was a gathering of Australians. Flying to Los Angeles when so many fashion shoots are now virtual, Australian stylist and art director Clare Richardson felt inspired and downright joyous.

Few fashion stories and interviews are a joy to read, especially for a serious person like myself. Yet, Robbie’s feature is a true getaway— perhaps because she talks unapologetically a lot about her work and excitement over her success. It was a quick read with no angst that AOC truly enjoyed.

In today’s world, any interview that leaves one smiling and appreciative of the moment, is a success. That’s probably due to Margot Robbie, who Richardson describes as “down-to-earth, professional and polite (on set, you always notice the person who says hello to everyone). There was no fuss; she is warm, kind and grounded, yet extremely smart and astute.”

Normal fashion chatter like fellow Aussie, photographer Lachlan Bailey, sharing amused delight over Robbie’s new haircut — a French-girl fringe and golden highlights — made me smile.

Shooting in the gardens of the Flamingo Estate immediately got my attention, primarily because we added another Australian Richard Christiansen to the friendly California fashion crew salad. The Flaming Estate brand is another story worth pursuing after one look at the website.

So now you have the entire mood and cast of characters that produced the British Vogue August 2021 cover fashion story. As the Flamingo Estate website says “It’s time to feel good again.”

That message isn’t escapism, anxiety and stress over climate change, women in Afghanistan, Black Lives Matter, the fifth iteration of COVID, American going to war over face masks, and the rise of white nationalism.

It’s about simple delights California style, which means that the bar of Flamingo Estate soap is $25 but it truly is medicine from the garden — beautiful, fragrant, and the work of mother nature — “our doctor, therapist and friend. Take care of her and she’ll take care of you.” That’s food for thought, and yes, you can shop the pantry.

Eva Wiseman shares the Robbie interview, which just rolls on in a survey of the star’s career and successes. In a story I already knew — and adore: “The description of the character she read for in Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ was “the hottest blonde ever”; she went off-script and slapped Leonardo DiCaprio hard across the face, launching her into the humid air of movie stardom.” [Every woman needs a story like this one!”]

Robbie’s a friendly feminist to the core, naming her 2014 production company with husband Tom Ackerley and two other creative friends ‘Lucky Chap’. Its aim was to tell women’s stories on-screen, and to support female creators behind the scenes – a plan grounded in business as much as politics. An early production was “I Tonya”, the biopic of skater Tonya Harding that garnered Robbie’s first Oscar nomination.

You must read the entire interview. Robbie returns now to her role of Harley Quinn in an all new film ‘The Suicide Squad’. - Rebellion’.

Louis Vuitton Eyes Sustainable Future With Sneakers Breaking New Ground

Louis Vuitton artistic director Virgil Abloh is a leader in LVMH’s drive towards sustainability.

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Meet Charlie, Louis Vuitton’s new unisex sneaker that symbolizes Vuitton’s commitment to sustainability that has put it out front in implementing environmental changes within LVMH. Virgil Abloh gets much credit for being the leader of the pack at Vuitton, when the focus is climate change policy adaptations.

WWD writes: “Abloh, who defines himself not as a designer, but rather as an “artistic director for a new and different era,” has long subscribed to the theory that modifying an existing object by three percent turns it into “something special.” While that approach has exposed him to accusations of copying, it naturally lends itself to recycling.

“Design doesn’t stop,” he said. “Just because it’s been seen, and it’s been out there, doesn’t mean that you have to crumple that piece of paper up and start from zero. Just because it’s older, doesn’t mean that it’s devalued. That’s me just trying to come up with a new system, especially with the work at Vuitton.”

As part of LVMH’s ambitious plan to achieve maximum sustainability in their start to finish business practices, the company launched earlier in 2021 Nona Source, an online resale platform for the group’s deadstock fabrics and leathers.

The concept was introduced by Romain Brabo and Marie Falguerra, who presented the project as part of LVMH’s intrapreneurship program, DARE, and were invited to pilot it full-time. The internal LVMH DARE acronym means Disrupt, Act, Risk to be an Entrepreneur . . . DARE.

Charlie Hits the Streets in November 2021

Louis Vuitton’s unisex Charlie sneaker. Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton Eyes Sustainable Future With Sneakers Breaking New Ground AOC Sustainability

Charlie has some mighty enticing green measurements, as Louis Vuitton’s first unisex sneaker, produced using 90 percent recycled and bio-sourced materials. Scheduled to launch on November 12, the Charlie features a sole that’s minimally 94 percent recycled rubber.

Charlie’s upper is composed of smooth and grained synthetic material, produced from recycled polyester with a layer of Biopolioli, a corn-based plastic. The tongue patch, back of the shoe and LV logo are made with Econyl regenerated nylon created from nylon waste such as fishing nets, fabric scraps and industrial plastic.

Continue on in AOC Sustainability, where we pick up the story.: Louis Vuitton Eyes Sustainable Future With Sneakers Breaking New Ground AOC Sustainability

Kerwin Frost's Terrifying Horse Head Sneakers Cause Nightmares | Let's Use Them

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Looking at Harlem-born designer and talk show host Kerwin Frost’s new collab sneaker with Adidas, one wonders if it’s capable to triggering nightmares. AOC chooses to take a more benign read on his Forum Hi designed to resemble a horse face.

If wearing the sneakers causes some gang member dude to threaten you with a pistol-whipping unless you get those terrifying sneakers off the street — well, you’ve still invested in a piece of modern art. Note the nose turds — or even a terrified penis trying to escape the screams of horror induced by this sneaker.

Could the ‘Horse’ face sneaker just be a sick joke? Stay tuned on Frost’s Insta.

On a more positive note, perhaps the sneaker drop is timed to coincide with Beyoncé’s Ivy Park X Adidas Rodeo collab?

Beyoncé Celebrates 40 Years of Excellence for Harper's Bazaar, Lensed by Campbell Addy AOC Fashion

I’ll bet you don’t know that an estimated 25 percent of America’s cowboys were Black. With Republicans trying to deny critical race theory, perhaps those of us who support BLM and teaching Black history to kids in school can start wearing Kerwin Frost’s horse sneakers in Republican neighborhoods.

We could make it like a voodoo curse, which Kerwin Frost loves. Then again, Republicans are locked and loaded with assault weapons, so we would all probably die in our desire to be disruptive seekers of democracy in America. Bad idea, Anne.

Gucci Diana Bag Honors Her Memory at Gucci Bamboo House in Kyoto, Japan

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Gucci Diana Bag Honors Her Memory at Gucci Bamboo House in Kyoto, Japan AOC Fashion

Princess Diana in Japan, May 1986

Nearly 100,000 people cheered Britain’s Prince and Princess of Wales on the streets of Tokyo, when they arrived for a six-day visit to Japan on May 12, 1986. The headline in the New York Times read: ‘Diana Fever’ Comes to a Quiet Emperor’s Land.

Part of Diana’s duties in Japan included attending a traditional Japanese tea ceremony at Nijo Castle in Kyoto. {collage of images above} where she was gifted a traditional kimono fit for a princess.

Thirty-five years later, Gucci has paid tribute to the Kyoto visit in two ways.

First, in honor of Diana’s 60th birthday, Gucci’s creative director Alessandro Michele reimagined the royal’s favorite, iconic handbag in a series of bold and bright colors in three different sizes: medium, small and mini. Additionally, the new handbag — called the Gucci Diana — includes removable neon buckled belts on each bag, which serve as a nod to the functional bands that were first released with the original to secure the handles’ shape.

The ‘Diana’ bag, which the Princess made famous in one variation or another running errands around London or arriving for a gym workout. Diana LOVED her Gucci handbags with their bamboo handles.

Gucci creative director Alessandro Michel celebrated the Gucci Diana handbag at one of her favorite London institutions — The Savoy Hotel, where Diana was sometimes seen twice in a single day. In a bit of historical nothingness, the luxury brand’s founder worked as a lift boy at The Savoy in his youth.

The Gucci Diana campaign itself was shot by Angelo Pennetta [IG] with a variety of models strolling around London sporting the new bag, most notably leaving The Savoy Hotel

Second, Gucci took the Diana Bags to Kyoto. Thirty-five years later, Gucci’s new Gucci Diana bag traveled to Kyoto in an early August, Olympics concurrent exhibit called ‘Gucci in Kyoto’ project. AOC continues the narrative about the exhibition — which closed today August 15, after the campaign images.

See Campaign images @ AOC.

The Gucci Bamboo House, Kyoto, Japan.

Gucci Celebrates its 100th Anniversary in Kyoto

Learning about the special pop-up at Architectural Digest, Gucci renovated a ‘machiya ‘— a Japanese traditional wooden townhouse typically inhabited by merchants and craftsmen—formerly known as the Kawasaki Residence. Though these homes have existed since the Heian period, running 794 to 1185 AD, the Gucci restoration was constructed during the Taishō era of the 1920s (the same period as Gucci’s founding).

According to Japan Property Central, the townhouse, located in central Kyoto, has fashion in its bones: It was originally built for a wealthy cotton merchant, and after selling to the Kawasaki family, it ultimately served as a kimono museum. Despite its current designation as a Cultural Property of Kyoto City, the house risked demolition just two years ago. However, Gucci has since been able to supply additional funding.

Some images of the Gucci Bamboo House in Kyoto from the Gucci Instagram.

Ashley Callingbull Covers Fashion Canada September 2021, Talking Indigenous Peoples

Ashley Callingbull Covers Fashion Canada September 2021, Talking Indigenous Peoples AOC Fashion

Ashley Callingbull, Indigenous model, pageant queen, and motivational speaker from Enoch Cree Nation in Alberta, covers the September 2021 issue of Fashion Magazine Canada. The activist wears a dress from Native American visual artist and California fashion designer Jamie Okuma on the cover, styled by Lucrezia Mancini.

Marc Jacobs 'The Color Collection' Takeover of The Surf Lodge in Montauk

Courtesy of the Surf Lodge

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Marc Jacobs 'The Color Collection' Takeover of The Surf Lodge in Montauk AOC Fashion

Montauk’s The Surf Lodge has undergone a Marc Jacobs ‘Color Collection’ makeover. The Hamptons’ party spot even hosts a Blue Crush Jacobs made with vodka, blue curacao, coconut liquor, lemon juice, pineapple juice, and coconut water. A server wearing a Marc Jacobs t-shirt will deliver the knock-out punch to your eager hand.

Do not jump into the vintage pink convertible waiting outside — planning a spontaneous getaway down RT-27. Smart-girl Surt Lodge owner, Brazilian-born Jayma Cardoso has stashed away the keys where party people will not find them. Perhaps she’s handed them off to creative director Sasha Benz.

Related: Viviane Sassen Captures Marc Jacobs Pre-Fall 2021 ‘The Color Collection’ June 2021

Dancer Christian Yav is among the airborne models styled by Ib Kamara in Marc Jacobs ‘The Color Collection’ of Pre-Fall 2021 athletic pieces. Viviane Sassen [IG] is behind the lens in for this bodies in motion photo shoot. / Hair and makeup by Irena Ruben