Designer Tom Ford was among the 150 newcomers to the annual Forbes list of the world’s richest people released last week. The 61-year-old with a deep understanding of human sexuality — and women’s sexuality in particular — entered the list with LeBron James. That’s kind of cool.
The first time Moore met Ford, she was nominated for an Oscar and had checked into the Beverly Hills Hotel with her two-month old baby. “I wasn’t really in Tom Ford shape,” the actor told Vogue. “The first thing Tom did was pick up my little boy—who’s now 21—and said, ‘I want one of these.’”
There are many layers to Tom Ford and these layers drift through every element of his work and life.
Signing a one-year-contract last November with Estee Lauder, agreeing to stay with the brand as Lauder digests their big-leagues’ purchase, it’s very Tom Ford to get edgy on his way out the door in this Spring 2023 campaign film. It’s equally edgy to have Steven Klein behind the lens, creating this tableau of subtle, erotic tension and beauty that provokes questions.
Models for the Tom Ford Spring 2023 Campaign include Akbar Shamji, Annemary Aderibigbe, Felice Noordhoff and He Cong styled by Carine Roitfeld. K Studio acted as Creative Director./ Hair by Jawara; makeup by Yadim
Top model Edita Vilkeciviute is blessed to have a home in Ibiza, one featured in the July 2021 issue of Vogue Spain. We’re not clear if the top model swims in a natural pool on her property, but they are prevalent on the famous Spanish island in the Mediterranean.
In these images Edita poses in Mango swimwear from the 2023 spring/summer collection. The shoot takes place in San Andrés, Tenerife — part of Spain’s Canary Islands off the coast of southern Morocco and the disputed Western Sahara. Photographer Pepe Lobez [IG] captures the famous Lithuanian beauty — who is in high demand for sensual summer fashion stories and campaigns — styled by Rebeca Abad and Pili Álamo. Patricia Diaz Manzano provides the art direction.
A core way to experience the benefits of biophilia is through swimming, an activity that not only connects us with water, a vital element of nature, but also offers numerous physical and mental health benefits. Water is also key to Jungian psychology and the unconscious mind is symbolized by the vastness of the ocean and its crashing waves.
The Los Angeles Times captures the shimmering, sophisticated style tableau with model Gisselle Hidalgo and Saye, styled by Keyla Marquez. Photographer Maya Fuhr [IG} imaged the Oscar-worthy sleek drama and shares on IG news of her show ‘Compersion’.
Nuvo Magazine interviewed the Canadian artist about her lifelong obsession with latex and voyeurism in her first LA show, now closed, at Gallery Sade. We share the press release.
The inspiration behind the new collection was the highly-influential 1995 and chic collection designed by Versace house founder and Donatella’s brother Gianni Versace.
Richard Avedon’s photographs of Kristen McMenamy captured an unusually chic and elegant Versace collection. Donatella told Vogue: “I wanted to go back to the cut and shape of the clothes, to concentrate on the perfect little black dress, the perfect black suit.”
Dolce & Gabbana is not a toned-down brand, but Kylie Jenner’s softer, more natural makeup enhances the sensual message of her new DG Logo bag campaign.
Sophisticated, uber-competent women like Kylie rarely take handbags to bed.
Then again . . . a leopard print throw, black stockings with black nails and a silk bra photographed against the backdrop of an Italian tapestry may convey the well-travelled road to the riches of earning your own DG Logo bag — Karlie style — or being gifted the Italian treasure by photographers duo Mert & Marcus [IG], who photographed the campaign.
Consider the fact that Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott own a spectacular 10-bedroom Moorish villa in Ibiza. Who knows . . . there may be a DG Logo bag gifted to special guests like Kylie.
French jewelery brand Messika shares a hard-to-miss new ‘Messika Diamond Vibes 2023 Campaign’ starring ambassador Kendall Jenner and Messika’s new man Alton Mason.
The model and dancer closed out last September’s Paris runway show, sharing the spotlight with original super Naomi Campbell.
Messika believes in ‘everyday diamonds’, especially after spending extended time in America.
Founder and creative director Valerie Messika explains that she’s now heavily influenced by the “energy and confidence” she sees on America’s streets. Heading for California’s Palm Spring’s desert — in a red convertible— seems like a perfect expression of the founder’s current state of California Dreamin’.
Photographer Chris Colls [IG] returns to create the new Messika campaign, with styling by Helena Tejedor.
Saint Laurent reveals its summer 2023 campaign, shot by Juergen Teller. The photographer tends to break with his more familiar images, expressing a rare sensuality for the German photographer— and particularly in this summer campaign.
Styled by Paul Sinclaire, the ensemble includes Awar Odhiang, Camille Chifflot, Chaima Ameziane, Freja Beha Erichsen, Marilou Hanriot.
The Sun Rises Again on the Human Body
“To me, the body says what words cannot,” Martha Graham, the revered, radical American modern dancer and choreographer, said about her dance movements.
Graham, a muse for the spring/summer collection and Saint Laurent Creative Director Anthony Vaccarello are in sync in a mutual embrace of an unapologetic physicality — a languid elegance that is most appealing.
The Chanel 22 bag was first presented in the French luxury brand’s Spring-Summer 2022 Ready-to-Wear show. Today BLACKPINK’s Jennie Kim steps into the spotlight as a Chanel ambassador, with her own Chanel 22 bag on her shoulder.
The Chanel 22 Bag campaign has rolled out in a sequence that also includes Lily-Rose Depp, Margaret Qualley and Whitney Peak, in three different settings: Los Angeles, Palm Springs and New York.
Regular Chanel contributors Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin photographed Jennie Kim in Seoul, South Korea.
To AOC, the collages also tap into new visual imagery being unleashed in the rapidly emerging field of AI and its ability to create sophisticated visual composites.
Supermodel Candice Swanepoel follows her Vogue Netherlands March 2023 cover story, joining the Carolina Herrera Eyewear family in a spring/summer 2023 campaign lensed by Dan Beleiu [IG] with styling by Alba Melendo./ Makeup by Manuela Pane, Paco Garrigues
One of the most tactically brilliant spring-summer 2023 ad campaigns we’ve seen so far is the pairing of photographer Elizaveta Porodina [IG] and actor, singer, songwriter Dove Cameron for Carolina Herrera [IG]./ Makeup by David Koppelaar; hair by Olivier Schawalder
AOC says “brilliant” because not only are we looking at the visually-compelling photography of the uber-talented Porodina. The entire campaign executed under the creative vision of Carolina Herrera’s Creative Director Wes Gordon is accompanied by an informative interview with the creatives, published in ELLE magazine.
Not a Canned Press Release
The campaign is accompanied by a discussion of the trained clinical psychologist gone rogue photographer’s style and how Dove Cameron first “fell in love” with Wes Gordom when he asked her to be his date to the 2021 CDFAs.
The ELLE story, birthed in Paris in October 2022, is even filled with information about Elizabeth’s unique camera techniques, which AOC has backed since her first entrance into the fashion photography scene.
You’re not alone if you did a doubletake over the model in Zimmermann’s new Summer 2023 Swim Collection. Indeed, the two-piece bandeaus are sexy . . . especially with gold jewelry accents.
The black and white graphic ‘sunflowers’ crochet dress is fabulous, but who is the blonde? We love the two-piece, strapless green bikini, but why does she look so familiar and yet . . . like a seaworthy, modern woman Aphrodite?
Model Cara Taylor reminds us to never judge a book by its cover. Never ever! You never know the person living inside the mind of that brunette American model from Alabama.
Whether it’s three days, three months, or never looking back, Taylor reminds us that every woman should walk where angels do not tread.
Bella Hadid greets longer days and brilliant sun as the face of Louis Vuitton 2023 sunglasses campaign, joined by Taiwanese singer, musician and actor Ouyang Nana.
Carine Roitfeld styles the campaign with Bella and Ouyang in images by Steven Meisel. / Hair by Guido Palau; makeup by Pat McGrath
The fashion trends term describing the Spring 2023 Massimo Dutti Limited Edition collection is ‘elevated basics’. Every fashion-aware person self-defines their own vision of ‘elevated basics’, but Massimo Dutti’s 2023 vision is one of sophisticated, chic simplicity and clarity.
The new campaign highlights models Ella Mccutcheon, Imaan Hammam, Tara Halliwell and Yilan Hua in images by Ezra Petronio [IG].
The vision is not a boring one, but more of a timeless, body-aware, polished, sensual approach in black and cream.
Skirts are longer for seekers of elevated basics, silhouettes are fluid. AOC asks if the long column of a dress is a modern woman’s caftan.
Note that caftans are showing up in men’s collections also, but the narrow, sleeveless column dress remains a typically female choice, except in the LGBTQIA+ community.
Louis Vuitton Men releases the Taigarama Summer 2023 Campaign with models Akito Mizutani, Choi Mabior, Limamu Mbaye and Lucas El Bali styled by Pau Avia.
Tom Johnson [IG] photographs the campaign, with art direction by Lucie Matussiere./ Hair by Christian Eberhard; makeup by Christine Corbel
Brazilian model Anna Herrera is styled by Annie Hertikova in Net-a-Porter’s Spring 2023 best-of offering from Saint Laurent CR23. Photographer Darren Gwynn [IG] captures Herera with art direction by Phil Buckingham./ Hair by Eliot McQueen; makeup by Rebecca Wordingham
Dior Creative Director Maria Grazia Chiuri introduces her latest Dior Or capsule collection, inspired by gold’s history as a symbol of luxury in the maison.
While golden threads remain prominent in the new capsule, other luminous metallic threads and fabrics — especially silver — weave their way in the ready-to-wear and accessories, which were a timed-release with Ramadan.
AOC has studied and promoted Karlie Kloss from her first steps into New York fashion world, because it was clear that she is a woman of principle and also a progressive activist at heart.
The folks at Carolina Herrera, now part of the Barcelona-based Puig Group of brands, were also drawn to Karlie, and not only because of her 6’2” stature and athletic/professional dancer training.
Karlie Kloss is the epitome of the classic Good Girl, updated for the 21st century. In fashion marketing, we toss around the term ‘boss lady’ with ease. Karlie Kloss helps define what a boss lady IS.
American model and actor Devon Aoki, born in New York City of Japanese and German heritage, fronts Acne Studios S/S Campaign. Aoki also appeared in the Louis Vuitton X Yayoi Kusama January 2023 launch.
Photographer Carlijn Jacobs [IG] shoots the campaign, styled by Léopold Duchemin.
Italian brand Etro announces the debut of new creative director Marco de Vincenzo’s first bag for the brand. Called the ‘Vela’, the handbag is inspired by the “nautical world.”
Top model Bianca Balti stars in the campaign lensed by Davit Giorgadze [IG]./ Hair by Jawara; makeup by Georgi Sandev
The ‘Vela,’ has been developed with a sharp, defined silhouette and contours to "cut through the wind like a sail.” Boasting a V-shaped closure and flexible zipper, the bag features an engraved Etro logo on one side of its chain, and Pegasus adorning the other. The pull was designed using the same technique utilized to mint coins.
Celine drops its new Summer 2023 tennis capsule featuring Quinn Mora, shot by Celine creative director Hedi Slimane in Saint-Tropez.
The collection style is classic tennis whites including tennis skirts, polo tops, vests and jackets. The collection includes a range of seasonal sneakers in five core silhouettes, including low and high-top styles and the introduction of a new wedge sneaker.
Louis Vuitton taps six new talents and image-makers to its second drop in the Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama 2023 collaboration.
Mega stars Australian actor Cate Blanchett and Amercan music artist Justin Timberlake, a ‘friend of the house’ but not an ambassador,are joined by South Korean actor HoYeon Jung, French actor Lea Seydoux, tennis pro Naomi Osaka and Chinese actor Zhou Congyu.
Photographer Steven Meisel is again behind the lens with Carine Roitfeld in charge of styling. Creative Director Ferdinando Verderi worked with makeup artist Pat McGrath to create henna-like tattoos on the faces and bodies of the talents that twin the artworks decorating their corresponding Capucines and Monogram handbags.
Yayoi Kusama will open her largest exhibition in New York on May 12. Her exhibition, titled “I Spend Each Day Embracing Flowers,” will include new paintings, sculptures featuring her signature flower and pumpkin motifs and a new Infinity Mirrored Room.
David Zwirner’s West 19th and West 20th street galleries will host the event.
