The rise of the Medici family 1400 years after the founding of Florence is a pivotal chapter in world history, marking a period of extraordinary cultural and political transformation.
The Italian Renaissance Is Relevant
These historical facts are on Anne’s mind because of the timeliness of the Italian Renaissance and its connections to several Italian houses like Brunello Cucianelli and Loro Piana. I don’t think of Ferragamo as a philosophical brand, in the way that Brunello Cucianelli is deeply devoted to the humanist philosophy. But they could be.
In the pursuit of accuracy, there’s no argument to be made that Loro Piana is seeped in philosophy either. However, one weekend in June, AOC’s post on Bella Hadid’s Orabella launch suffered a collision with an Apple News post titled ‘Human Consciousness Is an Illusion’.
‘Experimental’ is not a word used over the last 20 years to describe designer Tory Burch [IG]. When she presented her Fall 2024 collection at the New York Public Library last February, a new adjective arose to describe Burch — one we love. The word was ‘daring’.
Vogue Runway summed up the Fall 2024 Tory Burch collection, writing: “Let’s just say she’s come a long way from the people-pleasing crystal embellished tunics and Reva flats that were her earliest successes.”
The Fall 2024 campaign photographed by Jamie Hawkesworth [IG] in Lisbon, Portugal plays with light and quiet joy. It captures Tory Burch’s new word — which is good — because fashion hammers the same words to death. We need some new words — in this case ‘sublime’.
The Sporty & Rich brand has a habit of hanging out in the best hotels. Which is why the current Sporty & Rich x adidas Originals capsule collection popped into Le Bristol in Paris’ 8th arrondissement last week in time for the Paris Olympics.
Model Malika el Maslouhi models the sporting capsule in digital media and in-store materials.
Marketing and branding has tapped every aspect of food sourcing, including a flour mill and a chocolate factory in the hotel basement. This is important to know, when a Sporty & Rich x adidas Originals miche du pain arrives on one’s table in the relaxed brasserie. Or the famous Le Bristol door key for your room? Emily Oberg has left her mark there, too.
Etro presents a summer 2024 collection inspired by the dreamy atmosphere of an Italian vacation, shot in the fascinating, stylish and rambling atmosphere of Villa Elia, in the heart of Puglia.
Models Claudio Goncalves, Lena Werner and Nathali Fried are styled by Francesca Parise in images by Raffaele Cerulo [IG]. Creative direction by Etro designer Marco de Vincenzo.
Versace [IG] celebrates Hollywood history, returning to Los Angeles and the Marmont Hotel for its Fall 2024 campaign. Mert & Marcus [IG] are behind the lens, capturing models Vittoria Ceretti, Fernando Lindez, Hedi Ben Tekaya , Lee Minseok and Loli Bahia.
Chateau Marmont officially opened its doors in February 1929, 95 years ago, just months before the stock market crash that heralded the Great Depression. It offered refuge for decades to celebrities, Hollywood stars and rich people engaging in frequent debauchery behind its secretive walls.
Dior’s creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri was recently called the most modern couturier working today by Vogue’s Nicole Phelps.
In trying to explain her ‘design ethos’, while unintentionally drawing a line in the sand between herself and Christian Dior, Chiuri explained further. “Couture has historically been about ‘building the body’ with its corset foundations and highly-structured silhouettes. But I don’t want to build the body, I want to release it.”
For her Fall 2024 collection, Chiuri turned to the Miss Dior boutique, opened in 1967 to showcase a separate ready-to-wear collection during the tenure of Marc Bohan.
The designer explained: “I think he was really visionary for the time because the couture house was in difficulty. They had this relationship only with these couture clients—and women were changing. Not all the couture-house creative directors were so visionary to understand the new era, and new women.”
Chemena Kamali could write a book about the history of Chloé, having worked there as an obsessed junior designer under Phoebe Philo and then again under Clare Waight Keller. Everyone says that Kamali understands the soul of the brand.
Chloé Fall/Winter 2024 campaign models include Jessica Miller, Kristine Lindseth, Liya Kebede, Ornella Umutoni, Saphira Krumhaar, Shuqi Lan and Suvi Riggs — lensed by Sam Rock.
Just three letters spelled out the new day at Chloé: J-O-Y! The world is in serious need of a bit of joy, and Chemena Kamali is here for the moment — along with her buckets of design and marketing talent.
Balenciaga [IG] ambassador Nicole Kidman and models Kate Moss, Amelia Gray and Kit Butler take the stage in the brand’s new ‘Le City’ bag campaign, shot by Mario Sorrenti [IG].
The Kim Kardashian SKIMS [IG] machine rolls into summer 2024, with Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan headlining the Soft Lounge Collection that includes the Long Tank Dress, Soft Lounge Tube Dress, Long Slip Dress in Celeste, Long Sleeve Dress — with styling by Aimée Croysdill.
Across the six Soft Lounge Collection dresses, lensed by uber-talented photographer Elizabeth Porodina [IG]. the Instagram Likes run 65,000 to 1 million per image. / Makeup by Neil Young; hair by Halley Brisker
Ralph Lauren and all its subbrands from Lauren Ralph Lauren to Polo Ralph Lauren love life in horse country. In this new Pre-Fall 2024 Lauren Ralph Lauren campaign with models Blanca Padilla, Alicia Burke and more, western-inspired, polo club glamour takes the limelight.
Victoria’s Secret [IG] launched its Very Sexy ‘Escape to Summer 2024’ campaign starring Emily Ratajkowski, Gigi Hadid, Paloma Elsesser and Tina Kunakey on June 11th.
Former EIC of Vogue Paris [now Vogue France] Emmanuelle Alt styles the campaign with a French mix of sexy corset tops, lace teddies and bras in intoxicating summer colors. Add statement jewelry to the sensual Victoria’s Secret collage, lensed by Mikael Jansson [IG].
Balmain Creative Director Olivier Rousteing picks up the camera and shoots key pieces from Balmain’s Resort 2025 lookbook, modeled by Nyarach Abouch Ayuel.
Seeing images from WASTE Paris [IG] on Models.com just now, Anne said “This brand with the terrific name better be sustainable.”
Paris-based, Ukrainian female photographer/videographer Julia Romanovskay [IG] is behind the lens, capturing model Jildou Lisa.
WASTE Paris co-founder Valentine Hotton launched the brand in 2022, defined by her experience as founder of COLLECTIF CHIFFON, a consulting agency in 2019.
AOC just got a serious dopamine dressing hit, feasting our eyes on the new Seafolly [IG] ‘Passport to Summer’ campaign.
British model Megan Williams basks in the many health benefits of sunshine, water leisure, recreation — and serious water sports. Properly managed with protection from the sun’s most intense rays, of course.
Seafolly’s ‘Ciao Bella’ capsule channels sunshine culture halfway around the world in Sicily. The influence of Mediterranean culture runs deep with sun-loving, spirit-chasers worldwide and always here at Anne of Carversville.
The Spring/Summer 2024 Isa Boulder campaign that got our attention just now, featuring models Komomo Nakazono and Michiko Foy.
SJ Todd, art director of AnOther Magazine provides art direction for the campaign, with styling by Morgane Camille Nicolas. Talented photographer Guen Fiore [IG], who promotes herself as based in Paris but very Italian, captures the raw but sophisticated spirit of Isa Boulder. / Hair by Akemi Kishida; makeup by Anthony Preel
American athlete and OMEGA ambassador since 2019, Noah Lyles is one of the fastest sprinters in the world and he’s headed to Paris, fashion capital of the world.
Lyles is pictured here wearing his OMEGA Speedmaster watch in action images lensed by Sharif Hamza [IG].
Scrolling through a GQ magazine feature on Instagram, one of the biggest names in track and field noticed that the featured “best outfits worn by professional athletes as they walked into stadiums around the world” had no athletes from track and field.
“Why aren’t there any track and field people in here?” Lyles wondered out loud to NYT writer Talya Minsberg.
Luxury brand Chanel [IG] delivers a fresh and modern summer Coco Beach 2024 campaign starring Danish model Olivia Vinten lensed by Cass Bird [IG].
At Chanel, Let the Good Times Roll
Chanel is riding high off a 16 percent revenue increase in annual sales over 2023. Price increases alone drove up sales by around 9 percent, according to BoF.
Chanel CFO Philippe Blondiaux praised Virginie Viard’s contributions to Chanel’s major growth in his BoF interview. Days later, the artistic director was escorted out the door.
With Viard seeming out-of-touch with the world at large at times, and given Coco Chanel’s own delicate political history in Europe, AOC is on the record saying we’re watching the brand like a hawk. We continue to write today from that updated perspective.
The Hailey Bieber and Saint Laurent love fest takes another turn after the Kering-owned luxury brand dressed Bieber for her vow renewal with husband Justin Bieber, and early-May pregnancy announcement.
Ray-Ban Wayfarers are center stage in a new campaign lensed by Gray Sorrenti [IG] anchoring two key brands synonymous with pop culture for 50 years. We’re talking Bob Dylan and John F. Kennedy to Taylor Swift.
Supermodel, business entrepreneur, devoted mom and sustainability advocate Candice Swanepoel joins Sudanese model Mamuor Majeng in Balmain’s [IG] Pre-Fall 2024 Campaign.
Gabriel Popoff worked as director on the campaign, with photography by Theo Liu [IG] and art direction by Ben Kelway. / Hair by Christos Bairabas; makeup by Sophia Kossada