Ralph Lauren Vintage Collection in Family Style 004 Winter 2024/25 by Bob Jugger
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Kim Jones and Virgil Abloh: As Jones Exits Dior Men, We Discover Him as Mentor to Abloh
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As Jones Exits Dior Men, We Discover Him as Mentor to Abloh
The clues were few that British designer Kim Jones was about to leave Christian Dior Mens, especially after delivering one of the most ‘stupendous’ shows of his career in his Fall 2025 presentation in Paris last on Friday last week.
Praise for Jones has been lavish from his peers, with widespread consensus that Kim Jones’ seven-years tenure at Dior Mens “accelerated the convergence of men’s fashion, art, and celebrity to warp speed.”
Kim Jones and Virgil Abloh
In writing this post, AOC was not aware of the very close relationship of Kim Jones and Virgil Abloh. We share a major taste of the duo together.
The future for Kim Jones will include his work with Charleston Trust, where the designer became a vice president in fall 2024.
Read MoreRianne Van Rompaey Stars in Chloé SS 2025 Campaign Lensed by David Sims
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Rianne Van Rompaey Stars in Chloé SS 2025 Campaign Lensed by David Sims
Dutch sensual beauty and top model Rianne Van Rompaey delivers spectacular images for the Chloé [IG] SS 2025 campaign. Elodie David styles Rianne in sublime images by David Sims [IG].
The campaign is privileged escapism at its best. In this complicated time in our shared global history, it may surprise you to read AOC say “we’re here for it.” The campaign images are a welcome quickie getaway that absolutely recharges our minds and bodies.
Our resilience needs nourishment, no matter how dedicated we are to the fight for democratic, humanist values. This campaign delivers.
Read MoreBurberry Artists Strike a Perfect Pitch As Mothership Finds Momentum
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Burberry Artists Strike a Perfect Pitch As Mothership Finds Momentum
Burberry [IG] is celebrating Valentine’s Day 2025 with a series of paintings by Brooklyn-based artist Jack Kenna [IG]. The modern-perspective artist creates unconventional pairings of familiar objects in a bold, abstract style.
Kenna’s commissioned Burberry artwork features the Rocking Horse bag, an essential Burberry gift inspired by the house’s equestrian heritage and two very different perspectives on the Burberry scarf. From the Burberry website, add yet another painting of the Mini Snip Chain bag.
In Burberry’s Reinvention: Hope Springs Eternal
Burberry posted positive news in the third quarter ending Dec. 28, with a comparable store drop of 4%, compared with a business analysts forecast of 12%.
New Burberry CEO Joshua Schulman is credited with stemming the double-digit sales declines that defined the first half of 2024. As Schulman noted in a call with analysts, the American market, led by Burberry’s refurbished New York store resulted in a 4% increase Y2Y in America for the 3rd quarter.
Read MoreLouis Vuitton Spring 2025 Campaign with Blackpink and Ronan Saoirse by Meisel
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Louis Vuitton Spring 2025 Campaign with Blackpink and Ronan Saoirse by Meisel
As much as AOC loves Louis Vuitton [IG], their ad campaigns can be ho-hum. The Spring 2025 campaign, shot by Steven Meisel [IG] with Louis Vuitton ambassadors Blackpink’s Lisa and actor Ronan Saoirse, is indeed worthy of fashion’s largest, omnipotent luxury brand.
Few luxury houses are associated with an illustrious name like The Fondation Louis Vuitton, the prominent art museum and cultural center located in Paris in the Bois de Boulogne.
Placing two gifted women artists like Lisa and Ronan, who are also Nicolas Ghesquière muses, in the presence of French conceptual artist Laurent Grasso’s artwork for a campaign shot by one of the world’s most celebrated fashion photographers Steven Meisel is a truly definitive statement for the Louis Vuitton Spring 2025 campaign.
Read MoreGucci Spring 2025 Campaign with Yara Shahidi and George MacKay by Xavier Dolan
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Gucci Spring 2025 Campaign with Yara Shahidi and George MacKay by Xavier Dolan
The campaign pairs actors Yara Shahidi and George MacKay exploring the new collection as a tender ode to humanity. The video and images by Canadian filmmaker and actor Xavier Dolan [IG], capture the filtered light of possibility that greets a new day, or the preciousness of afternoon sun settling almost mystically over a room.
In its place is a slow-living interlude of reflections between two people emerges, humans so connected that words are not required. And if we are alone in the moment, we realize that we are not . . . alone. There is energy all around us, our plants are flowering and we can curl up on the daybed or sofa to drift in this moment of lightness.
Read MoreBella Hadid Walks Out of an '80s Enjoli Commercial Straight into Miss Sixty
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Bella Hadid Walks Out of an '80s Enjoli Commercial Straight into Miss Sixty
Bella Hadid looks like Miss Texas in the new Miss Sixty [IG] commercial lensed by Carlijn Jacobs [IG] and styled by Ib Kamara.
Bella Hadid: Miss Texas
Was it on anyone’s bingo card that Bella Hadid would be named the National Cutting Horse Association's (NCHA) 2024 Limited Age Event (LAE) Rookie of the Year . . . after "entering the cutting community a little over a year ago."
Somehow Bella Hadid has managed to create a whole new life in Texas with her love Adan Banuelos.
I’ve read stories about Bella sleeping in the van, getting up at 5am and making breakfast — not for the Miss Sixty crew — but for her beloved cowboys. I can just see her — with the 2 hr. time difference — flipping pancakes with one hand as the sun rises, while on the phone with New York, dealing with the crisis of Orabella sold-out products all over America.
I swear that woman walked into the Miss Sixty photoshoot, straight out of an old-school Enjoli commercial. And I just love it. ~ Anne
Read MoreDior Beauty 'Visionary' Willow Smith on 21st Century Lip Glow and 'Big Feelings'
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Dior Beauty 'Visionary' Willow Smith on 21st Century Lip Glow and 'Big Feelings'
Dior Beauty [IG] ambassador Willow Smith [IG] joins the January 2025 campaign of cult-favorite Dior Addict Lip Glow. The new campaign is shot by Dan Beleiu [IG] and filmed by Valentin Herfray.
When Dior Beauty named Willow as an ambassador in March 2024, they described her as:
“one of the most visionary and daring young women of her generation”.
Willow describes herself as “the child who sings the ancient song”. Her latest sound is ‘Big Feelings’ from her May 2024 album ‘Empathogen’.
“It doesn’t sound as clean as a regular piano,” Smith notes about their use of a 1910 piano for ‘Big Feelings. “The wood sound adds to the snarly nature of the song—it’s like we’re going inside the mind, where everything is textured.”
Read MoreZara's China Drop Headed for Successful Weekly 5 Hr Show on Douyin
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Zara's China Drop Headed for Very Successful Weekly 5 Hr Show on Douyin
As Zara engages in a ferocious battle with low-price competitors Shein and Temu and is delivering heroic results, it wasn’t enough for the money guys on Wall Street. After a tiny miss against the projections of analysts, Zara lost 5% of its value in hours in early December. And it could have worse, with 5% a recovery number against an earlier 7-7.8% selloff.
Jeffries analysts told WSJ that the results were impressive and the miss was fractional, but investors are demanding results. Seriously! Meanwhile Shein is taking a beating these days and it could again delay their IPO [initial public offering].
Zara’s Footprint in China
As to Zara in China, the company has downsized from 570 stores in 2019 to just 192 as of Jan. 31, 2024. Zara argues that the post-pandemic sales channels have changed in significant ways — largely driven by technology and China’s passion for live shopping shows.
Notably, Zara’s five-hour long, weekly live-broadcasts on Douyin, TikTok's Chinese sister site, have helped boost Zara's sales since they launched in November, according to retail analytics firm EDITED.
"Zara's livestream approach built significant brand awareness in China," EDITED analyst Krista Corrigan advises.
Zara sold out of most sizes in 50% more products in China in the first three months of this year than in the same period of 2023, according to EDITED. Based on these statistics, Zara was correct in shrinking its store footprint to move in more tech-friendly directions, driven by young Zara shoppers.
Read MoreHumanist Industry Leader Moncler Tops Dow Jones Luxury Sustainability Index
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Humanist Industry Leader Moncler Tops Dow Jones Luxury Sustainability Index
For the sixth consecutive year in a row, Moncler Group topped the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for World and Europe in the "textile, apparel & luxury goods" sector. On the consolidated list of 500 most sustainable businesses across all sectors, Moncler was #3.
Moncler’s top guy Remo Ruffini embraces many historical humanist values besides responsibility to the environment. What we’ve learned about humanism from Brunello Cucinelli surely applies to Ruffini.
What is so impactful is his generous praise of other business leaders, including Bernard Arnault and Ralph Lauren. Business relationships built on trust is a key word in AOC’s analysis. Anne is back in her AI for scholars this moment, looking for alignment between humanism and freemasonry across Europe.
Read MoreA Breathtaking Dior Holiday 2024 Underwater World of Extreme Beauty & Design
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A Breathtaking Dior Holiday 2024 Underwater World of Extreme Beauty & Design
Nature’s grandeur is reimagined in luminous gold for the Dior Cabinet de Curiosités—where magnificent sea creatures reign in brilliant splendor. These breathtaking Holiday 2024 selections from Maria Grazia Chiuri’s Dior Cruise 2025 collection, staged in Scotland, remind us of the depth and breath of the Dior luxury brand experience.
Alice Kirkpatrick [IG] is responsible for the exquisite set design, with images by Agnes Lloyd-Platt [IG].
For all those who criticize Maria Grazia Chiuri and Dior generally for not being clever enough — or bold enough — AOC points out that she has much more in common with Valentino’s Alessandro Michele with this presentation than with Gucci’s streamlined fashion pablum — that new quiet luxury design direction they’re touting.
Dior Marries Nature, Marine Life and Gold
This underwater theme is actually prevalent in Dior’s new Gold House in Bangkok and it’s projected onto a Dior facade in Tokyo. This architectural design trend requires a separate post focus on Dior’s emerging design presence as a marriage of nature and golden opulence, the key word.
Read MoreCHANEL Ambassador Liu Wen Wears Haute Couture in W Magazine China ‘The Artisan Issue’
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CHANEL Ambassador Liu Wen Wears Haute Couture in W Magazine China ‘The Artisan Issue’
In an act of perfect coordination, W Magazine China [IG] #11 2024 has dropped its first ‘The Artisan Issue’ in concert with the CHANEL 2024/25/Métiers d’art Show, held today, December 3, on the West Lake in Hangzhou, China.
Supermodel Liu Wen poses in select pieces and ensembles from the show, lensed by Louise Ford and lensed by Louise & Maria Thornfeldt [IG].
Chanel flew over 1000 friends and clients into the event to witness the sumptuous beauty and artisanship enveloping the night air of Hangzhou./ Hair by Joseph Pujalte; makeup by Céline Martin
Watch the Chanel show video from top line link in post.
Read MoreBankable Burberry Lensed by Menelik Puryear for Vogue Arabia November 2024
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Bankable Burberry Lensed by Menelik Puryear for Vogue Arabia November 2024
Vogue Arabia’s [IG] November 2024 issue lends a hand to Burberry [IG] designer Daniel Lee in this ‘classic’ photo shoot with plenty of plaid.
Models Jimai Hoth and Renda G are styled by Natalie Westernoff in images by Menelik Puryear [IG]. / Hair by Chloe Frieda; makeup by Chantal Amari
Burberry’s Urgent ‘Course Correct’
Business press describes the situation at Burberry as ‘urgent’ and so does Burberry’s new CEO Joshua Schulman. The new leader says the brand is undergoing an urgent ‘course correct’, as revenue plummets 22% in the latest six months ending in September 2024 financial reporting to investors.
Read MoreChanel Ambassador Tilda Swinton in Vogue Taiwan | Chanel’s Hangzhou 2024/25 Métiers d’art Show Film
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Tilda Swinton by Zhong Lin in Vogue Taiwan | Chanel’s Hangzhou 2024/25 Métiers d’art Show
Master actor Tilda Swinton covers the December 2024 issue of Vogue Taiwan [IG] December 2024, styled in the all-Chanel fashion story by Jerry Stafford in images by Zhong Lin [AOC].
Chanel in Japan for Chanel and Cinema Tokyo Lights Photocall
Chanel ambassador Tilda Swinton, represented the luxury brand in a new event: the Chanel and Cinema — Tokyo Lights Photocall.
Chanel launched the new program to enhance its support for emerging cinema talent by partnering up with acclaimed Japanese director Hirokazu Koreeda. The luxury brand will sponsor three films, selected from the Tokyo Lights project, showcasing them in Tokyo and Paris.
Chanel’s Hangzhou 2024/25 Métiers d’art Show on December 3, 2024
Tilda Swinton also touched down in China, in advance of Chanel’s Hangzhou 2024/25 Métiers d’art show “on the mythical West Lake” on December 3.
German filmmaker and author ‘Wim’ Wenders, a major figure in New German Cinema, joined the project and Chanel ambassador Tilda Swinton in a short film where Wenders follows Swinton as she explores Coco Chanel’s office on Rue Cambon,, before the creative team journeys to the iconic lake in China. See the 4 minute film.
Read MoreSporty & Rich Arrives for Just in Time for Holidays at Carlyle Hotel New York City
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Sporty & Rich Arrives for Just in Time for Holidays at Carlyle Hotel New York City
In this November 2024 drop, The Carlyle New York [IG], a Rosewood Hotel, joins Oetker Collection hotels Le Bristol Paris and Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, France in launching a custom collaboration with this truly impressive, big-wings brand-potential business Sporty & Rich [IG], founded by Emily Oberg.
In June 2024, Sporty & Rich collaborated with select Rosewood Asaya spas including the Rosewood São Paolo.
In an interview with Glossy in August 2023, Oberg pegged S&R’s revenue at $30 million with a goal of $200 million.
We think it’s much higher, with branding and product synergies that share much in common with SKIMS.
Emily Oberg is not Kim Kardashian, for sure. But she compensates for some of the name-recognition deficit with these rock-solid, prestige hotel alliances that can open new doors and rain money with reorders and fresh collaborations for years.
One can easily argue that Emily Oberg has aligned herself with “old money” hotels — and golf courses in the future — that have many stories to share about the lives of the world’s global elites.
Read MoreThe Debut of Coco Neige with Margot Robbie Had Deep Roots in Chanel's History
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The 2018 Debut of Coco Neige with Margot Robbie Had Deep Roots in Chanel's History
In 2018, Margot Robbie launched Chanel’s first Coco Neige campaign, which was Chanel's first official subbrand for ski and après-ski wear. Featured in these images by the now-passed creative director Karl Lagerfeld himself, Robbie spoke very fondly about the experience of working with the head of the House of Chanel from 1983-2019.
AOC visited the the original campaign after posting the new Chanel Coco Neige 2024/5 campaign, lensed by Juergen Teller with model Loli Bahia. Asking a question of our precious AI about Coco Chanel and if she actually skied, Anne fell down a rabbit hole that has reoriented her entire thinking about Chanel.
Her interest in skiing was not only a personal pastime but also a social event that allowed her to mingle with the elite, continually fueling her creative vision in the process and also captivating new clients for her brand.
Coco had a profound and enduring level of help from her friend, financier, collaborator and lover Arthur "Boy" Capel in penetrating this elite St. Moritz society.
Read MoreChanel's Coco Neige 2024/5 Collection Honors a Long House History with Sporting Life
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Chanel's Coco Neige 2024/5 Collection Honors a Long House History with Sporting Life
Model Loli Bahia is photographed by Juergen Teller[IG] in the apartment of Gabrielle Chanel at 31, rue Cambon in Paris wearing CHANEL COCO NEIGE 2024/25 collection. / Hair by James Pecis; makeup by Lisa Butler
AOC can’t verify that weather prediction for major ski resorts in Europe. But if you are wearing Chanel Coco Neige for cocooning at a ski lodge, you probably have global options regarding where to land the plane.
Chanel ‘Coco Neige’ History
The first Coco Neige collection and campaign dropped in 2018, created by luxury visionary uber-talent Karl Lagerfeld and starring Margot Robbie. Coco Neige promoted itself as a combination of high-tech clothing and winter ready-to-wear.
Coco Neige was not Chanel’s Maiden Ski Collection
Read MoreBottega Veneta Winter Solstice 2024 Campaign Is Pragmatically Epicurean Says Matthieu Blazy
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Bottega Veneta Winter Solstice 2024 Campaign Is Pragmatically Epicurean Says Matthieu Blazy
Bottega Veneta campaign models include Awar Odhiang, Douta Sidibe, Hedi Ben Tekaya, JenniferMatias, Lina Zhang and Liz Kennedy. Photographers Louise & Maria Thornfeldt [IG] return for another season./ Hair by Duffy; makeup by Pat McGrath
A NYT Darling Deserves His Status
Not for the first time, the New York Times Style shares another major feature on Bottega under Matthieu Blazy. In doing so, they advance the hot topic of craft beyond superb execution and often ‘dusty’ heritage into the world of the creative director role itself.
At Bottega Veneta, Blazy champions his craftspeople for their role in the creative process. His is a rare ego in the world of luxury brands.
The Times introduces us to Barbara Zanin, a 26-year veteran of the brand who became Bottega Veneta’s first director of craft and heritage in July.
Read MoreEmma Corrin in Miu Miu 'Irreverent Wonder' Holiday 2024 Campaign by Lengua
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Emma Corrin in Miu Miu 'Irreverent Wonder' Holiday 2024 Campaign by Lengua
Miu Miu shares its Holiday 2025 campaign with actor Emma Corrin expressing a boyish insouciance about the holiday, in images captured by Lengua [IG]. Edward Quarmby serves as creative director on the campaign, with styling by Lotta Volkova.
Miu Miu [IG] is riding near cult status among young people in China, as its parent Prada Group reported an 18%, nine-month, year-to-date increase at constant currency. In reported terms, revenue rose 15% placing Prada Group in a positive light navigating China’s economic slowdown in the luxury market and beyond.
Miu Miu’s 2024 Upcycled collection takes a major role in the holiday campaign, a testament to the brand’s commitment to circular design practices. Crafted from re-fashioned deadstock yarn, kilts, and leather, each garment in this limited-edition collection is permeated with a hint of spunk, as the Miu Miu brand explores what it means to be human.
Read MoreDior Cruise 2025 Campaign by Brigitte Niedermair at Drummond Castle in Scotland
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