June 21, 2023

Victoria's Secret Is Sailing In Treacherous Waters As New Leadership Is Named

June 21, 2023/ Anne Enke

Victoria’s Secret stock has fallen 47% in the year to date, while the S&P 500 SPX has gained 14%. Victoria’s Secret had sales of $1.4 billion in first quarter 2023 and only made $3.8 million — a 95% decrease in earnings.

I’ve said many times that if Victoria’s Secret isn’t careful, Savage X Fenty and SKIMS are going to take the business down. And I mean kaput down.

With LVMH backing Savage X Fenty via L Catterton, their incubator investment arm, and Kim Kardashion on the road now, raising $1 billion for her own venture capital fund — and also appearing on the cover of TIME Magazine, this Victoria’s Secret selling the message of “undefinable” breaks every rule of marketing I know about. And the customers seem to agree.

Daily Excerpts New Posts

Photographer Javier Ruiz [IG] captures model Mathilda Gvarliani enjoying simple picnic pleasures in her own fashion flower garden. Marta Bajo styles ‘Volver Al Pueblo’ [‘Back to the Town’], a story of centuries-old, past-tense pleasures for Vogue Spain July 2023.

Most of could use an old-fashioned picnic in the countryside, whatever is hanging in our closet.

Is Closed Denim a Sustainable Brand?In recent years, sustainability has become a critical factor for the fashion industry. Consumers are more conscious than ever about the environmental and social impact of the clothes they wear — although still not conscious enough.

British model Sacha Quenby connects directly with the camera, held by Lachlan Bailey [IG] in ‘Solar Flare’, a hot summer getaway story.

Poppy Kain styles Quenby in body baring swimwear for British Vogue July 2023.

‘Bulgari Mediterranea’ Book

Amidst the vibrant colors and alluring stories of the Mediterranean Sea, Bulgari [IG] unveils more images of its truly stunning High Jewelry ‘Mediterranea’ Collection 2023.

Scandebergs [IG], ‘cosmic explorers’ Stefano Clombini and Alberto Albanese have photographed these soul-stirring images.

Now Bulgari has also published a book about the region ‘Bulgari Mediterranea’ due out in September 2023.

The 180 pages are filled with the precious creations of the High Jewelry and High-End Watches brand, inspired since its beginnings.

Featuring an illustrious group of talented writers including Kenya Hunt, Lucia Silvestri, Michela Marzano, Leïla Slimani, Stefania Auci, and Andrea Marcolongo, ‘Bulgari Mediterranea’ weaves together compelling narratives and intriguing insights into the essence of the Mediterranean region.

Top model Grace Elizabeth and top photographer Elizaveta Porodina [IG] create a dazzling, siren-calling, ‘Mermaid’ duet in the July 2023 issue of Vogue Spain [IG].

Note that sirens were half human/half birds, a fact long-lost in the 21st century.

Tati Cotliar styles Grace Elizabeth — born a water baby in Lake City, Florida between Jacksonville and Tallahassee — in bodycon, hot-weather shimmering style perfect for a Florida starfish.

BTS's J-Hope stars in his first campaign as a solo Louis Vuitton ambassador, rocking his dance moves in the new LV Keepall bag campaign. Vuitton, in their Keepall campaign announcement, described BTS as "21st-century pop icons," while emphasizing J-Hope's unique appeal.

Back in 1930, as international travel began to flourish, the need for a spacious, durable travel companion became apparent. In response to this demand, Louis Vuitton introduced the Keepall, a groundbreaking design that revolutionized the way people carried their belongings.

Members of 1930s cafe society constantly interacted with artists of all mediums, and J-Hope’s Louis Vuitton Keepall campaign projects a subdued but very hip elegance.

Let’s see how this next chapter with Pharrell Williams and Pietro Beccari, Louis Vuitton’s new Chairman and CEO evolves. It appears that the original or siblings of the original Keepall are about to bust out in an array of Olympic rings colors. ~ Anne

Du Juan, the Chinese actor, model and brand ambassador is now a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, becoming a symbol of China's growing influence in the global film landscape.

Du Juan covers the July 2023 issue of ELLE China, in ‘The Birth of Beauty’, lensed by Charles Guo Puyuan [IG] with styling by Cloe Dong.

Khloé Kardashian covers L'Officiel Italia's Summer 2023 #50, styled by her sister Kim Kardashian in a Dolce & Gabbana corset dress, lensed by The Morelli Brothers [IG]

Good American Jeans B-Corp Status

Good American Jeans are made in Los Angeles, which does not confirm that they have no labor issues. However, Good American Jeans is a certified B Corp.

No matter how often AOC hammers away on this B-Corp issue, Khloé discusses size inclusivity at Good American Jeans but not this important certification. I went looking for facts apart from the interview.

Meet the ‘Ambivert’ Personality

Khloé Kardashian introduces us to a new word in the personality types lexicon, describing herself as an ‘ambivert’ in the interview led by her sister Kim Kardashian.

As the summer sun casts its warm golden glow over the picturesque island of Hydra, Greece, one cannot resist the urge to immerse oneself in the soothing embrace of its crystal-clear waters.

Top model Malgosia Bela is styled by Isabelle Kountoure in ‘Hydra Therapy’, an elegant summer fashion story shot at the famous Greek island, located in the Saronic Islands in the Aegean Sea.

Photographer Simon Upton [IG]captures Hoek at La Sultana Oualidia in Morocco for ELLE Italia June 23, 2023./ Makeup by Topolino; hair by Simone Prusso

The show marking Pharrell Williams' first collection for Louis Vuitton Mens, will take place in the City of Lights on June 20, 2023, at 8:30 p.m. Louis Vuitton execs used their considerable influence to change Pharrell’s debut date

On the subject of those delicious bag colors, read on about LVMH sponsoring the 2024 Olympics in Paris, promoting Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and LVMH spirits.

In fact, it wouldn’t surprise AOC to see LVMH promoting their jointly-owned [50-50] with Jay-Z, Armand de Brignac champagne brand at the Olympics.

That would be one hell of a party! Alas, it won’t be a public event, but Mory Sacko will be in the kitchen. LVMH really wants to step out in the Olympics and they could pull this off in a big way.

“She was fiery, a force very much his equal. She was not a woman who conformed to the 1950s housewife ideal,” Emily Blunt explains, with a tone of voice that denotes reverence.

Of course, as an American I know who J. Robert Oppenheimer was. And I know intimately well the story of the McCarthy hearings, as my first landlord in New York was a playwright imprisoned for 1-2 years during the hearings.

German model Leon Dame and French model Jeanne Cadieu spar with each other in an erotic, sensual and intellectual game of life and human attraction in ‘Duel au Soleil’.

James Valeri styles the encounter with creative direction by Jean-Baptiste Talbourdet-Napoleone. The models evoke an abundance of erotic tension and self-expression captured by photographer Josh Olins [IG].

Georgia May Jagger covers the June 15, 2023 issue of ELLE France, soaking up the rays with a good book. Hortense Manga styles Jagger [daughter of Jerry Hall and Mick Jagger] in colorful swimsuits lensed by Emma Tempest [IG].

Is Georgia May Jagger’s hair 100 percent vegan, PETA approved and affordable by Bleach London? Jagger invested in the cult hair care brand in 2010. Their commitment to sustainability is also reflected in their use of recyclable packaging materials.

The quest for sustainable sequins is center stage at AOC this week, so let us check out Bleach London’s [IG] glitter gel.

Anne of Carversville lives very close to the ancient symbolism of much of the artistic imagery featured here, and how stereotypes of women have evolved over the last 12,000 years.

Photographed by Tyler Mitchell and styled by Carlos Nazario, top model Mona Tougaard was captured in the surreal landscape of Salin d'Aigues-Mortes, in the Camargue, for the summer 2023 issue of i-D magazine.

This post on sustainable sequins is inspired by Zara’s June 2023 mermaid dresses, a delectable group of sequins-rich fashions photographed by Carlijn Jacobs.

Thinking out loud, I wondered if Zara used the new plant-based sequins — or at least recycled plastic ones — which does not help the fish.

Hope springs eternal with Zara and they have been excellent in marching towards more sustainable production.

Recently, LVMH’s Stella McCartney featured Cara Delevingne in Vogue’s April 2023 issue, wearing a jumpsuit made of BioSequins, lensed by Annie Leibovitz. This new angle on sequins got Lulu jumping up and down with excitement until she came up with a possibility of her own.

Evolutionary biologists say that humans are preconditioned to love sparkly, glittery things. Our ancestors were always on the search for fresh water in order to survive. Our eyes and brain are programmed to see sparkling surfaces in the distance, as signs of water.

“It’s my way of saying that after this first step I’ll be spreading my wings and then be able to express myself,” Ludovic de Saint Sernin told Vogue’s Nicole Phelps of the Oscars party look from his first collection worn by Hunter Schafer.

Two months after his first show and after six months working in his position, Ludovic de Saint Sernin was out of a job at Ann Demeulemeester. Did he spread his wings like Icarus and fly too close to the sun?

Neither the young designer or Claudio Antonioli, who bought the Demeulemeester label in 2020 [and is close with Ann Demeulemeester, the woman] released a statement about the designer’s dismissal.

Stefano Gallici, connected with the brand since 2020 and the Antonioli Group in 2019, will be the new Creative Director of the women’s collection.

South Sudanese model Mary Ukech wears a sparkling white, perfectly feminine Chanel two-piece swimsuit in a key pieces, summer fashion story for Harper’s Bazaar France No, 4, June-July 2023 issue.

Pauline Charriere styles the story ‘Calme Blanc’ for images lensed by Unit Savaci [IG].

AOC’s friend, photographer Carlijn Jacobs [IG] is the photographer on the new Zara “we love mermaids in sequins” social media campaign.

Let me have Lulu do her Squarespace AI magic on sequins, because protecting our fish is important.

AOC’s friend, photographer Carlijn Jacobs [IG] is the photographer on the new Zara “we love mermaids in sequins” social media campaign.

Is Closed Denim a Sustainable Brand?

In recent years, sustainability has become a critical factor for the fashion industry. Consumers are more conscious than ever about the environmental and social impact of the clothes they wear — although still not conscious enough.