Dazed Magazine Winter 2021 Look at 'Proper' Youth Culture by Ewen Spencer

Dazed Magazine Winter 2021 Look at 'Proper' Youth Culture by Ewen Spencer AOC Fashion

Mollie Dendle [IG] casts nameless people for Dazed Magazine’s Winter 2021 issue. Ewen Spencer [IG] is not new to photographing British youth and subcultures, but these images strike a perfect pitch. See lots more of his work at Dazed. Imruh Asha styles the story with art direction by Gareth Wrighton./ Hair by Alfie Sackett; makeup by Joey Choy

Ina Lekiewicz Shoots Giedre Dukauskaite in Iceland for Vogue Poland December 2021

Ina Lekiewicz Shoots Giedre Dukauskaite in Iceland for Vogue Poland December 2021 AOC Fashion

Photographer, stylist, art director and EIC of Vogue Poland Ina Lekiewicz delivers Lithuanian model Giedre Dukauskaite in ‘The Sound of Silence’ for the December 2021 issue. Ali + Aniko style Dukauskaite for the cover story shot in Iceland.

Ina Lekiewicz was on a mission in Iceland, speaking with local people about living in harmony with nature and the idea of omnipresent silence. “Confrontation with nature is ruthless. It leaves a permanent mark on you,” says Hördur Ingason, a photographer born in the capital of Iceland. “It makes us more dark and melancholic. But we also owe her inner peace,” he adds.

n a translated paragraph from the editor’s letter, we stumble into one of those obvious questions for us fashionistas — a question that stands on its own with or without a conversation around sustainability: Why do we not respect clothes? Better still:

“What if we stopped treating clothes like rags?”

Michał Zaczyński is looking for an answer to the question why we do not respect clothes. In the essay "What if we stopped treating clothes like rags?" he writes that the contempt is primarily due to a lack of knowledge, experience and poor PR: "If we knew how much work it takes to create a dress, and had an idea of the complexity of the process, we would not treat it so condescendingly."

The fashion editor of "Vogue Polska" Kamila Wagner in a special report analyzes the situation in the fashion industry, which has finally begun to demand balance and suggests itself how to achieve balance in many of its fields: "In balance, we see the only chance to survive and, in fact, we seek it on the market of services and goods. The related discourse thus mastered all trade and the communication that is inseparable from it, 'she writes.

A Racy Penélope Cruz Puts Her Foot on the Gas,by Nico Bustos for Elle España December 2021

Actor Penélope Cruz covers the December 2021 issue of ELLE España styled by Sylvia Montoliù in black lace dressed woman driving red convertible. You get the drift. Nico Bustos captures Cruz, who is winning rave reviews for her role in ‘Parallel Mothers’, with her great collaborator Pedro Almodóvar.

“Parallel Mothers” debuted to rave reviews at the Venice Film Festival, where Cruz captured the best actress prize, and then resonated with audiences and critics again when it screened on the closing night of the New York Film Festival, writes Variety Magazine.

The BBC writes that the film received a nine-minute standing ovation in Venice.

Nico Bustos [IG] photographs Cruz for ELLE Espana and also for an excellent interview in Variety. We looked forever for an online ELLE Spain editorial for translation.

Akon Changkou's Modern, Boss Lady Style for Zara by Santiago Gonzalez

Akon Changkou's Modern, Boss Lady Style for Zara by Santiago Gonzalez AOC Fashion

Rising model Akon Changkou fronts Zara’s tailored, sophisticated, edgy clothes styled by Javier De Pardo. Spanish photographer Santiago Gonzalez [IG] has shot multiple earlier Zara campaigns. / Makeup by Egon Crivillers

Kate Moss Covers Vogue Russia December 2021, Lensed by Luigi & Iango

Kate Moss Covers Vogue Russia December 2021, Lensed by Luigi & Iango AOC Fashion

Supermodel Kate Moss expresses her ‘je ne sais quoi’ vibe, commanding our attention, in her Vogue Russia December 2021 cover story. Michael Philouze styles Kate in what VR’s IG says is a jewelry editorial. We missed it entirely, captured in in the dense fog of Moss’s sultry vibe.

I’m not sure that this editorial succeeds in showing us how to turn a rebellious look into a luxurious one — we’re not seeing it. But Kate Moss shot by Luigi and Iango [IG] is a hit just about any day, anywhere in the world and in any magazine./ Hair by Luigi Murenu; makeup by Georgi Sandev

Yossi Michaeli Flashes MONCLER / Fresh Tracks for Modern Luxury November 2021

Yossi Michaeli Flashes MONCLER / Fresh Tracks for Modern Luxury November 2021 AOC Fashion

Models Hong Li, Madani Ba, Monique Yvonne Jones, and Shotaro Sugiyama front MONCLER / Fresh Tracks, styled by James Aguiar. Photographer Yossi Michaeli captures the fashion story for Modern Luxury November 2021.

Paul Morel's Sensory Saturation with Vitoria Mota in Grazia Magazine

Paul Morel's Sensory Saturation with Vitoria Mota in Grazia Magazine AOC Fashion

Photographer Paul Morel [IG] grabbed AOC’s attention this morning with his contribution to GRAZIA’s 10th biannual edition ‘7 Senses’. International director Marne Schwartz looks at the duality of sensory overload and sensory deprivation.

Okay, enough of this duality business; this MUST be a Li Edelkoort trend!!!

Back to Morel’s outstanding fashion story, creating a tantalizing interpretation of ‘7 Senses’ , featuring model Vitoria Mota, styled by Anna Castan with creative direction by Dane Stojanovic./ Hair by Jean-Luc Amarin; makeup by Camille Siguret

Georgina Grenville by Nicolas Valois for Madame Figaro November 19, 2021

Georgina Grenville by Nicolas Valois for Madame Figaro November 19, 2021 AOC Fashion

Photographer Nicolas Valois [IG] captures South African fashion model Georgina Grenville in ‘Allure D'Éclat’ , a bijoux-rich fashion story styled by Cecile Martin for Madame Figaro November 19, 2021./ Hair by Nicolas Eldin; makeup by Hugo Villard

Lauren Stevensen in 'Body of Work' by Nicole Bentley for Marie Claire Australia November 2021

Lauren Stevensen in 'Body of Work' by Nicole Bentley for Marie Claire Australia November 2021 AOC Fashion

Taekwondo athlete and IMG model Lauren Stevensen shares her moves in the pages of Marie Claire Australia November 2021 Naomi Smith styles Stevensen in colorful, optimistic fashion looks lensed by Nicole Bentley [IG].

Tina Kunakey by Xavi Gordo for Harper's Bazaar Espana December 2021

Tina Kunakey by Xavi Gordo for Harper's Bazaar Espana December 2021 AOC Fashion

Model Tina Kunakey, aka Mrs. Vincent Cassel, wears unadulterated elegance in fashion and Bvlgari High Jewelry styled by Inmaculada Jiménez. Xavi Gordo [IG] captures ‘TK’ from the Villa Necchi garden in Milan, as she extols the wonderfulness of Spanish culture, under the brim of a Cordovan hat, for Harper’s Bazaar Spain December 2021./ Hair and makeup by Harold James

In a 2017 interview with Vogue Italia, Tina Kunakey discussed her family background. “Your father is from Togo but he lived first in Morocco and then in France. Your mother is from Sicily, South of Italy. You were born in Toulouse, as well as your two brothers. You are really a cosmopolitan girl. In which ways your family heritage has influenced, and of course helped you, in your life?”

Speaking of her eclectic background, Kunakey told Vogue Italia:

I think that every person of multiple origins benefits from a much wider socio-cultural capital. It’s like a passport, the more visa you got the more you’ve discovered hahah… It has always helped me and will help me in life. It opened my mind. I consider it as great advantage.

Candice Swanepoel Drops New Tropic of C Swimwear Style and Color Update

Candice Swanepoel Drops New Tropic of C Swimwear Style and Color Update AOC Fashion

Top of the list earth goddess Candice Swanepoel travels to fashion’s fav place Puglia, Italy to pose in new Tropic of C sustainable swimwear style and color updates. Eduardo Bravin [IG] photographs Tropic of C’s new metallic shade serpentine.

Hermès Fashion Story 'Upside Down' by Oliver Hadlee Pearch with Bente and Ottawa

Hermès Fashion Story 'Upside Down' by Oliver Hadlee Pearch with Bente and Ottawa AOC Fashion

Models Bente Oort and Ottawa Kwami are styled by Charlotte Collet in ‘Upside Down’, a fashion story for Hermès lensed by Oliver Hadlee Pearch (IG)/ Hair by Ramona Eschbach

Marjan Jonkman's Serene Love of Palomino Colors for Tush Magazine FW 2021

Marjan Jonkman's Serene Love of Palomino Colors for Tush Magazine FW 2021 AOC Fashion

Model Marjan Jonkman poses on a fresh take fashion story ‘Pony und Kleid’ [pony and dress] on the relationship between women and horses. Typically this is a standard black stallion, sexy woman fashion story; but the fall 2021 issue of Tush Magazine embraces the almost spiritual and empathetic relationship that exists between many women and their horses.

Note, AOC isn’t suggesting that men don’t have a similar relationship with horses, but we are only informed on the female relationship.

Both Hadid sisters are avid horse lovers and have spoken of the almost therapeutic relationship they experience connecting with these magnificent creatures. Kendall Jenner has spent entire days riding her horses, especially in times of serious anxiety, for which Jenner has a tendency to experience.

Carolin Jarchow styles Jonkman in modest femininity fashion appropriate for this “not a black stallion in sight” fashion story lensed by Ansgar Sollmann [IG]./ Makeup by Loni Baur; hair by Carolin Jarchow

Harris Reed x Etro Collab Achieves Perfect Alignment Magic Carpet Fashion Ride

Designer Harris Reed of Harris Reed x Etro Collab via Etro IG.

All images courtesy of Etro.

A Star Is Born: Harris Reed

When the convo is focused on young, emerging, fashion designers, do not make an example of Harris Reed. Perhaps never in the future of fashion has a young designer woke on the day of his [her] first-ever runway show as the subject of a 5,000 word profile on said designer in The New Yorker.

On the morning of Harris Reed’s spring 2022 fashion show, the 25-year-old, 2020 graduate from Central Saint Martins, was living rent free in a perfectly-appointed studio suite at London’s Standard Hotel, a reward for his exceptional, creative status. Reed insists that the majority of this good fortune came in moments of serendipity, none more so than his chance meeting with celebrity stylist Harry Lambert. That encounter opened the perfectly-primed for Reed’s design-vision door to the world of Harry Styles. In the words of Vogue:

“The pop star’s 39 million followers kicked in, and just like that, a star was born. As his debut show demonstrated, Reed—who is the son of the Oscar-winning movie producer Nick Reed—thrives in the costume territory. He repurposed bridal and groom’s wear sourced from the British charity chain Oxfam into majestic hybrids of gowns and tuxedos, topping them off with enormous spherical headpieces that have become his trademark.”

Fast-forward now and who better for Harris Reed to collaborate with on a collection of genderless, sustainable, and colorful voluminous blouses than the house of Etro.

Harris Reed x Etro partnership

“When Harris Reed reached out to collaborate with us on this special project, I did not have doubts. Harris is a young and talented designer that conveys wonderful messages with his work and I was happy to have the chance to mix our textile research and archival fabrics with his innovative approach and taste. I also loved the idea of giving a new life to archival fabrics by transforming them into exclusive ‘one-of-a-kind’ creations,” said Veronica Etro, creative director at Etro Womenswear.

Veronica Etro and Harris Reed backstage at the spring 2022 Etro show in Milan Photo: Saskia Lawaks / Courtesy of Etro

House of Etro: Medici Mindset Meets Hippie Counter-Culture

Founded in 1968 by Gerolamo “Gimmo” Etro and his antiques dealer wife Roberta, the then textile company had amassed a collection of 300 antique shawls — a treasure that remains one of the largest private collections in the world today.

Etro was born in a global counter-culture moment, a configuration of now-aging minds capable of connecting well decades later with a human like Harris Reed. Gucci’s Alessandro Michele would easily have navigated the beards and long hair of the late ‘60s hippie movement.

The sexual revolution was in full bloom at the moment of Etro’s birth, and Yves Saint Laurent was hardly the only man to be found wearing a caftan. As some young people became global vagabonds, design inspo ran rampant in the streets and cafes. Young people were learning about different cultures — yes, defined by the colonial confinement of minds — but still with deep roots in ancient cultures like Mesopotamia, a region that includes parts of present-day Turkey, Syria, and Iraq, only men wore caftans and related flowing robes.

Young designers always fancy themselves inventing a new look, rather than circling back through history to reinvent, refresh, reintroduce in updated fashion styles for a new era. Harris Reed is no different in knowing when the moment is ‘right’ to plunge into what suddenly seems like a fresh and revolutionary new look and way of dressing.