Model Meghan Collison is styled by Kai Margrander in ‘It Suits Her’, suits-inspired tailoring with a bit of flair lensed by Sofia Sanchez & Mauro Mongiello for Harper’s Bazaar Germany September 2022./ Hair by Amber Duarte; makeup Rie Omoto
The Bloomsbury Group, widely known for their boundary-pushing approach to art, literature, and culture, found inspiration in the intricate beauty and meticulous detail of Flemish floral painting.
One of the key artists influenced by Flemish floral painting was Vanessa Bell. As a founding member of the Bloomsbury Group and a prominent painter, she adapted the Flemish technique to create her own unique style.
Flemish floral painting provided a departure from the formal academic art conventions of the time, just as the Bloomsbury artists, sought to break free from traditional norms, inspired by the freedom and creativity exhibited in the Flemish works. They recognized that flowers possessed a profound energy and vitality that could be unleashed through artistic expression.
The September 2023 issue of Vogue Czechoslovakia [IG] turns to Vogue Poland’s EIC [IG], photographer Ina Lekiewicz Levy to create a fashion story featuring Amanda Murphy, with a nod to America’s New Orleans roots.
Model Georgia Fowler radiates French Riviera glamour, perched high over the Mediterranean in Cannes for Numéro Netherlands [IG]. Photographer Daniella Midenge [IG] adds Fowler to the lineup of well-known, glamorous women she shot in Cannes.
In my dreams, I think we should unleash Daniella on the US Supreme Court, because if anyone can whip into shape those Federalist Society guys living in the 1660s vision of the patriarchal world order — it’s Daniella Midenge.
She would have them hiding in the justices cloak room, begging her to stand down.
Think about it, dear Daniella — for our country and the future of the free world. ~ Anne
Model Rolf Schrader is styled by Alba Melendo in an everyman fashion story ‘On the Road’ [En La Carretera], lensed by Tofjan [IG], aka Krzysztof Jan, for Vogue Spain August 2023./ Beauty by Cynthia de Leon
Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, known as Mert & Marcus, are top fashion photographers celebrated for their bold and provocative style. The duo remains very busy and relevant in fashion world in 2023, 15 years after their collaboration with W Magazine in 2008 for the editorial ‘Hammam’, featuring Kate MoKate Moss and Mert & Marcus at Charleston for British Vogue 2021
AOC revisited this 2008 Kate Moss by Mert & Marcus editorial Saturday for refreshing with large images, after The Guardian linked into AOC’s 2021 feature on ‘Charleston’ in Sussex, England. Kate was photographed by Mert & Marcus wearing Fendi Couture for British Vogue.
‘Charleston’ was home to the Bloombury set of writers, artists and members of the creatives set in England. While we write our own new article about ‘Charleston’ and the artists associated with this important place in European history — and also in America — you can visit the ‘living museum’ online.
Gathering before their Apple TV+ four-part documentary Vogue US and British Vogue’s September 2023 issues honor ‘The Greatest of All Time’ models, the ‘Supersonic Supers’. The interviews and shoot predated the SAG-AFTRA strike.
British Vogue EIC Edward Enninful styles the fashion story with supers Christy Turlington, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, and Naomi Campbell.
Enninful will be changing his role within Condé Nast, where the March 2024 issue of British Vogue will be his last as EIC, while simultaneously overseeing the editorial content of Condé Nast-owned European issues.
Beloved Chinese supermodel He Cong covers Vogue China’s September 2023 issue, lensed by Shanghai-based fashion photographer Leslie Zhang [IG]. Vivienne Sun styles the photoshoot with creative direction by Matt McDonald.
Anne has written at length about this excellent fashion story and the many topics it touches in Part One of the Vogue China September 2023 fashion story. They include:
Fashion and Sport
Hangzhou and the Silk Roads
Fashion and Sport: Nike, Louis Vuitton, Ralph Lauren
Tom Ford Beauty shares a voluptuous new campaign and reformulation of its Café Rose fragrance. The scent was first introduced in 2012 and is worn today by top Dutch model Rianne van Rompaey.
In the new campaign, styled by Carine Roitfeld, master photographer Steven Klein [IG] follows a dreamy van Rompaey into a spare but sensual room showered with rose petals. The intoxicating atmosphere takes Rianne into a semi-orgasmic state as she is loved up by the petals, her body writhing in a state of sensually-aware semi-consciousness.
Model Jan Baiboon packs her suitcase with Pre-fall 2023 Saint Laurent and heads to Thailand under the fashion eye of Vogue Korea’s fashion editor Kihoh Sohn.
Photographer Songyi Yoon [IG]captures Baiboon out and about in Bangkok for the August 2023 issue.
Vogue Brasil calls Gisele the only übermodel, activist for environmental causes.
In her interview with EIC Maria Laura NevesIG], Gisele expresses her own view of her success: “I believe that it has a lot to do with my personality and the choices I’ve made. I was faithful to my values and my essence, always giving my best. I took the profession seriously and I was always very professional.”
“I am naturally more reserved and ended up choosing projects that I deemed more meaningful for me to showcase myself. Perhaps this has contributed to the longevity in a career that is typically so fleeting.”
AOC adds that like so many young models today, Gisele suffered from extreme anxiety, although she didn’t talk about it endlessly. The mother of Benjamin, 13, and Vivian, 10, has spoken for decades about the importance of mental health and her healthy-food, yoga-filled and martial arts, gratitude-to-the-universe lifestyle for decades now.
Models Francesca Cobucci and Kylee Lou are styled by Ahmed Rashwan in ‘The Bigger the Better’, a modern style tableau fueled by imagination. Photographer Mazen Abusrour [IG] delivers the goods for Vogue Arabia’s Saudi Summer 2023 issue. / Makeup by Gianluca; hair by Maggie Semaan
Model Havana Liu is styled in black and blue mood, workwear fashion, styled with a polished edge by Juliana Schiavinatto. Photographer Royal Gilbert [IG] captures the fashion story ‘Who’s that girl?’, featuring Acne Studios, LaQuan Smith, Maison Alaia , Maison Margiela, Thom Browne and more for Vogue Hong Kong August 2023.
Fall 2023 fashion can be found in a large impressionist-painting story ‘Garden of Delights’ with model Julia Banas in Harper’s Bazaar UK [IG]September 2023. The collection bears photographer Eric Madigan Heck’s [IG] visual imprint in rich hues clothes styled by Leith Clark.
AOC has zero issues with larger images and white text with designer names, as well as photographer’s. / Hair by Franco Gobbi; makeup by Andrew Gallimore
Cartier global ambassador Elle Fanning covers Los Angeles-based Flaunt Magazine [IG] Issue 186, wearing Thom Browne on the cover, styled by fashion editor Muy-Hai Chu.
Photographer Greg Swales [IG] is in the studio, capturing Fanning, whose latest role is playing Michelle Carter, convicted of involuntary manslaughter over a ‘texting-suicide’ case in ‘The Girl From Plainville’.
Model Blanca Padilla exudes a smoldering presence on the digital cover of Numéro Netherlands August 2023. Caterina Ospina Buitrago styles one of the best known international Spanish models in Ferragamo red, Emporio Armani, Givenchy, Michael Kors Collection, Missoni, Miu Miu, MSGM, Prada, Sportmax, Versace and more.
Numéro Netherlands goes into conversation with Padilla who will shortly launch her second collection with Ecoalf.
You can see Blanca Padilla’s first Ecoalf Collection here. Ecoalf is a B Corp [meaning that decisions and business strategy must consider workers, the environment and other priorities and not only stockholder or owner profits], that is recognized in the top 5% as ‘Best for the World’ and separately by Merco as the Most Environmentally Responsible Company in Spain in 2022.
Fashion lovers are excited to see model Soo Joo Park covering the September 2023 issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK [IG]. Cathy Kasterine chooses the power of a crisp white shirt from Prada on the cover, embellished with Tiffany & Co jewelry.
Photographer Boo George [IG] is in the studio, photographing Soo Joo in Alexander McQueen, Balmain, Chanel, Chloe, Valentino and more in a modern, angular, architectural fashion story ‘Split the Difference’. Tiffany & Co. jewelry throughout.
Rising French model Lise Sauve graces the pages of Grazia International’s June 2023 issue, posing in a lovely fashion story ‘The Bird Cage X Dior’, with creative direction by Dane Stojanovic [IG] and production by Jean-Marc Mondelet.
Flamingos are among my favorite creatures and they are a perfect style statement in this Dior fashion story styled by Anna Castan for images by Vladimir Marti [IG].
Model Frida Aasen rules the fashion universe, styled by Anna Castan for this voluminous set of images in Grazia International 14. It seems possible that a single photographer shoots these ‘Exhibition’ issues.
“Private Collector X Frida Aasen” suggests that perhaps Frida’s husband Tommy Chiabra commissioned them.
In the case of Gomez, I’ve always raved about his Instagram [IG] which is a feast for eyes that thrive on sensual beauty. AOC is pleased to see him shooting so many fragrance and beauty campaigns these days. Working with producer/creative director Jean-Marc Mondelet[website] seems to have been a good choice for this talented photographer. / Hair by Jean-Luc Amarin
![Rolf Schrader Is Every[wo]man 'On the Road' in Vogue Spain August 2023 by Togjan](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55f45174e4b0fb5d95b07f39/1692186298027-2171VMW3FQ0PG6781OR5/Rolf-by-Krzysztof-Jan-in-Vogue-Espana-August-2023-7.png)
