Miu Miu Fleur de Lait Eau de Parfum, a Joys of Sisterhood Palate Cleanser

Miu Miu Fleur de Lait Eau de Parfum, a Joys of Sisterhood Palate Cleanser

Miu Miu new fragrance Fleur de Lait Eau de Parfum, a floral-fruity scent, is inspired by the iconic Asian dessert Mango Pomelo Sago — a memory I have of Hong Kong’s Peninsula Hotel.

The campaign uses the notes of the fragrance itself to create a visual recipe for Mango Pomelo Sago and the joy of making it in the kitchen with dear friends. It’s the nose of the human wearing it, as well as the fragrance itself that recreates the joyful memories, emotions and — in this case — pleasurable associations.

Honoring the spirit of poets of the Tang Dynasty and the numerous references to Proust generated by the Miu Miu campaign, AOC shares a 2020 Harvard panel discussion “What the Nose Knows: the science of smell and how scent, emotion, and memory are intertwined — and exploited.”

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Grace Elizabeth Dances into Vogue China's June 2023 Beauty Paper by Elizaveta Porodina

Grace Elizabeth Dances into Vogue China's June 2023 Beauty Paper by Elizaveta Porodina

Top model Grace Elizabeth dances softly into the pages of Vogue China’s Beauty Paper June 2023 issue.

Elizaveta Porodina [IG] spins out new artistry as a posse of imposters are in hot pursuit of her reconizable image style. Actually, one photographer “got me” a few weeks ago, leaving me swearing that a mistake happened on his IG.

No worries. Today Porodina spins out fairy-tale, ballet-inspired beauty images, working with stylist Stella Greenspan [IG], who styled Porodina’s fashion story with Cate Blanchett for Vanity Fair

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Naomi Apajok in 'Le Grand Bleu' Water Story by Txema Yeste for Numéro 239 Summer 2023

Naomi Apajok in 'Le Grand Bleu' Water Story by Txema Yeste for Numéro 239 Summer 2023

Numéro Magazine 239 Summer 2023 is devoted to H2O, water as the sacred element of life. The theme of water ebbs throughout the entire issue beginning with this cover story ‘LE GRAND BLEU’ featuring rising South Sudanese model Naomi Apajok.

Bernat Buscato styles Apajok in images by Txema Yeste [IG].

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Gigi Hadid Fronts New Miu Miu Matelassé Arcadie Bag Campaign

Gigi Hadid Fronts New Miu Miu Matelassé Arcadie Bag Campaign

Supermodel Gigi Hadid fronts a new campaign breaking Thursday for Miu Miu’s matelassé in two styles — the already-iconic Wander, and the newly-debuted Arcadie — lensed by Steven Meisel. [The photographer now has a very quiet Official IG page posting older images.]

For the first time — after taking a huge leap on Lyst’s hottest brands list in 2022, over their mini skirt — Miu Miu has the second place position. Mothership Prada has the top slot in first quarter 2023, after replacing Gucci in fourth quarter 2022.

The Wander [pouch] and the newly debuted Arcadie [rectangle] style in the signature matelassé series offer great promise to become new “pillars” of the Miu Miu bag category, following the iconic history of Miu Miu’s Pocket.

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Berit Heitmann Charms in 'Beach Waves' Lensed by Panos Davios for Vogue Greece June

 Berit Heitmann Charms in 'Beach Waves' Lensed by Panos Davios for Vogue Greece June

Models Berit Heitmann and Sifis Farantakis are styled by George Karapetis in ‘Beach Waves’, a charming getaway fashion story with Bottega Veneta, Chanel, Dior, Eres, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Missoni, Stella McCartney and Ugg.

Photographer Panos Davios [IG] captures the couple’s bubble-blowing trip to the beach for Vogue Greece June 2023.

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Dua Lipa and Donatella Versace Deliver May 2023 'La Vacanza' Magic in Cannes

Dua Lipa and Donatella Versace Deliver May 2023 'La Vacanza' Magic in Cannes

Beloved powerhouse designer with the jet set Donatella Versace chose a sprawling villa overlooking the French Riviera to showcase her ‘La Vacanza’ summer getaways and pre-fall 2023 collection. Château de la Croix des Gardes famously hosted the masquerade ball in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1955 thriller To Catch a Thief.

The debut was intense, given the influence of pop star Dua Lipa, who co-designed the collection laden with so many butterflies that the see-now-buy-now collaboration could have taken flight at a moment’s notice.

Butterflies Galore

All those polka dots are symbols of one of humans most beloved motifs. Butterflies have been a symbol of transformation, hope and faith for thousands of years. Add the models walking along an infinity pool and all say it was one of the most breathtaking fashion shows in many years.

Dua Lipa addressed the butterflies, specifically, saying they are a great symbol of freedom for her.

Frequent Versace photographer Carlijn Jacobs [IG] was on hand to capture the endless magic of a perfect May evening in Cannes, France, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Jacobs also shot the advertising photography with Dua Lipa featured here, with styling by Jacob K.

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Will Fla. Governor Ron DeSantis Ban a Woke Barbie in Florida Theaters? She's Headed His Way?

Will Fla. Governor Ron DeSantis Ban a Woke Barbie in Florida Theaters? She's Headed His Way?

Australian actor Margot Robbie doesn’t remember having a Barbie doll, as a young girl growing up in Australia. Her cousin had Barbies and perhaps they all joined Robbie in admiring a dandelion-decorated mudpie or two made for an afternoon tea in the Australian Gold Coast sandbox.

Fast-foward to now, and Barbie’s scheduled touchdown in American movie theaters remains July 21, 2023.

The Summer issue of American Vogue weighs into the frenzy, putting Margot Robbie as Barbie on the cover. Robbie is lensed by Middle America to East Coast photographer, Caledonia, Michigan’s own Ethan James Green [IG].

When pitching her company LuckyChap, the production outfit she runs with her friend Josey McNamara and her husband, Tom Ackerley, to Mattel’s new CEO of Mattel, Ynon Kreiz, at the Polo Lounge in 2018, Robbie was clear about the road ahead.

“We of course would want to honor the 60-year legacy that this brand has,” Robbie says. “But we have to acknowledge that there are a lot of people who aren’t fans of Barbie. And in fact, aren’t just indifferent to Barbie. They actively hate Barbie. And have a real issue with Barbie. We need to find a way to acknowledge that.”

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Marni x No Vacancy Inn Campaign Images Shot in Accra, Ghana by Derrick Ofosu Boateng

Marni x No Vacancy Inn Campaign Images Shot in Accra, Ghana by Derrick Ofosu Boateng

Fresh off Marni Creative Director Francesco Risso’s collaboration with Erykah Badu and Vogue’s March 2023 deep dive into the twosome, AOC turns our focus to another Marni Jam series Marni x No Vacancy Inn.

Both collabs are on Marni’s Instagram now, but we will also pull them in their entirety onto AOC for archiving. Forgive me, but Virgil Abloh is on full blast today, and is probably just driving my brain and I’m along for the ride.

AOC may not be hip, but I am chill, so it all works out.

In the same spirit of low-tech, color-saturated Ghana-inspired images, Marni x No Vacancy Inn rolls in with campaign images shot in Accra, Ghana by Derrick Ofosu Boateng [IG], who calls himself “a Ghanaian photographic hueism artist and designer.’

Like Prince Gyasi, Boateng is shooting with an iPhone and then whipping up his techno-colored image souffle.

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Blueblood Alex Consari Wears Quiet Luxury Lensed by Arnauld Lajeune for The Travel Almanac

Blueblood Alex Consari Wears Quiet Luxury Lensed by Arnauld Lajeune for The Travel Almanac

Model Alex Consari is styled by Clare Byrne in a fashion story with Quiet Luxury bonafides. If you think the fashion choices look like the Old Money Aesthetic, you’re right. The trends are difficult to distinguish, except that Quiet Luxury is often more modern. / Hair by Lucas Wilson; makeup by Jen Myles

Photographer Arnaud Lajeunie [IG] captures Alex with her signature pearls for The Travel Almanac [IG] TTA22 - “Performance".

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Big Miss but Africa Archives Coming! Naomi Campbell's African Odyssey by Prince Gyasi

Big Miss but Africa Archives Coming! Naomi Campbell's African Odyssey by Prince Gyasi

In Spring 2021, AOC made a mistake, not posting this summarized archive Naomi Campbell by Prince Gyasi post that controls all the tags into our complex system of Models and Photographers Archives into their summary pages.

Bad Anne!!!!

Mistakes happen, but this was was a big miss, given AOC’s commitment to all matters related to Africa and Africa-connected creatives, history and also political issues.

Naomi’s Madame Figaro narrative references the ALÁRA Lagos Africa luxury concept store [IG], designed by the pre-eminent architect David Adjaye, who describes his vision for West Africa’s first signature and lifestyle store.

There is no debate that in 2023 Adjaye and associates is one of the most influential architectural firms across the world.

Naomi’s Madame Figaro photographer Prince Gyasi doesn’t have a strong presence in fashion photography but the artist’s Instagram is a big wow!

Gyasi shoots on his iPhone and is very color-driven — as is AOC.

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Mariam de Vinzelle in Puglia Sun by Giampaolo Sgura for Sunday Times Style

Mariam de Vinzelle in Puglia Sun by Giampaolo Sgura for Sunday Times Style

French model Mariam de Vinzelle covers the May 28th, 2023 issue of Sunday Times Style, living in her happy place of Puglia sunshine and dry days.

Stylist Verity Parker channels luxury boho vibes in ‘Pure Shores’ with slouchy pyjama-style bottoms, supersoft silks, crochet detailing and the occasional tie-dye print.

There’s plenty of plain geometry stripes in harmonious colorways, coupled with color print splashes lensed by Giampaolo Sgura [IG].

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Graydon Carter's Air Mail News Wows with Tom Ford Interview by Briget Foley

Graydon Carter's Air Mail News Wows with Tom Ford Interview by Briget Foley

AOC just read Air Mail, the subscription-based digital magazine company launched by former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter.

Reading the first article, Briget Foley’s new interview of Tom Ford stopped us cold.

In a media landscape where talk and promises are so cheap that we are in a state of mental rebellion before reading the first word, the Tom Ford interview is stellar, capturing our minds like a really good TED Talk.

No BS promises and definitely not clickbait. It’s personal and humanizing, filled with haunting quotes from Ford.

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Karolina Kurkova in Miami for Mujer Hoy June 2023 as 'Ultimate Supermodel' by Agata Serge

Karolina Kurkova in Miami for Mujer Hoy June 2023 as 'Ultimate Supermodel' by Agata Serge

Supermodel Karolína Kurkova becomes the protagonist of the June 2023 cover of Mujer Hoy. In the world of modeling, the quality of your works counts a lot, says Kurkova. But what sets you apart is your reputation.

Photographer Agata Serge [IG] shoots Kurkova in Miami, the city where she lives with her husband and their three children since 2012. Sarah Gore Reeves styles Kurkova in ‘La Ultima Supermodelo’ in patriotic colors this Memorial Day weekend in America.

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LVMH Concedes Likely Defeat in Cheval Blanc Beverly Hills Vote to Override City Approval

LVMH Concedes Likely Defeat in Cheval Blanc Beverly Hills Vote to Override City Approval

When we first wrote in 2020 about the LVMH plans for a Cheval Blanc Hotel in Beverly Hills, it seemed to be on cruise control, a fait accompli. Now the fight is all but over and LVMH conceded probable defeat on Friday.

Labor union Unite Here Local 11 and a local residents group garnered enough signatures to put two referenda on the ballot in Beverly Hills that would ask voters to overturn the City Council’s approval of the Cheval Blanc hotel and the development agreement for the project in September 2022. They got signatures from 10% of Beverly Hills voters which triggered a vote to override the City Council’s approval.

"Although some votes remain to be counted, it now appears that Measures B and C have fallen short by a narrow margin, overturning the results of a comprehensive, years-long review and approval process," said Jessica Miller, a LVMH spokesperson. "We are proud to have worked with so many residents, civic leaders and business owners who supported this once-in-a-generation investment that would have delivered hundreds of millions of dollars in city funding and a beautiful gateway project for the Golden Triangle. If the final vote count confirms the voters' rejection of our project, we will respect the outcome, and will not bring the hotel project back in any form."

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Nagi Sakai Captures 'Diamonds for Day' High Jewelry for WSJ Magazine

Nagi Sakai Captures 'Diamonds for Day' High Jewelry for WSJ Magazine

For every fashion trend, there its opposite. Focusing this morning on ‘New Luxury Codes’ in Vogue Turkey’s May 2023 issue, we abandon “the Quiet Luxury trend rebellion against our collective pursuit of more, more, more’.

Stopping by WSJ Magazine, ‘Diamonds for Day’, where major gems come out to play for daytime glamour, is the fashion focus in a High-Jewelry story lensed by Nagi Sakai [IG]. Model MJ Herrera is styled by Louise Ford in High-Jewelry luxury not bound by codes of when and where to wear diamonds.

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Bulgari Launches Mediterranea High Jewelry and Watches Collection in Venice 2023

Bulgari Launches Mediterranea High Jewelry and Watches Collection in Venice 2023

Bulgari chose Venice to host the unveiling of its new High-Jewelry and high-End Watch collection Mediterranea. The choice of La Serenissima [Italian name for the Republic of Venice] references the Byzantine title that governed the city’s role as a center of trade and business.

Venice was also a city that preferred conflict mediation and peaceful solutions that arose with the many diverse cultures and peoples navigating the Mediterranean Sea in pursuit of commercial trading partners and sometimes territorial conquest.

LVMH-owned Bulgari retraces this imaginary trip across the Mediterranean Sea as an inexhaustible source of inspiration layering multiple arts, traditions and crafts into its newest High-Jewelry collection.

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Aylah Peterson in 'New Luxury Codes' Lensed by Arseny Jabiev for Vogue Turkey May 2023

Aylah Peterson in 'New Luxury Codes' Lensed by Arseny Jabiev for Vogue Turkey May 2023

Model Aylah Peterson covers the May 2023 issue of Vogue Turkey, styled by Ceylan Atınç in the Quiet Luxury trend rebellion against our collective pursuit of more, more, more.

Photographer Arseny Jabiev [IG] captures the fashion story ‘New Luxury Codes’ with its emphasis on modern, sophisticated — ideally sustainable — luxury fashion that can be worn for years./ Makeup by Ece Birsen

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Candice Swanepoel in Carolina Herrera Eyewear Spring Summer 2023 by Dan Beleiu

Candice Swanepoel in Carolina Herrera Eyewear Spring Summer 2023 by Dan Beleiu

Supermodel Candice Swanepoel grabs the limelight with a commanding self-assurance in Carolina Herrera’s 2023 Spring-Summer eyewear campaign.

The oversized, geometric, embellished frames, styled by Alba Melendo, mix glamour with brainiac status — and Candice clearly has both. Berlin-based photographer Dan Beleiu [IG] is in the studio, and we’re here for him — since 2016.

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