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
Le Jardin de Chaumet 2023 high jewellery collection is divided into four chapters— Woods and Undergrowth, Fields, Flowers, and Bouquets of The World— in a collection that embarks on a journey through natural’s kingdom, masterfully transforming plants, flowers and even bark into glamorous rings, necklaces, earrings, and headpieces.
Model Sophie Koella is styled by Schanel Bakkouche in images by David Ferrua [IG].
Harper’s Bazaar Mexico blazes into fall style with ‘A todo color’, a saturated-colors, bodywear and accessories reveal with model Olaide Zainab. Photographer Fernando Gomez [IG] is behind the lens, with Alex Montoya styling the high-volume August 2023 fashion story. / Makeup by Rosa Matilla
Actor and brand ambassador Emma Stone headlines the Louis Vuitton Women’s FW 2023 Collection. American rock band Haim also joins the campaign, lensed by David Sims.
A Collection of Unbelievable Details
The most consistent and prevailing compliment to the Louis Vuitton FW 2023 collection is that one had to see it up close and personal, because the construction and fabrications in the collection are among the most luxurious and intricate techniques Nicolas Ghesquière has ever employed.
Vogue called the details “mindboggling”.
LVMH posted a 20 percent revenue increase in the first six months of 2023, with a profit from recurring operations of 14 percent among its fashion & leather goods division.
We don’t think of St. Barts as a summer destination, but unlike the winter months, the island is a peaceful paradise where visitors can experience a more authentic island life.
This is the mood of Cara Taylor’s dreamy summer escape for Massimo Dutti[IG], a fashion story ‘On the Sunset Strip’ styled by Marina Gallo. Photographer Luis Ridao, who does more interior photography than fashion, captures the buy-now, resort elegance perfect for summer into fall dressing.
British actor Naomi Watts, with 90 films in her portfolio, has a digital cover in the July 27th issue of Elle France. Watts isn’t taking the magazine’s spotlight to speak about her June 2023 marriage to long-time love Billy Crudup. She’s not talking the Hollywood strike.
Naomi Watts, now 54, wants to talk about menopause. In her own words on IG, Watts says “Adding this to the list of things I never thought I’d get to do: Gracing the cover of ELLE France, all while talking about the joys of menopause.”
Since October 2022, Naomi Watts, the entrepreneur, has launched the Stripes brand, a beauty and well-being center focused on women’s health. Stripes has a specific mission of de-stigmatizing “the sometimes thorny subject of menopause.”
Burberry Goddess fragrance grows its green credentials with the release of its new fragrance in a refillable bottle. The running wild with lions campaign starring British-French actor and new ambassador for Burberry Beauty Emma Mackey, released on July 31.
The inspiring, emotional Burberry Goddess video was created with live footage of lionesses in their natural environment and CGI [computer-generated imagery] technology.
Polka dots have appeared regularly in Miuccia Prada’s collections over the years and they are out in full force in Miu Miu’s QiXi 2023 [Valentine’s Day in China] collection and campaign lensed by Lengua [IG].
The campaign stars models Ying Ouyang and Ruiqi Jiang, styled by Lotta Volkova.
Miu Miu is on fire in everywhere in the world, reporting a 42 percent increase in the first quarter and a blistering 57 percent in second quarter.
For Ralph Lauren’s exciting achievements in committing to the Cradle to Cradle Certified Gold Cashmere Sweater, coupled with other significant achievements in sustainable materials and products, Ralph Lauren earned a prime spot on Fast Company’s 2023 Top 10 list of the most 540 most innovative companies in North America, across all sectors.
Ralph Lauren redesigned its signature cashmere sweaters to receive certification from Cradle to Cradle, a nonprofit that helped the company meet C2C’s standards for using safe materials, employing fair labor practices, and enabling the garment to be recycled into a new one.
The full 2023 Ralph Lauren Global Citizenship & Sustainability Report and ESG Supplement are available for download on the Company’s website. AOC is reading the report and feels compelled to cite more calls-to-action for the Ralph Lauren Corporation beyond the press release.
The support by Ralph Lauren brands of HBCUs and especially Morehouse and Spelman Colleges continues at an accelerated level. Equally impressive is an accelerated commitment to indigenous communities in America. Of all the severely-impacted humans who have been part of the glorious American experiment, indigenous peoples have experienced the dark side of American excellence and high standards.
Supermodel and former Victoria’s Secret Angel Alessandra Ambrosio covers the August 2023 issue of Vogue Mexico and Latin America, dedicated to wellness.
The hot summer fashion shoot takes place at Etereo, an Auberge resort on the Riviera Maya, Mexico [IG]. Ambrosio is styled by Valentina Collado in Ferragamo, Skims, Stella McCartney and more, lensed by Blair Getz Mezibov [IG]./ Hair by Panos Papandrianos; makeup by Virginia Young
In these new images by Brigitte Lacombe [IG], Christy Turlington poses with key bags from the Insignia collection of CH Carolina Herrera bags, with its special focus on the craftsmanship.
InStyle writes about Christy Turlington that there are models, and then there are ‘supermodels'. They are correct, of course, but the cavalier attitude towards crowning just about any model a “supermodel” is for real.
AOC has always written about Christy’s ‘titanic’ work in the area of maternal health worldwide with her own foundation Every Mother Counts and her other humanitarian work with CARE.
Rising model Nikki McGuire has always respected the land and ocean that helped define her daily existence growing up in Hawaii.
McGuire returns to her Hawaiian paradise in O’ahu, in a travel magazine worthy set of fashion images by Bridget Fleming [IG]. styled by Lilli Milhiser in Alaia, Area, Chanel, Chloe, Dior, Gabriela Hearst, Jil Sander, Lanvin, Loewe, Saint Laurent, Schiaparelli, Tiffany & Co. and more for Vogue Poland’s August 2023 issue./ Makeup by Stoj; hair by Eric Williams
Model Aylah Peterson is styled by Elissa Santisi in ‘Suits You’, a fashion collection of relaxed but sharp-tailoring suits for women who want a career path must show up at the office at least three-days a week in our post-COVID world.
Photographer Geordie Wood [IG] captures the androgynous fashion looks for ELLE US [IG] August 2023./ Hair by Edward Lampley; makeup by Frank B
Loving ‘Lazy Girl Jobs’
Headlines this week were unanimous on a new trend in the workplace called ‘Lazy girl jobs’. As defined by Gabrielle Judge, who popularized the term, a “lazy girl job” is remote and pays your bills without demanding too much of your time, or that you be at work at any particular time.