Top model, social activist and Gurl Talk founder Adwoa Aboah makes an absolutely-lovely, up-front-and-personal, “I’ve got this” appearance in Net-a-Porter’s August 21st fashion pages.
We have some utterly gorgeous images of Aboah, lensed by Ronan McKenzie [IG].
Aboah could light up a cigar in this moment, like some seven-figure, boys club lawyer — and she is believable. She’s taken the male gaze and turned it inside out on a journey to self-love that has been challenging at times.
In 2022, Aboah’s acting classes paid off with her debut in the much-loved east London-based drama ‘Top Boy’. And she tells her ‘Fresh Take’ interviewer Liv Little that high on her list of priorities is doing a ‘TED Talk’.
Uber talent Zendaya tells ELLE US September 2023 writer Clover Hope, that at the impending age of 27, she’s “entering an era of risk.”
Stepping into the role of Tashi in director Luca Guadagnino’s R-rated, tennis-pros tryst drama ‘Challengers’ leaves her fans asking ‘Disney who?’
Clover Hope uses a new-to-AOC term that we admire and understand: ‘sensual chaos’. And who better to photograph the layers of sexual heat, ambiguity and self-revelation — but also misunderstanding— embedded in human sexuality, than the master of such images Steven Klein [IG].
It’s been a real drought of edgy images like Klein’s, but human sexuality itself has evolved mightily. Hence the repressive, hair-on-fire tactics of the right-wing extremists, who are always lurking under our bedcovers.
Aussie model born in Kenya, of South Sudan heritage, Akiima Ajak channels the spirit of ‘60s style liberation styled in bold, black and white optical graphics. Benedetta Dell'Orto styles the shoot, lensed by Jason Kibbler [IG] for ELLE Spain [IG] September 2023./ Hair by Leon Gorman; makeup by Virginia Young
The September 2023 issue of Harpers Bazaar Spain delivers two cover women — Monica Bellucci and Kendall Jenner — who personify what it is to be an icon in the 21st century.
In these images, film star legend Monica Bellucci is lensed by Xavi Gordo [IG] with styling by EIC Imma Jimenez Mateos, who is also creative director of HEARST Spain, and Claudia Laukamp. Bellucci wears Nina Ricci by Harris Reed above./ Hair by John Nollet Paris
British Vogue’s September 2023 issue shares a fashion story ‘Pure Imagination’, styled by Amanda and Tallulah Harlech. The story promotes Glyn Cywarch, the Harlech family’s estate in northwestern Wales.
Amanda Harlech invites multitalented guests that include Moon Bedeaux, Miranda Brooks, Francesca Hayward, Alfie Husband, Ella Richards, Tish Weinstock & Lydia West to the 400-year-old estate that is just HOME to an authentic “grand and storied” British experience . Photographer Sean Thomas is behind the lens.
Vogue’sTabitha Simmons [IG] styles top model Grace Elizabeth in her first ‘Just One Thing’.
Simmons writes: “If you had to buy ONE THING a good suit would be my choice !!!! It can be a versatile addition to your wardrobe that you can dress up or down for different events or wear as separates. Additionally, a well-fitted suit can make you feel confident and empowered. I love a suit especially a jazzy one.”
Photographer Cass Bird [IG] photographs Grace Elizabeth with her husband Nicolas Krause, who she married in 2020. The couple welcomed baby boy Noah Krause in early 2021.
In a fashion story and interview for Out magazine, cover stars Matt Bomer, Jonathan Bailey, Jelani Alladin, and Noah J. Ricketts reflect on the familial bonds formed by the actors in the upcoming limited eight-episodes series ‘Fellow Travelers’, with its premier October 27 on ‘Showtime’.
This fashion story and narrative by Mey Rudewas created for Out before the Hollywood actor’s strike. The quartet is styled by Michael Miller in images by Jason Hetherington [IG].
A mindblowing fact about the focus of the Showtime series ‘Fellow Travelers’ is the probable deceptions between the two leading figures in the purge of homosexuals in the US federal goverment in 1953: Wisconsin Sen. Joseph McCarthy and his chief counsel, Roy Cohn.
Even then, Roy Cohn was the subject of hush-hush, anecdotal rumours about his homosexual identity. Cohn was eventually diagnosed with AIDS and died in 1978.
Two more men with interesting biographies are tied to the key figures of ‘Fellow Travelers’. The first is America’s head of the FBI during the 1950s J. Edgar Hoover. The second — years later — is a younger man named Donald J. Trump.
The Hollywood strike disrupted actor Sydney Sweeney’s ability to speak about her past and future projects with the September 2023 issue of S Moda for El Pais [IG].
Readers do get a lesson in just how fervently Sydney Sweeney knew at the young age of three that she had a gift for acting. Once she understood people had actual jobs in acting, her young vision was fully-formed.
It was then that the 10-year-old took control of the situation with her five-year plan — which she presented to her parents. Key steps included “meeting casting directors, auditioning for short films, student films, or commercials.”
Supermodel Mariacarla Boscono is styled by Amarsana Gendunova in an all Prada fashion story with three covers, commissioned by the Italian luxury brand. Photographers Luigi & Iango [IG] capture Mariacarla for Vogue Korea [IG] September 2023.
Erin Wasson [IG] covers ELLE Spain’s September 2023 issue, styled by Bárbara Garralda & Sylvia Montoliú. Photographer Javi López [IG] is behind the lens, capturing Wasson, who seems to be thriving in immeasurable ways. / Hair and makeup by Beatriz Matallana
The new VS campaign is excellent and has some real VS icons featured. Bringing back past VS models is a terrific idea for a brand trying to find safe ground to stand on. Shop the new collection at the VS website.
If I read the VS copy carefully, I’m sure we are all icons somewhere in it, so let’s just cut the AOC analysis short here and say “good job, VS.”
The Icon by Victoria’s Secret Collection models includes VS greats Gisele Bündchen, Naomi Campbell, Adriana Lima, and Candice Swanepoel.
The Icon cast campaigns expands to include Adut Akech, Emily Ratajkowski, Hailey Bieber, Paloma Elsesser and Sui He. I’m pleased to say that every woman listed here has archives on AOC.
Oyadeas!
Oh dear goddess Oya. I tried . . . I tried . . . I tried so hard to step carefully, but I just fell down the “we’re all icons” rabbit hole, and I did not see it coming.
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
Gisele Bundchen returns as the face of Brazilian brand Arezzo’s winter 2024 campaign called ‘Dream On’. The uber-supermodel finds herself again in an aquarium, but this one is without water.
In this delicious new Arezzo campaign, lensed by Lufre [IG], Gisele reminds us that barriers are sometimes transparent — bigger in our minds than they are in reality. And while we reference an aquarium, there are no breathing bubbles in the water. No one will drown.
In stepping into a prism of new light in our ever-changing, modern world, it’s often our very selves who put the dead weights around our ankles, when we can drift upwards into the light, if only we permit ourselves to fly.
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
Chanel shares an inspired new eyeshadow collection Les 4 Ombres Byzance with design and color roots in the rich history of Byzantine jewelry, and several pieces in the archived collection of Gabrielle Chanel herself.
Chanel muse Vittoria Ceretti is the face of the campaign, with an image style that is a perfect expression for the creative mind of photographer Elizaveta Porodina [IG].
Aussie model Aylah Peterson is one of two cover models for the summer 2023 issue of French magazine Numéro 239, an issue devoted to water.
Hence the sensual water drops all over Peterson’s body, otherwise adorned in Bulgari, Chanel, Prada and other high jewelry brands, styled by Charles Varenne. Photographer Ben Hassett [IG] is behind the lens.
Today’s release of a new Ferragamo Fall 2023 campaign, conceived by Ferragamo creative director Maximilian Davis, takes a spin on the Louvre’s success, confirming a new and very important, global-culture role for Ferragamo and Italian culture, via the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.
The partnership between the Ferragamo brand and the Uffizi Gallery is not a one-off ad campaign. Details of its depth and reach will emerge in the coming months.
Lensed by American photographer Tyler Mitchell [IG], who was named to the TIME 100 list in 2023 and has a cameo in the images, the Ferragamo Fall 2023 campaign features top models including Anok Yai, Jessica Stam, Lina Zhang, Mona Tougaard, Paul Hamline, Taemin Park, and Vittoria Ceretti.
I asked my AI partner Lulu to research the history of the Uffizi Gallery, and she has delivered in a major way. Read on in AOC link top of post.