Numéro Netherlands [IG] launches their 12th issue, themed around ‘Aurora’. In their own words, ‘Aurora’ is a symbol of renewal and creative evolution that reflects the spirit of transformation shaping today’s cultural and fashion landscape’.
Brazilian supermodel Isabeli Fontana graces one of the ‘Aurora’ issue covers, cited as an astute master of the industry concept of models being required to ‘rebirth’ themselves. Isabeli is styled by Caterina Ospina Buitrago in Balenciaga, BCBGMAXAZRIA [3 images], Ferragamo, Michael Kors, Sportmax, YSL and more, accented with Swarovski Jewelry.
There’s no obvious letup in the western trend deeply embedded in the American story. This narrative gains momentum as Bella Hadid actually moves to Texas. In Bella’s case, her home is in Fort Worth with its authentic, western-core identity, compared to Austin, Dallas and San Antonio.
Pharrell Williams expanded the story for Louis Vuitton Men and Beyoncé herself celebrates cowboy culture.
Model Vanessa Moody landed in Arizona for this early April 2025 ‘Arizona Dreams’ cover story for Madame Figaro France [IG]. Stylists Delphine Perroy and Carole Matray choose from Bottega Veneta, Brunello Cucinelli, Dsquared2, Gucci, Isabel Marant, Loewe, Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu, MM6 Maison Margiela, Prada, Ralph Lauren and more, lensed by David Roemer [IG].
Models Nyajuok Kueth and Limamu Mbaye are styled by Helen Broadfoot in sophisticated summer getaway photos imbued with a wanderlust quality. Quentin De Briey [IG] is behind the lens in Cape Town, South Africa for Net-a-Porter [IG] Summer 2025./ Hair by Paolo Soffiatti; makeup by Rebecca Wordingham
The Catholic Augustinian Order, formally known as the Order of Saint Augustine, traces its origins to the early centuries of Christianity, inspired by the teachings and rule of Saint Augustine of Hippo. Saint Augustine, a pivotal figure in early Christian theology, emphasized a communal life dedicated to the pursuit of truth, charity, and devotion to God, principles that became foundational to the order.
America has delivered our 1st pope to the world community on this day May 8, 2025, and he is an Augustinian. In this moment, Anne of Carversville assures readers that this is a brilliant choice, one that does not surprise me at all, when I read his curriculum vitae over the weekend.
Since taking over as creative director in 2023, Chemena Kamali has reenergized Chloé’s sunny identity, and now she’s unveiling her initial high summer capsule line, titled Chloé à la Plage.
The high summer collection debuted today, May 7th, at Chloé stores, on Chloé.com, and shortly in dedicated summer pop-up shops at popular vacation spots like Saint-Tropez, Capri, and Monte Carlo.
Kamali noted that Schiffer “has always epitomized the cross-generational femininity that is emblematic of Chloé.”
It was photographer David Sims [IG] who had the pleasure of bringing the designer’s words to life in the hyper-feminine capsule styled by Elodie David Touboul. / Hair by Paul Hanlon; makeup by Lucia Pieroni
In case you’ve forgotten — Mother’s Day 2025 is Sunday, May 11th, so let’s get down to priority business. Models Burundi-born Divine Mugisha and Miss Texas USA Sara Grace Wallerstedt are styled by Malina Joseph Gilchrist in the Swarovski Mother’s May 2025 Campaign, lensed by Marcus Ohlsson [IG]./ Makeup by Fulvia Farolfi; hair by Lucas Wilson
Models Rosalieke Fuchs and Sihana Shalaj are styled by Katie Burnett in ‘Antithesis’, a fashion story lensed by Oliver Hadlee Pearch [IG] for D Repubblica May 3, 2025. Burnett chooses Celine for the duo models cover cover with hat by Atours Vintage and an Intimissimi bra. / Hair by Cyndia Harvey; makeup by Lucy Bridge
The Met Gala 2025 debut of the Bvlgari Magnus Emerald Necklace a rare emerald of 241.06 carats, is the largest faceted stone ever set by Bvlgari. Officially debuting in Taormina, Sicily on May 19, Priyanka Chopra Jonas owned the green-envy, Bvlgari moment Monday night.
We share the main event story in Jewelry News, including Chopra Jonas wearing a Balmain Couture gown by Olivier Rousteing at the Met Gala. As my writing evolved — because I check everything and everybody’s IGs — Johnnie Walker US entered the visually-fantastic, high-credentials marketing drama anchored by Bvlgari.
It’s a subplot to the main event Met Gala, sponsored by Louis Vuitton and Instagram. But it’s a superbly-executed, multi-chapter read.
Marrakech has a strong reputation for its coffee houses due to the historical importance of Bacha Coffee, a cafe that opened in 1910 within the Dar El Bacha Palace.
It was considered the highest authority on the coffee experience in Marrakech and hosted dignitaries like US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, UK's Prime Minister Winston Churchill, filmmaker Charlie Chaplin and entertainer Josephine Baker.
Fast-forward to now, and the history and reputation of Arabica coffee served at Bacha Coffee can be experienced in Paris at 26 Av. des Champs-Élysées. In a testament to grandiosity, this three-floors, 1500 sq. meters, undeniable temple of Arabian coffee rivals all we know about the ‘memorable before it even opens’ Louis Vuitton Hotel, under construction at 107 Av. des Champs-Élysées in Paris.
In the latest Loro Piana Resort 2025/26 images shot by Annemarieke van Drimlen [IG] with styling by Aleksandra Woroniecks, AOC checks in on Loro’s next-century transition after celebrations end for current 100th anniversary projects. At the top of the list is new 29-year-old CEO Frédéric Arnault.
Its generally believed that under the strong leadership of Damien Bertrand, Loro Piana has about €2.5 billion in annual sales, equivalent to $2.7 billion, according to WSJ.
If accurate, Loro Piana has edged out Celine as the third highest-revenue LVMH gem behind Louis Vuitton and Dior.
Damien Bertrand will become deputy CEO of Louis Vuitton, effective June 10, 2025, reporting to Louis Vuitton CEO Pietro Beccari.
French-Congolese model Ange-Marie Moutambo works with Sam Edelman [IG] co-founder Libby Edelman in these elegant, sophisticated, sizzling images lensed by Libby. Daniel Gaines styled the shoot with makeup by Megan Kelly.
Model Ange-Marie Moutambo also delivered perfect images for Ralph Lauren’s Spring 2025 lookbook and website images, shot by Zoey Grossman.
British-Punjabi model Neelam Gill leads an absolutely-lovely, summer cover story for Vogue Singapore’s May 2025 ‘Sonder’ issue. Konca Aykan styles Gill in Gucci’s pre-autumn 2025 collection, shot in Spain by Javier Castán [IG]./ Makeup by Iria Salgado; hair by Mariona Botella
Most recently, Neelam Gill appeared in Gigi Hadid’s Vogue US cover story that inspired our jazz age dive into the Harlem Renaissance.
The Jazz Age in all its glory will be on view at tonight’s Met Gala.
‘Superfine’ is the official catalogue published in conjunction with the Met Gala Monday night, May 5 and the ‘Superfine’ exhibition running from May 10-October 26, 2025. Rising star photographer Tyler Mitchell [IG],now represented by Gagosian, shot the ‘Superfine’ catalogue and this series of images from it.
In this presentation of catalogue story images, Mitchell works with top stylist Carlos Nazario [IG] to capture dandy-worthy images of artist Ike Ude and models including Abdou Ndoye, Craig Shimirimana, Lamine Seck and Mou Lam./ Hair by Dre Demry Sanders; makeup by Keita Moore; set designer Julia Wagner
Natalie Portman is Vogue Australia’s [IG] May 2025 cover star eager to discuss her upcoming movie ‘Fountain of Youth’, which Vogue calls a “globe-trotting extravaganza” that looks like it was fun to make. The movie opens May 23 on AppleTV.
“It was so fun. It was really a dream offer when I got it. Wait, I get to work with Guy Ritchie and John Krasinski? And all these other actors, between Domhnall [Gleeson] and Eiza [González] and Arian [Moayed] and Carmen [Ejogo], who I love so much. . . Vienna was extraordinary and Cairo was a dream. It’s so rare these days to go to the real places.”
Portman pushes back on the issue of aging in ‘The Fountain of Youth’, although she affirms that her beautiful, aging-naturally mother inspires her not to be afraid of physical aging.
Cuban-American femme fatale Eva Mendes may look coy, but she’s a very direct and articulate woman madly in love with her man Ryan Gosling, the father of their two daughters.
Mendes covers the April 30, 2025 issue of ELLE France [IG], wearing a Stella McCartney dress on the cover and thruout the fashion story styled by Carolina Orrico with images by Pamela Hanson [IG]./ Hair by Chris McMillan; makeup by Maria Vargas
The Cardinal who originally built Villa d’Este in 1568 with architect Pellegrino Tibaldi — home of Chanel’s recent Resort 2025/26 show was Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio. The Cardinal was a self-made man by all reports, a thinker deeply influenced by the movement AOC continually calls out, thanks to Brunello Cucinelli. The philosophy is called ‘humanism’ and even ‘Christian humanism’.
As AOC noted in Anne’s recent post examining the religious views of the controversial US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and his embrace of Christian Nationalism and the Crusades, Arab world universities were instrumental in translating and preserving ancient Greek and Roman texts, which would later be transmitted to Europe and spur on the Renaissance.
Anne of Carversville works really hard to find new twists and turns in historical stories for which we believe we have the facts. The role of the Arab world in intellectual discussion and debate about Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and more in Europe’s most valued and prominent universities in the early Renaissance is one of those stories.
Amelia Gray covers the May 2025 issue of Vogue Arabia [IG] wearing Saint Laurent on the cover below and Cartier above. Stylist Jessica Willis adds Bottega Veneta, Chloe, Ferragamo, Gucci, Khaite, Maison Alaia, Proenza Schouler and jewelry from Tiffany & Co and Sophie Buhai to the fashion story lensed by Zoey Grossman [IG]./ Hair by Tiago Goya; makeup by Michael Bosch
Daphne Groeneveld once again brings her major modeling talents to Numéro Switzerland’s Surreal Issue, March 2025. With two covers and a fashion story celebrating designer Christian Siriano[IG], Ayumi Perry styles Daphne and models Brandon Good and Hunter Warr. Photographer Petros Kouiouris [IG] captures the ensemble in chill images with a subversive vibe.
Brazilian model Anita Pozzo is styled by Charlie Harrington in Balenciaga, Maison Valentino, Miu Miu and more for a lovely fashion story ‘Sing the Body Electric’.
Photographer Agata Pospieszynska [IG] captures the breeze and Pozzo, as well, for Harper’s Bazaar UK [IG] May 2025 ./ Hair by Declan Sheils; makeup by Liz Pugh
Rising Australian model Stella Hanan takes a digital cover for the May 2025 issue of Harper’s Bazaar France [IG]. Robbie Spencer styles the fashion story ‘Libre Comme L’air, with images by Oliver Hadlee Pearch [IG].