Gucci Diana Bag Honors Her Memory at Gucci Bamboo House in Kyoto, Japan

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Gucci Diana Bag Honors Her Memory at Gucci Bamboo House in Kyoto, Japan AOC Fashion

Princess Diana in Japan, May 1986

Nearly 100,000 people cheered Britain’s Prince and Princess of Wales on the streets of Tokyo, when they arrived for a six-day visit to Japan on May 12, 1986. The headline in the New York Times read: ‘Diana Fever’ Comes to a Quiet Emperor’s Land.

Part of Diana’s duties in Japan included attending a traditional Japanese tea ceremony at Nijo Castle in Kyoto. {collage of images above} where she was gifted a traditional kimono fit for a princess.

Thirty-five years later, Gucci has paid tribute to the Kyoto visit in two ways.

First, in honor of Diana’s 60th birthday, Gucci’s creative director Alessandro Michele reimagined the royal’s favorite, iconic handbag in a series of bold and bright colors in three different sizes: medium, small and mini. Additionally, the new handbag — called the Gucci Diana — includes removable neon buckled belts on each bag, which serve as a nod to the functional bands that were first released with the original to secure the handles’ shape.

The ‘Diana’ bag, which the Princess made famous in one variation or another running errands around London or arriving for a gym workout. Diana LOVED her Gucci handbags with their bamboo handles.

Gucci creative director Alessandro Michel celebrated the Gucci Diana handbag at one of her favorite London institutions — The Savoy Hotel, where Diana was sometimes seen twice in a single day. In a bit of historical nothingness, the luxury brand’s founder worked as a lift boy at The Savoy in his youth.

The Gucci Diana campaign itself was shot by Angelo Pennetta [IG] with a variety of models strolling around London sporting the new bag, most notably leaving The Savoy Hotel

Second, Gucci took the Diana Bags to Kyoto. Thirty-five years later, Gucci’s new Gucci Diana bag traveled to Kyoto in an early August, Olympics concurrent exhibit called ‘Gucci in Kyoto’ project. AOC continues the narrative about the exhibition — which closed today August 15, after the campaign images.

See Campaign images @ AOC.

The Gucci Bamboo House, Kyoto, Japan.

Gucci Celebrates its 100th Anniversary in Kyoto

Learning about the special pop-up at Architectural Digest, Gucci renovated a ‘machiya ‘— a Japanese traditional wooden townhouse typically inhabited by merchants and craftsmen—formerly known as the Kawasaki Residence. Though these homes have existed since the Heian period, running 794 to 1185 AD, the Gucci restoration was constructed during the Taishō era of the 1920s (the same period as Gucci’s founding).

According to Japan Property Central, the townhouse, located in central Kyoto, has fashion in its bones: It was originally built for a wealthy cotton merchant, and after selling to the Kawasaki family, it ultimately served as a kimono museum. Despite its current designation as a Cultural Property of Kyoto City, the house risked demolition just two years ago. However, Gucci has since been able to supply additional funding.

Some images of the Gucci Bamboo House in Kyoto from the Gucci Instagram.

Clea Beuret in 'Six' Modern Patternwork Lensed by Studio Syn_for Metal Magazine

Clea Beuret in 'Six' Modern Patternwork Lensed by Studio Syn_for Metal Magazine AOC Fashion

Studio Syn_ [IG] captures Clea Beuret in ‘Six’, styled by Gemma Bedini. Fashion pieces come from Barbara Bui, Cemcinar, Isabel Marant, Julia Heurer, Kenzo, Lanvin, Lou de Betoly, Maitrepierre, MM6 and more for Metal Magazine.

Melodie Monrose Is All 'Hot Stuff' Accessories for InStyle September 2021

Melodie Monrose Is All 'Hot Stuff' Accessories for InStyle September 2021 AOC Fashion

Model Melodie Monrose poses in eye candy accessories styled by Lotte Elisa. Photographer Chris Scheurich [IG] flashes ‘Hot Stuff’ fashion for InStyle US September 2021./ Hair & makeup by Phoenix Rose

Kim Hee June Captures Blackpink's Lisa in 'Forever Young' for W Korea August 2021

Kim Hee June Captures Blackpink's Lisa in 'Forever Young' for W Korea August 2021 AOC Fashion

Blackpink’s Lisa [Lalisa Manoban] is styled by Park Min Hee in ‘Forever Young’, lensed by Kim Hee June [IG] for W Korea August 2021./ Hair by Lee Sun Young; makeup by Lee Myung Sun

Jess Maybury Nurtures a Crazy World in Vogue Portugal by Brendan Freeman

Jess Maybury Nurtures a Crazy World in Vogue Portugal by Brendan Freeman AOC Fashion

Model Jess Maybury is styled by Lorna McGee in boho, bucolic images by Brendan Freeman [IG] for Vogue Portugal July 2021 ‘The Nonsense Issue’./ Hair by Anna Cofone; makeup by Erin Green

Ashley Callingbull Covers Fashion Canada September 2021, Talking Indigenous Peoples

Ashley Callingbull Covers Fashion Canada September 2021, Talking Indigenous Peoples AOC Fashion

Ashley Callingbull, Indigenous model, pageant queen, and motivational speaker from Enoch Cree Nation in Alberta, covers the September 2021 issue of Fashion Magazine Canada. The activist wears a dress from Native American visual artist and California fashion designer Jamie Okuma on the cover, styled by Lucrezia Mancini.

Marc Jacobs 'The Color Collection' Takeover of The Surf Lodge in Montauk

Courtesy of the Surf Lodge

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Marc Jacobs 'The Color Collection' Takeover of The Surf Lodge in Montauk AOC Fashion

Montauk’s The Surf Lodge has undergone a Marc Jacobs ‘Color Collection’ makeover. The Hamptons’ party spot even hosts a Blue Crush Jacobs made with vodka, blue curacao, coconut liquor, lemon juice, pineapple juice, and coconut water. A server wearing a Marc Jacobs t-shirt will deliver the knock-out punch to your eager hand.

Do not jump into the vintage pink convertible waiting outside — planning a spontaneous getaway down RT-27. Smart-girl Surt Lodge owner, Brazilian-born Jayma Cardoso has stashed away the keys where party people will not find them. Perhaps she’s handed them off to creative director Sasha Benz.

Related: Viviane Sassen Captures Marc Jacobs Pre-Fall 2021 ‘The Color Collection’ June 2021

Dancer Christian Yav is among the airborne models styled by Ib Kamara in Marc Jacobs ‘The Color Collection’ of Pre-Fall 2021 athletic pieces. Viviane Sassen [IG] is behind the lens in for this bodies in motion photo shoot. / Hair and makeup by Irena Ruben

Savage X Carmel Curves Bad-Ass Biker Ladies Were Born to Ride in Rihanna's Lingerie

[Image: Shaniqwa Jarvis/courtesy of Savage X Fenty]

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Savage X Carmel Curves Bad-Ass Biker Ladies Were Born to Ride in Rihanna's Lingerie AOC Fashion

When AOC saw the headline about Savage X Fenty’s newest lingerie campaign with ‘Carmel Curves’, we smiled big.

We wrote about the Carmel Curves Motorcycle Club, a 10-woman biker gang of some of New Orleans’ best Black beauties three years ago. Caramel Curves Motorcycle Club was founded 16 years ago by Nakosha “Coco” Smith and Shanika “Tru” Beatty. Back then, we wrote:

The group consists of 13 [now 10] women with a decades-long love of motorcycles and a desire to bike with other women. "The ladies wear helmets ridged with fluorescent pink mohawks and matching vests bedazzled in blingy patches and sequins. Finishing the look are Barbie-pink stilettos. Their bikes are big Suzuki Hayabusas (that they call “busas”) and Gixxers, and Can-Am Spyders, airbrushed in shades of pink, with brightly colored rims to match. And when they stunt, with curving burnouts or wheelies, their tires send off plumes of magenta-hued smoke."

In fact, the Savage X Fenty team read the same New York Times article that AOC did. Read our original post below.

Here’s the Carmel Curves Instagram Page. It seems that members also have their own personal page. Shaniqwa Jarvis [IG] is the photographer behind the campaign. We’re working on lining up the names of all the bikers featured.

I love it. Victoria’s Secret has got their VS Collective all lined up with star power that includes: Adut Akech, Amanda de Cadenet, Eileen Gu, Megan Rapinoe, Paloma Elsesser, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Valentina Sampaio — totally fab women chosen to keep the brand on track with what women really want.

And then Rihanna swoops in with probably the most body-affirming, pro-woman lingerie video ever created to inspire American women.

If VS was really game, they would ask the VS Collective to critique this totally out-of-the box video. I promise you that at least five — if not all seven — members of the VS Collective LOVE the Savage X Carmel Curves campaign.

The Carmel Curve ladies don’t typically ride in lingerie. But they DO ride in heels. They ARE the sisterhood in action, and the body-affirming, pro-empowerment message of the documentary-style video cannot be overstated. It’s just absolutely the BEST!

He Cong Covers Harper's Bazaar China September by Txema Yeste

He Cong Covers Harper's Bazaar China September by Txema Yeste AOC Fashion

Model He Cong is styled by Belén Casadevall in mid-century, retro elegance lensed by Txema Yeste [IG] for Harper’s Bazaar China September 2021. / Hair by Yumiko Hiage; makeup by Hugo Villard

Lara Worthington Wears Louis Vuitton by Isaac Brown for Vogue Australia August 2021

Lara Worthington Wears Louis Vuitton by Isaac Brown for Vogue Australia August 2021 AOC Fashion

Model Lara Worthington is styled by Kaila Matthews in ‘Far Horizons’, a Louis Vuitton advertorial lensed by Isaac Brown for Vogue Australia August 2021./ Hair by Joel Forman; makeup by Stoj

A Reflective Kai-Isaiah Jamal Is Lensed by Alasdair McLellan in British Vogue September 2021

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A Reflective Kai-Isaiah Jamal Is Lensed by Alasdair McLellan in British Vogue September 2021 AOC Fashion

Model Kai-Isaiah Jamal is dedicated to breaking down barriers and flinging open closed-door minds as a trans-visibility campaigner. The important voice in fashion world is styled by Julia Sarr-Jamois in ‘Call Me By My Name’, lensed by Alasdair McLellan [IG] ./ Hair by Anthony Turner; makeup by Hiromi Ueda

The British Vogue September 2021 issue online headline seemed a bit pretentious — “I’m So Adamant On Being That Visibility Now”: Kai-Isaiah Jamal On Becoming The Voice of A Generation.”

Seconds later, AOC remembered a late January Highsnobiety ‘Not in Paris’ fashion story that we adored deeply. It was days after Jamal [IG] made history by walking Virgil Abloh’s Louis Vuitton runway show as the first Black trans model. Then #62 on the Dazed 100, the influential voice became London ICA’s (Institute of Contemporary Art) first poet in residence, using the platform to make poetry accessible for young POC and LGBTQI+ people

In fact, it’s Virgil Abloh, menswear artistic director of Louis Vuitton, who says “Kai is the voice of a generation.” So scratch the pretentious comment. Bad Anne.

Abloh explains further his decision to cast them in his shows and campaigns.

“They’re someone who grew up in a world that, at times, was not always welcoming or kind. Through all of the challenges they’ve faced, they’ve remained optimistic and have dedicated themself to making sure the status quo is different for those who follow them. They offer themself to us all as a conductor of change. To me, they are a living personification of our time – how far we’ve come, and how far we can still go.”

Abloh is referring to Kai-Isaiah Jamal’s decision to exist outside the gender binary confinement of being male or female. “I have no gender,” says Kai, who chooses to self-present as masculine one day and feminine the next.

Lilly Johnson's Blue Mood Style by Tobias Delcroix for ELLE Mexico August 2021

Lilly Johnson's Blue Mood Style by Tobias Delcroix for ELLE Mexico August 2021 AOC Fashion

Model Lilly Johnson is styled by Amanda Blackwood in Chanel, Givenchy, Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello, Simone Rocha, Skua Studio, Valentino, Versace and more. Photographer Tobias Delcroix flashes Lilly in ‘Can’t Get Blue Monday’ for ELLE Mexico August 2021./ Hair and makeup by Sarah Hill

Frida Aasen Launches a Beach Bunny Neon Revolution Lensed by Sam Dameshek

Frida Aasen Launches a Beach Bunny Neon Revolution Lensed by Sam Dameshek AOC Fashion

Model Frida Aasen launches Beach Bunny Swimwear’s [IG]Neon Revolution Lookbook Summer 2021. The northern hemisphere is heading into fall, but Beach Bunny follows the sun to a new hot spot, south of LA.

The smashing designs offer a criss cross, magic carpet ride of precious sun fun styled by Natasha Colvin. LA-based, 20-year-old photographer Sam Dameshek [IG] flashes a lookbook that delights our senses.

Joy comes in many forms, and in a grey world, Beach Bunny delivers a color-saturated, hot weather getaway.

Beyoncé Celebrates 40 Years of Excellence for Harper's Bazaar, Lensed by Campbell Addy

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Beyoncé Celebrates 40 Years of Excellence for Harper's Bazaar, Lensed by Campbell Addy AOC Fashion

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is revered worldwide. As she prepares to celebrate her 40th birthday on September 4, the star is ready to listen to her own inner voice.

During the years of making herself a star music talent, businesswoman, activist, Black cultural hero, philanthropist, mother to four-year-old twins Rumi and Sir and nine-year-old Blue Ivy, and wife to JAY-Z, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter learned the power of putting in the work. “Vision and intention weren’t enough; I had to put in the work,” Beyoncé explains in the September 2021 Harper’s Bazaar US cover story.

The September issue of Harper’s is the first time in a decade that Beyoncé has appeared on the cover of the magazine.

For the majority of her life, including her childhood, the mega-talent had not only ambition and a desire to create excellence in her life. Beyoncé had standards — the highest standards for herself. She explains:

If something wasn’t helping me reach my goal, I decided to invest no time in it. I didn’t feel like I had time to “kiki” or hang out. I sacrificed a lot of things and ran from any possible distraction. I felt as a young Black woman that I couldn’t mess up. I felt the pressure from the outside and their eyes watching for me to trip or fail. I couldn’t let my family down after all the sacrifices they made for me and the girls. That meant I was the most careful, professional teenager and I grew up fast. I wanted to break all of the stereotypes of the Black superstar, whether falling victim to drugs or alcohol or the absurd misconception that Black women were angry. I knew I was given this amazing opportunity and felt like I had one shot. I refused to mess it up, but I had to give up a lot.

Tiffany & Co jewelry is worn throughout the fashion story ‘The Once & Future Beyoncé.’ With her husband JAY-Z , the couple have been named new faces and ambassadors for the luxe jewelry brand. LVMH, Tiffany’s new owner, is now an equal owner with JAY-Z of his champagne brand Armand de Brignac, aka ‘Ace of Spades’.

Beyoncé’s narrative for Harper’s is illuminating and deeper than others we’ve read. She tells a wonderful story about agencies and “formulaic corporate companies” that’s truly wonderful. She’s always sought to surround herself with creative, innovative thinkers, but sometimes there’s just no escaping sterile, corporate thinking.

Like there was the time this agency told her that her audience didn’t like black and white photography. It had to be color. ‘And how do you know that,’ Beyoncé wondered to herself. ‘Market research’ was the answer, and the modern music icon wasn’t having it. She was beyond aggravated:

It pissed me off that an agency could dictate what my fans wanted based on a survey. Who did they ask? How is it possible to generalize people this much? Are these studies accurate? Are they fair? Are all the people I’m trying to uplift and shine a light on included? They’re not. It triggered me when I was told, “These studies show…” I was so exhausted and annoyed with these formulaic corporate companies that I based my whole next project off of black and white photography, including the videos for “Single Ladies” and “If I Were a Boy” and all of the artwork by Peter Lindbergh for I Am…Sasha Fierce, which ended up being my biggest commercial success to date. I try to keep the human feeling and spirit and emotion in my decision-making.

Fall 2021 Designer Collections September for Harper's Bazaar UK by Erik Madigan Heck

Fall 2021 Designer Collections September for Harper's Bazaar UK -Pt 1 AOC Fashion

Photographer Erik Madigan Heck [IG] joins stylist Leith Clark for an in-depth look at the Fall 2021 designer collections. Models Bimpe Onasanya, Marie Hilger, Maya Gunn, Noor, Tabatha May and perhaps more showcase the key fashion looks for modern fashionistas in Harper’s Bazaar UK September 2021 issue.

Luxury labels included are Alberta Ferretti, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Burberry, Chanel, Chloe, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Ermanno Scervino, Fendi, Giorgio Armani, Givenchy, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Max Mara, Michael Kors Collection, Miu Miu, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello, Tod’s, Valentino, and Versace.

The fashion shoot took place in Dorset, England./ Hair by Daniel Martin; makeup by Florrie White

Fall 2021 Designer Collections September for Harper's Bazaar UK -Pt 2 AOC Fashion

Black Cowboys From Inner-City Philly to Small Town Texas Continue to Ride

‘Legends’ by Ron Tarver

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Black Cowboys From Inner-City Philly to Small Town Texas Continue to Ride AOC Blackness

Nick Lehr, Arts + Culture Editor interviews Ron Tarver, Associate Professor of Art, Swarthmore College. First published on The Conversation.

In an interview, which has been edited for length and clarity, Ron Tarver, who is now a professor at Swarthmore College, explains how his photographs of Philadelphia’s urban riding clubs ended up becoming a broader project on the Black cowboy experience in America.

How did these riding clubs operate?

Well, there are a lot of groups. The Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club has sort of become the one that everybody knows, because it’s the one that was featured in [G. Neri’s young adult novel] “Ghetto Cowboy,” and now the movie.

But the one that I spent most my time with was this big one in Brewerytown, the Western Wranglers. They occupied an abandoned building called the White House that had been turned into the stables. It was big, with something like 15 or 20 bays of horses, and it was an operation. They would hold these impromptu parades through the city. Eventually the White House got turned into condos.

A guy called Bumpsey – George Bullock was his real name – owned the White House with his sister. He seemed to sort of organize everything. He was so fit, and he looked like a cowboy, with the big bar mustache. Just an incredibly attractive guy.

I got a call from him last fall, completely out of the blue. I hadn’t talked to him in around 25 years. About a month later, he died of COVID.

Do you know the origins of the clubs?

A lot of [original club members] had grown up in the South and came up to Philadelphia, where there was already an infrastructure [for horses] in place.

Philadelphia used to have a lot of stables because there were food carts, and people would put the fruit and vegetables on the horse-drawn carts and then go through the street to sell their wares. That sort of tradition died out, but the stables were still there.

For those who joined the clubs, it was their life. Older members passed knowledge down to younger ones. I guess you could equate it to skateboarding. I mean, you look at skateboarding – there are older people that skateboard, there are young people that skateboard. It’s a lifestyle and a community, and it’s what they did, day in and day out.

‘The Basketball Game’ by Ron Tarver

Tyler Mitchell Flashes JW Anderson x Persol Eyewear 2021, Hip Hair by Jawara

Photographer Tyler Mitchell [IG] captures J.W. Anderson x Persol Eyewear 2021 in images as much about the hair as the eyewear. Models include Adonai Tesfamariam, Akdeniz Marat, Jalen Espeut, Sherry Shi and Tyler Hogan styled by Benjamin Bruno. / Makeup by Fara Homidi

The man in charge of hair is Jawara, Senior Beauty Editor at Large for Dazed Beauty, who has a number of notable accolades under his belt, including a British Fashion Council New Wave Creatives Award.

Tyler Mitchell Flashes JW Anderson x Persol Eyewear 2021, Hip Hair by Jawara AOC Fashion

Jawara first started his career as a salon assistant in Brooklyn when he was just 16. After graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Aveda Institute, Jawara moved to London and began assisting industry legends Guido Palau and Luigi Murenu on runway shows and shoots. It was after being mentored by icon Sam McKnight that Jawara reached the level of artistry at which he works today.

His impressive roster of clients includes Off-White, Gucci, Calvin Klein, Alexander Wang, Nina Ricci, Thierry Mugler, Chloe, Chanel, Hermès and Tiffany & Co. Related: Jawara [IG] worked with photographer Philip-Daniel Ducasse on the May 2021 NYT post The Joy of Black Hair.