Jason Kim Flashes Chloe Tang in 'Puffers', for Grazia China December 2021

Jason Kim Flashes Chloe Tang in 'Puffers', for Grazia China December 2021 AOC Fashion

Model Chloe Tang is styled by Daniel Edley in ‘Puffers’, lensed by Jason Kim [IG] for Grazia China December 2021./ Hair by Kabuto Okuzawa; makeup by Ayami Nishimura

Zinnia Kumar Covers Vogue India January 2022 'Reset' Issue by Daniel Jackson

Zinnia Kumar Covers Vogue India January 2022 'Reset' Issue by Daniel Jackson AOC Fashion

In the Vogue India cover story, Akanksha Kamath describes Zinnia Kumar as “the perfect muse for British-Indian designer Supriya Lele's brave clothes that inhabit a delicate view of a new India.” Delicate is an understatement for the “sinuous sheer pieces that wrap across the body, revealing hip, bone, curve and crevice. . . “

In choosing the “slinkiest” pieces from her LFW spring/summer 2022 collection, Lele acknowledges their sensuality and focus on the female gaze, but the designer emphasizes that Zinnia Kumar “embodies the essence of what I am trying to say with my brand.”

The designer returns to India twice a year to work with new creatives each time. “What’s happening in India right now is so exciting. There are creatives and artists breaking rules and doing incredible things that aren’t on the global map just yet,” she says, having wrapped up a collaboration with Delhi- based photographer Sohrab Hura for her spring/summer 2022 campaign.

GUCCI X The North Face Launches with Camp Design Happy Colors, Patterns

GUCCI X The North Face Launches with Camp Design Happy Colors, Patterns AOC Fashion

GUCCI X THE NORTH FACE has landed, with a visual emphasis on Gucci. Experts will look under the hood of this magic backpack ride to understand the less obvious North Face performance -gear qualities of the camp-fashion garments.

The Gucci-color palette is packed with vivid colors and whimsy galore, a design vision that makes the collection distinctly runway-friendly. Does the collab project performance? Not really. It’s Gucci-camp style all the way — which is probably fantastic — or maybe not. Buyers with high-value credit cards will write the sales success element of this story.

The campaign and lookbook images were shot in The Alps by Daniel Shea [IG], with creative direction by Alessandro Michele and art direction by Christopher Simmonds.

Naomi Campbell, Adut Akech Grace Vogue Italia January 2022 by Tyler Mitchell

Naomi Campbell, Adut Akech Grace Vogue Italia January 2022 by Tyler Mitchell AOC Fashion

Supermodels Naomi Campbell and Adut Akech are styled by Carlos Nazario in images by Tyler Mitchell for Vogue Italia January 2022./ Makeup by Daniel Sallstrom; hair by Jawara

Actor Alicia Vikander Dazzles in Louis Vuitton by David Roemer for Madame Figaro

Actor Alicia Vikander Dazzles in Louis Vuitton by David Roemer for Madame Figaro AOC Jewelry News

“She’s very regal but approachable,” said Michael Burke, Louis Vuitton’s chief executive officer, speaking with WWD this summer about the luxury brand’s first high jewelry campaign. Actor Alicia Vikander, who has worked with Louis Vuitton womenswear and accessories for five years and is a brand ambassador, fronted the ‘Bravery High’ campaign,

Burke pointed to Vikander’s training as a classical dancer, stressing that body movement is key for showcasing luxury jewelry. “There’s a return to jewelry that’s sensual,” Burke added, emphasizing the idea that jewelry worn on the skin — rather than in the hair, for example — takes on a “whole new sensuality.”

Against this info backdrop, Alicia Vikander is styled by Cecile Martin in Louis Vuitton luxury lensed by David Roemer [IG] for the December 31, 2021 issue of Madame Figaro.

Emily Ratajowski by Sean Thomas in 'Just One Thing' for Vogue US January 2022

Emily Ratajowski by Sean Thomas in 'Just One Thing' for Vogue US January 2022 AOC Fashion

Actor, model, writer and fashion entrepreneur and self-identified feminist Emily Ratajkowski poses in ‘Just One Thing’, a visually interesting, style-informed, and focused fashion story about a leather jacket.

It’s not easy when you’re a leather jacket to hold your own with Emily Ratajkowski, styled by Tabitha Simmons. Photographer Sean Thomas [IG] brings it all together for the January 2022 issue of American Vogue. /Hair by Christopher Naselli; makeup by Gucci Westman

There’s much to learn from an artistic standpoint in a real-world fashion story that demands product shots. Well done.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's Blazing Sexy Images in Lui Magazine June 2015

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's Blazing Sexy Images in Lui Magazine June 2015 AOC Body

AOC updates Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s June 2015 fashion shoot for Lui Magazine, swapping out larger images from our original post. These stunning images remind us that Luigi & Iango are among an elite group of photographers who truly understand female sexuality. To say that Rosie sizzles while maintaining a human connection in these images is an understatement.

This sexy fashion story broke after Rosie had a totally non-glam role in ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ into this smashing set of images styled by Deborah Afshani. Rosie kept all the bases covered, wearing a transparent raincoat, topless swimsuit and red lips from makeup artist Georgi Sandev.

'When No One Is Watching' by Palma Llopis and Lotte Thor for Schön! Magazine Online

'When No One Is Watching' by Palma Llopis and Lotte Thor for Schön! Magazine Online AOC Fashion

Model Amra Novak appears in ‘When No One Is Watching’, an online editorial for Schön! Magazine December 2021, lensed by photographers duo Palma Llopis [IG] and Lotte Thor [IG]. Olive Duran styles Novak in Balenciaga, Kenzo, Tom Ford and more./ Hair and make up by Naomzz

Schön! asks a question that AOC struggles with: What do we do when no one sees us? Do we allow ourselves to satisfy our darkest and most unspeakable desires? What if someone turns on the light and catches us? We all have a strictly private and intimate dark side, so there’s no shame in that..

Anthony Maule Flashes 'Make It Up' Bold Beauty Images for InStyle US December 2021

Anthony Maule Flashes 'Make It Up' Bold Beauty Images for InStyle US December 2021 AOC Fashion

Models Alana Felisberto, Aleya Ali, Aube Jolicoeur, Elaine Palacio, Luisana Gonzalez, Theresa Hayes and Shiau Yao bring beauty joy to the pages of InStyle US magazine December 2021. Ron Hartleben styles the model ensemble in ‘Make It Up’ images lensed by Anthony Maule./ Hair by Shin Arima; makep by Raoul Alejandre

Tish Weinstock and Tom Guinness at Home for Matches Magazine December 2021

Tish Weinstock and Tom Guinness at Home for Matches Magazine December 2021 AOC Fashion

James Meakin Captures Wanessa Milhomem in 'Love and Longing' for Vogue India

James Meakin Captures Wanessa Milhomem in 'Love and Longing' for Vogue India AOC Fashion

Wanessa Milhomem is styled by Deep Kailey in ‘Love and Longing’, lensed by James Meakin [IG] for Vogue India December 2021.

James Webb Travels A Million Miles Into Deep Space, Fired Up by Jean Baptiste-Mondino for Numero

Models Lydia Kloos and Dija Kallon turned their February 2021 fashion eyes into the FUTUR, anticipating the 10-months away, Christmas Day 2021 launch of the James Webb Space Telescope. Praying that she flies through the universe at epic speed as planned, Lydia and Dija were styled by Babeth Dijan in graphic, bold-colors loves from Europe’s biggest fashion houses for ‘Galactic’.

As we review our photographer archives for missing stories that AOC didn’t post in 2021 [Yes, AOC does do that], we couldn’t resist ‘Galactic’, lensed by Jean Baptiste-Mondino.

FLAWLESS PERFORMANCE REQUIRED

The fashion and beauty industries have an obsession with fixing women by making us flawless Buttons can be reattached, a broken-open seam re-stitched; a pimple zapped into inert skin rubble in an hour.

Not so for the James Webb where NOTHING — not the smallest issue that would require a human intervention like fixes on the international space station require all the time — can go wrong.

Having accidentally fallen in love with this year-old Numero editorial, we take this old-news fashion moment to share the great now news that James Webb left Earth on Christmas Day, flying atop an Ariane 5 rocket that lifted off from a spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

Led by the Americans, the James Webb is an international collective effort of many nations to understand our origins. AOC is obsessed forever about the origin of our universe and the rise of humanity out of Africa and across our vast and endangered planet Earth.

NEVERTHELESS, SHE PERSISTED

NASA’s long-delayed $10 billion flying machine is now on its way, carrying the hopes and dreams of countless astronomers, astrophysicists, planetary scientists and ordinary people like Anne Enke into the final frontier.

Now we have our first fabulous good news about James Webb. On Sunday, while millions of humans were napping away Saturday’s Christmas Dinner, she successfully deployed a critical antenna in her first post-launch must-do.

The space telescope unfolded what scientists call a “gimbaled antenna assembly” that carries the high-rate data dish responsible for beaming Webb's observations of the early universe back to Earth.

"This antenna will be used to send at least 28.6 Gbytes of science data down from the observatory, twice a day," NASA officials wrote in a mission update. "The team has now released and tested the motion of the antenna assembly — the entire process took about one hour."

The James Webb is traveling back in time, set to broadcast information about “the universe's first stars and galaxies, sniff the atmospheres of nearby alien planets and perform a variety of other high-profile, high-impact work over the next five to 10 years, if all goes according to plan. “

FLAWLESS FOR REAL

Webb cannot get a pimple on her gorgeous face. Not a hair can fly out of place — or the entire mission collapses.

Unlike Kim K’s beloved SKIMS or Estee Lauder’s ‘Night Repair’, James Webb cannot be fixed with manual human intervention. She has been created by humans and a whole lot of technology — but now James Webb must fly and function flawlessly on her own, until she dies.

I beg you fashion and beauty people. Could we please stop trying to make women flawless and reserve the word ‘flawless’ for human achievements like the James Web Space Telescope? Not EVERY ultimate human achievement word needs to be on a bottle or buried in Spandex. [No offense intended, Kim. I love your SKIMS and don’t think you use that word ‘Flaws’, but I will check.]

Goddess speed, James Webb. AOC truly hopes that you succeed in telling us unimaginable scientific facts about our universe. Half the American people will say you are fake news, but we will broadcast every divine detail about your discoveries.

Sending love to an incredible flying machine carrying decades of human hopes onboard and total awe over what you might teach us about ourselves. Buckle up everyone. This could be the most amazing ride ever on planet Earth. And SHE needs a lot of help right now. ~ Anne

Related: Learn more about the James Webb Space Telescope

Leni Klum Covers Numero Russia January 2022 in 'New Bloom' by Sarah Krick

Leni Klum Covers Numero Russia January 2022 in 'Never Bloom' by Sarah Krick AOC Fashion

Model Leni Klum covers Numero Russia in ‘New Bloom’, a collection of romantic floral prints and embellishment styled by Oretta Corbelli. Fashion and beauty photographer Sarah Krick [IG] captures Klum in Fendi for the cover of the January 2022 issue./ Hair by Rena Calhoun; makeup by Kendal Fedail

Arca Releases 'KICK', Lensed by Tim Walker for Vogue Mexico December 2021

Arca Releases 'KICK', Lensed by Tim Walker for Vogue Mexico December 2021 AOC Body

Alejandra Ghersi Rodriguez, known professionally as Arca, [IG] is a Venezuelan musician, singer, composer, record producer, and DJ. Timed with the release of the artist’s latest project ‘KICK’, Arca covers the December 2021/January 2022 issue of Vogue Mexico and Latin America.

Ai Kamoshita styles Arca in provocative sensual fashion pieces lensed by Tim Walker as ‘Arca la Diva Experimental.’

Citing her years as a club kid, and interviewing Arca from her home in Barcelona, the New York Times wrote:

“Dance floors are where I found freedom . . . When I moved to New York at age 17, I was very repressed. There were a lot of colors that I was muting internally.”

Arca does not come quietly into the night. Rather she arrives boldly and in a commanding presence. NYT continues

She has produced for FKA twigs, Björk and Kanye West, modeled in campaigns for Bottega Veneta and Calvin Klein, and composed a constantly transforming soundtrack for the Museum of Modern Art’s lobby using artificial intelligence. This year, she was up for her first Grammy and Latin Grammy Awards.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw by Victor Demarchelier for Tatler UK February 2022

Gugu Mbatha-Raw by Victor Demarchelier for Tatler UK February 2022 AOC Fashion

Actor Gugu Mbatha-Raw, star of ‘The Girl Before’, is styled by Tracy Taylor in Alexander McQueen, Dior, Prada, Vivienne Westwood and pieces from Torso Vintages. Photographer Victor Demarchelier [IG] is behind the lens, capturing Mbatha-Raw in a fashion story based on “the new era of elegance” for Tatler UK’s February 2022 issue./ Hair by Victor Jones-Moore; makeup by Zabrina Matiru