Dior Lunar New Year 2022 Campaign Celebrates Butterflies with Sun Yi Han

Dior celebrates the Lunar New Year 2022 with new women’s fashion designs that speak to the beauty of nature, dotted with red butterflies and flowers. The color red was dear to Monsieur Dior. The Dior Lunar New Year 2022 campaign [IG] is lensed by Wing Shya [IG] and features actor Sun Yi Han.

Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival, and red is found in abundance as both the cultural color of the Chinese people, but also their primary color associated with gala celebrations and good fortune.

In choosing the butterfly motif to decorate Dior’s signature bags like Lady Dior, the Saddle bag, and Dior Book Tote, creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri honors the beauty of nature with a decidedly feminine approach. And while these products honor Lunar New Year 2022, they are part of Dior’s Resort 2022 collection.

Butterflies are prolific in global cultures as symbols of transformation, resilience and triumph. Butterfly migrations are legendary with caterpillars born into Monarch butterflies in North America and then taking flight. Weighing less than a single gram, a butterfly takes off on a journey of more than 2000 miles from Mexico to Canada.

In many aspects, butterflies are also symbols of global immigration patterns, as these increasingly endangered and climate-imperiled creatures don’t know national boundaries.

In China and numerous other cultures around the world, butterflies symbolize transformation, rebirth and resurrection, fertility, triumph and endurance, metamorphosis, immortality and the soul.

LV x NBA: AOC Catches Up With a Brilliant Virgil Abloh 'For the Ages' Collaboration

AOC is working to define the key creative concepts of the esteemed and beloved, now departed into the cosmos, Louis Vuitton Men’s Artistic Director Virgil Abloh. At no point did we cover Abloh’s work with the NBA.

Looking Back to Move Forward

Rather than just post-date articles into the past — which we typically do in posting archival material, in order to keep the model, photographers and now brand archives sequential by date — AOC shares this new article about a collection that actually debuted in May 2021. More will come.

Pretend you are reading this article, as we would have written it, had we known about the second LV x NBA collaboration [or the first one!!!]. Having just looked at three collections — this one is the second drop — the product design is just gorgeous.

We will pull together other elements of the collab, because AOC’s marketing/branding instincts are having a big WOW moment over this concept.

Note also that the $2200 late May drop basketball that AOC references at the end of this article is now on sale at Sotheby’s for $8000. This discovery prompted me to ask Google if Sotheby’s is now in the resale market, as opposed to exclusively bidding auctions. The answer is “yes”. Read on.

AOC Writes About a May 2021 LV x NBA Drop

Louis Vuitton sharee its second collection created in collaboration with the NBA called Louis Vuitton x Capsule Collection II in May 2021.

LV artistic director Virgil Abloh delivered a collection that merges American sports and fine French craftsmanship, as well as uniting the signature emblems of the two iconic institutions in a sophisticated and male elegance way.

Abloh referred to the process as “transversal”, a concept fundamental to his design approach in fashion as well as architecture.

In geometry, a transversal is a line that passes through two lines in the same plane at two distinct points. If the angles created by the intersection are identical, then the lines are running technically parallel in geometry-speak. Abloh sought to create ideas that intersect seemingly parallel lines not automatically guaranteed to intersect at some future point. He created the intersection of seemingly ‘of little interest to each other ‘entities.

The three-year partnership between the NBA and Louis Vuitton was announced in January 2020.

“Fashion muses aren’t predictable. Ideas of luxury can be found in the sports world and its champions as much as in traditional forms of artistry. This collection celebrates the cultural contribution of basketball and its diverse characters, and the idea of relatability as a force of unity today,” Abloh said in announcing the exciting collab.

The second LV x NBA collection for Pre Fall 21 alluded to the way basketball players dress as they travel to games, conduct their many business affairs off the court and often speak at press conferences. Many NBA players manage businesses directly related to their sports prowess, but also in unrelated categories like real estate. Many are investors in major new business concepts and especially ones looking for seed money — translated startups.

Louis Vuitton hopes that NBA fans will identify with and support the collab, rich in sophisticated merchandise that goes far beyond the mass market concept of NBA merchandising.

NBA Playoff Winners Meet Louis Vuitton Trunk Makers

WWD reported, when the project was announced in early 2020, that The Larry O’Brien Trophy, presented annually to the NBA team that wins the final championship game, “now travels in a case custom-made by six craftsmen working more than 100 hours at the Vuitton workshops in the Paris suburb of Asnières. Coated in the house’s signature monogram canvas, it is lined with microfiber in the NBA’s trademark blue.”

In another brilliant move, Vuitton has created a matching double-door wardrobe trunk for the players who won the championship, designed to house clothing, accessories and footwear.

Given the rich sophistication of the merchandise, it deserves a worthy trunk to travel in.

Virgil Abloh and Don Crawley

The Louis Vuitton x Capsule Collection II also featured selected pieces designed together with Don Crawley, known professionally as Don C, an American streetwear designer from Chicago, Illinois. Crawley has a long relationship with Kanye West.

The collection also introduced the first ever Louis Vuitton basketball [LV x NBA] at a cool price of $2200. The Louis Vuitton x NBA Capsule Collection II dropped in stores worldwide on May 28th, 2021.

AOC loves the Louis Vuitton collaboration with the NBA in a heart-felt way, because it gives the NBA players the respect they deserve in a post Colin Kaepernick [NFL, we know] world. There’s no NBA-related “shut up and dribble” BS attitude in this LV project. Call AOC inspired. ~ Anne

'Gucci Formation' by Yasutomo Ebisu at Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto for Vogue Japan

'Gucci Formation' by Yasutomo Ebisu at Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto for Vogue Japan AOC Fashion

Models Ai Hashizume, Danil Uspenskiy, Kanon Hirata, Kohei Takabatake, Miyu Onodera, Rabu 羅武LuoWu, Sakura Endo are styled by Saori Masuda in ‘Gucci Formation’. Photographer Yasutomo Ebisu [IG] is behind the lens at the Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto for Vogue Japan January 2022./ Hair by Asahi Sano; makeup by Nobuko Maekawa

Joan Smalls Takes Paris, Lensed by Chrisean Rose for InStyle December 2022

Joan Smalls Takes Paris, Lensed by Chrisean Rose for InStyle December 2022 AOC Fashion

Seeing supermodel Joan Smalls wearing a Louis Vuitton coat with magnificent Bettina Vermillon boots, in a December 2021 InStyle Magazine fashion story headline that reads: Joan Smalls Turned the Streets of Paris into Her Personal Catwalk — well my heart literally tightened with emotion.

Sandy Armeni styles Smalls in images by Chrisean Rose {IG} / Makeup by Hila Karmand;hair by Hos

"It's where I broke through," says the Puerto Rican model, recalling the gig that launched her career: a place in Givenchy's spring 2010 haute couture show. "That was one of the most memorable moments I've ever experienced." It was an opportunity she had to fight for.

Paris is challenging and nurturing at the same time for all of us. Then we add on the reality of Joan Smalls being a person of color battling for more diversity in a fashion industry that wasn’t. However Paris has challenged me, it has challenged Joan Smalls even more so.

When I write that Paris understands certain people, Smalls articulates the feeling.

"Looking back, I appreciate what I have that much more because of what it took to get here," she says. "It wasn't handed to me easily. I had this hunger in me to achieve more and not just settle for what I was given."

In the days after the murder of George Floyd in May 2020 and the rise of BLM protests, Joan Smalls raised her voice loudly and in ways that resonated deeply. In February, 2021 Joan was joined by IMG and the Black Fashion Council to Launch #Change Fashion.

WWD explains the new organization, dedicated to encouraging companies to take responsibility for their impact on the world and provides concrete steps that will ensure the industry is working toward racial justice.

Signe Vilstrup Flashes Yujin Sim in 'Night Out' Glam for Vanity Fair Italia January 2022

Signe Vilstrup Flashes Yujin Sim in 'Night Out' Glam for Vanity Fair Italia January 2022 AOC Fashion

Model Yujin Sim is styled by Simone Guidarelli in ‘Night Out’, a hot mix of sensual artistry. Photographer Signe Vilstrup [IG] is behind the lens for Vanity Fair Italia January 2022./ Hair by Pedro Pianto; makeup by Claudia Marchetti

'Squid Game' Star Hoyeon Jung Covers Vogue Japan March by Harley Weir

Supernova Hoyeon Jung, Star of 'Squid Game' Covers Vogue US February 2022 by Harley Weir AOC Fashion

South Korean model turned actor Hoyeon Jung covers the March 2022 issue of Vogue Japan. In her role of north Korean defector in the Netflix hit ‘Squid Game’, the 27-year-old is part of an established cast of South Korean actors who comprise Netflix’s most-viewed series ever.

Louis Vuitton’s newest Global House Ambassador for fashion, watches and jewelry wears a Vuitton cape and dress on her Vogue cover, accented with Alexander McQueen earrings. Alex Harrington styles the fashion story [Vogue US February link interview link in English] ‘From Squid Game to Supernova: Inside the Whirlwind with Hoyeon Jung’ with gorgeous elegance from Acne Studios, Givenchy, Junya Watanabe, Loewe, Miu Miu, more Louis Vuutton, Prada, Stella McCartney, Vera Wang and more.

Harley Weir [IG] is behind the lens, shooting a new cover and at least one new editorial image / Hair by Holli Smith; makeup by Thomas de Kluyver for Gucci Beauty.

Vogue’s Monica Kim catches up with Hoyeon Jung at New York’s Soho Grand.

Note to AOC regular readers: As Vogue Global develops a shared content strategy [a policy we understand given Conde Nast recent financial losses in excess of $100 million annually] we want to give our high-level creatives an understanding of one Vogue issue to another edition. At the same time, we are respecting Google’s content redundancy SEO, policy so as to stay on the right side of the cyber law, so to speak.

In this case, the images that are showing are the ones published so far by Vogue Japan March 2022. AOC is not writing new commentary from the interview. We link back to AOC’s US Vogue February 2022, at the end of post, where there will be a duplication of three of these images but also multiple more not appearing in Vogue Japan so far images. Surely there’s a Google penalty in here somewhere, but then Google hasn’t faced these kinds of real-world financial content revenue challenges, so they can have all the rules they want. As a side note, Amazon has been deeply cutting into Google ad revenue.

If you are an AOC reader who speaks Japanese, this link takes you that the Global Vogue interview with Hoyeon Jung in Vogue Japan.

Original story on Vogue US February 2021

Supernova Hoyeon Jung, Star of 'Squid Game' Covers Vogue US February 2022 by Harley Weir AOC Fashion

China's Skiing Demon Eileen Gu Eyes Beijing 2022 Gold in Louis Vuitton Twist Bag Campaign

China's Skiing Demon Eileen Gu Eyes Beijing 2022 Gold in Louis Vuitton Twist Bag Campaign AOC Fashion

Louis Vuitton ambassador Eileen Gu has closed in on two key life goals at age 18.. The two-time freestyle world champion has always wanted to attend Stanford University — and she will be, as a legacy applicant. Second for Gu was to qualify for the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics, leaving Team USA to represent China.

In these images for Louis Vuitton, Eileen Gu is styled by Victoria Sekrier in images by Carlijn Jacobs. Creative direction by Charles Levai and Kevin Tekinel./ Hair by Olivier Schawalder; makeup by Min Kim

In 2019, the U.S.-born Gu announced she would switch national affiliations and compete for China in 2022. Tuesday’s Wall Street Journal probed the topic of whether Eileen Gu has given up her American citizenship, so represent China. The situation for Gu is largely similar to Naomi Osaka’s, who did give up her American citizenship to represent Japan at the 2021 Summer Olympics. Gu deflects any questions on her actual citizenship status, writes WSJ.  Osaka did give up her American passport.

“This was an incredibly tough decision for me to make,” Gu wrote in an Instagram post at the time. She said she hoped her move would help “inspire millions of young people where my mom was born,” especially young girls. Through skiing, she added, she wanted to “unite people, promote common understanding, create communication, and forge friendships between nations.”

Gu is such a high-flying IMG ace, that her background puts her at the top of marketing opportunities in the world’s two largest economies. And she could help China whip the US in the upcoming medal count.

Julia Hafstrom Explores Fashion and Occult in Vogue Poland by Hill & Aubrey

Model Julia Hafstrom covers the January/February 2022 issue of Vogue Poland. Ina Lekiewicz, editor-in-chief, ponders the synergy of fashion and astrology including cyclicality, looking into the future, fascination with ritual and beauty of symbols.

The cover story Magia | Kosmos takes a deep dive into magic and cosmic phenomena. In the UK's most western corner, the Hill & Aubrey [IG] photographer duo capture the dark intrigue rich with symbolism of an old farmhouse, with Hafstrom styled by Ali & Aniko. / Hair by Yumi Nakada-Dingle; makeup by Athena Paginton

Alexandra Leese Captures Jan Baiboon, Kayako Higuchi for Document Journal Winter 2021/Resort 2022

Alexandra Leese Captures Jan Baiboon, Kayako Higuchi for Document Journal Winter 2021/Resort 2022 AOC Fashion

Document Journal has launched its Winter 2021/Resort 2022: New Ways of Seeing issue. Document explores “the possibilities and complexities of radical creativity in an age of rapid technological progress. Could artificial intelligence change how we make, possess, and experience works of art? Is creativity innate and singular, or is it best generated in community with others? What is the place of human emotion in an age governed by reason?”

Models Jan Baiboon and Kayako Higuchi visualize a fashion story styled by Camille Bidault Waddington in images by Alexandra Leese [IG]. / Makeup by Stephanie Kunz; hair by Ramona Eschbach

Signe Veiteberg's Mushroom Promise in Vogue Poland January 2022, by Agnieszka Kulesza & Lukasz Pik

Signe Veiteberg's Mushroom Promise in Vogue Poland January 2022, by Agnieszka Kulesza & Lukasz Pik AOC Fashion

The January 2022 issue of Vogue Poland spins sustainability with a more 60’s/70’s, transformative perspective, by delving into intriguing magical and cosmic phenomena.

In this fashion story photographer duo Agnieszka Kulesza & Łukasz Pik [IG] captured the fashion industry’s fascination with mushrooms — led by Stella McCartney, but with plenty of new players. Fashion editor Kamila Wagner explains why mushrooms can help save the world from an ecological disaster and model Signe Veiteberg is the mushroom mother, source of all nourishment and the ‘skin’ of our living earth. / Hair by Emil Zed; makeup by Marianna Yurkiewicz

AOC has translated everything we can so far at Vogue Poland and don’t believe that the clothes themselves are sustainable or made of mushrooms. That technology is advancing rapidly but is not yet ready for prime time.

It’s undeniable, though, that mushrooms are having a cultural moment in every aspect including as a replacement for meat. Put AOC in that camp. Mushrooms are fundamental to the organic construction of our earth.

'Bold and Graphic' Resort Fashion with Elizabeth Lake, Wayne Booth for SCMP Style

Elizabeth Lake, Wayne Booth in 'Bold and Graphic' for SCMP Style December 2021 AOC Fashion

Models Wayne Booth and Elizabeth Lake wear ‘Bold and Graphic’ 2022 Resort looks styled by Brit Cato. Photographer Luke Dickey is behind the lens for SCMP Style Magazine December 2021./ Makeup by Andrew Colvin; hair by Kazuto Shimomura

Fan Bingbing by Leslie Zhang in Vogue Singapore as 'The 355' Debuts January 7, 2022

Fan Bingbing by Leslie Zhang in Vogue Singapore as 'The 355' Debuts January 7, 2022 AOC Fashion

Fan Bingbing greets 2022 with two digital covers in Vogue Singapore’s January - February 2022 issue devoted to the concept of grace. Coke Ho styles the actor/fashion icon and Chinese superstar, who is lensed by Singapore-based photographer Leslie Zhang [IG]. Sandhya Mahadevan interviews Fan Bingbing in advance of her 2022 film ‘The 355’.

Fan Bingbing’s Musings on Grace and Beauty

“Grace to me, is having both beauty and elegance—always strive to do the right thing, be refined and well-educated, and have self-respect. Then you will embody grace from the inside out."

”Every woman wants to be more beautiful, but I believe beauty is not only on the outside—it shows through every aspect of a person. Beauty is having ideals in life, determination, and confidence.”