Felice Noordhoff Returns to the Office in 'Haute Desking' by Andreas Larsson in HTSI March 2022

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Felice Noordhoff Returns to the Office in 'Haute Desking' by Andreas Larsson in HTSI March 2022 AOC Fashion

Model Felice Nova Noordhoff suits up in ‘Haute Desking’ styled by Tamara Rothstein. Andreas Larsson [IG] is behind the lens for The Financial Times HTSI [How To Spend It] Magazine March 2022./ Makeup by Crystabel Riley; set design by Georgina Pragnell

What to wear to the office is not front of mind for many former office workers, although we assume that the HTSI readers are higher-income employees. Apple CEO Tim Cooks has informed the company’s employees that a hybrid plan will launch on April 11.

After spending a year or more at home, significant workers don’t want to go back to commuting, preferring the flexibility of remote work at least a few days a week. The Apple plan being tested is an office three days -work at home two days formula. Where we’re going in terms of our global work force, nobody knows for sure. The Harvard Business Review does a deep dive in How to Overcome Return-to-Office Resistance.

Laetitia Casta and Vogue France March 2022 Celebrate Post-Feminist Freedom | Really

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Laetitia Casta and Vogue France March 2022 Celebrate Post-Feminist Freedom | Really AOC Fashion

Vogue France online acknowledges the juxtaposition of this joyful March 2022 cover story featuring French icon Laetitia Casta lensed by Carlijn Jacobs [IG] with the realities of Ukraine.

Moving from Kim Kardashian in Vogue US March to Laetia Casta in Vogue France March is not too shabby, Carlijn. Double congrats this month.

The Vogue France statement is perfect:

Free! A wonderful word on our March cover. It was joyful, in the energy of our new issue. It takes on a serious resonance in the face of the tragic situation we are witnessing. The hindered freedom of a country. Freedom! A powerful and fragile word. The fragile freedom to live in peace. Vogue France supports its colleagues at Vogue Ukraine in the face of the horrific attacks on their country. We also share the sadness of Vogue Russia where many in the team have family and friends in Ukraine and some are Ukrainian themselves. The Vogue community is united, and the blue, white, and red of our issue is united with the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag, the symbol of a country that is defending its freedom right now.

Right Turn Coming

Speaking of freedom, we are about to make a sharp right turn, as I read further into the Vogue France editor’s letter. Hang tight, here we go.

Karim Sadli Captures Zara Natural Land 01 with Clementine Balcaen and Malika El Maslouhi

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Karim Sadli Captures Zara Natural Land 01 with Clementine Balcaen and Malika El Maslouhi

Zara releases its first drop of earth-inspired fashion showcased by models Clementine Balcaen and Malika El Maslouhi. Photographer Karim Sadli [IG] is behind the lens for Zara Natural Land 01, February 2022./ Hair by Damien Boissinot; makeup by Christelle Cocquet

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'Pop Culture' Hot Colors Accessories for Madame Figaro February 4, 2022

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'Pop Culture' Hot Colors Accessories for Madame Figaro February 4, 2022 AOC Fashion

Madame Figaro France piles on the accessories in the February 4, 2022 fashion story ‘Pop Culture’. Brazilian model Aline Zanella dives into bright colors, and modern accessories from Prada [cover], and an endless list of top luxury names styled by Agnès Poulle. Kourtney Roy [IG] captures the fashion vibe / Beauty by Cyril Lanoir

Chanel Sends "A Certain Notion of Femininity" with Spring 2022 Campaign

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Chanel Sends "A Certain Notion of Femininity" with Spring 2022 Campaign AOC Fashion

Like so much of fashion branding, the CHANEL spring 2022 campaign evokes a world far different than the one we’re living in. It begs the question, though, about the world of the Chanel customer and whether events like rising autocracy and now Putin’s war on Ukraine impacts them at all. Do they even care?

Vivienne Rohner is center stage in images by Inez & Vinoodh [IG].

In the words of CHANEL

The campaign for the CHANEL Spring-Summer 2022 Ready-to-Wear collection is an ode to youth whose nonchalant grace resonates with the endless days of summer. Within the discreet charm of a villa in Provence, Inez & Vinoodh [IG] capture the model Vivienne Rohner and through her a certain notion of femininity.

My advice to Chanel is to proceed carefully with this “nonchalant grace” and a “certain notion of femininity” attitude.

A nuclear plant is on fire in Ukraine, started by Russian forces on March 3, ordered to action by Vladimir Putin. Russia’s autocrat is threatening nuclear attacks on the rest of the world. Ukraine’s citizens are suffering heroically, as they fight for democracy and hold a torch of light that is inspiring nations to action worldwide.

Jackie Nickerson Images Paradise for AnOther Magazine SS 2022

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Jackie Nickerson Images Paradise for AnOther Magazine SS 2022

Models Cici Tamez, Justin Xavier, Lex Peckham and Quannah Chasinghorse are styled by Katie Shillingford in ‘The Side of Paradise Vol. 2.’ Photographer Jackie Nickerson captures the quartet for Another Magazine, with creative direction by Marc Ascoli. / Hair by Jenny Kim; makeup by Zenia Jaeger

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Ana Jorge Gets High in The Cut February 2022 by Dan Beleiu | Anne Gets Higher

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Ana Jorge Gets High in The Cut February 2022 by Dan Beleiu | Anne Gets Higher

Model Ana Jorge flies in a spring 2022 fashion story from The Cut ‘Let’s Get High’ At Last. Optimism flows through the commentary by Cathy Horyn about spring fashion from Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Feben, Issey Miyake, Missoni, Peter Do, Proenza Schouler, Rick Owens and more styled by Jessica Willis./ Hair by Amidat; makeup by Lynski

Dan Beleiu [IG] is behind the lens for The Cut. Simply stated, Dan is everywhere — and we love it.

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Weary Paris Metro Riders Wake Up to Courreges SS 2022 Campaign by Spyros Rennt

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Weary Paris Metro Riders Wake Up to Courreges SS 2022 Campaign by Spyros Rennt

Models Janina Maidorn, Loli Bahia, Malika Louback and Tom Rey front the Courreges S/S 2022 campaign. Marie Chaix styles the quartet in Nicolas Di Felice’s emerging vision of a once great 60s-70s brand now going 21st century modern. Photographer Spyros Rennt [IG] captures the night riders in Courreges on the Paris metro. / Hair by Joseph Pijaite; makeup by Anthony Preet

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Will One De Beers Cullinan Blue Diamond Price Exceed Five Monets?

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Will One De Beers Cullinan Blue Diamond Price Exceed Five Monets? AOC Jewelry News

The De Beers Cullinan Blue

On April 27, The De Beers Cullinan Blue diamond will be auctioned by Sotheby’s Hong Kong. This extraordinary 15.10 carat step-cut blue diamond has a preauction estimate of $48 million and could generate a significantly higher price, leaving five Monet paintings in the dust in the value of acquisitions in the art world.

In April 2021 an exceptional rough stone weighing 39.34 carats was discovered at South Africa’s Petra Diamonds Cullinan mine. This phenomenal blue diamond was sold in July 2021 for $40.1 million to the De Beers and Diacore partnership, achieving a price of $1,021,357 per carat.

Cullinan is known as the world’s most important source of blue diamonds, as well as being the birthplace of the 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond, which was cut to form the 530-carat Great Star of Africa.

The operation also yielded the 317-carat Second Star of Africa. They are the two largest diamonds in the British Crown Jewels. De Beers divested itself of the mine in 2007, part of a larger business strategy to turn to the marketing and selling of diamonds, while turning over mining to more local ownership.

It’s noteworthy that $40 million of the $48 million estimate did go to the Petra mining operation. There is significant loss in ‘waste’ created in cutting the De Beers Cullinan Blue. Presumably there is some value in the ‘waste’ but common sense suggests that the perfect blue diamond will sell at a price higher than $48 million, the highest estimate ever for a blue diamond.

Kendall Jenner by Luis Alberto Rodriguez in i-D Sp 2022 'Out of Body' Issue

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Kendall Jenner by Luis Alberto Rodriguez in i-D Sp 2022 'Out of Body' Issue AOC Fashion

Supermodel Kendall Jenner rocks strawberry blonde, short hair in most of the images in her sensational photo shoot for i-D Magazine’s Spring 2022 ‘Out of Body’ issue No 367. Carlos Nazario styles Jenner in images by Luis Alberto Rodriguez [IG]. / Hair by Tina Outen; makeup by Yadim

Anja Rubik and Alexandra Agoston in Kenya by Chris Colls for ELLE France

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Anja Rubik and Alexandra Agoston in Kenya by Chris Colls for ELLE France

ELLE France heads to Kenya in a special fashion examination of the simplicity and the intimacy of travel — the experience of becoming closer as humans is in itself an adventure, writes ELLE France. Supermodel Anja Rubik is center stage, joined by Alexandra Agoston with styling by Géraldine Saglio./ Hair by Marc Lopez; makeup by Wendy Rowe

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Gucci Love Parade Campaign Spring 2022 by Mert & Marcus in Hollywood

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Gucci Love Parade Campaign Spring 2022 by Mert & Marcus in Hollywood AOC Fashion

Glamorous decadence defines Gucci’s Spring 2022 ‘Love Parade’ campaign lensed by Mert & Marcus [[G] AOC only misses Martha Stewart, who would have been a superb addition to the lineup.

After Martha jetted to LA for the Super Bowl, hosting the Puppy Bowl with her bestie Snoop Dogg, well she is sorely missed by us in this Hollywood extravaganza. We’re not sure this is a “chic Hollywood party”, given that food fights might break out any second among Miley Cyrus, Liu Wen, Beanie Feldstein, Tess McMillan, Jared Leto Jungjae Lee, Deng Lun and surely more.

'Mothering Sunday' Star Odessa Young by Jon Ervin for Vogue Australia February 2022

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'Mothering Sunday' Star Odessa Young by Jon Ervin for Vogue Australia February 2022 AOC Fashion

‘Mothering Sunday’ actor Odessa Young poses in ‘Forever Young’, a fashion story lensed by NY based photographer Jon Ervin [IG] Katelyn Gray styles Young for Vogue Australia’s February 2022 issue.

Hermes' Lighthearted Bubbles Sp 2022 Campaign by Jack Davison

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Hermes' Lighthearted Bubbles Sp 2022 Campaign by Jack Davison AOC Fashion

Photographer Jack Davison [IG] captures models Cheikh Dia, Merlijne Schorren, Raynara Negrine, and Taemin Park in Hermes’ Spring 2022 campaign. Brian Molloy styles the shoot with set design from Herve Sauvage./ Beauty by Stephane Lancien; makeup by Karim Rahman

Not featured in the Spring 2022 campaign is the Rock, a larger, men’s version of the highly sought-after Birkin bag revealed at Hermes’ recent menswear show. The bag couldn’t come at a better time, with Hermes being one of the few major luxury brands missing its fourth quarter 2021 revenue goals — due to self-imposed production caps on its bags.

Simply stated, supply did not meet demand. Hermes prefers long waiting lists for is bags, and they have one. Perhaps they could put a limit on bag purchases per customer — so we don’t see celebs buying them five at a time in multiple colors. That’s a bit greedy.

Bottom line, a men’s Birkin bag couldn’t come at a better time.

Vanessa Moody Greets Spring 2022, Lensed by David Roemer for Madame Figaro France

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Vanessa Moody Greets Spring 2022, Lensed by David Roemer for Madame Figaro France AOC Fashion

Top model Vanessa Moody wears Louis Vuitton on the cover of Madame Figaro’s February 25th fashion issue. Julie Gillet styles Moody in luxury looks from Balenciaga, Celine by Hedi Slimane, Chanel, Dior, Etam, Gucci, Loewe, Prada, Proenza Schouler, Ralph Lauren, Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello and more. David Roemer [IG] is behind the lens./ Hair by Keith Carpenter; makeup by Deanna Hagan