Dutch model Jamilla Hoogenboom invites us into the Médina de Marrakech for ‘Rock In The Casbah’, a fashion story set in Morocco.
The Medina, Marrakech’s old city, founded in 1070–72 by the Almoravids, was known as the center of the Muslim world. It’s a labyrinth of winding alleys and colorful souks which are bustling and vibrant by day.
Much of the old city Medina is shuttered in darkness at night with no signs to guide strangers. My partner and I learned this fact first hand, when we walked the same streets now dark, in what became a spectacular night in our lives.
Model Luna Bijl is styled by Alexander Picon in ‘The Big Short’, lensed by Paul Wetherell for ELLE US April 2023./ Hair by Kei Terada; makeup by Kabuki
Top model Cara Taylor brings her new blonde locks out of her recent Zimmermann Swim 2023 campaign into the pages of Vogue Mexico April 2023.
An expert job in hair and makeup by Sergio Estrada and Jezz Hill respectively render Taylor even more of a dead-ringer for a very famous supermodel. She looks just fabulous.
The Cara Taylor x Bottega Veneta fashion story is lensed by Vanessa Granda [IG].
Model Michelle Laff is styled by Bernat Buscato in ‘Sortilège’, the fashion story of a ruthless vampire who wrecks destruction in the March 2023 pages of Numéro France 237. / Hair and makeup by Ruben Marmol
Photographer Txema Yeste [IG] captures the tale of a modern day female vampire, generally regarded as Lilith in early Biblical texts.
Among feminists and Medieval folklorists, Lilith is Adam’s first wife, who represents the pre-existing power of the female goddesses and more empowered females.
Korean actor Hoyeon covers the Spring 2023 issue of GQ US Creativity Awards. The ‘Squid Game’ star is lensed in recognizable images by Elizabeth Porodina [IG] with styling by Dena Giannini./ Hair by Tiago Goya; makeup by Holly Silius
Noteworthy is her renewed love and appreciation for her home city of Seoul, where she now has an apartment that serves as a sort of refuge for the busy star. Hoyeon has also been in a long-term relationship with fellow actor Lee Dong Hwi since 2015.
The buzz is about Yoyeon’s current project, a psychological thriller ‘Disclaimer’, in which she is working with Cate Blanchett. Filming for the Apple TV+ series wrapped in February.
Did you see New York Congressman Jamaal Bowman run MTG out of lower Manhattan Tuesday? It was epic, and AOC has the video.
It’s not pretty to watch, but AOC applauds Congressman Bowman for his contained confrontation and honesty with Greene.
Every word he said to MTG is true, and she high-tailed it out of Manhattan, didn’t she! The only reason she was in New York City today was to kiss Donald Trump’s butt, as his future vice-presidential running mate.
We are SICK of hate-mongering white supremacist Republicans running their hate-mongering mouths.
Anne of Carversville backed and helped fund the April 4, 2023 victory of Janet Protasiewicz over the uber-conservative, 2020 presidential election-overturning candidate Dan Kelly for an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
With 69% of the vote in, the proud liberal has 56% of the vote vs 44% for Kelly. The race became the most expensive state Supreme Court race in US history. Protasiewicz, a judge on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, was elected for a 10-year term.
The new court will determine the fate of abortion rights, the most gerrymandered state political maps in America and a range of voting rights issues in the battleground state for two years, including the 2024 presidential election.
Kelly lost his seat on the Wisconsin state Supreme Court in 2020 to liberal Jill Karofsky after advising Republicans on legal efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential race through the use of “fake electors.” Democrats from across America sent groundbreaking sums of money to support Protasiewicz, who was relentless in her attacks against Kelly for trying to overturn the 2020 results.
French jewelery brand Messika shares a hard-to-miss new ‘Messika Diamond Vibes 2023 Campaign’ starring ambassador Kendall Jenner and Messika’s new man Alton Mason.
The model and dancer closed out last September’s Paris runway show, sharing the spotlight with original super Naomi Campbell.
Messika believes in ‘everyday diamonds’, especially after spending extended time in America.
Founder and creative director Valerie Messika explains that she’s now heavily influenced by the “energy and confidence” she sees on America’s streets. Heading for California’s Palm Spring’s desert — in a red convertible— seems like a perfect expression of the founder’s current state of California Dreamin’.
Photographer Chris Colls [IG] returns to create the new Messika campaign, with styling by Helena Tejedor.
Influencer Stefanie Giesinger, with 5M IG followers, is styled by beauty editor Laura Dunkelmann in a story ‘Olfactory Girl’. Photographer Armin Morbach [IG] captures Giesinger for Tush Magazine 52.
CR Fashion Book editor-in-chief, the indefatigable fashion industry heroine Carine Roitfeld is in top-tier exection mode for issue 22 of her eponymous magazine.
Issue 22 is dedicated to ‘Mother Nature’ in a nod to Earth Day on April 22 and the late Dame Vivienne Westwood. Karlie Kloss channels Westwood, who was not only a fashion provocateur, but also an ardent environmental activist.
The godmother of punk — as channeled by Kloss in fashion eccentric looks styled by Roitfeld — is photographed by Emma Summerton [IG]. Guillaume Lauruol handles art direction, with set design from Viki Rutsch./ Hair by Ward Stegerhoek; makeup by Maki Ryoke
Stylist Anna Trevelyan [IG] is part of an AI first, working with CGI image and video maker Nik Gundersen [IG] to create the romantic, gotthic location of her dreams for 10 Magazine [IG].
Model Maike Inga poses in the cool new AI artform that allows visionary, creative imaginations to flourish and excel. Paris-based photographer Rob Rusling [IG] was a willing participant in the creative exercise and speaks to both the opportunities and threats that accompany the new AI platforms on his IG.
Stylist Trevelyan promises many new shoots coming because she is “embracing the future”.
The Extraordinary Benefits and Challenges of AI
AOC has embraced a new writing program that puts to shame all the unsolicited garbage writing posts that come my way, under the guise of a sponsored post posing to be me.
Saint Laurent reveals its summer 2023 campaign, shot by Juergen Teller. The photographer tends to break with his more familiar images, expressing a rare sensuality for the German photographer— and particularly in this summer campaign.
Styled by Paul Sinclaire, the ensemble includes Awar Odhiang, Camille Chifflot, Chaima Ameziane, Freja Beha Erichsen, Marilou Hanriot.
The Sun Rises Again on the Human Body
“To me, the body says what words cannot,” Martha Graham, the revered, radical American modern dancer and choreographer, said about her dance movements.
Graham, a muse for the spring/summer collection and Saint Laurent Creative Director Anthony Vaccarello are in sync in a mutual embrace of an unapologetic physicality — a languid elegance that is most appealing.
The Chanel 22 bag was first presented in the French luxury brand’s Spring-Summer 2022 Ready-to-Wear show. Today BLACKPINK’s Jennie Kim steps into the spotlight as a Chanel ambassador, with her own Chanel 22 bag on her shoulder.
The Chanel 22 Bag campaign has rolled out in a sequence that also includes Lily-Rose Depp, Margaret Qualley and Whitney Peak, in three different settings: Los Angeles, Palm Springs and New York.
Regular Chanel contributors Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin photographed Jennie Kim in Seoul, South Korea.
To AOC, the collages also tap into new visual imagery being unleashed in the rapidly emerging field of AI and its ability to create sophisticated visual composites.
British model Tara Halliwell channels old-world Britain and its European masters meets 21st century modernism with a hit of wit for Numéro March 2023 #237 issue.
Photographer Szilveszter Makó [IG] is behind the lens, with stylist Lisa Jarvis selecting the fabric-driven ensembles with at-ease silhouettes.
Flossie Saunders styles ‘Rock Steady’, a fashion story of investment jewelry with a modern vibe, lensed by Amie Milner [IG] for The Sunday Times Style UK March 5, 2023./ Makeup by Martina Lattanzi; hair by Lewis Pallett
Marie Claire China’s April 2023 issue turns to the world of art for inspiration in styling its cover story. Model He Cong poses as the muse channeling world-reknown artworks.
Shanghai-based photographer Leslie Zhang [IG] captures He Cong in an exceptional effort by Marie Claire China’s entire creative team to reach for the high bar. It’s inspiring to observe./ Hair by Zhao Wenzhi; makeup by Yang Kaichun
Model Ansley Gulielmi is styled in classic cream and black minimal, modern elegance with decorative flower touches by Tugce Bahcivangil for this visually strong fashion story in Vogue Turkey March 2023.
Photographer Can Buyukkalkan [IG] captures Gulielmi in ‘Moda Dünyası Güçlerini Birleştiriyor’ [‘Fashion World Joins Forces’]./ Hair by Ismail Inan; makeup by Ece Birsen
Model Abby Champion exudes perfect pitch in Chanel Beauty’s Spring/Summer The Hazy Red Look. Leila Smara styles the shoot, lensed by Karim Sadli [IG]./ Hair by Damien Boissinot; gorgeous makeup by Cecile Paravina
Supermodel businesswoman and Tropic of C eco-lifestyle brand, sustainable swimwear environmentalist Candice Swanepoel covers the March 2023 issue of Vogue Brazil.
Rita Lazzarotti styles the wide-ranging mix of Brazilian and international luxury brands that are distinctly modern. Julia Filgueiras works as art director on the cover story with photography by Lufre [IG].
On her own IG, Candice is particularly fond of the Ferragamo look featured in burnt fall colors. It changes colors with body heat.
Dutch fashion model Rianne Van Rompaey covers the second 2023 issue of Harper’s Bazaar France, photographed in London by Alasdair McLellan [IG].
Today’s popular culture does not value discretion, but we don’t see an obvious financial price to be paid for models living a lower-profile life.
As long as a model remains respected and popular enough to generate income in media or on the runway — she must create value for her clients, after all — s[he] may enjoy a well-rounded life of experiences and opportunities that most people only dream about. These pros aren’t caught up in the social media hype machine that reduces models earning $20 million a year and more to weep live on IG over the misery of their lives and unfair Instagram comments.
Rianne Van Rompaey has that balance in her life. So do Vittoria Ceretti and Saskia De Brauw. Two Dutch models and an Italian. When one considers that it’s the Americans who weep, this reality begs for more thought. It’s a light bulb moment!!