Anja Rubik in Kering Brands YSL and Boucheron for W Korea Vol. 7 by Mok Jung-Wook

Anja Rubik in Kering Brands YSL and Boucheron for W Korea Vol. 7 by Mok Jung-Wook

W Korea’s Volume #7 2024 summer issue joins the bandwagon of Asian and Southeast Asian magazines rolling into fashion-content excellence with impossible-to-ignore photography that surpasses their counterparts in America and Europe. The differences are also noteworthy among European issues that are locally-owned vs. the global fashion conglomerate we all know well.

AOC understands the concept of editorial independence from luxury brands. But if the degree of recycling images across multiple titles — while also operating with obviously-reduced production budgets — doesn’t result in editorial excellence commensurate with smaller titles, that is a long-term problem

Additionally, we have ‘professional competence meets star power’ with people like Karlie Kloss entering the discussion with her titles at Bedford Media. I’m speaking of digital imagery as well, not only print.

Read More

Amber Valletta in New Couture by Sebastian Faena for Vogue Hong Kong September 2024

Amber Valletta in New Couture by Sebastian Faena for Vogue Hong Kong September 2024

Supermodel Amber Valletta covers the digital issue of Vogue Hong Kong [IG] September 2024. And no, the cover was not designed to reinforce the image that Amber Valletta is brat. Or that she’s voting for Kamala Harris, who is 110% absolutely brat. One of fashion’s most ardent eco-warriors for decades, Amber Valletta is sold on being green.

Deana Neustadter Giannini styled the supermodel in sumptuous couture pieces from Alexis Mabille, Chanel, Charles de Vilmorin, Dior, Giorgio Armani, Jean Paul Gaultier, Juana Martin, Robert Wun and Schiaparelli lensed by Sebastian Faena [IG]./ Hair by Pablo Kuemin; makeup by Sam Visser

Read More

Harper's Bazaar France's Perfect-Timing AOC Post with 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony

Harper's Bazaar France's Perfect-Timing AOC Post with 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony

How perfect to share ‘Vue sur la Plage’ from the August 2024 issue of Harper’s Bazaar France [IG], 30 minutes into the opening ceremonies for the 2024 Paris Olympics. We’re not at the Seine, but the location will do just fine.

Model Mathilda Gvarliani is styled by Gabrielle Marceca in poetic, romantic images by Bryan Liston [IG].

Read More

Georgia Palmer Covers Porter Magazine's July 2024 Tuscany Getaway by Ina Levy

Georgia Palmer Covers Porter Magazine's July 2024 Tuscany Getaway by Ina Levy

British model Georgia Palmer packs key pieces for her summer escape to Tuscany. Marquessa Whyte styles Palmer in Eres, Gucci, Lido, Missoni, Mother Denim, Rio-based Haight, Saint Laurent and more in images by Ina Levy [IG]. ‘No Rules’ appears in Porter Magazine [IG] July 15, 2024./ Hair by Naoki Komiya; makeup by Pamela Cochrane

Read More

Lauren Wasser's Bionic Beauty for Madame Figaro July 12, 2024 by Matthew Brookes

Lauren Wasser's Bionic Beauty for Madame Figaro July 12, 2024 by Matthew Brookes

Lauren Wasser covers the July 12, 2024 issue of Madame Figaro wearing Miu Miu paired with Tiffany & Co earrings. Véronique Tristram styles the motivational speaker and women’s health activist in relaxed luxury fashions from Balmain, Coperni, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Stella McCartney, The Row and more.

Photographer Matthew Brookes [IG] captures Wasser’s fashion story — an interesting choice in photographers, given his compelling images of celebrity men.

Read More

Violet Threlfall Poses in 'Womachine' and Fashion's Future for Vogue Arabia July-August

Violet Threlfall Poses in 'Womachine' and Fashion's Future for Vogue Arabia July-August

In an interesting twist on the current 2024 Paris Olympics and sports coverage in summer fashion magazines, Vogue Arabia [IG] July-August issue shares ‘Womachine’, a great name for a modern-woman fashion story.

British model Violet Threlfall is styled by Caterina Ospina Buitrago in images by Pierfrancesco Artini [IG]./ Hair by Bianca van Zwieten; makeup by David Gillers

In this fashion story, “fashion meets high performance” in luxury labels Alberta Ferretti; Alexander McQueen, David Koma London, Dior, Isabel Marant, Louis Vuitton, Missoni, MiuMiu, Shaina Belcourt, Stella McCartney, Stephanie Uhart and more.

Read More

Actor Liu Shishi Covers V Magazine China 'The Olympic Issue' Summer 2024

Actor Liu Shishi Covers V Magazine China 'The Olympic Issue' Summer 2024

Chinese actor Liu Shishi [IG] is styled by Evan Feng in a beautiful fashion story having little to do with the Olympics. The Fufu Collective photographs the gorgeous fashion images in a staccato visual presentation with natural-world elements for V Magazine China’s [IG] Olympic Issue./ Hair by Isaac Yu; makeup by Wang Yafai

Read More

Mikael Jansson Flashes 'Texture! Volume! Color! for Vogue US August 2024

Mikael Jansson Flashes 'Texture! Volume! Color! for Vogue US August 2024

Vogue US [IG] August 2024 hypes the coming season with ‘Texture! Volume! Color!’ styled by Camilla Nickerson. Models Adut Akech, Angelina Kendall, Anok Yai, Carolyn Murphy, Devyn Garcia, Jill Kortleve, Liisa Winkler, Liu Wen, Loli Bahia & Vittoria Ceretti are lensed by Mikael Jansson [IG]. / Hair by Shay Ashual; makeup by Hannah Murray

Read More

Etro Summer 2024 Campaign Shot by Raffaele Cerulo | L Catterton Etro Capitalization Update

Etro Summer 2024 Campaign Shot by Raffaele Cerulo | L Catterton Etro Capitalization Update

Etro presents a summer 2024 collection inspired by the dreamy atmosphere of an Italian vacation, shot in the fascinating, stylish and rambling atmosphere of Villa Elia, in the heart of Puglia.

Models Claudio Goncalves, Lena Werner and Nathali Fried are styled by Francesca Parise in images by Raffaele Cerulo [IG]. Creative direction by Etro designer Marco de Vincenzo.

Read More

Elizaveta Porodina Contributes to Atmos Magazine Vol. 09 'Kinship Issue

Elizaveta Porodina Contributes to Atmos Magazine Vol. 09 'Kinship Issue

The uber-talented Elizaveta Porodina [IG] shares a glimpse into her fantastical inner life in the pages of Atmos Magazine [IG]. The climate and culture magazine brings multiple covers — perhaps six — to Volume 09, dedicated to an exploration of kinship. The cost of Atmos is $30 with free shipping to me on the East Coast.

Models in Porodina’s fashion story include Ajak Dhieu, Peng Chang and Signe Michaelsson, styled by Victoria Sekrier. / Hair by Ali Pirzadeh; makeup by Valentina Li; set design by Emilia Margulies

Read More

Pau Bertolini in Monte Carlo Lensed by Daniel Sachon for Tatler UK August 2024

Pau Bertolini in Monte Carlo Lensed by Daniel Sachon for Tatler UK August 2024

Model Pau Bertolini is styled by Sophie Pera in the finest luxury labels for ‘Meet Me in Monte Carlo’. Tatler’s core message focuses on new money acquisitions from sports cars to superyachts — and a fashion wardrobe worthy of traveling in grandeur. Photographer Daniel Sachon [IG] captures the Monte Carlo-worthy opulence for Tatler UK’s August 2024 issue. / Hair by John Vial; makeup by Phoebe Walters

Read More

Awar Odhiang in YSL Pre-Fall 2024 Collection | YSL Celebrates Zoë Kravitz with Art Book

Awar Odhiang in YSL Pre-Fall 2024 Collection | YSL Celebrates Zoë Kravitz with Art Book

Yves Saint Laurent creative director Anthony Vaccarello’s Pre-Fall 2024 collection continued his pursuit of edgy eroticism and lingerie dressing for the Parisian house.

In these images, YSL model Awar Odhiang presents key looks from pre-fall, lensed by Mark Kean [IG]. Vaccarello’s designs mix hard/soft effects with the marriage of tough trench coats and leather jackets with lace and silk slip dresses and skirts.

Read More

'Heatwave', Lensed by Ian Lim for Wonderland Magazine Summer 2024

'Heatwave', Lensed by Ian Lim for Wonderland Magazine Summer 2024

Models Lamich Kirabo, Naun Kim and Serena Marques bring splendid, sensual beauty to the pages of Wonderland Magazine’s Summer 2024 issue.

The talented Sayuri Bloom styled ‘Heatwave’, while also working as creative director with Ian Lim [IG] behind the lens.

The ‘Heatwave’ story is created to make a statement about the current state of our climate perils.

Read More

Cat Lady Lupita Nyong'o Covers Marie Claire Australia August 2024 by Robin Harper

Cat Lady Lupita Nyong'o Covers Marie Claire Australia August 2024 by Robin Harper

Lupita Nyong’o scores another cover story, this month in Marie Claire Australia [IG] August 2024 issue. Fashion director Naomi Smith styles the costar of ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ in Dior, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Sportmax, Stella McCartney and more. Photographer Robin Harper [IG] captures the actor in ‘Behind the Curtain with Lupita’. / Hair by Vernon Francois; makeup by Nick Barose

Alley Pascoe conducts the interview, and ‘darn’, we don’t learn in the digital version what Lupita is talking about when she says: “I was in my underwear thinking, ‘This is how I’m going to die.’ And I just started laughing uncontrollably.”’

Read More

Versace's Fall 2024 Campaign Style Seduction at LA's Marmont Hotel by Mert & Marcus

Versace's Fall 2024 Campaign Style Seduction at LA's Marmont Hotel by Mert & Marcus

Versace [IG] celebrates Hollywood history, returning to Los Angeles and the Marmont Hotel for its Fall 2024 campaign. Mert & Marcus [IG] are behind the lens, capturing models Vittoria Ceretti, Fernando Lindez, Hedi Ben Tekaya , Lee Minseok and Loli Bahia.

Chateau Marmont officially opened its doors in February 1929, 95 years ago, just months before the stock market crash that heralded the Great Depression. It offered refuge for decades to celebrities, Hollywood stars and rich people engaging in frequent debauchery behind its secretive walls.

Read More

Karlie Kloss Wears Loro Piana in 'Force of Nature' by Emma Summerton in V Magazine

Karlie Kloss Wears Loro Piana in 'Force of Nature' by Emma Summerton in V Magazine

Supermodel, supermom, superactivist Karlie Kloss is styled by Gro Curtis in ‘Force of Nature’, a modern woman fashion story lensed by Emma Summerton [IG] for V Magazine Fall 2024 preview. / Makeup by Romy Soleimani; hair by Bob Recine

In a bit of brilliant marketing, in AOC’s opinion, Karlie is wearing Loro Piana ‘Into the Wild’ collection— with swagger. The brand positioning is perfect for Loro Piana because of Karlie’s long list of accomplishments.

Karlie Kloss’ To Do List

The list includes Kode with Klossy, devoted to hands on tech camps for girls across America; and more recently, Gateway Coalition, focused on reproductive care for American women under assault with the overturn of Roe. In short order Gateway has directed more than $3 million in donations to abortion clinics in the Midwest.

Read More

Dior Fall 2024 Campaign Channels Miss Dior's Second Wave Women's Rights Spirit

Dior Fall 2024 Campaign Channels Miss Dior's Second Wave Women's Rights Spirit

Dior’s creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri was recently called the most modern couturier working today by Vogue’s Nicole Phelps.

In trying to explain her ‘design ethos’, while unintentionally drawing a line in the sand between herself and Christian Dior, Chiuri explained further. “Couture has historically been about ‘building the body’ with its corset foundations and highly-structured silhouettes. But I don’t want to build the body, I want to release it.”

For her Fall 2024 collection, Chiuri turned to the Miss Dior boutique, opened in 1967 to showcase a separate ready-to-wear collection during the tenure of Marc Bohan.

The designer explained: “I think he was really visionary for the time because the couture house was in difficulty. They had this relationship only with these couture clients—and women were changing. Not all the couture-house creative directors were so visionary to understand the new era, and new women.”

Read More

Emma Corrin Covers S Moda El Pais August 2024, Talks Cassandra in 'Deadpool & Wolverine'

Emma Corrin Covers S Moda El Pais August 2024, Talks Cassandra in 'Deadpool & Wolverine'

Actor Emma Corrin covers the August 2024 issue of S Moda El Pais, lensed by Pablo Sáez [IG] in ‘Tiempo De Antihéroes’.

“Boys are idiots…” Corrin’s villianous character says in the film. Like the non-binary Corrin, Cassandra Nova’s shaved head and superpowers dramatize the actor’s own desire “to explore, change, and not be pigeonholed.”

Director Shawn Levy seeks to render Cassandra as an anti-villain, a charming and nice human who suddenly ups and kills someone. The character is only evil some of the time — a frequent signature in Marvel’s films.

Read More