Karolina Kurkova Covers F Magazine China January 2025 Lensed by Charlie Ward
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Alek Wek by Gabriel Moses and Slawn for i-D SS25 Special Issue Brothers' Keeper
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In 1997 i-D Magazine[IG] named Alek Wek “model of the decade while putting her on the cover” in 1998, lensed by Mark Mattock. Her second cover, shot by Richard Burbridge in 2000 and styled by Edward Enninful, “acknowledged the coming of age of the many aspects of the fashion industry and design,” signaling just how much Wek, and the industry, had transformed each other.
Fast forward to late 2024, where Alek Wek black-beauty dazzled the pages of Brothers’ Keeper, a special edition of i-D by Gabriel Moses [IG] and Slawn [IG], the ambitious Nigerian street artist from Lagos. Wek is styled by Gerry O’Kane in Aaron Esh, Acne Studios, Givenchy, LNWLS, Mugler, Supriya Lele and more.
Read MoreThe Health Benefits of Dorit Revelis' Getaway by Dudi Hasson for Puss Puss Issue 50
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The Health Benefits of Dorit Revelis' Getaway by Dudi Hasson for Puss Puss Issue 50
Israeli model Dorit Revelis takes a cover of Puss Puss Magazine [IG] Issue 20 Fall/Winter 2024/25. Revelis is lensed by fellow Israeli Dudi Hasson [IG] with styling by Heathermary Jackson.
The fortunate among us are taking some time off in January/February heading to both warm and cold climates depending on our vacation objectives, budgets and state of mind. We all say that vacations are much-needed respites from demanding lives.
So what considerations come to mind about maximizing the benefits of our getaways?
The Positive Health Benefits of Travel
Ultimately, the choice of vacation highlights the diversity of pathways through which travel can enhance mental health, tailored to individual preferences and needs.
Beach vacations, for example, provide a unique opportunity for individuals to decompress and soak in the soothing effects of sun, sand, and sea. The natural environment fosters relaxation and contributes to mental well-being by reducing stress levels and promoting tranquility.
Adventure Awaits the Willing Travelers
Conversely, an adventure trip or cultural immersion may stimulate the mind, offering new perspectives and enhancing cognitive flexibility by pushing individuals out of their comfort zones. Mountain retreats facilitate physical activity, such as hiking or skiing, which contributes to cardiovascular health and enhances mood through the release of endorphins.
Engaging in physical activities during your trip can significantly boost your health. Whether it's hiking, swimming, or simply taking long walks, regular movement will enhance your energy levels and mood.
Immersing yourself in nature whenever possible is a top priority, especially if you live in a major urban area like New York, London, Hong Kong or Mumbai.
Read MoreDior Beauty 'Visionary' Willow Smith on 21st Century Lip Glow and 'Big Feelings'
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Dior Beauty 'Visionary' Willow Smith on 21st Century Lip Glow and 'Big Feelings'
Dior Beauty [IG] ambassador Willow Smith [IG] joins the January 2025 campaign of cult-favorite Dior Addict Lip Glow. The new campaign is shot by Dan Beleiu [IG] and filmed by Valentin Herfray.
When Dior Beauty named Willow as an ambassador in March 2024, they described her as:
“one of the most visionary and daring young women of her generation”.
Willow describes herself as “the child who sings the ancient song”. Her latest sound is ‘Big Feelings’ from her May 2024 album ‘Empathogen’.
“It doesn’t sound as clean as a regular piano,” Smith notes about their use of a 1910 piano for ‘Big Feelings. “The wood sound adds to the snarly nature of the song—it’s like we’re going inside the mind, where everything is textured.”
Read MoreAlessandra Ambrosio Covers Vogue Brazil January 2025 by Nicole Heiniger
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Vogue Brazil [IG] is celebrating its 50th anniversary, welcoming supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio onto her ninth cover story for the January 2025 issue.
Alessandra left her house in Santa Monica and headed to Sao Paolo for her photo shoot with Nicole Heiniger [IG]. The location is a house by architect Vilanova Artigas in Guarujá, located on the coast of São Paulo.
Alessandra wears golden raffia, silk and organza — Vogue Brazil’s trio of must-have fabrics for summer 2025 — styled by Rita Lazzarotti./ Beauty by Henrique Martins
Read MoreAlexander McQueen and Vogue Korea Birth 'In the winter of 1950, in Jongno'
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Anne of Carversville is impressed. ‘In the winter of 1950, in Jogno’, published in the January 2025 issue of Vogue Korea, sets a new high bar in luxury-sponsored editorials.
In this case the ‘wow’ goes to Alexander McQueen creative director Seán McGirr, who collaborated with models Sunghee Kim and Seungchan Lee, Vogue Korea senior fashion editor Kihoh Sohn [by Son Ki-ho above], and photographer Less Kim Tae Kyun [IG].
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Barbara Palvin Greets the New Year, Lensed by Marilou Daubé for Madame Figaro France
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Top model Barbara Palvin graces the cover of Madame Figaro France [IG] December 27th, 2024 ‘Astro Issue’.
Carole Matray styles the fashion story ‘Extérieur Nuit’ in images by Marilou Daubé [IG] Palvin poses in night into dawn iridescent effects, golden reflections, and a constellation of sparkle, glitter and mystery in advance of another sunrise — but only one day that is New Year’s Day 2025./ Hair and makeup by Vera Dierckx
Read MoreZara's China Drop Headed for Successful Weekly 5 Hr Show on Douyin
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Zara's China Drop Headed for Very Successful Weekly 5 Hr Show on Douyin
As Zara engages in a ferocious battle with low-price competitors Shein and Temu and is delivering heroic results, it wasn’t enough for the money guys on Wall Street. After a tiny miss against the projections of analysts, Zara lost 5% of its value in hours in early December. And it could have worse, with 5% a recovery number against an earlier 7-7.8% selloff.
Jeffries analysts told WSJ that the results were impressive and the miss was fractional, but investors are demanding results. Seriously! Meanwhile Shein is taking a beating these days and it could again delay their IPO [initial public offering].
Zara’s Footprint in China
As to Zara in China, the company has downsized from 570 stores in 2019 to just 192 as of Jan. 31, 2024. Zara argues that the post-pandemic sales channels have changed in significant ways — largely driven by technology and China’s passion for live shopping shows.
Notably, Zara’s five-hour long, weekly live-broadcasts on Douyin, TikTok's Chinese sister site, have helped boost Zara's sales since they launched in November, according to retail analytics firm EDITED.
"Zara's livestream approach built significant brand awareness in China," EDITED analyst Krista Corrigan advises.
Zara sold out of most sizes in 50% more products in China in the first three months of this year than in the same period of 2023, according to EDITED. Based on these statistics, Zara was correct in shrinking its store footprint to move in more tech-friendly directions, driven by young Zara shoppers.
Read MoreBibi Breslin in Sardinia Covers HTSI Annual 'FeelGood' Issue, Lensed by Jeremy Everett
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The Financial Times HTSI [IG] magazine drops its annual The FeelGood Issue, heading south from London to Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea after Sicily.
Model Bibi Breslin takes two covers for the issue, lensed by Jeremy Everett [IG] at the Hotel Pitrizza [IG], self-described as an “understated retreat in the Mediterranean”.
Isabelle Kountoure chooses modern, fluid, surface-interest silhouettes from Agapornis, Aläia, Chanel, Dior, Dusan, Gucci, Loewe, Louie Vuitton, Proenza Schouler, The Row, Ulla Johnson, Zimmermann and more./ Hair by Alexander Kountoure; makeup by Helene Vasnier
Read MoreOliviia Pettronella's Sheer Bliss Style by Diego Bendezu for Vogue Mexico December 2024
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Model Oliviia Pettronella Palermo wears sheer bliss, luxury dressing styled by Valentina Collado for the story ‘Utopia Tangible’ in the December 2024 issue of Vogue Mexico [IG]. / Hair by Sonny Molina; makeup by Jezz Hill
New York photographer Diego Bendezu [IG], born and raised in Peru, is known not only for his growing body of fashion photography but also his ‘Dear Lima’ photography designed to challenge stereotypes while cultivating empathy for his hard-working, immigrant brothers.
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Dior Inspires An Apple with an Arrow, A Pencil at her Throat: Metal Magazine Stirs the Pot
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Chinese model Xie Chaoyu shared one of multiple covers of Metal Magazine [IG] No.51, the Fall/Winter 2024-2025 ‘The Error’ issue.
Emanuele Carrera styled the all-Dior fashion story lensed by Barcelona-based Angie Couple [IG], with art direction by Danidevito Creative Studio. / Hair by Edd Lopez; makeup by Blau
Read MoreAOC Digs Deep into Jessica Chastain's Life Story in Photos by Zhong Lin for W Magazine China
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AOC Digs Deeply into Jessica Chastain's Life Story, Inspired by Zhong Lin's W China Images
W Magazine China’s [IG] end of year ‘The Great Performance Issue’ reports that American actor and producer Jessica Chastain is affectionately known as ‘Lady Model Worker’ by her Chinese audience. Widely-respected for her dedication to advancing projects with feminist themes, Chastain is surely touched by her Chinese moniker.
Chastain’s Oscar for ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’
W China honors Chastain’s 20 years in the spotlight and over 70 film, TV and stage credits. She took home a Best Actress 94th Oscar [2022] for ‘‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’. Listening to her acceptance speech takes us into the mind, heart and values of Jessica Chastain, who is very comfortable speaking to her own challenging roots in America, as well as the women in her family who have been her rock.
Read MoreMoncler Grenoble Winter 2024 Campaign by Mario Sorrenti with Lucas Pinheiro Braathen
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Models Yasmin Wijnaldum and He Cong, as well as actor Clément Chabernaud, join new Moncler ambassador World Cup champion slalom skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen in the brand’s winter 2024/25 campaign. Photographer Mario Sorrenti [IG] shot the campaign after the impressive fall 2024 fashion show held last February in Saint Moritz at the Clavadatsch lodge and its forest.
Read MoreJosephine Skriver Is Harper’s Bazaar Turkey’s Model of the Year December 2024
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In this December Bazaar Women of the Year fashion story for Harper’s Bazaar Turkey [IG], Josephine Skriver is honored as ‘Model of the Year. Bazaar Turkey accurately describes her persona and character as a woman who “walks the fine line between staying true to her values and embracing experimentation, guided by the clarity of her Scandinavian heritage.” Well said!
Josephine Skriver is styled by Lara Einzig, wearing a gown from Nur Karaata on the cover. The fashion story heavy on sensual glamour was shot in Los Angeles by Guy Aroch [IG], at The Hollywood Rosevelt Hotel./ Makeup by Riku Campo; hair by Maranda Widlund
Read MoreOD BEAUTY PARIS Launches GLOWSTICK in Elizaveta Porodina Campaign
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Today, we meet Ossiel and Diego.Together, they birthed OD, a beauty brand that resonates with the soul of conscious luxury. Clean, refillable, recyclable, and vegan.
In these images, Ossiel and Diego’s project is surrounded by beauty and creative talent in the form of THE Elizaveta Porodina [IG] [their caps, not AOC’s, but we concur] in the company of longtime close friend Maggie Maurer and new friend, rising South Sudan model Awek Gak.
Read MoreArizona Muse Is Honored by ELLE Spain for Changemaker Activism in Fashion Industry
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Arizona Muse Is Honored by ELLE Spain for Changemaker Activism in Fashion Industry
Arizona Muse takes three covers for the January 2025 cover of ELLE Espana [IG] and the accompanying fashion story ‘Fiel A Sí Misma’ [‘True to Herself’]. Muse is styled by Barbara Garralda in the all-Chloé fashion story, and lensed by Xavi Gordo [IG]. / Hair by Pedro Cedeño; makeup by Antonio Romero
Arizona Muse’s Heritage
‘Muse’ remains one of the top environmental activists in the world. Born in Tucson in 1988, Arizona Muse grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico with her English mother, a therapist; her American father, an art dealer; and her younger brother, now a pro snowboarder.
When beloved photographer Peter Lindbergh photographed Muse in the Mojave Desert, named for the indigenous Mohave people, and located in southeastern California and southwestern Nevada, with small portions extending into Arizona and Utah, he told Vogue: “The way she moves is very different from other runway models.”
Read MoreAmelia Gray Seduces in 'Gray Session for 032c Winter Issue by Sean and Seng
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Rising star model Amelia Gray delivers a 28-page cover story ‘Gray Session’ in the new 032c [IG] winter issue.
Paris-based Ras Bartram styles Gray in Cartier, Dior, Junya Watanabe, Louis Vuitton, Maison Alaia, Maison Valentino, Omega, Prada, Rimowa and a major dose of YSL by Anthony Vaccarello. The fashion riches are lensed by Sean and Seng [IG]. / Hair by Karim Belghiran; makeup by Masae Ito
Read MoreDreams of Inclusion, Positivity and Justice in Harper's Bazaar España January 2025
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