Kering’s Gucci sales for the three months ending Dec. 31 decreased 24%. Of course Kering chairman and CEO François-Henri Pinault assures financial industry professionals that Gucci is poised for a rebound.
AOC has a one-word response: Why?
Bernstein’s global luxury goods analyst Luca Solca believes he knows how to fix the problem, declaring recently that Gucci:
“needs a new, heavyweight creative director, and it needs it now. The task is to add an original and compelling fashion twist on the cleansed Gucci image Sabato De Sarno has contributed to create: more elegant, more qualitative, but dull.
A heavyweight designer [say Hedi Slimane — the most likely candidate in our view — or John Galliano or Maria Grazia Chiuri, for example] could restart the buzz around the brand, and help it to regain center stage.”
Penelope Cruz Life Timeline 2012: Babies Leo & Luna | Film 'The Counselor'
Penélope Cruz, the renowned Spanish actor, has graced the pages of Anne of Carversville for almost 20 years. AOC recently renewed Penelope Cruz’s Vogue Espana November 2012 fashion story ‘Sangre Caliente’, lensed by Tom Munro.
Penelope Cruz has always enjoyed Yummy Mummy status, and 2012 was an important year in that journey.
Numéro Netherlands Digital [IG] shares a fashion story with rising model Ana Oliveira captured in Buenos Aires by Rayssa Lima [IG] and styled by Alexandre Dornellas. Vibrant yet mysterious, this editorial plays with striking colors and shadowy contrasts, weaving a visual narrative that is both bold and poetic.
At the dawn of the Year of the Snake, actor Anne Hathaway is incarnated as the Muse of Snake by W Magazine China’s [IG] 2025 Vol.1 The Art Issue, lensed by Zhong Lin [IG]. Contemporary artist Xu Bing contributes calligraphy messages to the project.
A person who believes in the ancient power of being born in the year of the snake, is imbued with energy, power, and wisdom. The Bulgari ambassador wears seductive pieces from its legendary Serpenti Collection and fashion pieces from Maison Alaia, Versace styled by Audrey Hu. /Makeup by Jillian Dempsey; hair by Orlando Pita
Paris-based Dasha Abdulova is styled by fashion editor Laura Jane Brown in a fashion story ‘In Essence’, shot by photographer Stefano Sciuto [IG] in Cyprus. Dane Stojanovic acts as creative director for Harper’s Bazaar Arabia [IG] January 2025 issue./ Hair by Jean Luc Amarin
“I was in Chicago shooting ‘The Bear’,” Ayo Edebiri tells Lynn Hirschberg, writing for W Magazine’s March 2025 cover story. “Luca and I met over Zoom and ended up talking for two hours about the script and life and films.”
The script in question is ‘After the Hunt’, directed by Luca Guadagnino, who also photographs Edebiri for W Magazine, as they pay homage to his favorite actors from the ’60s. “I especially love Sophia Loren,” he said. “And, of course, Ingrid Bergman.”
Edebiri has won both an Emmy and a Golden Globe for outstanding supporting actress and best female actor, respectively, for her work on ‘The Bear’.
Guadagnino has released two highly praised films in the last year: ‘Challengers’, a ménage à trois power struggle set in the world of tennis, and ‘Queer’, an adaptation of the famous William S. Burroughs novel, set in Mexico City in the ’50s.
Hours ago, ‘After the Hunt’ landed a limited theatrical release date of Oct. 10 from Amazon MGM Studios, with theaters nationwide Oct. 17.
Momentum is building around model Bibi Breslin, who first walked the runway in support of the September SS2024 runway collections. Poppy Kain styles Breslin in ‘Dress Like the Renaissance Woman You Are’, choosing Akris, Celine, Chanel, Chloé, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, JW Anderson, Loewe, Loro Piana, Jil Sander by Lucie and Luke Meier, Louis Vuitton, McQueen, Molly Goddard, Moschino, Prada, Rokh, Vivienne Westwood .
Photographer Théo de Gueltzl [IG] is behind the lens for WSJ Magazine [IG] in a beautiful fashion story that calls to mind the energy of the Renaissance./ Hair by Ramona Eschbach; makeup by Cécile Paravina
Miu Miu Gymnasium is on the move, with a series of pop-ups that cull elegant, sports-loving pieces from Miu Miu’s Spring/Summer 2025 runway collection. It’s interesting to read Miu Miu presenting quirky proportions as part of the heart of the Miu Miu name.
Supporting the new Miu Miu Gymnasium campaign are models Akari Higashi, Daria Malchuk and Olga Lane, with photography by Camilla Riccardo [IG]./ Hair by Patti Bussa; makeup by Rocco Santamorena
The Miu Miu Gymnasium pop-up project is now online until March 4th and will follow a dedicated rollout in exclusive locations in Japan, China, Hong Kong SAR and Korea.
Energy is intense at Miu Miu with Prada Group on confirming today the appointment of Silvia Onofri as chief executive officer of the Miu Miu brand, effective Feb. 26. Details coming.
Photographer Elizaveta Porodina [IG] is having a great kickoff in 2025 and AOC will share all her new work in the coming days. We begin with Porodina’s ‘Mother of Pearl’ fashion story, created for W Magazine China’s [IG] art issue 2025.
Models Huijia Chen and Peng Chang take the spotlight in one of the most symbolism-rich stories in Porodina’s creative riches portfolio, with art direction by Zipeng Li./ Makeup by Karen Westerlund; hair by Yuwei Weng
Models Ateta Jok and Nyakong Chan are styled by Lisa Jarvis in ‘Sorellanza’, lensed by Szilveszter Mako [IG] using imaginative techniques for Numéro 251 [IG] February 2025./ Hair by Pierpaolo Lai; makeup by Luca Cianciolo
Forrest is styled by Camilla Nickerson choosing Bottega Veneta, Ferragamo, Gabriela Hearst, Hermès, Hodakova, Loewe, Miu Miu, Phoebe Philo, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello, The Row, Wales Bonner and more for fashion images by Cathy Kasterine [IG].
Camila Pitanga is a Brazilian actor and former model, the daughter of renowned filmmaker Antonio Pitanga. Rita Lazzarotti styles Pitanga in images by MAR+VIN [IG] for Vogue Brasil [IG] February 2025./ Beauty by Jake Falchi
Pitanga stars in this special edition of Vogue Brasil that celebrates the joy, sophistication and unique blend of Copacabana, one of Rio de Janeiro's most traditional neighborhoods.
Singer-songwriter Dua Lipa is the face of the new CHANEL 25 handbag.
In the film directed by Gordon von Steiner, Lipa arrives at a studio in New York City for a Chanel fashion photo shoot. Posing with the 25 bag, a much-needed, hold-everything accessory for people on the go, Dua Lipa sings along to the ‘80s hit “She Drives Me Crazy” by the Fine Young Cannibals.
Harper’s Bazaar UK [IG] delivers ‘Power Hour’, a range of slim-cut to languid and louche suits perfect for women of purpose and competence. Model Mahany Pery is styled by Cathy Kasterine in suitings from Armani, Balenciaga, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Erdem, Jil Sander, Max Mara, McQueen, Michael Kors, Stella McCartney and more. Makeup by Florrie White; hair by Paul Donovan
Boo George [IG] is behind the lens and he delivers a fresh take on fashion photography that stands out. The clothes are center stage in sophisticated, arty and sensual images that play with light and shadow, multiple tints, and an appealing amount of cropping. Love this!
Wearing exquisite jewelery from Cartier’s Love collection and Miu Miu fashion, 23-year old creative Emma Frances Chamberlain takes three digital covers in Vogue HK’s “Love For Life” issue. Photographer Emmie America [IG] flashes the fashion story as Chamberlain lives up to her reputation as a straight-shooter not bowing to PR word salads, writes Vogue Hong Kong [IG].
Model Felice Noordhoff covers How to Spend It’s [HTSI] Spring/Summer 2025 Fashion Issue, styled here by Isabelle Kountoure. The message is clear: ‘Make a dramatic entrance in these bold shapes’, wearing Alaïa, Bottega Veneta, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Duran Lantink, JW Anderson, Loewe, Louis Vuitton, Maison Margiela, Phoebe Philo, Prada, Rokh, Victoria Beckham
Photographer Kayla Connors[IG] is behind the lens as HTSI dials in on looks worn by fashion’s vanguard./ Hair by Joe Burwin; makeup by Sandrine Cano Bock
As the capital of Jilin Province, Changchun is the second largest city in Northeast China. Home to about 5 million people, the city hosts a winter celebration called the ‘Changchun Ice and Snow Festival’.
W Magazine China [IG] captures this spectacle ‘Winter in Chang Chun’ in the fashion pages of its latest Art Issue 2025 January. Models Haojie Qim Hejia Li and Ying Ouyang are styled by Austin Feng in bold, winter fashion statements lensed by Feng Li [IG], with creative direction by Cathy Dong. /Makeup by Yooyo Keong Ming; hair by MingHu Zhang.
In spring 2024, the growing cult brand Jacquemus opened stores in Dubai, Capri, and Saint-Tropez, followed by New York and London last fall.
Jacquemus annual revenue estimates had climbed to $250 million, largely self-funded from the brand’s business operations.
Sharing the Jacquemus Holiday 2024 campaign, AOC reported that the brand had maxed out its growth opportunities until it obtained a minority investor.
On January 28, Jacquemus announced that it has tapped Celine North America president Sarah Benady as its next chief executive officer. There was no doubt that an announcement was coming soon in this perfectly-orchestrated business PR blitz based on business fundamentals and not marketing word salads.
The announcement came today, February 7, that L’Oréal Group has made a minority investment in Jacquemus to fund the house’s ongoing retail growth and expansion into the beauty sector.
Scottish-born beauty and top model Jean Campbell previews lingerie-inspired lace and leather mixes, accessorized with big gold jewelry in true 1980s spirit, lensed by Ekua King [IG] for the March 2025 issue of British ELLE.
Clementina Jackson chats with Lady Campbell, revisiting the topic of pain in her life and the podcast ‘I’m Fine’ she created to talk about it.
In her podcast, Jean Campbell talks to people about their own experiences with pain management, while sharing information about new research and test results in the field. Following her lead, AOC takes a look at the latest breakthroughs in learning to embrace chronic pain while not letting it define us.
The Patient Assumes New Powers in Non-Opioid Pain Management
In recent years, the focus on non-opioid pain management alternatives has gained significant attention as healthcare providers strive to mitigate the risks associated with opioid use, such as addiction and overdose. This shift has led to the exploration and adoption of various innovative strategies and treatments aimed at effectively managing pain without the reliance on opioid medications. One of the most promising alternatives includes the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs], which are commonly prescribed to reduce inflammation and relieve pain without the addictive properties of opioids.
On February 4, 2025, CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta spoke about the U.S Food and Drug Administration [FDA] approval of Journavx, or suzetrigine, oral tablets. “These pain medications, suzetrigine, Journavx as it’s called, work . . . more at the location of the pain, . . . trying to block the signals coming from the source of pain, going to the brain. As a result, you shouldn’t get euphoria,” Dr. Gupta explained. And, what is so critical about this breakthrough, is its lack of addictive ingredients.
Rising model Libby Bennett took the spotlight in Harper’s Bazaar Italia’s ‘Bright Young Things’ N.15 cover story. AOC wondered what we’ve missed from Bennett’s portfolio, and this November 2024 fashion story styled by Alice Goddard, working with fashion director Sissy Vian jumped right out of the pages.
Photographer Alasdair McLellan [IG] shot the story at Morecambe Bay, Lancashire, located in north-west England, south of Lake District National Park.