Kaia Gerber wears Givenchy on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar US [IG] February 2026. Luis Alberto Rodriguez [IG] captures Kaia, who is interviewed by Durga Chew-Bose.
For Kaia, A Privileged Life Is an Artistic Life
Kaia Gerber has never hesitated to admit her privileged upbringing, anchored in a robust, loving and supportive family life. How many grown young women with Kaia’s level of accomplishment call their mothers their best friend?
Kaia has always described privilege in a more intellectual way — a childhood where ideas, books, and culture were embedded in daily life.
Ariana Grande covers the March 2026 issue of Vogue Japan [IG], one of three Vogues putting the music and now acting star front and center in their new issues. Shared at the end this VJ story, Ariana also covers Vogue Mexico and Vogue Latin America [IG], her first covers for the magazines.
Grande is styled by Law Roach in multiple Balenciaga by Sarah Burton beauties, Dior, Gucci, Ralph Lauren and more lensed by Michael Bailey-Gates [IG]./ Jewelry by Swarovski; Hair by Alyx Liu; makeup by Michael Anthony
New super [Models.com] Mona Tougaard showcases Chanel’s Spring 2026 Matthieu Blazy debut for W Magazine China’s [IG] February 2026 Fashion issue. Austin Feng styles Mona’s four covers and fashion spread, lensed by Zhong Lin [IG]. / Hair by Evanie Frausto; makeup by Fulvia Farolfi
Suzie Q’s use of the word ‘mess’ to describe Jonathan Anderson’s challenges at Dior, created by former creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri, ran counter to everything I knew about her tenure at the #2 brand at LVMH.
AOC has been really confused by the persistent statements that it could take 4-5 years for Anderson’s Dior vision to codify — including by the designer himself.
Today, we stay focused on that topic. Also Anne clarifies what might be a misunderstanding of what these writers are actually saying, and what she is hearing.
At a time when even the entertainment industry is bowing to dark political forces, Cynthia Erivo made a culture-conquering hit in ‘Wicked: For Good’, while standing firm for inclusion, kindness and radical acceptance.
The Tony winner is currently in rehearsals for ‘Dracula’ opening February 4th in the West End. Erivo will play all 23 roles in Bram Stoker’s classic that runs until May 31. Creative camera work is her only partner onstage.
Kip Williams directs ‘Dracula’, telling the press that this version of the play will be a “queer retelling of the story, and we are looking at reclaiming the vampire.”
Models Ajus Samuel, Apolline Rocco-Fohrer, Coco Palmer and Valerie Scherzinger are styled by Abby Adler in French bourgeois style essentials. The fashion story is lensed by Ava Van Osdol [IG] for Vogue France [IG] February 2026./ Hair by Joe Burwin; makeup by Satoko Watanabe
We have our first Aisle 9 Cleanups in the queue [1] Hedi Slimane’s timeline creating success at Celine and [2] why it might take as long as five years to “get Dior back on track”.
AI never comes close to writing Anne’s posts. But I do run my core thinking through AI in case it responds “that’s bullpucky”.
Rereading Suzie Q’s posts. I stopped to read a third commentary on the Saks bankruptcy and whether an international VIP should step in to score big for his own stockholders.
Honestly, Suzie Q needs to stay away from financial topics completely. She’s in way over her head.
And her assertion on the MGC mess she left at Dior not only got an AI bullpucky. It came out in all caps. [Okay, I made up the part about the caps.] But it shredded Suzie Q’s assertion with a meat cleaver gone mad. You’ll see.
After further sleuthing, we learned that Alo has been in the market for capital with a $10 B valuation since 2023, which sounds way high. The concept is impressive and very sound before the arrival of Petruzzo, who will be a big help in raising capital and instituting sound financial management systems and international marketing rules.
As much as AOC LOVES this concept, there are flags on the field in China.
Jing Daily reports that Alo will probably face challenges in the China market, as it prepares to open stores in Shanghai and Beijing. JD writes that “years of rampant counterfeiting” have already shaped how Chinese customers view the brand. Those perceptions will impact what customers are willing to pay for product.
There are tariff-related risks, as well. With most of its manufacturing done in China, major risks introduced by President Trump’s deeply personal and punishing approach to tariffs adds extra volatility to Alo’s expansion plans.
Models Kris Krystal, Ploy Chobsawang, Rachel Agbonze and more are styled by Lotta Volkova in the Miu Miu [IG] Prelude Collection 2016 campaign. Danish photographer Julie Greve [IG] shoots the campaign, confirming her self-descriptor as an artist whose work explores ideas of coming of age and female identity.
On the topic of Miu Miu’s brainiac young women, AOC spent time today getting out of the minds of America’s young women, with questions about young women worldwide.
Data indicates a ‘great relationship recession’ is underway globally, with singlehood rising in 26 out of 30 surveyed developed nations. Follow link top of page to read the details.
Louis Vuitton [IG] creative director Nicolas Ghesquière releases the first phase of LV’s Spring/Summer 2026 Campaign. Actor Jennifer Connelly’s ambassador role with Louis Vuitton is more than a decade old, making her the longest-serving muse to the designer.
Cass Bird [IG], shot the campaign with refuge in mind. Ghesquière said he channeled that theme for the collection’s runway show last fall. "The atmosphere I was wishing to share was the serenity you feel when you are in the comfort of your home.”
Vogue France [IG] chooses Doutzen Kroes as its February 2026 cover star and this deliberately low-key visual presentation for her showcase. The lack of distraction allows us to focus on her energy and spirituality, writes VF.
I”n an era of constant exposure, her freedom and intentional choice to remain relatively offline feel increasingly rare, and deeply aspirational as we enter a new year.”
Doutzen is photographed by Richard Burbridge [IG], in a pared-down, “distinctly Parisian sensibility”.
Top model Paulina Porizkova [IG], age 60, has led a very public, digital life in recent years — even getting dressed in the morning on Instagram Live. Porizkova is engaged and shares a podcast with writer Jeff Greenstein, showrunner for the once very popular ‘Will and Grace’ weekly TV show.
Porizkova prides herself — just like Pamela Anderson — in being photographed without makeup for unretouched photos. When she does wear makeup — or appear in images with retouching — Porizkova requires a light touch.
Vogue Hong Kong [IG] features actor Yang Zi, styled by Lucia Liu for the fashion story ‘In Bloom Yang Zi’, lensed by Leslie Zhang.
As one of the most prominent young actors of her generation, Vogue Hong Kong’s January 2026 cover star Yang Zi has been a WildAid ambassador since 2019. She lent her voice to WildAid's elephant program by starring in ‘Be Their Role Model’ campaign which asks parents to use their actions to set good examples for the next generation by not consuming ivory and other wildlife products.
China has been successful — as promised to concerned environmentalists and elephant lovers worldwide — in cutting in half the consumption of new ivory in a sequence of trade bans that took effect by the end of 2017.
Birthday-girl Irina Shayk celebrated her 40th birthday on January 6, several months after being the lead-off cover girl for the Winter 2025 issue of The Face [IG]. Irina puts on her best sexy woman face, styled by Danielle Emerson in lingerie-inspired images lensed by Drew Vickers [IG]./ Hair by Olivier Schawalder; makeup by Yadim
We realized today [finally] that these images are a direct volley to Miu Miu. But Miu Miu has Prada.
Jonathan Anderson believes he can successfully do Miu Miu and Prada together in one floor in the store. They are one Dior for the designer. And in many cases, he believes he can do Miu Miu and Prada AND Miu Miu for Men and Prada for Men in one giant statement because everyone is cross-dressing and he believes he is a visionary genius in understanding this reality.
The designer may be right — but it’s an incredible roll of the dice with no pre-testing. Meanwhile, many are citing pricing challenges on the line and steep reductions from the show prices. That jean jacket is an excellent example. It’s $5,000. Yikes.
Today, we stay positive. The only people in their right mind who would give Jonathan Anderson this range of self-expression is LVMH. Let’s hope it’s successful; and he should be humble about the opportunity afforded him by The Family. ~ Anne
Model Apolline Rocco Fohrer is styled by Beat Bolliger in ‘Warm Front’, a cold-weather friendly story of oversized proportions lensed by Sonia Szostak [IG] for Harpers Bazaar US [IG] December 2025 issue./ Hair by Tamara McNaughton; makeup by Stephanie Kunz
The December 2025/January 2026 issue of Numéro France [IG] #258 shares ‘Paradis Latin’ , a cabaret setting fashion story. Photographer Anthony Arquier [IG] captures models Josephen Akuel, Louka Gailliez, Luka Monnereau, Matilde de Nard, Nevillioo, Thierry Baumann styled by Joana Dacheville. / Hair by Sadek Lardjane; makeup by Lloyd Simmonds
AOC copies the Numero narrative precisely in this age of Epstein. France has long enjoyed cabaret and Crazy Horse Paris underwent a major renovation in 2021.
Model Lea Haesaert is styled by Sophie Pera in a fashion story ‘Nomad’, lensed by Jack Waterlot [IG] for Tatler Magazine [IG] January 2026 issue. / Hair by Takuya Morimoto; makeup by Terry Barber
In Waterlot’s own words: “I truly loved working on this project as i grew up with the Amazigh, making images that showcase deep rooted culture from the desert is something that I will always love.”
In this massive fashion story with six covers, supermodel He Cong [IG] is styled by Punkcherry in ‘New Dawn Ahead’. The editorial is lensed by Nick Yang [IG] for the January 2026 issue of Marie Claire China. / Hair by Minghu Zhang; makeup by Valentina Li
The Brilliance of Chinese Creatives Is Breathtaking
AOC is not alone in looking forward to new issues of China’s fashion and lifestyle media. These talented creatives have reached a level of excellence so profound that viewing these images online absolutely has an effect on Anne’s brain and many others’ brains soaking in the vibrancy of these images.
Not everyone wants to look at uber-sophisticated fashion photography, but Chinese magazines cover a wide range of photographic imagery and storytelling. And it’s rare that the creative teams deliver an ordinary-looking fashion or travel story across multiple magazines.
The consistency of excellence among China’s top creatives is astounding. And I must personally go on the record saying so.
Pooja Mor appeared in the September 2025, premier issue of Numéro New York [IG] in this Bvlgari [IG] fashion story. Lensed by Emma Louise Swanson [IG], Pooja was styled by Numéro New York fashion director Alexander Fisher, with creative direction by Olivia Windisch./ Makeup by Dotti; hair by Brent Lawler
