Goddesses and Regal Rebels dominate Versace’s Fall 2022/23 Campaign, led by ‘Pam & Tommy’ star Lily James. The Emmy-nominated James plays a Versace goddess in a summer where AOC has read the word ‘goddess’ from non-AOC sources at every turn.

Add models Avanti Nagrath, Lulu Wood, Mila van Eeten, Parker Van Noord, Reece Nelson, Smilla Osswald, Sofiane Belaasri, and Yilan Hua to the Versace Fall 2022/23 campaign lineup, as the images are revealed. Jacob K styles the campaign in images by fashion photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott [IG]. Ferdinando Verderi provides creative direction./ Hair by Duffy; makeup by Lucia Pieroni

When Lily got in front of the camera she transformed! Wearing the collection unlocked her own personal attitude and she took on a new energy and power. That’s exactly how you should feel when wearing Versace! – Donatella Versace

In her own words Lily James speaks of her Versace relationship:

It has been so special and exciting to be welcomed into Donatella’s Versace family, whether by attending the fashion shows, wearing Atelier Versace to this year’s Oscars, the Met Gala, and now to be in my own Versace campaign! I have truly never felt more empowered since working with Versace and it has been extraordinary how wearing the clothes made me instantly feel like a Versace goddess. It is such an honour. Thank you for everything Donatella, you are an inspiration. Ti amo! – Lily James

Anne of Carversville believes that Donatella and Gianni Versace have always sought to unleash a confident and ferocious energy among women, beginning with the historical, mythological goddesses who once ruled the earth with men [and most argue predated them] before the rise of monotheism and private property.

More recently, even the Washington Post wrote in December 2019: Amazons were long considered a myth. These discoveries show warrior women were real.

AOC only asks that fashion world not ride the goddess trend for a season.

As humans identifying as women in all our variations worldwide, our backs are increasingly up against the wall. We can’t do anything about those women who want a theocracy in America and vote against our rights at every turn.

Nor can we fight against a deep strain of misogyny against women that has always flourished among some in the LGBTQIA+ community. Liberals and progressives hate to acknowledge this second issue, but it’s true. Recent events require AOC to state this fact and to spend more time referencing the ways in which this misogyny expresses itself today and historically.

As The Guardian wrote in 2018: “For gay men, ‘stanning’ – being a super fan of – female pop stars can be a valuable part of your identity. But too often this fandom lapses into misogyny and body shaming.”

Fashion brands ran rise above these voices, without taking sides, and help articulate the facts of women’s history, both mythological and very real. No one is happier than AOC to see the word goddess everywhere in the last month. But we ask fashion world to ride the wave for more than a season or two.

If you can’t, then the history of women is just another marketing bullet point, when the truths of how women have lived for thousands of years is a story never narrated on a factual basis in modern culture.

The Versace family has major credibility on this entire subject of goddesses and strong, Amazonian women. The world needs them — the world needs us — now, more than ever. ~ Anne