Vogue Italia June 2023 'At the School of Restoration' lensed by Brett Lloyd

Photographer Brett Lloyd [IG] is one to watch in this global cultural moment of a battle between progressive and traditional thinking.

In America, Trump-led evangelical Christians are demanding a return to ‘traditional’ values, while progressives like the AOC website argue for institutional policies and practices that protect 50 years of trying to moderate those policies in a fair and less-confining way.

The Vatican is at the center of this struggle as a symbol of the fight ahead. And so is the US Supreme Court — who delivered a surprise win yesterday around protecting voting rights. We were shocked at a 5-4 ruling that didn’t make us weep even more tears.

Before Vogue France became a shadow of its former Vogue Paris self — especially under Carine Roitfeld —the magazine would have been a leader in this fight, using visual imagery.

Of course, dear Carine would be swearing that disruptive fashion imagery IS just fashion, not politics. Got it, Carine. Absolutely nothing philosophical is going on in this fashion story ‘A Scuola Di Restauro’ [At the School of Restoration].

Meanwhile, Vogue Italy’s now-passed Franca Sozzani would see the moment as a great opportunity to use her voice as an EIC.

Brett Lloyd is not new to the world of fashion photography. But his artistic vision may be particularly relevant in this moment. ‘A Scuola Di Restauro’ [At the School of Restoration] shows me his capacity as a voice in our [his] struggle.

We’re getting nothing out of Paris — except the assurance that we’re living in a post-feminist, “don’t worry, be happy world”. So we turn to Vogue Italy for sustenance in the form of imagery, for the BIG fight ahead.

These Brett Lloyd images are perfect for a creative team that includes styling by Riccardo Maria Chiacchio and models Paola Manes, Sun Mizrahi, Valerio Maccario, and Ylang Messenguital. Checking IG, there no listing of a creative director or symbolism-interpreter behind the shoot. / Hair by Louis Ghewy; makeup by Karin Westerlund; body painting by Carolyn Roper

It appears to be a tight group led by “Head of Editorial Content’ Francesca Ragazzi [IG].

Lloyd shot an extensive fashion story with Emily Ratajkowski in the May 2023 issue of Vogue Spain. The messages are more subtle but the fashion story is also related to my comments above. ~ Anne

Emily Ratajkowski Cheers Vogue Spain May 2023 35th Anniversary Lensed by Brett Lloyd AOC Fashion