June 2023 Analysis: Brands, Trends, Values, Style, Activism, Interviews
/ Anne Enke
Featured
As creative director of Celine before Hedi Slimane, Phoebe Philo and top model Canadian-Ukrainian, born in Poland Daria Werbowy became visual alter egos.
That visual and psychological synergy is set for a September 2023 reunion with the return of Phoebe Philo’s eponymous brand.
As creative director of Celine before Hedi Slimane, Phoebe Philo and top model Canadian-Ukrainian, born in Poland Daria Werbowy became visual alter egos.
That visual and psychological synergy is set for a September 2023 reunion with the return of Phoebe Philo’s eponymous brand.
In an era dominated by technology and instant gratification, Montblanc invites you to embark on a journey to reconnect with the essence of literature through their captivating Library Spirit 2023 campaign.
It’s a wonderful campaign set against The London Library [IG], housing about a million books that have inspired writers and readers for over 180 years. This campaign series features supermodel Karen Elson and actor James Norton sharing their common interest in books, in images by Mariano Vivanco [IG].
Montblanc’s creative director Marco Tomasetta [IG] creatues a luxurious, intellectual ambiance for Montblanc’s evolving Soft Line collection. The multitentacled campaign is original, carefully-considered, beautifully- executed and serving a genuine purpose.
At the heart of the Library Spirit 2023 campaign lies the message that literature can unite us like nothing else. It fosters empathy, understanding, and compassion by allowing us to see the world through different lenses. Montblanc recognizes the importance of embracing diverse narratives and perspectives, unveiling a collection of limited-edition pens dedicated to literary giants whose words have shaped our understanding of humanity — the good, the bad, and the ugly.
The Louis Vuitton Speedy bag is an iconic fashion statement that has withstood the test of time. Introduced in the 1930s, this elegant and practical handbag has become a symbol of luxury, sophistication, and timeless style.
Rihanna Fronts New LV Speedy Bag Campaign
In June 2023, fashion world adds Rihanna to the list of famous women who love a Louis Vuitton Speedy bag. Rihanna is an insider at LVMH, besides being a good friend of Pharrell Williams, the new creative director of Louis Vuitton Men who had a blowout opening night in Paris last week.
Shot by Japanese photographer Keizō Kitajima and American artist Martine Syms shot the campaign images in which, Rihanna hustles around the city with her Speedys, a modern woman with a to-go coffee in hand and her pregnant belly bared.
To mimic the candy-colored designer dupes he used to find on Canal Street sidewalks, Pharrell employed a novel silkscreen monogramming process to induce “a blurry, artisanal and almost hand-painted effect” on the new Louis Vuitton Speedy bag colors — which also coincide with the Olympic rings colors.
After a raid on the Paris 2024 Olympics offices before Pharrell’s debut, the hoped for LVMH sponsorship remains unannounced.
The Kardashian women are like an NBA team, and they are playing to win. What was the phrase that Kanye told Kim — that she will be nothing without him? Men tend to say those words to strong women, when they are totally fed up and eyeing the door.
In the last hour Kim Kardashian’s personal IG page has logged 899, 087 likes and the Skims IG page 14,332 in the new Steven Klein [IG] campaign of Skims FAUX LEATHER & SCUBA swimwear dropping June 27 at noon on the East Coast.
You can register to buy the Skims FAUX LEATHER & SCUBA collection online, when it drops Tuesday.
If Victoria’s Secret is stumbling like a drunken sailor with the message that the Victoria’s Secret brand is undefinable — read my recent commentary — Kim Kardashian and her team are now valued at $3.2 billion.
Model Blanca Padilla settles into old-world, Belmond hotel luxury far away from Mediterranean shores. Styled by Celia Cuervo with images by Vladimir Marti [IG], Padilla graces the pages of Harper’s Bazaar Spain’s [IG] July-August 2023 issue with a fashion story as much about glamour and fine living as it is wellness.
Today, Padilla experiences the storied past of the Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel in Rio de Janeiro, a timeless oasis amid the hustle and bustle of Brazil's most iconic city.
What truly sets the Spa at Belmond Copacabana Palace Hotel apart is its attention to detail and personalized approach. They seamlessly blend ancient techniques with modern innovations, elevating your spa experience to new heights of relaxation.
The Amazon Rainforest Ritual, an immersive experience inspired by the rich natural heritage of Brazil, awaits you. This ritual combines indigenous ingredients like acai berries, Brazil nuts, and cocoa into a luxurious body treatment that will transport you to the depths of the exotic rainforest.
Photographer Andrew Jacobs [IG] turned his lens to the Aimé Leon Dore [IG], Summer Uniform 2023 lookbook as the brand continues to elevate itself with a wow remodel at its New York City flagship store at 224 Mulberry St.
OMG! Speaking of Cafe Society! This newly done store is fabulous, including the Aimé Leon Dore and Porsche collaboration — an ultra-elegant 356, built by Porsche built between 1948 to 1965.
HighSnobiety calls it Club Culture. We like Cafe Society because that concept has an existing history already based on a multiracial exchange of status, money and artistic talent. We saw it out in full force Tuesday night with the unveiling of the Pharrell Williams debut for Louis Vuitton Mens.
Power shifts are happening and not everybody has gotten the message. Clearly, significant numbers of people are not pleased with these new dynamics that are now obvious after the Pharrell Williams Louis Vuitton Men’s show on April 20.
That’s a shame, because the minute models hit the most spectacular runway in Paris — on the Pont Neuf overlooking the Seine — my immediate response was about the elegant tailoring and then the accessories.
The ‘Liberty’ luggage truck also told me that EVERY detail was in order around this epic Pharrell Williams blast-off.
It was only on Monday Juneteenth, that I learned about the Statue of Liberty as a gift to America from France, honoring the official end of slavery in America.
This new day Paris Cafe Society is just getting started, but it is real.
Victoria’s Secret stock has fallen 47% in the year to date, while the S&P 500 SPX has gained 14%. Victoria’s Secret had sales of $1.4 billion in first quarter 2023 and only made $3.8 million — a 95% decrease in earnings.
I’ve said many times that if Victoria’s Secret isn’t careful, Savage X Fenty and SKIMS are going to take the business down. And I mean kaput down.
With LVMH backing Savage X Fenty via L Catterton, their incubator investment arm, and Kim Kardashion on the road now, raising $1 billion for her own venture capital fund — and also appearing on the cover of TIME Magazine, this Victoria’s Secret selling the message of “undefinable” breaks every rule of marketing I know about. And the customers seem to agree.
Is Closed Denim a Sustainable Brand?
In recent years, sustainability has become a critical factor for the fashion industry. Consumers are more conscious than ever about the environmental and social impact of the clothes they wear — although still not conscious enough.
One such influential organization that Closed Denim belongs to is the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). GOTS is an internationally recognized certification that ensures the organic status of textiles throughout the entire production process involving both environmental and social criteria. Closed Denim's affiliation with GOTS underscores their dedication to sourcing organic materials, reducing chemical inputs, and preserving ecological integrity.
Closed Denim also partners with the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), as they strongly believe in promoting sustainable cotton farming. BCI is a global initiative working towards making cotton production better for the environment and the people involved. By supporting BCI, Closed Denim ensures the responsible use of water, reduced chemical usage, and improved livelihoods for cotton farmers.
‘Bulgari Mediterranea’ Book
Amidst the vibrant colors and alluring stories of the Mediterranean Sea, Bulgari [IG] unveils more images of its truly stunning High Jewelry ‘Mediterranea’ Collection 2023.
Scandebergs [IG], ‘cosmic explorers’ Stefano Clombini and Alberto Albanese have photographed these soul-stirring images.
Now Bulgari has also published a book about the region ‘Bulgari Mediterranea’ due out in September 2023.
The 180 pages are filled with the precious creations of the High Jewelry and High-End Watches brand, inspired since its beginnings.
Featuring an illustrious group of talented writers including Kenya Hunt, Lucia Silvestri, Michela Marzano, Leïla Slimani, Stefania Auci, and Andrea Marcolongo, ‘Bulgari Mediterranea’ weaves together compelling narratives and intriguing insights into the essence of the Mediterranean region.
BTS's J-Hope stars in his first campaign as a solo Louis Vuitton ambassador, rocking his dance moves in the new LV Keepall bag campaign. Vuitton, in their Keepall campaign announcement, described BTS as "21st-century pop icons," while emphasizing J-Hope's unique appeal.
Back in 1930, as international travel began to flourish, the need for a spacious, durable travel companion became apparent. In response to this demand, Louis Vuitton introduced the Keepall, a groundbreaking design that revolutionized the way people carried their belongings.
Members of 1930s cafe society constantly interacted with artists of all mediums, and J-Hope’s Louis Vuitton Keepall campaign projects a subdued but very hip elegance.
Let’s see how this next chapter with Pharrell Williams and Pietro Beccari, Louis Vuitton’s new Chairman and CEO evolves. It appears that the original or siblings of the original Keepall are about to bust out in an array of Olympic rings colors. ~ Anne
Sotheby's and Louis Vuitton will auction 22 "exceptionally remade" Artycapucines handbags, with net proceeds benefiting organizations like UNICEF, Médecins sans Frontières, The United Negro College Fund, Teach for China, World Central Kitchen, Opendorf Afrika and RED, which fights AIDS.
A group of 22 artists will now remake their original Artycapucines using the same materials wherever possible with the artist scrawling his or her name under the flap and on the carrying case, a monogram Louis Vuitton hat box based on a 1924 design.
The participating artists are Alex Israel, Amélie Bertrand, Beatriz Milhazes, Daniel Buren, Donna Huanca, Gregor Hildebrandt, Huang Yuxing, Jean-Michel Othoniel, Jonas Wood, Josh Smith, Kennedy Yanko, Liu Wei, Paola Pivi, Park Seo-Bo, Peter Marino, Sam Falls, Tschabalala Self, Ugo Rondinone, Urs Fischer, Vik Muniz, Zeng Fanzhi and Zhao Zhao.
Opening bids for these one-of-a-kind, recreated Artycapucines start at 16,000 euros.
In the spirit of these public commissions, all 22 bags will be on show from 1-5 July 2023 at a public exhibition at Sotheby’s Paris headquarters on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.
The show marking Pharrell Williams' first collection for Louis Vuitton Mens, will take place in the City of Lights on June 20, 2023, at 8:30 p.m. Louis Vuitton execs used their considerable influence to change Pharrell’s debut date
On the subject of those delicious bag colors, read on about LVMH sponsoring the 2024 Olympics in Paris, promoting Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and LVMH spirits.
In fact, it wouldn’t surprise AOC to see LVMH promoting their jointly-owned [50-50] with Jay-Z, Armand de Brignac champagne brand at the Olympics.
That would be one hell of a party! Alas, it won’t be a public event, but Mory Sacko will be in the kitchen. LVMH really wants to step out in the Olympics and they could pull this off in a big way.
“It’s my way of saying that after this first step I’ll be spreading my wings and then be able to express myself,” Ludovic de Saint Sernin told Vogue’s Nicole Phelps of the Oscars party look from his first collection worn by Hunter Schafer.
Two months after his first show and after six months working in his position, Ludovic de Saint Sernin was out of a job at Ann Demeulemeester. Did he spread his wings like Icarus and fly too close to the sun?
Neither the young designer or Claudio Antonioli, who bought the Demeulemeester label in 2020 [and is close with Ann Demeulemeester, the woman] released a statement about the designer’s dismissal.
Stefano Gallici, connected with the brand since 2020 and the Antonioli Group in 2019, will be the new Creative Director of the women’s collection.
Zara taps into fashion’s summer 2023 love of mermaid-inspired style, bathing model Alex Consani in sequins. Perhaps Zara used the new plant-based sequins [hope springs eternal and Zara is trying hard to be more sustainable], because glitter and sequins ending up in our oceans, lakes and rivers is a significant challenge for fish.
AOC’s friend, photographer Carlijn Jacobs [IG] is the photographer on the new Zara “we love mermaids in sequins” social media campaign.
Let me have Lulu do her Squarespace AI magic on sequins, because protecting our fish is important.
AOC’s friend, photographer Carlijn Jacobs [IG] is the photographer on the new Zara “we love mermaids in sequins” social media campaign.
If there is a future remake of a Grace Kelly film, Elle Fanning is certain to get the part. People who have watched the Cartier campaign film for the relaunched Grain de Café Collection are quite astonished.
To pay tribute to Grace Kelly, the iconic Hollywood star, Cartier turned to American director Alex Prager whose sensitivity resonates with the codes of the collection.
The original story of the collection, born in 1938 is embedded in a difficult time in world history when Cartier’s creative director Jeanne Toussaint had risen quickly to the coveted and rare for a woman design position in Paris.
In creating Cartier’s Grain de Café Collection, Toussaint tapped into her extensive knowledge of global power and conflicts, economic suffering and rising authoritarianism. Hitler had been chancellor in Germany since 1933. Quiet luxury was on her creative mind.
Vogue Business estimated in March 2023 that Rhode Skin had a waitlist of over one-million SKUs across its products. Its core customer is Gen Z, probably driven by price points and Hailey’s own age. But every survey on sustainability and saving our earth indicates that Gen Z cares about ethical products more than anyone.
With the launch of Rhode’s Glazing Milk - an ultra-lightweight serum that promises to deeply hydrate and brighten the skin while protecting it from environmental stressors, London cabs are rolling and Rhode Skincare arrives at Selfridges. Most images in the campaign are by Zhong Lin [IG].
The product goes on sale in America on June 15th, at noon East Coast time.
Hailey Beiber: A Very Talented Entrepreneur
AOC will never call Hailey Bieber a nepo-baby. We’ve seen other celeb kids go nowhere and blow millions. Clearly her background helped her gain access and also the confidence that she could succeed in a super competitive beauty business.
I argue that Hailey Bieber has strong entrepreneurial and business skills. She seems to execute to perfection and is very hands-on. She’s impressively NO-BS on the topic of sustainability.
NBC News has announced Kristen Welker's appointment as the new anchor of “Meet the Press” the network’s flagship newsmagazine program. Welker currently serves as NBC’s White House correspondent and “Weekend Today” co-anchor.
One of Welker’s standout moments happened in 2020 when she moderated the second and final presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. The no-nonsense but fair interviewer drew extensive positive reviews from both sides for keeping the proceedings moving and under control.
In truth, no one in media has done a better job than Kristen Welker, insisting that Donald Trump address specific questions — rather than letting him wrestle the narrative away from the moderator.
Last season alone, Meet the Press only averaged 2.57 million total viewers and 492,000 in its advertiser-prized 25-54 demographic; Todd’s ratings were significantly below competitors like CBS' Face the Nation and ABC' This Week in total viewers and in second place in the 25-54 demographic.
Ahead of the Air Jordan 2 "Wings" release on June 10 as a part of the Jordan Wings Program for the Summer 2023 season, Jordan Brand has debuted an inspiring, heartfelt tribute to SVP Howard "H" White.
White is one of the founders of the Jordan Brand’s "Wings" program. His own personal history and life philosophy, as revealed in the video, are intimately relevant to the brand’s expansion of its classic high-top offerings.
Old-school, Jordan Brand values are really important to America’s future.
Howard “H'“ White’s impact on Nike and the Jordan Brand is hard to overstate. And mentoring youth is an anchor of White’s entire career.
We must follow his lead and do our part as adults. We need to see our kids thrive, and the human touch is critical.
Daniel Jackson [IG] captures Angelina Kendall in a new Zara campaign, shot [presumably] in Marrakech with a big focus on linen — a favorite summer fabric. Note that some of these items are a linen/cotton blend.
In a September 2022 Financial Times article on Zara parent Inditex, CEO Oscar García confirmed that the company continues to source “long-haul” basics from Asia, while manufacturing its quick-response production of fashion items at factories in Spain and Portugal as well as sites close to Europe in Turkey and Morocco.
Certified 100% European Grown Linen
European-grown linen is a natural fiber that does not require irrigation. It is grown without using genetically modified seeds and avoids synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. It is produced in Western Europe according to the EUROPEAN FLAX® standard of the Alliance for European Flax and Hemp.
