Ashley Smith stands at the female-centric values gates of a 21st century, Smart Sensuality new day, in this beautiful and inspiring Numero #119 editorial ‘Ronde de Nuit’, lensed by Ben Hassett and styled by Capucine Safyurtlu.

We are very inspired by the direction of so much fashion and culture editorial the past few months.

Absolutely, there is a growing creative collaboration in which fashion and culture isn’t just mirroring our world, but trying to change it. The key concept is embracing sensuality, which changes one’s relationship with nature and all living things.

Sensuality is fundamentally opposed to violence and needless destruction of nature and the past, no matter what the BDSM types tell you. It stands diametrically opposed to The Manifeste du Futurism, the influential Italian manifesto of the 20th century which sought to destroy the past, while celebrating man and the machine. A key plank of the Manifeste du Futurisme was ‘scorn for women’. (See last week’s Manifeste du Futurism | Axel Engstrom | The Ones2Watch.)

Fashion and style is the bridge between opposing forces and has always possessed a voice — if it chooses to use it — at the risk of being taken seriously.

We are so enthused about the repositioning of women that seems to be gaining force with every new set of editorials. Read also my Christmas editorial: Mission 2011: Redefine Sensuality As Life-Affirming & Respectable. Anne