Prada unveils their holiday campaign ‘A Stranger Calls’, which showcases their pieces through a black and white avant-garde narrative. Photographed by Steven Meisel and based on the works of best-selling author Candice Cathy-Williams, the campaign is not one to miss.
The story surrounds four protagonists and one mysterious stranger, set in an isolated villa in Italy. All characters originate from the Prada Universe, starring Freja Beha, Maty Fall, Mao Xiaoxing, Rudolfs Valbergs and Merlijne Schorren.
“Cinema suggests shifting focus and points of emphasis: here, details of Prada accessories are pulled into macro-scale. Like plot-points, or clues to an unknown mystery, they dominate the frame, drawing attention – before Meisel’s lens, they become characters in themselves,” reads the press release.
The spotlight is placed on the new Prada Cleo handbag which was debuted in the Prada Multiple Views SS21 show and featured in the Spring/Summer 2021 womenswear collection.
The Cleo line utilises classical Prada styles to give way to pieces that perfectly coalesce classicism and futurism. The accessories include reworked traditional jewels in silver and gold with tourmaline, and the emblem appearing on a delicate chain, necklaces and chandelier earrings.
“This campaign – and these Prada accessories – explore emotion, intrigue, attraction and, ultimately, desire.” – Prada
For more information about the campaign and the collection visit Prada.com
This week Prada released their Linea Rossa FW20 campaign, featuring another selection of clean-cut designs for the sportswear inspired line. All the clothing is made from Extreme Tex – Prada’s innovative textile made with eco-sustainable technology. This material also ensures optimal insulation and features waterproof properties.
The campaign incorporates clothing with stark contrasts by utilising black as the base, with only tinctures of colour. There are select pieces that include bright neon colours such as the Tec Rec Cropped Puffer Jacket. Other articles include a bucket hat, Polarius sneakers and sweatshirts, all complete with the signature red strip. This line is reminiscent of Prada’s releases from the late 90s’ and early 00’s, now with a futuristic spin.
A resurgence in 90’s fashion and a push for ecological alternatives has been propped up as an important concern, especially for the incoming generation. The FW20 release features 20-year-old actor Yara Shahidi, EXO member Chanyeol Park and Chinese actress Jin Chen. All images were photographed by Renell Medrano and creative direction under Ferdinando Verderi. View the full collection at PRADA.com
This week FENDI officially launched their first ever worldwide video and image campaign for its renown Peekaboo bag with actress and producer Zoey Deutch as lead.
Featuring a video story that speaks to Zoey during moments when she shows up her most authentic self, the journey begins with dancing decked in FENDI with the Peekaboo bag in hand , then continues with her on her way to the studio , greeting paparazzi and making her way inside. It captures the short moments before a seasoned actress takes the spotlight as she gets mentally prepared to be shot with the FENDI Peekaboo bag in the studio.
The campaign features the new Peekaboo which was presented for the FENDI Fall/Winter 20-21 collection last February, which sees updates like an accordion frame shape that opens in a “deep smile” , inside pockets etc. The new FENDI Peekaboo bag. Is currently in stores, visit FENDI.com for more info.
“Now more than ever people are really looking for something that feels personal and feels human”
KARA is a brand with a human spirit at the core. Founded by Sarah Law as a reactive medium to explore her own personal identity quest, KARA – the name borne from Karaoke which in turn is Japanese for empty orchestra – looked to connect with a global community through self expression and artistic freedom. Formulating her You Be You campaign on this premise, KARA has collaborated with creatives from all over the world, from Fish Zhang in Beijing to Richie Shazam in New York to Masha Reiva in Kiev.
“I am really trying to show all these different points of view, together”, Sarah Law states, discussing over the phone in her New York apartment the reasoning behind the breadth of talent commissioned for this 4 year photography series. Commissioning creatives from a global network, Sarah has posited her fascination with expressions of identity into her brand and subsequently in the hands of these international artists, asking them to interpret her brand and present it in their own unique way in a series of images.
“A huge sentiment behind the brand is this aspect of community – I think it is about really trying to find people who sometimes don’t have a massive platform but have amazing work, and trying to feature them. We have commissioned different people to create pieces working from home, which has proven to be a really fun project to connect with people and learn more about them in this time.”
As COVID19 brings through isolation and subsequent yearnings for deeper connection, does KARA think that a sense of vulnerability has befallen humanity in this time?
“I think finally because of COVID19 there is more compassion – people connecting with people to see how they are doing.”
“In a world under such an intense pressure to move forward with the internet getting faster, brands are pushed to produce so much content and so many collections, we are losing sight of people’s humanness. It is interesting as in this time, I am finding people are friendlier right now, as there is this acknowledgement of what we are all going through, something that we are all experiencing.”
Delving into the four year project KARA You Be You, the breadth of talent collaborated is as wonderful as it is varied. With the initial desire to explore her own experience of being both Chinese and American at the core of the commencement of KARA, Sarah has embarked on a deep dive into our own cultivations of self, how we express ourselves, and what we choose to take from our past to define ourselves in our futures.
As the world comes to learn new ways of communicating, those with authentic voices and unique, purposeful visions will be coming out stronger; putting the creative in the hands of the people means KARA is carrying a refreshing approach through our new navigations of normal life.
Prada’s latest campaign for Pre-Fall 2020 was crafted with the intention of blurring the lines between reality and digital and re-imagining a new idea of intimacy during these very particular times. The campaign was shot in London back in February by photographer David Sims and recently digitally painted in New York.
The images and campaign films combine hand-painted watercolors with digital artistry. The silhouettes of each look and their seams and patterns, become ‘paint by numbers’ frames for energetic explorations of color – a dozen Prada-ist shades of Celeste blue, pink, yellow, orange, green and more.
“Blurring lines between the photographic and the painterly, between technology and humanity, it is a subconscious echo of our moment. The joy of color via the joy of technology – both a means of communicating a message, immediately. Ultimately, that message is positivity – a fantasy, painted in Prada colors,” read the brand’s campaign notes. For more info on the Pre-Fall ’20 collection, visit Prada.com
Following his SS20 show last September which touched on the themes of the European Union and power-dressing , Balenciaga Creative Director Demna Gvasalia continued on a similar note for the campaign which was lensed by renown political campaign photographer Laurence Chaperon. The images use politics as a source of inspiration and conversation throughout fashion as a series of models are captured in a light similar to that of political candidates accompanied by cliche political slogans like “Love is for everyone “ and “We vote for tomorrow” .
Following the release of the campaign images the house also released video footage directed by Will Benedict in the form of a live evening news broadcast where a digitally modified cast reports disturbing but very eye opening headlines regarding climate change including flooding, the end of traffic jams , planets realigning etc. The campaign itself was a step further to the efforts the house have been making ignorer to spread awareness regarding climate change and global warming, yet carried out in a way in alignment to the Balenciaga aesthetic.
Following the buzz of their FW20 Menswear campaign earlier this month featuring Frank Ocean, Prada centred it’s recently released womenswear campaign around the theme of the brand’s fluid identity and flexibility. Shot by photographer Jamie Hawkesworth, the campaign was featured in a similar format to the menswear, playing upon the different types of characters that inspire and define the brand.
“The paradox and contradiction inherent to Prada make easy categorization or summarization impossible: Prada is simultaneously complex and simple, singular yet multi-faceted.”
On theme with their latest resort show , last week, Italian fashion house Prada launched their Resort 2020 campaign under the direction of seditious simplicity.
The campaign shot by photographers Keizo Kitajima and Drew Vickers gives a fresh take on advertising as it is physically presented the campaign in the form of tactile paper images wrapped around bouquets of flowers. Each one gives perspective of the very different images framed by the duo, showcasing their contrasting photography styles.
One side sees the work of NYC based photographer Drew Vickers as he presents elegant, emotional black & white images of his Prada Resort decked subjects, whilst Japanese photographer Keizo Kitakima’s work complements this with the subjects alive and in motion, recalling his dynamic street photography from as far back as the 70’s .
The products of the Prada Resort 2020 campaign can be discovered at local florists around the cities of London, Milan, Moscow , New York, Paris, Shanghai & Tokyo and the full collection can be seen on Prada.com
On the occasion of their Cruise 2020 campaign, Italian fashion house Gucci invites a cast of guests to add the unrefined versions of themselves to a party titled “#COMEASYOUARE_RSVP.” With names ranging from the likes of Gucci Mane, (the collaboration that’s been long-overdue) Sienna Miller, Iggy Pop and Benedetta Barzini , the group is shot by Harmony Korine and directed by Christopher Simmonds as they explore the amenities of Gucci’s fun house. They go from chatting in the kitchen to showing off outfits in the bathtub to taking dives in the villa’s swimming pool. Each character from every scene is decked out in head to toe Gucci but in every way emanate distinctly diverse personality aspects; a wild rockstar, a glam socialite, the tycoon and of course the hip hop star.
Last season Riverdale star Rob Raco graced Italian fashion house Fendi’s Spring Summer ’19 campaign and this season he returns once more to be the focal point of their latest AW19 men’s eyewear campaign. In a short film, the Fendi ambassador is shot taking a ride through London’s Richmond Park , completely decked out in his Fendi AW19 gear while sporting sunglasses from the collection including the Futuristic FENDI, FENDI Glass and the FF FENDI.
For more info on the latest collection visit FENDI.com
Just in time for the summer , Italian fashion house Gucci recently released their third official fragrance under the creative direction of Alessandro Michele, with a gender neutral scent titled Gucci Mémoire d’une Odeur. The perfume’s aroma is mainly defined by a note of Roman chamomile, with hints of Indian coral jasmine, sandalwood and cedar wood to create a feeling that takes one back in time.
“Everything comes from my obsession with scents: my memory is primarily olfactive so, for me, my sense of smell is my memory. I thought that, deep down, perfume is that thing that even with your eyes closed, brings you to a precise moment in space and time. When we began to work on Gucci Mémoire d’une Odeur, I tried to imagine the recollection of a scent that couldn’t easily be identified; a hybrid scent that resembles memory as much as possible,” explained Alessandro Michele.
For the fragrance’s campaign, the maison opted for some of its favourite faces including singer songwriter Harry Styles, young British designer Harris Reed , American designer and musician Zumi Rosow among a few other familiar faces as they’re shot by Glen Luchford frolicking and bonding in the woods. Gucci Mémoire d’une Odeur is now in stores and available online.
Parisian fashion house Balenciaga has unveiled the imagery for their Fall 2019 campaign set in Morocco, shot by French photographer Jean-Pierre Attal. For the campaign the photographer references his work series “Paysages Ethonographiques” where random subjects usually found in cosmopolitan scenery are casually placed in desert lands. The Balenciaga Fall 19 campaign takes on a similar narrative as the photographer’s subjects, decked out in full Balenciaga looks are placed in the Moroccan desert in a way that seems to be almost too contradictory to be real, blurring the lines between urban & suburban, real & surreal.
Earlier this week Parisian luxury label Celine released part 1 fo their 2019 Winter campaign under the direction of freshly appointed Creative Director Hedi Slimane.
The campaign shot by the creative director himself, captures the French bourgeois feel that was embodied on the FW19 runway featuring models Marland and Adrien as his muses. The models are clad in Celine from head to toe as they slouch around in some of the full looks from the runway. The campaign features a simple and quite relaxed approach to luxury which echoes the creative director’s intent for the FW19 collection itself. To view the full campaign and the short film accompanied, visit Celine.
This past week has seen the release of Italian fashion house Prada’s latest Linea Rossa campaign featuring their signature Linea Rossa logo with a bit of a twist. The campaign shot and directed by Daniel Sannwald features the duo of models Lineisy Monero and Jun Young who are chic in the Linea Rossa looks from Prada’s SS19 collection. The pieces, all made from innovative, futuristic fabrics are the epitome of ultra-functional minimalism and futuristic sportswear combined with a sprinkle of modern elegance. It includes men’s, women’s and unisex garments that creates slim yet sharp silhouettes that gives the wearer an extra edge for respective occasions. The campaign itself is a technoid take on the classic technique of chronophotography, capturing multiple frames of a motion and combining them in single images. To shop Prada’s Linea Rossa, visit Prada.
This week Parisian fashion house Yves Saint Laurent released their latest #YSL23 all denim campaign. Under the art direction of Anthony Vaccarello, the campaign features a tribe of models sporting rock and roll inspired looks decked in sequinned bikini tops, frayed jean shorts, denim shirts and jackets with leopard print patchwork, waistcoats and other edgy YSL pieces. With a cast of models that includes Kaia Gerber, Simona Kust, Martina Boaretto, Mads, Mullin, Rebecca Leigh Longendke, Dakota Lindvall, Najib, Rai Langlois and Dylan Christensen, photographer Gary Sorrenti captures the eclectic voices of the fashion house’s denim collection while honing Vacarello’s signature punk aesthetic. Discover more at YSL.
Earlier this week Italian fashion house Gucci launched it’s new advertising campaign featuring their jewellery ambassador and longtime friend, musician, singer, songwriter, producer Florence Welch. A match made in heaven , Florence is to Gucci as Madonna is to Gaultier or in even simpler terms as bread is to butter. Shot by photographer Colin Dodgson, the campaign features Welch in a retro styled wooden wagon surrounded by a bed of colourful decorative bohemian styled fabrics and furniture as she poses for the camera adorned in the house’s stylised rings, bracelets and necklaces. The artist’s light, nonchalant luxurious mood pairs perfectly with the garments and bijouterie carefully selected from Gucci’s Le Marché des Merveilles, Gucci Ourboros, Gucci Flora and Dionysus fine jewellery collections. Visit Gucci to discover more.
Earlier this month Italian fashion house Bottega Veneta released fresh new images for their Spring Summer 2019 campaign. Marking the first campaign for the brand under the new creative direction of Daniel Lee.
The designer was appointed in June, which allowed him means he missed the opportunity for the design process of the SS19 collection but was still able to edit it. However the creative direction of the campaign was solely led by his vision. The previous Céline designer teamed up with photographer Tyrone LeBon to present a selection of images influenced by minimalism and Italian coasts. Shot on the Neapolitan island of Ischia, the images are said to strip fashion and art down to their purest forms in a way which highlights and appreciates their similarities. A black trench coat, woven leather, knit, squared toed pumps. The campaign was a sort of visual documentary on the relationship between skin and material. This peek of the designer’s taste and appreciation for beauty is just enough to gather him an audience of eager new consumers leading up to his debut show later this month, especially during this time when old Céline consumers are scouting elsewhere.
As we reported earlier this season from the SS19 runways, the Fendi Baguette has officially made its comeback.
The history of the baguette dates as far back to 1997 when Silvia Venturini Fendi first made the pitch for a smaller bag in a time where larger bags were leading the market. Of course the feedback the designer received from the idea was not initially positive but nevertheless she stuck with her guts and released the first baguette on the runways of 1997. Initially it was offered with small straps and the double F logos in brown. Since then it has made it’s way from the late 90’s throughout the Sex and The City Era of the 2000’s in additional styles. And it’s now safe to say it is officially back and has made its return with a fabulous intro.
This week the Italian fashion label has launched their latest campaign #BaguetteFriendsForever which includes a series of short films featuring the storylines of inseparable groups of friends around the world throughout one of their daily routines which is centered around the iconic baguette. The first episode, released only yesterday, is titled “The Baguette is Back” and is shot along the vibrant streets of Shangai, China. It stars movie actresses Tan Zhuo and Qiao Xin along with influencers Yu Wei and Yoyo who are filmed during their venture of a girls night out. The movie starts with the women shopping for baguettes and wardrobe at the Fendi store inside IAPM Mall in preparation for a night at the club. Each film carries it’s own style with a slight hint of humour to top it off with Groove Armanda’s My Friend as their soundtrack. To be released later this month, are also two upcoming films featuring the baguettes’ ventures of Hong Kong and New York. Stayed tuned for more, and visit Fendi to shop.
For their Spring Summer 2019 campaign, Italian fashion house Prada tackles the concept of duality in a video series shot and directed by Will Vanderperre featuring looks from both their women’s and men’s SS19 runway. The series was inspired by classic Hollywood movies and is approached as such.
It features the likes of top models Freja Beha Erichsen, Gigi Hadid, Maine Inga, Liu Wen and Anok Yai re-named after Prada’s supporting cast of accessories: respectively Sybille, Sidone, Margit, Odette and Belle inspired by iconic female cinematic icons. These women are also accompanied by three male characters played by models Daan Duez, Jonas Gloer and Tae Min. The campaign’s direction is a play on an iconic genre of cinematography: everything is familiar, but not too much, all holds a double meaning. Movie star?or model? Menswear? or womenswear? This series is created to guarantee you a few double-takes upon viewing. And like any other movie, it’s accompanied by posters directed by Benoit Debie which hints at the imagery and narrative of the films leaving one curious enough to explore the reflections and refractions of the collection. The campaign boasts seven short films, which will be released throughout January and February on Prada.
For the Spring Summer 2019 runway show Yves Saint Laurent had their models walk on water in a black infinity pool near the Eiffel Tower. This was the making of high glamour seductive woman unafraid to make a splash with her black 6-inch stilettos. For their latest campaign, under the direction of Creative Director Anthony Vaccarello, the brand tapped German photographer Juergen Teller as they brought this woman by the waters of Lake Como for a smoking series of alluring shots. The campaign features Danish model Freja Beha Erichsen, along with Abbey Lee, Julia Nobbis and Mica Arganaraz wearing daring pieces from the collection including asymmetrical dresses, thigh high stockings and mesh tops complimented by drop earrings, silver headbands and of course the classic YSL open toe stiletto. For more visit YSL.