Chanel’s had us in suspense since February after announcing that Marion Cotillard was going to become the next face of its iconic N°5 fragrance. Magazine covers for Vogue Paris, British Harper’s Bazaar and ELLE France featuring the French actress sporting Chanel have kept us occupied, but now the wait is finally over. Catherine Deneuve, Nicole Kidman and Gisele Bündchen have all been featured in the scent’s campaigns throughout its rich 99-year-old history and now Marion joins the club starring in the latest ad captured by Steven Meisel. For the print campaign image (below), Marion is a vision wearing a gold embroidered gown (reinterpreted by Virginie Viard from an original Gabrielle Chanel design). In the magical commercial directed by Johan Renck (after the jump), she dances on the moon alongside Jérémie Belingard.
IMAGE: DESIGNSCENE.NET
The campaign got a lot of attention on our forums. “I mean she looks beautiful, but it’s not a very exciting picture. It looks flat. Too flat for Meisel,” critiqued mikel.
“I see no Meisel magic in the photos,” complained MDNA.
“I don’t like it. Chanel in my imagination should be more classic, timeless and almost minimalist. This, in contrary, looks like a Zuhair Murad ad or a holiday version of the main campaign,” called out an underwhelmed Royal-Galliano.
Benn98 also wasn’t exactly jumping for joy: “I like the set design and rich colors for Christmas, but it’s a bit too J’adore for me.”
“I cannot believe Meisel shot this. It screams Mario Testino for me even Annie Leibovitz, but not Meisel. It is cute, but I expected a little more,” voiced WAVES.
But not everyone shared the same sentiment. “It’s very timeless and classic in a very 90s way. I kind of like it. It’s rich, classic, slightly old-fashioned and conservative, but not uptight. Marion here looks more herself than she has ever looked for Christian Dior,” admired Lola701.
“The print campaign image is flawless and I admire Virginie Viard’s reinterpretation of the dress Gabrielle Chanel wore in the Cecil Beaton photograph from 1937, which is such a special touch,” raved vogue28.
See more from the campaign and join the conversation here.
Radhika Jones obviously has a real knack for picking cover stars. Just this year we’ve encountered Ana de Armas, Reese Witherspoon, Viola Davis along with Gal Gadot down at newsstands. Now Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is added to the list with the unveiling of Vanity Fair‘s December 2020 edition. The newly-reelected representative wears an Aliétte suit while posing in front of a floral backdrop for the clearly charming shot snapped by Tyler Mitchell.
IMAGE: VANITYFAIR.COM
Nonetheless, the cover received mixed reviews. “She looks absolutely divine,” declared helmutnotdead.
“Nothing was going to top last month’s Gal Gadot cover for me, but this is undeniably a beautiful cover… Alexandria photographs well and looks positively radiant here — and despite the floral backdrop, everything still feels suited for a December cover,” admitted vogue28.
Marc10 was definitely a fan: “The pose on the cover is a bit stiff, but still love it! She wears clothes really well (especially for a politician).”
“What a coup! I love this, notwithstanding the rather stiff pose,” voiced MON.
“Very excited to see AOC! Cover could have been better — looks like a media shot in front of a floral step-and-repeat at some Hollywood event…” commented LastNight.
“I hate that cover. She’s undeniably beautiful, but that pose is just STIFF. A cropped version would have been better,” proclaimed an absolutely underwhelmed mepps.
Check out Alexandria’s cover feature and join the conversation here.
The last time Vogue Czechoslovakia caught our attention was with a Kylie Jenner cover. Now the publication is once again on our radar thanks to Irina Shayk. Irina is always a good idea, whether she’s storming runways for mega brands during fashion month, dialing up the drama in Moschino campaigns or scoring her first British Vogue cover. The Russian bombshell gives us a peek inside the garden of Donatella Versace’s extravagant Milan mansion for Czechoslovakian Vogue‘s November 2020 issue posing nude with only a couple of strategically-placed pieces from the Versace Home collection before the lens of the Morelli Brothers.
IMAGE: VOGUE.CZ
“Was expecting a disappointment due to the Morelli Brothers, but I must admit I’m pleasantly surprised. It’s a little cheap, sure. But Irina is simply striking! It’s very Versace Home,” admired aracic.
“I am a fan of the cover, love the nod to those vintage Versace Home adverts by Richard Avedon, the luxurious feel and sense of glamour (despite Irina being nude). Killer heels would’ve elevated the image somewhat,” vogue28 pointed out.
“Irina’s pose is awkward, but the face and background are gorgeous,” confessed Serend1pity.
But Ghesquiere32 wasn’t sold: “She looks cheap. Very, very cheap.”
“Because we all walk around naked in our garden carrying plates to cover our hoo hah when a stranger tries to take our picture,” mocked GivenchyHomme.
“I don’t see how it’s exactly cheap, I think it’s done well, though it could have been zoomed in more. This might be the first Vogue Czechoslovakia I buy,” added SLFC.
Are you a fan? See more from the cover shoot and share your thoughts here.
For the last three years Zara has wisely booked Steven Meisel as its campaign photographer. The legendary lensman (and firm forum favorite) keeps snapping models of the moment with each campaign more gorgeous than the last. Following a flawless Spring 2020 outing, Meisel is back for Fall 2020. This time around Meisel remotely captures Mika Schneider, Mona Tougaard, Rianne Van Rompaey along with Sacha Quenby (styled by Karl Templer) roaming an airstrip in France for the moody black and white images.
IMAGE: ZARA.COM
Members of our forums definitely approve. “It looks pretty amazing. I love the mood. Also, this cast is absolutely flawless! I couldn’t have asked for a better one,” admired guimon.
“These images are visually amazing, I love all of them,” raved Mody.
“Amazing campaign, but Meisel always delivers for Zara. ALWAYS,” applauded WAVES.
XxHigh_FashionxX shared the same level of enthusiasm: “I love when Meisel photographs truly beautiful women. Mona and Sacha look royal and sumptuous.”
“This is giving mid to late 2000s Vogue Italia vibes. Love that Sacha has become a Meisel fave,” said Summer Day.
“If Meisel truly shot this remotely, then it’s a testament to his enduring genius, the imagery is fantastic and as polished and controlled as ever…” voiced Fiercification.
“So nice to see some truly GREAT fashion imagery in these times,” expressed Velasco.
Mercury6181 was clearly impressed, too. “This campaign is awesome! It’s moments like these that make me wish Meisel was utilized more these days, his creativity and genius are unmatched.”
IMAGES: ZARA.COM
Check out the campaign video and join the conversation here.
It’s not every month that our dream cover star fronts one of our favorite fashion glossies. But this month Vogue Germany is making our dreams a reality. It’s a good thing because the German fashion bible has a whole lot of making up to do following several questionable covers featuring Hailey Bieber, Toni Garrn and Nicole Atieno. Now forum favorite Raquel Zimmermann graces the magazine’s November 2020 issue decked out in a wool blazer from Prada courtesy of Nicola Knels and a head full of curls. The Brazilian beauty was captured perched on a stool for the Chris Colls-snapped image.
IMAGE: VOGUE.DE
The cover caused quite a stir on our forums. “RAQUEL! YES, a real supermodel on a Vogue cover and still in 2020? I could almost cry,” raved Bertrando3.
“Finally a great cover for Vogue Germany. Raquel looks fantastic, as expected, and I love the portrait. It sort of has a modern day renaissance quality to it thanks to her beauty, it’s intriguing. Raquel alone makes this issue worth looking at,” stated aracic.
“Despite the horrible cropping and logo color, I cannot hate on this. Raquel better work!” wrote dontbeadrag.
Unfortunately, everyone else was underwhelmed by the outcome. “It’s not bad, especially when you consider Vogue Germany’s bad run of covers this year. But it’s lacking something, her facial expression is slightly off…” commented mikel.
“Only Chris Colls can make someone like Raquel look so dull,” ranted RedSmokeRise.
GivenchyHomme felt the same way: “It’s a vacant photograph. You don’t book Raquel for something so solemn.”
Our forum members have been busy speculating just who would front British Vogue’s December 2020 issue. Adele, Beyoncé and Kylie Minogue are just some of the names thrown about. Now it’s been revealed that Beyoncé is the mag’s star of choice to front its final offering of the year. Making a long-awaited return to the cover of the British fashion bible, the icon appears on a trio of covers all captured by 21-year-old Kennedi Carter (the mag’s youngest-ever cover photographer). Beyoncé wears Mugler, Adidas x Ivy Park and Alexander McQueen in the three cover images all styled by Edward Enninful.
IMAGE: VOGUE.CO.UK
The covers immediately became a topic of conversation on our forums. “I am truly sorry, but I have never thought of Beyoncé as a star with great fashion sense or fashion influence, but this is downright atrocious…” declared dontbeadrag the moment the covers dropped.
“To be completely honest, I’m disappointed with the execution of ALL three covers. Not the biggest Beyoncé fan, but think the photography is dreadful, the styling is an eyesore, the posing is laughable and there’s zero correlation between the covers. All just a total nonevent,” voiced vogue28.
“Three strikes…you’re out! This is embarrassingly bad,” disapproved dfl-001.
Armani was also less than impressed: “Oh no, what a disappointing batch of covers. As much as I will defend Beyoncé’s artistry, visuals and untouchable talent until the day I die…she just isn’t the strongest editorially, never has been.”
“These look like ads for an obscure strip club/brothel. Really Edward? Adidas on a Vogue cover…” added avonlea002.
IMAGES: VOGUE.CO.UK
Await the contents of the issue and share your thoughts here.
