Miu Miu's Arcadie Bag Campaign Starring Gigi Hadid

*New Campaign
Art Meets Fashion in Surreal Reverie
- Miu Miu's Arcadie Bag Campaign Starring Gigi Hadid Channels Margaret Keane

written John Heath

Miu Miu's latest campaign elegantly straddles the line between reality and fantasy, channeling the spirit of the late American artist Margaret Keane in unveiling its new Arcadie bag alongside the now-iconic Wander. Supermodel Gigi Hadid plays the Miu Miu heroine in this series of surreal shots, lensed by the renowned Steven Meisel.

credits

seen & filmed Steven Meisel
talent Gigi Hadid 
creative direction Edward Quarmby
styled Lotta Volkova

(c) MiuMiu

The campaign pays homage to Keane, who was famed for her wide-eyed subjects that exuded an endearing innocence, a style that was unjustly claimed by her then-husband, Walter, until the truth was revealed in a memorable courtroom spectacle.

Keane's distinctive artistic world blends seamlessly with the avant-garde aesthetics of Miu Miu in this campaign, largely thanks to Edward Quarmby's creative direction and Lotta Volkova's styling.

Hadid breathes life into the Arcadie and Wander bags, embracing the intriguing interplay between the surrealistic world of Keane and the unique universe of Miu Miu.

This celebration of unconventionality reaffirms Miu Miu's commitment to nonconformist artistry, creating an exciting tapestry where fashion meets art, reality meets surreality, and ordinary meets extraordinary.

Miu Miu's campaign dances on the surreal edge of reality, where the spirit of Margaret Keane merges with the brand's distinctive fashion narrative.

Valentino reinvents Parisian Elegance

*New Store Opening
VALENTINO reinvents Parisian Elegance with a brand new Store

written Sarah Arendts

The majestic Maison Valentino - the most French of Italian fashion houses and the quintessentially Parisian among Roman couture brands - marked a glamorous new milestone. The house proudly unveiled its new Paris store at 35, avenue Montaigne, Paris VIIIème, reinventing its presence in the heart of French luxury.

Conceived by the visionary minds of Jacopo Venturini, CEO, and Pierpaolo Piccioli, Creative Director of the couture house, the new Valentino store redefines the fashion retail experience. Spanning across three grand floors, the store accommodates women's and men's Prêt-à-porter and accessories, immersing shoppers in an avant-garde universe of style and elegance.

This opening continues Valentino's global expansion journey that began in 2022, with boutiques opening their doors in Madrid, Venice, Jeddah, Geneva, New Delhi, and Florence. Upcoming additions to the list include locations in New York and Shanghai. The Paris store, embodying the serenity and warmth of Valentino's unique in-house concept, amalgamates emotions and materials in an evocative fashion ambiance.

Dedicated to celebrating the artistry of craftsmanship, Valentino's new boutique exhibits an assortment of decorative wonders. Fabio Cinti's hammered brass showcases, Massimiliano Pipolo's ceramic handles, and Parisian artist Alexandre Logé's plaster lights echo the ethereal and dreamlike charm that characterizes the brand.

Adding an artistic spin, the Italian artist Gioele Amaro will adorn the boutique with some of his most emblematic creations from mid June to mid July, 2023.

Valentino's new Parisian store isn't just another boutique - it's an immersive blend of fashion, art, and architecture that elegantly intertwines the past, present, and future. The boutique embodies the timeless spirit of Valentino while reinventing the shopping experience for its cosmopolitan clientele.

A Valentino Fairy Tale Unfolding at the Château de Chantilly

*Haute Couture
Pierpaolo Piccioli Is About To Serve Haute Couture Magic in a French Castle

written Mark Ashkins

The fashion supernova that is Maison Valentino is preparing to shake up the Haute Couture universe once again. This time, the place to be isn't just any old runway - it's the storied Château de Chantilly, a French architectural goddess, 50 kilometers from the heart of Paris. Pierpaolo Piccioli, Valentino’s boundary-pushing creative director, is set to inject the age-old walls with a fresh pulse of Couture come July 5th, 2023, at 7:30 pm.

Bathed in the vibrant echoes of its decadent past, the Château de Chantilly is a time capsule, oozing with opulence and tales of regal splendor. Valentino's choosing this time-warped venue is pure genius – it's history meshed with haute, a mix as intoxicating as it is audacious. Who wouldn't want to see their latest Haute Couture collection spring to life in an ancient French palace adorned with Renaissance bling and royal canvases?

In true Valentino style, the fashion house is pushing boundaries and pulling down walls, figuratively speaking. The usually elusive world of Haute Couture will be brought to your screens, as the Fall/Winter 2023-24 show will be streamed live on Valentino.com and the brand’s social platforms. This is not just a runway show; it's a global invitation to witness Couture in its most mesmerizing form, right from the comfort of your own home.

Speculation and anticipation are rocketing sky-high, with fashion junkies and Valentino devotees waiting in high suspense for what Piccioli is about to unleash. The blend of Château de Chantilly's antiquated charm with Valentino's cutting-edge aesthetics is set to cause tremors across the fashion stratosphere.

Mark your calendars, set your alarms, and get ready to plug into an unforgettable Valentino spectacle. The stage is set for a historical collision of the past and the present, with Valentino at the steering wheel, driving us into the future of Haute Couture. Come July 5th, the Maison's magic spell will emanate from the heart of Château de Chantilly, casting a wide net of fascination on fashion lovers worldwide. Stay tuned for a Valentino-infused fashion fairy tale that's about to rewrite history.

Prada´s The Glass Age with Scarlett Johansson

*New Campaign
Prada´s The Glass Age with Scarlett Johansson

written Sarah Arendts

The world of high fashion intersects with pop culture and fine art in a campaign celebrating the Prada Galleria handbag, featuring Scarlett Johansson and directed by Alex Da Corte. Aptly titled “The Glass Age,” the campaign marries color and reflections to explore the multifaceted character of humanity, identity, and self-transformation.

Johansson, renowned for her acclaimed performances in film and theater, brings a unique energy to the campaign. Her acting prowess, known for embodying different personas with precision and passion, mirrors the diversity inherent in Prada’s iconic Galleria bag. Together, they create a vivid portrayal of individuality and style.

Venezuelan-American artist Alex Da Corte, known for his pop and surrealistic artwork, directs the campaign, marking his debut in a fashion context. Da Corte's signature style is marked by vividly-hued and all-encompassing artistic environments, which explore the same notions of humanity and individuality that Johansson brings to her work.

In this creative milieu, Johansson continually morphs, her transformations framed by a wash of pure color that channels universal emotions and collective experiences. This play of color and transformation further enhances Johansson’s global fame, making it resonate powerfully within these visuals.

This campaign also sees the Galleria itself recontextualized. Its silhouette serves as a canvas for exploration, with color and patterns reflecting the transformative power of fashion and design. The bag mirrors the vibrant world around it, embodying the campaign’s motif of refraction and reflection.

“The Glass Age” is a distinctive blend of high and popular culture, blurring the lines between fashion, fine art, and popular iconography. This novel intersection offers an opportunity for audiences to witness a reimagining of their favorite cultural figures, as well as cherished fashion icons like the Prada Galleria.

With Hollywood star power, the creative genius of Alex Da Corte, and the timeless elegance of Prada, “The Glass Age” promises an immersive exploration of fashion, identity, and transformation.