Vogue Russia - November 2011 - RANT

I simply cannot not talk about this. When I saw this Vogue cover, I had to "take-two" and actually make sure I was looking at Vogue and not Penthouse or some other similar publication.

I mean Vogue is Vogue regardless of whether it is Russian, French or American. Vogue is the pinnacle of style, fashion and everything that is exquisite. Vogue is also a woman's territory. I personally think that if you are a man, unless you are Tom Ford, you should not, under any circumstances, appear on a cover of any Vogue.  

It is a common view that after Alena Doletskaya left Vogue Russia, the magazine somewhat got a little bit lost. The content is still good and relevant but the whole publication became very .. well "russian". In my view Vogue should be international, it should be written in the international language of style and should connect people in Russia (or wherever) with the rest of the fashion community worldwide. 

I personally was offended, disappointed and even disgusted that such a cover would even be allowed to be published under those coveted five letters. Russia is already overly, overtly sexual... too much for my liking. Luckily the likes of Vogue, Harpers Bazaar and Elle somehow managed to keep their integrity and style...until now that is.

The editors of Vogue Russia should really reconsider why they are publishing this magazine. The primitive view is that Vogue is a magazine about clothes..well I mean the shoot with Adam Levine and Anna Vyalitsina hardly even contained any clothes!!! Don't get me wrong, I think the pictures are very well done, except they are better suited to GQ perhaps. Ahhh, this really made me angry. Just when you think Russia is finally coming out of its "Eurotrash" dump of a stereotype, you see something like this and realise how long it will be before Russia will become a style arena in a true and full sense of that word. Shame, shame, shame on you Vogue Russia!

Rave- Charlotte Gainsbourg for Balenciaga

I think Balenciaga got this one soo right. Leaving aside the fact who Charlotte Gainsbourg actually is (daughter of the legendary Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg - I mean hello!) she is the perfect French woman - the understated yet extremely sensual french chic and beauty is what she conveys in this ad - I don't think they could have picked a better person for an iconic house like Balenciaga. She is sooo much better suited to this than just the next pretty face model with luscious lips and empty/sexy eyes. Bravo Balenciaga! Love your work.

Lacoste - Unconventional Chic, Thoughts

I have been thinking about this campaign for a little while and I have decided that I actually don't like it. I understand what they are getting at with this but something is just not working about it. I understand that Lacoste is trying to take a different spin on glamour and chic and break out of the 'polo shirt' niche that the brand is currently in but I'm not entirely sure that such a literal interpretation is necessarily the most effective way to expand the brand perception beyond sports chic.

ID magazine cover - Thoughts

I don't know why I like this cover.. I think it might be her hair... or more specifically the hair colour. It's grey. As in the colour it turns when you age... I like the juxtaposition of her young face against the long grey hair. Something interesting in that... I guess that's because we hardly ever see grey hair on a magazine cover, it's nice for a change.. May be if we saw grey hair portrayed as cool more often we wouldnt all be so petrified of ageing. That is all. 

Kate Moss for Parisienne by YSL - Rant



Parisienne - 2011 ad campaign



I actually had the exact same thoughts last year when the first Parisienne fragrance came out, except back then I didn't have this blog. Well now I do, and Parisienne is having a re-run.

Kate Moss, aka ‘the love of my life’, the most stylish, my most admired is once again the face of Parisienne by YSL fragrance campaign.

I had mixed feelings when I saw this last year and I have the same feelings about it now. On the one hand, I love Kate Moss and she can do no wrong. On the other hand, I laugh at the fact that Kate, the ultimate Brit, the ex-face of Burberry (i mean, how more Brit can you get?!) is now also the "ultimate Parisienne"?!

I don’t really care if the message YSL is trying to send is ‘anyone can be a Parisian’ or ‘its your style that makes you Parisian’ or whatever it might be… I say – DOWN WITH THIS FASHION GLOBALISATION! Why is it that stereotypes are bad?? Some times they can be good.. Like the stereotypical French/Parisian lady.. the one who is meant to ooze elegance and chic and the je-ne-sais-qoui.

Like Audrey Tatou.. or Melanie Laurent.. or Marion Cotillard...

Kate Moss is a legend - not doubt about that. But in my humble opinion she was a wrong choice for this particular campaign. That is all. 

Parisienne - 2010 ad campaign

Elisa Sednaoui for Chanel - Rave

Really like that Chanel got the gorgeous Elisa Sednaoui for this season's sunglasses campaign. Now that makes sense - French brand working with a gorgeous French actress. I just think it reminds people (not that anyone has forgotten) where Chanel came from and that it is a quintessentially French maison whilst also PRing an up-and-coming Frenchie. Well done I say! 

Rave - Ksubi Kolors video

Ksubi is a really funky Australian brand that makes great jeans amongst other things. I own a couple of pairs and sadly gave away my old yellow ones in a garage sale (who knew they would come back into fashion?!). Anyway, I'm pretty sure Ksubi went into voluntary administration due to financial difficulties last year (or maybe a year before that). It is so great to see the brand is back in the game. They are truly funky and Aussie, and I love their new ad - weird and quirky.. just the way i like it :)


ksubi kolors from ksubi on Vimeo.

Tiffany & Co - new engagement ring ads - Thoughts

We all love Tiffany & Co. We not only love it because of Breakfast at Tiffany's or the statement blue box but because the jewellery is actually great. Tiffany & Co has something for everyone - if you don't have enough money to buy the gold Paloma Picasso necklace, you can get hooked by buying a keyring. Buy something cheap now so you feel like you are 'in' and then come back when you have the money - marketing genius really. 

Anyhow, this particular post is about the new ad for Tiffany engagement rings. It is perfect. So sweet. So sweet that it in fact looks too perfect and too sweet. In effect, there is nothing wrong with this ad - a perfect New Yorker couple (NB I appreciated the attempt not to pick Barbie & Ken so as to make it more 'real'), getting married in Central Park with the closest family and friends.

Firstly the concept. We all know that Tiffany is a quintessential New York brand. It has been in a hella lotta movies, Breakfast at Tiffany's and Sex And The City being the obvious ones. We already know that Park Avenue, 5th Avenue and Tiffany's is the holly trinity of the Upper East Side. We have been told the same thing since 1837. It's tradition, it's values, it's solid. Don't think it's time to tell us something we don't already know??? I mean, is it just me who is not appreciating the cheesiness of this ad? I mean, the yellow cab? Since when do brides get into yellow cabs? And why are people throwing confetti at them when they are coming out from under an arch in Central Park? And why is it that all guests are male in the third picture? 

I'm pretty sure that Tiffany already has a strong following amongst the Park Avenue ladies. It seems strange that they wouldn't want to modernise it a little and tap into a slightly different market. That is all.

Karen Millen - SS2011 Campaign - Rave

Karen Millen has really impressed me with their campaign this season. For a high street brand they have managed to come up with a classy, well-styled ad and well-cast ad campaign.

Firstly, lets talk about the model. Jess Hart - a smart choice for a number of reasons. She is an established face who got some great exposure through her cameos in The City… which, if you think about it, would be the program watched by the brand's target market. At the same time she is not too big so she is not immediately associated with any of the bigger fashion brands. And finally, Jess' look is very much a 'top-end model' look so it doesn't make the campaign look tacky or cheap but rather takes into a more high-fashion territory. Jess has done a great job on this one.

Secondly, the campaign is well styled. Bursting with colour but keeping the minimalist and clean lines it is simple yet eye-catching. I love how the bright background is used to accentuate the clothes.

Finally, this campaign is successful because it has focused Karen Millen's strongest points. I say this because looking at the campaign you get a story of a sophisticated high street brand which is affordable yet has an edge and is not as huge as the likes of Topshop or H&M. In reality, at least for me, Karen Millen is a bit of a hit'n'miss brand. Every time I walk into the store I find a small number of items that I love and a slightly higher number of items that make me cringe because of their tackiness. It's like some of the clothes should have a disclaimer attached: "best worn with fake tan and excessive jewellery". Like the much loathed layer-cake dress in Barbie pink from last season's collection.

In any case, I very much think that the brand is moving in the right direction and although the SS2011 collection (I mean the clothes here rather than the campaign) for me is an obvious amalgamated version of LV Resort 2011 and Prada SS2011, I do not think it should take away from the great job that Karen Millen has done this season. The brand should be proud, as their campaign is of a high standard and looks on par even with the heavyweights of the industry when it appears on the pages of glossies.

Karen Millen SS2011:

Louis Vuitton Resort:

Prada SS2011:

Selling sex in a bottle - Perfume ads for SS2011- Thoughts

It always amazes me how so many brands choose to so blatantly use sex to promote their scents. It makes me wonder why. Surely it shouldn't be too hard to sell perfume by putting a pretty face to it?! Why is it that the scent is so often linked to sexuality? It's like the ads are screaming: "use me and you will get sex, lots of it!" or is it more like: "once you use me, all you'd want to do is have sex"?

Anyway, whatever it is that drives the brands to put that spin on it, it must work because they keep doing it season after season. 

What I also find interesting is that the concept is the same but the spin is sooo different! 

Lets consider the following examples:

1. Natalie Portman for Miss Dior

"oh look at me, i'm so innocent and virginal and girlie… but I am nakeeeed" 

Tasteful, feminine and has just the tinge of sexiness so as to not make it vulgar. I like it. 

2. Scarlett Johansson for D&G The One

"I am irresistibly sexy and you couldn't say 'no' even if you really wanted to. Sorry, I guess I was just born that way…"  

Amp up the volume from our first example to end up balancing on the edge of sultry and blatant sex. Still the ad is not at all vulgar but it is very much a statement. Everything makes a not-so-subtle hint on sex - the eyes, the open mouth, the red lipstick, the bustier that she is wearing. Poor Scarlett is just sitting there waiting for someone to come sweep her of her feet, carry her to the bed and make sweet love.

3. Gucci Guilty 

A bold, sweaty statement. "Good looking people use this scent and have amazing sex - you too could be good looking and have amazing sex if you use this scent. Come what are you waiting for?!"

Yet again, take it up a notch from our Scarlett example by introducing a second variable to the equation - a good looking Italian man. Mais biensur! This is a bold, shameless, slightly voyeuristic ad which works because the brand in question is Gucci. Gucci has always been a sensual Italian brand so in this case it almost makes sense. I mean why wouldn't you if you can?

4. Megan Fox for Armani Code

Apart from my personal dislike of Megan's look, this ad is for those of who are a bit thick and don't get hints and subtleties. Just put it out there - "we just had sex and it felt sooo good" (they really should've used The Lonely Island song as a soundtrack - if you don't know what I am talking about YouTube "The Lonely Island" it really is hilarious). This ad I would definitely classify as vulgar in my books. I'm not entirely sure what makes it vulgar but I guess it's a bit of everything - the overly sexual look on Megan's face, the fringe that doesn't suit her one bit, her tattoos, the naked man in the background. I think Megan is great for selling things to men - she is a sexbomb and it's a fact. But when it comes to selling to women the previous Armani Code ad was, in my humble opinion, much more tasteful and effective.  

Old Flame - Lilly Allen for Chanel - RANT

This ad is no longer relevant because it is from yonks years ago but it is an old flame for me - it just always really bothered me. It's not even that I mind Lilly Allen so much, it is Lilly Allen in combination with Chanel that had ticked me off. Lilly Allen is/was a pop star, a very successful one at that but a pop star nonetheless. Chanel is an icon, a mecca, the holy grail of fashion. I know uncle Karl said that he picked Lilly because she is a self-made woman but there is so much more to it than that. For me personally, this was a disappointment in Chanel more than anything. Chanel stands for elegance, heritage, femininity, status. Lilly Allen, as nice as she is, stands for none of those things (or at least she didnt until her magical Chanel makeover). It just did not make sense to me. Lilly is a jolly english girl who likes a drink and a laugh and doesnt take herself too seriously. As great as that is - that is not enough for Chanel. No matter how drastic the makeover, she is still Lilly Allen - a brand name in her own right, but a brand name that represents nothing of what Chanel is all about. Sorry Lilly! Not happy, uncle Karl! 

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NY Times Style Magazine cover - Rave

I think this cover is amazing. Such a powerful look in her eyes and that match just ads to the dare. Minimum make-up, simple hair and the bra strap showing - together create an air of understated sex appeal. And yet, there is depth in her eyes... Makes you want to find out her thoughts. 

Tatler UK, February cover - Rant

I'm lost for words. Why pick an image that makes Kate look like she is in her 40's? Dreadful. 

Blake Lively for Chanel

This particular Chanel ad I do not really have a problem with. I love Blake Lively, she is sexy and gorgeous and all that. One tiny little thing that kinda freaks me out here is her eye though. I'm talking about not the eyes that stare at you from the reflection in the mirror but the other eye. I dont know whether it's the retouching or just an accident but it looks glassy and zombie-like. It is spooky. That is all.

Van Cleef & Arpels advertisement

This is also a long time un-favorite. I mean, lets think about this... Van Cleef & Arpels, a fine jewellery luxury brand. Probably competing for the market share along Cartier and Tiffany & Co. And yet every single time I see this ad, it just makes me think of either some kind of detergent or air freshener. I think it must be the blue skies and the green grass that automatically makes me think of fresh air, endless pastures and milky clouds... Hang on a minute.. now that I think about it... May be it's not detergent at all, may be it is Milka chocolate or a yoghurt... hmmm

In any case, fine jewellery is the last thing that comes to mind. There are just so many questions that I have about this ad: why is she blowing bubbles? bubbles - soapy? what's the message here? Also what's with the haircut? That fringe... I don't think it looks anything like the demographic that VC&A are aiming for. She does not look like a sophisticated, well-to-do Park Avenue lady.. She looks like a girl next door, possibly who sells ice-cream for some part-time cash.. There it is again! Dairy, ice-cream, cows... I just can't get away from it! Anyhow, it would be interesting to find out how successful this campaign was because to me it makes no sense whatsoever! 

Elle UK February cover - Keira Knightley

This cover bugged me the minute I saw it. I think I even tweeted @ Elle about it. It's the eye. Look at her eye. It is not completely and fully open and hence the flick of the eyelashes is not complete and hence she looks either stoned or half asleep. This shot could've been good for an editorial page but not a cover!!! I mean come on people...