Steven Meisel has yet again shot Prada‘s video campaign – this time for the 50′s-inspired Spring 2012 collection. Although Meisel follows his same (winning?) formula of weird music, slow-motion contrasted with rapid cutting, and lots of closeups on accessories, I’m not bored yet. This one is much more cinematic than his past campaigns, with a hint of a story this time around. Shot in a gas station with lots of shiny vintage cars to match their shiny vintage-style sunglasses, models give each other bad vibes, fix their makeup, and pose by their cars intimidatingly. As we girls do.
Nope! Its not a Venus commercial, nor is it shoe porn…its Steven Meisel’s new Prada campaign video for AW11. Although it has no narrative whatsoever and its obviously a very expensive advert rather than a fashion film, I love that you can see all the beautiful textures and fabrics in closeup. Watch models looking like perfect little dolls, stroking their perfectly waxed legs and their Prada below;
Balmain has released a video version of their fall campaign, and it looks like they had some fun in After Effects to make it a little magical. Watch below for Kate Moss’s magic chameleon hair and the adorable smoking aliens and hand monsters that visit her as she poses.
By Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, via The Cut
I think Heather Marks is one of the most gorgeous models; She manages to look like a woman, a girl, and some kind of perfect otherwordly fairy all wrapped up in one really tall flawless being. She has also done loads of campaigns for Nars, which is probably in my top three cosmetics companies. Lately Nars has been promoting their Pure Matte lipstick range like crazy, and they’ve come out with a beauty film featuring the gorgeous Heather Marks.
Hey look, more mirror effects! As I’ve said a million times before, I am tired of mirror effects in fashion films, but here I feel like it works because it actually means something. The film starts out with the text “A creature of infinite dimension”, and then goes on to show Heather’s perfect mug in infinite dimensions. So fine, I give it a pass. It’s also pretty, short, and to the point, and I definitely want one of those lipsticks (Vesuvio, anyone?), so obviously it gets the job done.
Thoughts? Does it work for you, or is it pretentious and trendy?
A really cool video by Pierre Debuscherre for Heritage 160. Although its full of mirror effects and double exposures (epic rant here), I’m in a good mood today so I’ll let it slide.
Yesterday, cult British beauty brand Illamasqua released the first of three videos commissioned as part of their ongoing “make-up for your alter ego” campaign. The first video is entitled “Poem”, starring Vicky McClure, and is “a poignant portrayal of Vicky’s transformation into her alter-ego through the art of making-up…” As video lookbooks become increasingly popular among fashion designers, it is only fitting that beauty brands should follow with video campaigns…especially for a brand like Illamasqua that is rooted in cosmetics for film and theater.
What do you guys think? I feel that it suits the brand perfectly and serves its purpose showing us some products up close and in use…although it is a bit literal. Hopefully in the next two films we’ll get to find out who this girl is rather than just watch her apply gorgeous makeup.
I am super excited about their “Art of Darkness” Fall collection, which you can preview here.
I have a confession to make: I’m not a huge fan of Alexander Wang. I know, I know, that could be considered criminal by the fashion Powers That Be, those that a few years ago hailed Wang as the next big thing. But I am troubled by his work. I think my real problem with him (as a designer, not personally, obviously), is that his work embodies the “off-duty model” look that I HATE with a fiery, burning passion. Don’t get me wrong, there have been some pieces that I wanted desperatley, but I feel like everything about his brand screams “hipper than thou” and, well, I hate minimalism.
That being said, I tried to be objective about his new campaign video, since I’m always on the hunt for fashion films. The film is for AW10/11 and is directed by Craig McDean, and stars Abbey Lee Kershaw, whom I love (who doesn’t?). It takes a now-classic music video approach without a narrative and, though thankfully devoid of mirror effects, employs every other technique that has become conventional to this relatively new genre of video lookbooks/fashion campaign videos;
He’s got wind machines, split screens, an uber-hip dubstep soundtrack by The XX, slow-motion, boobs, rapid intercutting, and Abbey writhing around on grungy furniture in a dark room….basically the whole nine yards of the classic video campaign. For a designer who is known for being “fresh” and “edgy”, this is a very conventional video. Continue reading →
Here is the latest of Calvin Klein‘s campaign videos; This one is for CK Jeans Fall 2010. As usual its sexy with a classic American vibe, but this time with a trendy, black and white, biker edge.
Everyone is raving about the new Miu Miu video campaign for AW10/11. The models look gorgeous, the makeup is amazing and the clothes are of course incredible but I feel like the video could have been more creative. The models are Ginta Lapina, Lindsey Wixson (love her), Siri Tollerod, and Daphne Groeneveld.
H&M continues to push their brand image in a more “edgy” direction with this viral campaign for Matthew Williamson for H&M. This video definitely isn’t my aesthetic and its quite frankly a bit creepy, but I’m still really excited to see the collection. Thoughts?
“First Spring” is a fashion film by Yang Fudong for Prada. It’s nice to see someone bringing something new to the table…this short is daring, theatrical…and overall just stunning and surreal and meticulous and oh my gosh, every frame is a beautiful photograph from a magazine.
I would have to say Dazed & Confused is my favorite fashion magazine because they do some really incredible interviews with filmmakers as well as figures in fashion, and they always deliver with the fashion editorials. Also, they aren’t afraid of writing intelligently; a lot of glossies seem to think that its readers are allergic to words and just want to see pretty pictures of expensive clothes.
I just bought the february issue and I love that they featured the crazy Viktor & Rolf mesh creations, (I’d been dying to get a better look at the red gown with the cut out holes) as well as a piece about “emporer of anime” Hayao Miyazaki, who I love.
It also came with a free BE STUPID shirt from the new Diesel campaign…I can’t say I’m a huge fan of Diesel or their marketing technique of having people strive to “Be stupid: Smart may have the brains, but stupid has the balls”. I guess its – er -selling a lifestyle?
So when I found out Michael Bay had produced a Victoria’s Secret commercial, I jokingly said “watch there be helicopters and flame throwers”. He didn’t disappoint. Honestly, I think he has found his true calling in this. Babes in lingerie, explosions, cheesy rock, race cars, helicopters…”one gift, a thousand fantasies”. I approve. My only problem with it is that Chanel Iman only gets like six seconds of screen time.
"Drooling Isn't Pretty" is a film and fashion junkie who strives to find new and creative ways to combine these two art forms. She is a sucker for a good latte, zombie movies, cupcakes, tattoos, creeper shoes and anything Alexander McQueen (RIP) touches.
“One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art.”
-Oscar Wilde
Drool-worthy
adjective. def: If project runway has "fierce", "licious", and "leatha", I have "drool-worthy". Used to express enthusiasm for fashion-related things.
