Lanvin's found a use for snakes beyond their precious skins. The slithery serpents are draped over the models in the label's new spring/summer 2012 advertising campaign!

After snapping several successful campaigns in the past, it's little surprise that Lanvin has rerecruited famed photographer Stephen Meisel to shoot Aymeline Valade, Othilia Simon, and Marte van Haaster. I'm not sure whether he's responsible for their calm demeanors, but somehow the beauties have managed to keep their cool while the reptiles wrap themselves around their bodies.

Personally I think the snakes would be unwanted dinner party guests, but these girls don't seem to mind one jot. Perhaps clutching the snakeskin purses has helped them become more tolerant of the real things, or they've just indulged in a few too many margaritas to mind!

Either way, this is an inspired advertisement from Lanvin. The snakes make it quirky enough to convince us to linger over the image. And while we're there we can't help appreciating those feminine flowing cocktail dresses, or the structured exotic clutch purses. The composition is a bit messy for my tastes, but I suppose anywhere that's hosted a party won't be neat!

It's not quite as exciting as seeing Karen Elson and Raquel Zimmermann dancing to Pitbull with Lanvin's creative director Alber Elbaz as we did last season, but it'll do!

[Source: Glamazon Diaries]

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With so many fashion campaigns focusing on beautiful faces, it's interesting to see Diane von Furstenberg has gone in a completely different direction. The model in its spring/summer 2012 campaign features no face at all!

Photographer Camilla Akrans realized Diane von Furstenberg's vision and created an ode to surrealist art.

The ad reminds me a little of the new Proenza Schouler advertisement, where we saw Natasha Poly's head unceremoniously cropped. However the effect of having a mirror where the face should be is much more jarring.

The ad seems to remove the stigma that you need to be a waif thin model with impossibly fine features to wear these clothes. By replacing her face with a mirror we can imagine our own face reflected there, and by extension ourselves in the advertisement.

It's a clever concept but I worry that the missing face shifts focus away from the fashions. The red and white floral wrap dress the model wears is gorgeous, and a great complement to the oversized white clutch purse, but we barely notice them. Sometimes fashion house's can be too clever for their own good.

Do you appreciate Diane von Furstenberg's dramatic new advertisement, or do you think it misses the mark?

[Source: Fashionista]

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The commercials see Bailey relaxing on the beach at Camber Sands. Renowned photographer Angelo Pennetta and Radley's creative director and shoot stylist Kate Hillier have opted to keep the campaign feeling very natural, which I think is perfect for the season. And besides, a born beauty doesn't need any trickery to shine!

Perhaps Bailey looks so relaxed because Radley allowed her to wear her own clothes during the shoot. How often does that happen? Apparently Hillier and Bailey decided the approach would best demonstrate how a bag can make any outfit shine. Even if that's a beat up old army jacket, a cozy cardigan, or a mismatched boho beach ensemble!

Bailey said she wanted to work with Radley as it celebrates "creativity, quality and craftsmanship." She added that she's also passionate about supporting her country's companies and design talent.

In the glossy world of fashion the natural look of this Radley campaign really stands out. While Bailey is impossibly beautiful, seeing her with minimal makeup and the sort of clothes I have in my own closet is very approachable. If she can rock these bags, surely we can too!

[Source: Marie Claire]

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The photo shoot saw the actress reunited with photographer Peter Lindbergh, who snapped her for last year's Coach autumn/winter 2011 ads. They're also set in New York City, although the metropolis has a different complexion this season. This time around the commercials feel much fresher and more fun, as if the weight of winter has left us and been replaced with all the sun of summer.

Paltrow is no doubt stretched with her acting duties, burgeoning singing career, lifestyle blogging role, and everyday responsibilities as a wife and mother of two. Yet it seems that working with Coach is an opportunity close to her heart.

"I grew up in New York City, and I've always thought of Coach as the quintessential New York brand," the Oscar winner explained.

I'm particularly fond of this advertisement which shows a fresh-faced smiling Paltrow stepping out carrying the Poppy Willis cross-body purse. The companion commercial sees the actress more relaxed as she lounges about with her red Madison Lindsey satchel.

I love the accessibility of this advertising campaign. I'd much rather see a grinning Gwyneth than another snooty, skinny supermodel, wouldn't you?

[Source: The Telegraph]

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John Galliano exited Christian Dior in a booze-fueled haze of controversy, so it's interesting to see the its diffusion line's latest advertising taking inspiration from another drunk renegade. The spring 2012 campaign for Galliano pays tribute to acclaimed yet controversial gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.

Benhamin Eidem is modeled after Raoul Duke, the autobiographical title character of Thompson's novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Just as Johnny Depp did in the film adaptation, Eidem smolders from underneath his bucket hat and yellow lensed aviator sunglasses. Despite meeting some notable women, Duke never had a sidekick. Perhaps if he did she'd look something like Constance Jablonski, who cuts a dramatic figure in her Hawaiian print dress, oversized clutch purse, and wedge heels.

Looking at this attractive twosome makes me want to pack my bags for my own Las Vegas road trip. The commercial really captures the warm weather ahead and sells the clothes and accessories really well.

But does anyone else find it a little strange that a line previously headed by a loud-mouthed loose cannon with a drinking problem is now paying homage to a figure so similar? While Hunter S. Thompson wasn't exactly sympathizing with Nazis he certainly never shied away from controversy.

What do you think of Galliano's latest advertisement?

[Source: Racked]

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It's not quite Miu Miu, but Lindsay Lohan has managed to score herself a starring role in Philipp Plein's spring 2012 advertisement.

Frankly the troubled starlet needs to take whatever work she can get these days. It seems Plein's supported her through thick and thin. She was sitting in the front row of his Milan Fashion Week show last year, and now she's popped up in his latest commercials.

Li-Lo's had a rough trot of late but she emerges from this latest appearance smelling pretty sweetly. While her unusual outfit leaves a bit to be desired, she looks great perched upon a dock in Italy's Lake Como. And while I can't give the patent red jacket or those bow-decorated heels a lot of love, the patriotic stars and stripes clutch in her hand is pretty cute.

I think Lohan really needed to start small if she hopes to claw her way back to in demand model and style maker. While this isn't a large campaign she takes on a prominent role and holds her own. It might just be the kind of thing other designers will look at and take notice of. Do you think we'll see Lindsay in a few more fashion campaigns next season?

[Source: Fashion etc.]

I can really sympathize with models Magdela Fracowiaka and Jamie Bochert, the stars of Jimmy Choo's spring 2012. If anyone tried to take that colorblocked satchel from my clutches, I'd probably fight them for it too!

Acclaimed photographer Terry Richardson captured the squabbling beauties for this technicolor advertising campaign. The label says it was inspired by the glamour of the Mediterranean and its cinematic screen sirens of the 1970s. Think Gina Lollabrigida, Claudia Cardinale, and Sophia Loren. The commercial is obviously designed to sell clothes and that argument-inspiring satchel, but it also explores the passion of the female psyche and women's propensity for rivalry. There's no solidarity here; it's every girl for herself!

Given the advertisement's concept, I wish we saw a bit more fire from Fracowiaka and Bochert. I'm sure I'd be able to snatch the handbag away from either of them without too much of a struggle. It's almost as if they're worried about losing their looks if they really commit to the conflict. I imagine the juxtaposition of the perfectly proper continental country estate and the quarreling models would have been even more dramatic if they'd really let loose.

This is a really interesting advertising campaign from Jimmy Choo, but it also feels a little half-baked, don't you think?

[Source: La Moda]

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Anne Hathaway must have a pretty hectic schedule with her thriving movie career and wedding plans, but she's still found time to model for Tod's Signature Collection. The actress makes her return to Tod's for this year's spring advertising campaign.

Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott took the photos in London last year, as they did for Tod's fall/winter 2011 campaign also fronted by Hathaway. The acclaimed photographic twosome have managed to capture her youthful energy and class, which is just what Tod's creative director Fabien Baron was hoping for.

"The campaign for Tod's Signature reaches out to a new and younger clientele," he explained. "We see a stunningly exquisite Anne as a classic beauty with a modern Italian edge — feminine and strong."

It seems it's a bit of a mutual admiration society too, as Hathaway, a longtime fan of the fashion house, said she was "excited to be a part of exploring a new side of their identity with the launch of their Signature Collection."

Despite the ads rolling out over the next few weeks, the Signature Collection bags won't hit stores until October. By that time we'll likely be hanging out for the classic designs and high quality finishes of these purses. Or we'll have forgotten about them.

It seems a real gamble to release an advertisement for a new line so many months before it hits stores. Do you think the risk will pay off?

[Source: People StyleWatch]

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It seems a tad frivolous and somewhat disrespectful to pay for the expertise of Natasha Poly, only to sever her head, but that's exactly what Proenza Schouler has done here. And personally I think the gamble pays off.

Firstly we find ourselves paying attention to the ad because it looks so different. Photographer Willy Vanderperre and stylist Olivier Rizzo have worked well together to create and ad that stands out from the pack. This isn’t the kind of commercial you'd simply flick past in a magazine.

And while we're admiring it we're zooming straight in at the fashions. We're not drooling at it from a distance either. By cropping in close Vanderperre has captured the intricate weave of the handbag and the texture of those platform heels. On another ad we would have missed them, but here those devilish details are showcased people.

Is this unusual fashion ad a work of genius or was Proenza Schouler mad to ignore its rather expensive model?

[Source: The Purse Blog]

Proenza Schouler Purses on eBay

Mikael Jansson shot the softly lit images of the Ukranian-born actress for the feminine commercials. The moody blue hues don't exactly scream spring/summer collection to me, but the campaign looks gorgeous. Of course Jansson had some great raw materials to work with though in Kunis and Christian Dior's gorgeous dress and clutch purse!

Kunis said she was "thrilled" to join the Dior team, as the brand is "iconic in so many ways. It defines fashion, elegance, and sophistication."

The ads featuring the Black Swan star will grace the pages of European fashion magazines Elle and Vogue and American style bibles New York Times and Vanity Fair later this month.

With a fresh new face on board, perhaps this is a sign Christian Dior is on the up and ready to put all that nasty John Galliano business behind it. Now if it would just announce a new creative director already we'd all be happy! Until then we'll just have to contend ourselves with this stunning new commercial. What do you think of Mila Kunis' modeling turn?

[Source: Stylelist]

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