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I just read that Vanessa Paradis is the new face of Miu Miu, and all I can say is “ooh, la, la.” Because she’s French–get it? I was into the Kirsten Dunst Miu Miu ads, and I think Dunst gets an undeserved bad rap, but I’ve loved Paradis since I first heard her baby voice on Rodney on the ‘Roq, so…

out with the old, in with the new.

Source.

Check out Agent Provocateur’s new ads for their bridal collection starring Kate Moss. This one above is kind of Russ Meyer 2008, but actually, these photos are a response to a script called White Wedding written by Agent Provocateur founder Joe Corré. The story is told in 6 scenes, starting with “The Happiest Day of Her Life” (bottom) and ending with “Let Them Eat Cake.”

This one below is scene 5, entitled “Revenge.”

The photographer behind these ads is Nick Knight, who I first became aware of back in high school when my friends and I were obsessed with his book Skinhead. We were both attracted to and repelled by Knight’s pictures of the East London Skins, so it makes sense that he’s been able to cause the same mixed emotions here, even with Kate Moss (not disgruntled skinheads) as his subject.

You can see the films that go along with the photos at SHOW Studio (just click on the pictures).

-Valentina

Photo Source.

I’ve never been much of a fan of Tom Ford’s ads, not because they’re vulgar, but because they’re vulgar in a boring way. Wow, a bottle of cologne covering a waxed vagina...how shocking! But I guess everyone’s not as jaded as I am, judging by the fact that this particular eyewear ad has been banned in Italy.

Yes, Italy, where a man can grope you in front of his wife in the middle of a piazza without so much as an ounce of drama.

Anyway, Italy’s Institute for Advertising Self-Discipline has decided that a finger in the mouth crosses the line, despite the fact that the woman is biting the finger, which is a definite symbol of power if not a warning to men. Nonetheless, according to the group, the depicted “scene evokes an offending and abusive act against women, which degrades the dignity of the person.”

I can think of a lot of things that degrade women and this is pretty low on my list. Being sexually provocative and perpetuating sexism are not one in the same. Now that blow up doll one! That was sexist.

–Valentina

Gwen Stefani is about to release five new perfumes for her The World of Harajuku Lovers fragrance collection. Each fragrance comes in a different very cutesy, cartoony bottle. It’s cute. Whatever. I like Gwen, and I can’t blame her for co-opting Japanese fashion/aesthetics. She was born in America, home of the rip-off artist.

Here they are on the cover of WWD:

How much do you want to bet that this Harajuku World stuff is the new Sanrio, or at least the new Power Puff Girls? I think that’s what she’s vying for judging by what Julie Noughton writes:

The scents are all inspired by Stefani’s views of her backup singers. Love is described as “sweet, caring, free-spirited and always off in her own little world.” Lil’ Angel is “constantly looking out for others,” but is no saint. Music is “always looking to make someone laugh” and is “charismatic.” Baby is “enticing in her frilly innocence.” (And, naturally, G is the leader of the pack.)

Those names make me want to barf, but I can see this being a cartoon, and I can see the little figurines being sold in gumball machines next to the Lil’ Homies in grocery stores and Mexican restaurants.

If I were Sanrio, I’d be making a deal with Gwen pronto.

–Valentina

If you haven’t already viewed Prada’s amazing Trembled Blossom, the time is now. Words cannot express how much I love and respect this project. Trembled Blossom is a 4-minute animated film spawned out of a flower and nymph drawing done by L.A. illustrator, James Jean. Apparently, Muccia Prada was so taken by Jean’s creation he did for a store wall that she based her entire Spring 08 collection on it! (I knew there was something special about this collection when I wrote on it last year) Trembled Blossom soon followed, displaying some of the Spring 08 looks.

The film, directed by L.A’s James Lima surrounds the nymph who, in the beginning, emerges nude from the center of a flower which has been punctured by a humming bird. As she walks, two vibrant crabs (get your head out the gutter) inch toward the nymph’s feet, turning into a pair of the now famous tulip heels (Brilliant!) After a fish morphs into the gorgeous color-blocked striped purse (yes it gets better!), the nymph is covered in the shocking Red and Royal plaid calf-length dress.

This all for the love of art and, of course, selling beautiful clothes. Prada had me at hello and always keeps me begging for more! Trembled Blossom is so visually stimulating and, for me, almost calming. I’ve watched it dozens of times now, yet it’s still the perfect start to a hectic work week!

Check out the film at www.prada.com/trembled blossoms

-Camille L.

Dead celebrities make great advertising tools.  At least that’s what Converse thinks.  The stars, including Hunter S. Thompson, James Dean, Ian Curtis, of their latest ad campaign have all kicked the bucket, but thanks to the magic of Photoshop, they can still wear Chucks. Yay!

All these dead celebs also had untimely or strange deaths, which works for the Converse image according to the company’s CMO Geoff Cottrill:

The ad is a showcase of true originals since the brand’s inception in 1908. It’s a collection of unique individuals who have all chosen us over the years. The ad is about the spirit of the optimistic rebel; people who have all disrupted the status quo.

Who doesn’t love a good Marc Jacobs’ story?It seems that Juergen Teller, the photographer responsible for Marc Jacobs’ minimalist and iconic ads since 2005, may have spoofed his own work. But nobody knows for sure. Well, except Teller, himself.The ads, which have featured everyone from Meg White to Dakota Fanning, now portray some weird, doughy guy.

They’re titled, “Mr. Teller’s Borg + McEnroe.”They’re kind of funny, but they’re a little too Will Farrel for my tastes.

See them all at The New Enthusiasm.

–Valentina

Read more Marc Jacobs stories from Threadtrend.

The ridiculously sexy Eva Mendes is the new, er, face of Calvin Klein underwears. I imagine she’ll be hotter than hot as usual. She’s also the model of the new Calvin Klein fragrance, the name of which has yet to be disclosed.

I think she’s the new Raquel Welch.

Accordingly, the president of CK had this to say about choosing Eva:

“We are trying to get across that these new products are for fuller busted, shaplier kinds of women and when we looked at the talent, Eva was right.�

Well, in addition to advertising with Eva Mendes, they should also consider making less flimsy bras because those things always look like training bras to me. Can we get an underwire please?

–Valentina

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Sigh. Just look at her. Isn’t it so nice to see a woman in a fashion ad? Not to say that Christie Turlington is a “real” woman, but still, she’s also not an emeciated baby waif either. And that’s refreshing.

Despite a lot of evidence otherwise, I’m hoping that fashion is about to enter a woman phase. I think Agyness Deyn is an indication of that since, while she’s still super-thin and boyish, her look isn’t childish.

We’ll see.

–Valentina

I torture myself with Andy Rooney on 60 Minutes every Sunday. I mostly hate what he says because it’s usually all complainy and obvious, but last night was different. This week, Andy whined about fashion, and it was hilarious.

Here are some of the things he commented on:

“This is for something called the Armani Code. Nevermind the Armani, she’s certainly going to be cold if she goes out in this.”

“What do you think this ad is trying to sell? Women’s hats maybe? No. She’s pushing a perfume called Flower Bomb. No one wants to be bombed with perfume.”

“…Kwiat is jewelry. She’s got an earring hanging there, but I wish she’s take the hair out of her eyes before they took this picture.”

Hilarity!

Rooney also showed a picture from some fashion spread that included a turban-wearing model. It totally grossed him out: “This is the least attractive ad in these magazines. She looks as though she just got out of the shower and still has a towel wrapped around her head.”

Oh, Andy. Welcome to the my universe.

–Valentina