Camilla Akrans S/S Advertising Campaigns

Herve Leger S/S 2012

BCBG Max Azria S/S 2012

So I wanted to discuss both of these campaigns together as they are essentially for the same house although different collections. As many of you may know BCBGMAXAZRIA was launched by Max Azria in 1989, and stands for 'bon chic, bon genre' (Parisian slang for: good style, good attitude). Azria then acquired the Herve Leger fashion house in 1998, this represents the first time that an American designer had acquired a French couturier, and in 2007 Azria re-launched the house using his own designs.

As many of your will know the aesthetic of the two houses are very different. The clothing in BCBGMAXAZRIA is arguably more contemporary, more street wear and more affordable while the Herve Leger collection represents a continuation of Leger's original thesis in combination with Azria's own unique aesthetic. The Leger collection also represents a middle ground between BCBGMAXAZRIA and Azria's two eponymous designer collection: Max Azria Atelier and Max Azria which produce collections of couture fowns for celebrity clients and red carpet events.

Given the different aesthetics of the brands I think it is interesting that Azria chose to use Akrans for both campaigns. I have to say that aesthetically Herve Leger does not occur to me as being the perfect match to her unique and ethereal style of photography. This is likely why I am not a huge fan of the Leger campaign. Whereas, I find the feminine and soft nature of the BCBGMAXAZRIA line a better fit with her style of photography and therefore the picture is, in my opinion, infinitely better..... I also must admit the presence of the horse in the Leger campaign just slightly confuses me. 

Lara Stone for Calvin Klein!!!

Juicy Couture Ad Campaigns

So as a teenager I was OBSESSED with juicy. I'm not going to lie I had the tracksuits in a variety of colors (oh and yes I did wear them as an outfit and thought I looked SUPER cool doing it), my FAVORITE pair of jeans was juicy (actually tried them on yesterday and they fit- I can't tell you how awesome that was, not because I would ever wear them now but the pure satisfaction derived from fitting into my 15 year old self's jeans was immeasurable), the terry babydoll dress, I had the catch phrase shirts, a weekend bag (that I still sometimes use, it's just so handy!), the purses..... essentially I was a confirmed fan. Now that I am older I have to say I am less a fan of the clothes ALTHOUGH I think they are doing some really great stuff and I think the Bird line is awesome, although I have yet to purchase anything from it.

What now rocks my socks off about Juicy is the advertising campaigns (okay.... and the dog clothes- they are so fing adorable it's disgusting). I just think they are so feminine, and whimsical and just fabulously done and consistently so. And unlike a lot of ad campaigns it's not the models who take center stage, or even the setting but rather the feeling. They truly evoke the feminine, youthful aesthetic of what the brand is trying to sell and that both the 15 year old AND current Katie is a HUGE fan of.

A petition for the deflowering of Claudia Schiffer

So Chanel just unveiled the new advertising campaign for their eyewear line, featuring the indomitable and ageless Claudia Schiffer. SHOCK.... I am not a fan. I know! And I'm usually soooooooo easy to please. No honestly alright the photos are phone. The women is the epitome of gorgeous and just fabulous. BUT that doesn't really appease me because it's Claudia Schiffer's face like of course it's good. That's why she makes the big bucks. But it's Chanel! I just expect so much more! So you say it just can't literally be Claudia's face wearing glasses, we agree it's Chanel. No..... no it's not. They've flowered her and I an incensed. It's not a beautiful floral arrangement, not a flower print.... no they've just literally stuck a flower on her head in the most awkward manner and not a nice flower but the flower that they awkwardly stick on your bag (which brings me to a separate tangent.... again not a fan. Find it a little bit annoying and think it looks cheap). So overall Karl no. Just not. Deflower Claudia and your bags and then we'll hug it out.