Young Kate.

David Ross was the first photographer who shot a very young Kate Moss in 1988 at the beginning of her career. His pictures are being exhibited at London’s Lawrence Alkin Gallery. The images are titled “Kate Moss: Roll 1″ and show the girl who would become one of the most prolific models of our time fresh-faced and fluffy-haired. The photographer remembers the moment he first met 14-year-old Kate in October 1988: “There was a unique sparkle to her which was bound to evolve into something special, although I had no idea how much at the time”.

© David Ross

It is possible.

I wouldn’t call myself a Diesel fan, but I really like Nicola Formichetti’s first ad campaign as new Artistic Director of the brand. Instead of using models or famous actresses, he looked for his subjects on Tumblr. The 20 people cast feature 18 individuals of all shapes and sizes, they have colored and shaved hair and are often androgynous. Always nice to see something else than the usual white, blonde, thin 18-year old. You see, it can be done.
Formichetti said that he “wanted to find people who reflected the diversity of the creative community today and not just the typical model.” He continued: “I wanted the campaign to showcase a variety of characters, people who are beautiful in their own unique way. It was less about capturing fashion and more about getting an insight into these people’s souls. ” The campaign was shot by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin.

Fall 2013 campaigns: Valentino

As it has become some kind of a tradition, I’m sending you into the weekend with a bunch of pretty pictures (and a video), this time presented by Valentino. For the fashion house’s Fall 2013 campaign, the brand’s creative directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli took inspiration in Dutch painters like Rembrandt and Vermeer. Chiuri said that the “women were represented like paintings, caught in the intimacy and magic of their gestures,” while Piccioli added that the campaign showed “the magnificence of Flemish lights and 10 different characters of contemporary feminine grace and regality.” The models are placed next to classic elements of still-life paintings: a vase of flowers, a bunch of asparagus, feathers and grapes. I like how they threw some pieces of the season’s accessories into the mix. Very serene and pretty images. Well done. The images were shot by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin.

On being a teenager.

So, why am I showing you this editorial, shot by Alasdair McLellan for Purple Fashion Magazine‘s Fall/Winter 13/14 edition? First of all, I really like Cara Delevingne’s face. Hmmm, that came out kind of weird… I think she has very striking features. Yep, that’s better. Then I really like the slightly defiant expression she’s sporting throughout the shoot. She isn’t trying to be sexy or to look older than she is. She just looks like the teenager she is (wearing clothes a normal teenager wouldn’t possibly be able to afford, but that, of course, is totally besides the point). She looks sulky, somehow uneasy with the world, insecure but very much thinking that she just knows everything better than any old adult trying to explain her the world. In some of the pictures, she almost seems kind of shy, but never submissive or the object of a leering audience’s attention. So, well done, Cara and Purple Fashion Magazine.Cara Delevingne shot by Alasdair McLellan