Spring 2009 ad campaigns

>> INSIDER WIRE —It was recently rumored that Coach paid Ali Michael $50,000 to appear in their Spring 2009 campaign, and now another rumor has hit the airwaves about the brand — a rumor that, if true, could bring even more money back into the Coach coffers. Although neither party would comment, LVMH is said to be eyeing an acquisition of the accessories brand. [WWD, TFS]

>> Olivier Theyskens or not, Nina Ricci's Spring 2009 ad campaign proves management is serious about taking the label more commercial.  In the past, the label's campaigns have been much more forward-thinking — Natasha Poly rocking out in sea spray for Fall 2008, Karlie Kloss and Courtney Smerski going abstract for Spring 2008 — but judging about this first image, Spring 2009 is all about that newly-expanded accessories collection.  How else are we supposed to interpret Lachlan Bailey's studio shots of Natalia Vodianova, N and R charms plainly in view?

>> ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —Lanvin's past ad campaigns have involved a lot of digital retouching — Olga Sherer floating in a baroque painting or set in repeat against a stark black background — the Fall 2008 campaign even making it into a New Yorker profile about fashion's retoucher Pascal Dangin.  For Spring 2009, however, the brand has gone soft — literally.  Soft lighting frames Iselin Steiro in Steven Meisel's lens, as she plays mirror-mirror in the first shot and this second addition. [Women Management Blog]

Fashion Copious reports on the controversial CK Jeans video and campaign image that exploded on the internet today...

Eye4Style reviews a beach book focused on beauty...ah, if only we had a beach to go with it! 

The Budget Babe takes a look-for-less approach to Keira Knightley's outfit at the Chanel couture show earlier this week. 

Senora Cartera likens the stylishness of a Maison Martin Margiela clutch to that of plaid retainer. 

>> ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —Cult favorite Tim Walker — known for his whimsical, colorful fashion photography — has a few new projects on hand.  He's said to have a couple of films in the works for release this year, which means we could have another Wes Anderson, Tim Burton, or Michel Gondry-type auteur on our hands, and he also snapped Acquascutum's Spring 2009 campaign.  He and longtime set design collaborator, Shona Heath, came up with the concept of kissing couples dressed in the brand's bestselling AquaMac based on Aquascutum archive images. [Vogue UK]

>> It's been a few years since Brooke Shields told us that nothing comes between her and her Calvins — almost two decades.  Not since the early '80s, when those Calvin Klein Jeans commercials were running, has the brand tried to top them.

Enter 2009, the year the label finally gives it another go, with a grainy Steven Meisel-shot commercial featuring Anna Selezneva, Anna Maria Jagodzinska, and Natasha Poly greased up and writhing in nothing but their Calvins.  The ads have already been banned from even late-night cable TV — nothing CK isn't used to, since the same thing happened last year with their Eva Mendes Secret Obsession commercial — but they plan on having this one actually make it on TV in the US.  An edited version will air on American cable, and countries like Italy, France, Spain, and Germany will run the unedited version below.

The banned commercial (NSFW) »

>> THE MODELIZER —Ubah Hassan, the Somalian model who first appeared the historic issue of Vogue Italia last year, has become a Ralph Lauren favorite.  She closed out his Spring 2009 show last September and joins Valentina Zelyaeva in the label's Spring 2009 campaign, which is big for two reasons — first, because Valentina's Ralph exclusive helped catapult her onto the list of top-earning models for 2008, and second, because we all know what a little Ralph love can do for a model — think Tyson Beckford. [TFS]

The rumor that Gareth Pugh will be heading over to Dior Homme is picking up steam, apparently he's already somewhat hired.

Luxury companies keep making expensive suits, and wealthy people keep buying them. 

Photos from the Acne Fall 2009 presentation, which took place in Stockholm this week, have dropped.

Fashionologie has the entire Marc Jacobs Spring 2009 ad campaign for our viewing pleasure. 

>> INSIDER WIRE —We saw the revealing behind-the-scenes video for Louis Vuitton's Spring 2009 campaign, and now Chanel has posted a few idyllic pictures of Karl Lagerfeld and camera shooting Heidi Mount in his six bedroom Vermont house, complete with views of the backyard. [Chanel]