>> Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have been quick with the Internet recently: They just launched e-commerce and uploaded both Fall 2009 Dolce & Gabbana and D&G campaigns over the weekend. The former, shot by Steven Klein, features Mariacarla Boscono, Edita Vilkeviciute, and Heidi Mount — who in one shot takes a simian pose — at a casino, and the latter, shot by Mario Testino, features a younger group: Katie Fogarty, Sara Blomqvist, Stephanie Rad, Hanna Rundolf, and Ragnhild Jevne.
Mariacarla Boscono
Heidi Mount Makes Like a Pink Gorilla for Dolce & Gabbana's Fall 2009 Ad Campaign
Givenchy's Spring 2009 Couture Corpse Brides
>> Givenchy's couture revenue increased a whopping 80 percent last year — with another 20 percent increase forecasted for 2009 — and collections like this prove how it's done. Mummy-wrapped shoes, rose petals covering both the runway and a print on two strappy bondage gowns, and a continued interest in chains, carried over from Fall 2008 ready-to-wear, carried forward the evolution of Riccardo Tisci's romantic gothic branding at the house. And those veils — interestingly enough, the majority of Givenchy couture customers are based in the Middle East — so perhaps the head coverings were a nod to those ladies? Catherine McNeil showed up sans the crutches than she was sporting earlier this month; All that was missing were two of the house's current faces — Mariacarla Boscono, Lakshmi Menon, where are you?
*image: source
Bugs, Elephants, and Models Unite in Botswana for Pirelli 2009
>> Deep in the Okavango Delta of Botswana, photographer Peter Beard directed Mariacarla Boscono and Malgosia Bela to "show me fun" as they mucked through an algae-covered swamp in May. "Does it feel nice?" he asked Malgosia, who was submerged up to her waist in the goo. "It's nice," she replied, bringing her green hands up to her face.
The finished product — the 2009 Pirelli calendar — debuted yesterday, and you can see the whole thing here (NSFW), but it didn't come without the model cast (Rianne Ten Haken, Isabeli Fontana, Kemp Muhl, Daria Werbowy, Lara Stone, and Emanuela de Paula in addition to Mariacarla and Malgosia) going out on a limb — literally: one shot features a number of them posing nude way up in a bare tree. And they weren't always so comfortable — a big bug was placed on Isabeli's face, and though Peter directs, "Eyes open! Eyes open!" she visibly flinches, "I can't."
Gallery is NSFW.
*image: source
Claudia Schiffer Catches YSL, Dolce & Gabbana for Spring 2009
>> Claudia Schiffer is likely no longer Chanel's girl, but she got the better end of the bargain with a two-for-one deal. Not only is she repeating as Salvatore Ferragamo's campaign girl for Spring 2009, but she's picking up two new campaigns — Dolce & Gabbana, which she's rumored to be doing with two other girls, including Mariacarla Boscono, and Yves Saint Laurent. She's currently appearing in Dolce's Resort 2009 campaign with Maryna Linchuk and Catherine McNeil, so Spring is a logical continuation. As for the YSL appointment, if it can be judged by Naomi Campbell's Fall 2008 run, means we'll be seeing lots of Claudia wearing Yves Saint Laurent to events and maybe even a cover with Stefano Pilati.
Although it's too early in the casting season to be sure, it looks like brands are still willing to shell out those supermodel dollars for a recognizable face.
*image: source
>> ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —Fall 2008 campaigns brought a wave of supermodels and for Spring 2009, at least one brand isn't over the nineties girls yet: Ana Claudia Michels, who opened the Givenchy show earlier this month, is jetting into New York to shoot the brand's campaign with Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin tomorrow. No word as to whether it's an only girl campaign, but if so, I'm sorry to see Riccardo Tisci's favorite Mariacarla Boscono go. [RG Vogue]
UPDATE: Mariacarla Boscono, Lara Stone, and Lakshmi Menon are said to be joining Ana Claudia at the shoot. [TFS]
Getting Up Close and Personal with Mariacarla Boscono in Paradis Summer 2008
>> Juergen Teller has been known to take some pervy photographs in his time — the set of 28 awkward nude self-portraits from 2004 (NSFW), some with Charlotte Rampling, come to mind. But those were self-portraits — the 50-page spread Teller did of Mariacarla Boscono in the Summer 2008 issue of French men's mag Paradis Magazine is a different story.
Among the shots chronicling "an erotic journey" in Rome, there's one picture that gets up close and personal with Mariacarla's nether regions — very in-your-face, like an American Apparel ad taken to the next level. Paradis' goal is to tap into the French tradition of eroticism, and the other photos from the editorial fit that bill, but this crotch shot . . . well, not so much.
Gallery below NSFW.
*image: source
Lights, Brights for Pucci Fall 2008
>> Juergen Teller and his favorite Mariacarla Boscono have collaborated again, this time for the Fall 2008 Pucci campaign. The ads are similar to work Juergen and Mariacarla have done together in the past, especially the shot of her randomly standing on a chair, and the intermittently placed letters make the set seem a little like Sesame Street for high fashion. But the full-on headlights shot is a bit of a shocker (you'll see what I mean), and generally speaking, it's an interesting experience to see the bright Pucci colors toned down with Juergen's harsh lighting.
*image: source
Mariacarla Boscono Wears Her Clothes Straight Off the Runway
Wearing the dress she walked the runway in earlier that evening, Gucci Resort 2009 Afterparty; Rome, July 8.
*image: source
Live from Rome: Snejana Onopka Makes a Runway Return at Gucci Resort 2009
>> If you missed the live feed of the Gucci Resort 2009 presentation earlier today, fret no more: it's waiting for you to watch below. The video starts out with a little backstage coverage — Mariacarla Boscono sneaking a cig while her hair is curled, Iekeliene Stange iPoding it up — and then, when it hits 2:48, the good stuff. Natasha Poly opens, Lily Donaldson closes, and for all you Snejana Onopka fans who were fretting after couture . . . she's back!
>> A LITTLE TURN ON THE CATWALK —Don't forget, if you're so inclined, Gucci is streaming their Resort 2009 presentation live from Rome — it should start shortly, but in the meantime, you can catch live video from backstage, the red carpet, and the mingling on the runway . . . I just saw Sasha Pivovarova, Mariacarla Boscono, and Iekeliene Stange getting their hair done. [Gucci.com]







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