Balenciaga Spring 2014 Ad Campaign by Steven Klein

We definitely called it when Daria surprised us on the Balenciaga runway in Paris all the way back in September - Daria lands the Spring 2014 campaign for Balenciaga photographed by Steven Klein. If the Harper's Bazaar cover wasn't enough to give you a little shock then this certainly is!

Out of all of Daria's recent work this by far is my favourite to date. And thats just from seeing one preview! Yes to something other than textured waves and minimal makeup, yes to this Cruella Deville/Sharon Stone/Daphne Guiness hybrid and yes to a collaboration with Steven Klein! If I recall correctly the last time Daria worked with Klein was in 2007. Much of this past week seems like a throwback to her career doesn't it?

After seeing Daria styled in the same minimal makeup-messy hair countless times (yawn) this is such a refreshing change. See? A little lipstick (and wig?) never hurt anyone! Sometimes more is more! Klein is really telling a story with this image and I think Daria is one of the few models who has the presence to pull this off. Can't wait to see the rest of the images.

On the Salvatore Ferragamo front, here are two new images from the campaign. You can also see all of the campaign images for Ferragamo under the Ad Campaigns page in UHQ. I love the contrast between the colourful images below and Balenciaga's more somber take on spring.

   

source: weibo.com/jianpingwang via Verhangenheit at tFS, giovanibianco.com via testinofan at tFS

Harper's Bazaar US February 2014

If the Celine campaign from yesterday deserved three exclamation marks then this post would warrant at least a paragraph of them. Never in a million years did I think Daria would land a US Harper's Bazaar cover but she does just that in the February 2014 issue. 

I have to say that in the years (almost 7!) I've spent running this site I would have never guessed Daria would have landed a Harper's Bazaar cover. If anything I'd think it would have been more likeyly during her 2004 heyday when she landed the September 2004 cover of Vogue.

I feel like in the past year the dynamics around the magazine industry have certainly started to shift. People just don't seem to be as enamoured with the celebrity as they were in the decade post 9/11. Last year Kate Upton made it onto the cover of Vogue, and just last month Joan Smalls made it onto Elle. How refreshing is it to see someone on the cover who doesn't have a cookbook to push or a movie to promote? I say let the models reclaim their covers!

Editorial wise its not really the most interesting shoot I've ever seen but I'm just excited to have this issue in my hands. Daria has an interview inside as well which you can read here. ETA: If you didn't think she could be any more awesome she watches Game of Thrones. (Hopefully reads it too!).

The Edge of Spring

Photographer: Daniel Jackson

Stylist: Alastair McKimm

       

source: harpersbazaar.com

Campaign News: Isabel Marant and Mango (and Céline!!!)

Update The first campaign image for Céline is here!!! Yes, three exclamation points because this is one campaign I anticipate year round, and at the moment everything looks superb, from art direction, to casting, to design layout. I've no time to go into more detail at the moment but will do as soon as more images come out. In the mean time ... !!!

Céline Spring 2014 in the Vogue UK February 2013 issue

The Isabel Marant spring 2014 campaign leaked, and no surprise here, its Daria for her sixth turn as face of the French brand.

Marant usually follows the same formula when it comes to their campaigns - a girl lounging around in perpetual boredom of some kind of unattainable coolness. For Marant the formula works - maybe I'll look just as cool, and my hair will look as perfectly messy, if I buy those silver lamé pants ... - and usually I'm all for that kind of style - Daria does do nonchalance quite well.

But this time I'm kinda bored, and a little underwhelmed, because really how many times can you run with the same concept (and same model!) without the results becoming staid ... maybe six campaigns. Hopefully the next photos (Marant usually releases three campaign images) will pique my interest but right now I'm about as excited with this campaign as I am for my three hour physics labs this semester. Your thoughts?

On to other news. Below is a preview of the Mango campaign with a behind the scenes video. Excited to see how these images turn out but so far they're reminding me of Daria's Maiyet campaigns. Thats three four campaigns so far for the Spring 2014 season!

source: weibo.com/jianpingwang via Verhangenheit at tFS, Celine image snapped by vogue28 at tFS

New Years from Norway to Korea

Happy New Years everyone! Hope it was a safe and fun time all around. Its only the first day of 2014 but I already have some news to share with you. Daria starts off 2014 with a bang, landing the covers of Costume Norway and the Korean edition of Marie Claire.

 

Costume Norway January 2014 / Marie Claire Korea January 2014

Marie Claire Korea is a reprint from Marie Claire France November 2013 issue (and a good reprint at that) but the Costume cover is new material! How fitting is it for New Years celebrations? Its pretty rare to see Daria smiling and glammed up in her shots so this is a welcome change. 

There is an editorial inside as well but I only have one picture at the moment. I'll update with the editorial as soon as I find it!

Costume Norway January 2014

sources: costume.no, facebook.com/marieclairekorea