Balmain Spring Summer 2010 + Candids

This post has been accumulating on my dashboard for a while as I've been waiting for a proper image from the Balmain Spring Summer 2010 campaign to give my opinion. Its a far stray from previous Balmain campaigns and sadly not the greatest effort from the brand.

Balmain's duty to Daria is unfailing and I see her as the perfect face for the brand - both feminine and boyish, an aesthetic that is identifiable to Balmain. Yet none of these characteristics are quite present in this campaign. Yes, the SS10 collection was inspired by both the army and a sense of the outdoors but I think that the art direction in this shoot was a failed interpretation of that theme. It was as if Inez and Vinoodh decided to throw in any emblem synonymous with battle in a foreign country (look a Jeep! Palm trees!) into one photo and call it a day. Of all of the campaigns this season I am least impressed by this one.

Also I didn't want to be the one to say it but seeing as how many people have brought up the topic ... Don't get me wrong - I am never one to bring up a models appearance or weight in a negative connotation but I can't help but feel that this campaign is projecting a rather unhealthy image. To be honest, Daria hasn't looked this thin since her 2005 year of modeling but in this campaign she looks downright emaciated. I am hoping that this is just the studio lighting combined with the rather unfortunate hair and makeup but this is just one of the reasons why I don't really like this ad.

But enough about Balmain - there are great new candids of old events below. Thanks to some intense sleuthing by Megan from the Daria Werbowy gallery more candids from Daria in Morocco have appeared as well as behind the scenes images from Loewe's website. Its nice to see that Daria had some fun during her work in Morocco! The candid of Daria and the long haired fellow and the one of Daria arriving at her Loewe shooting happen to be my favourites. I've said it before but I'll say it again - I love Daria's laidback style.

Behind the Scenes of Loewe

sources: Balmain ad via fashionweekdaily.com ; Morocco candids from jamesdkelly.com via mm6789 ; Loewe candids screencapped by me via Loewe.com

Campaign News : Balmain / H&M

These past two days have had as much news as the past two years! On the heels of her Vogue Paris cover and editorial, and Stefanel, Loewe, DSquared and Isabel Marant Daria has added another blue-chip campaign to her roster for the Spring Summer 2010 season ... Balmain! It seems that all of the rumors I was perpetuating in the past months have come to fruition. The new advertisement is in the February 2010 issue of W magazine - according to trevofashionisto member at tFS (thank you) it was "shot in a studio .. its meant to look like a jungle ... (Daria) is posing against a jeep". Vague details for now, but the styling seems on par with the rugged influences on the Spring Summer 2010 Balmain runway.

And yet, there is more - it seems that Daria will reprise her role as the face of H&M yet again. She has apparently nabbed the Spring Summer 2010 H&M campaign, as well as the jeans campaign. On a side note, all of the DSquared campaign ads have been released and they are in the SS10 gallery here.

So that is seven campaigns in one season, one Vogue Paris cover, a sixty page editorial and a partridge in a pear tree ... and  the February 2010 issue of Vogue US just came out!

Balmainia Continued ...

It seems that I was wrong on Balmain's seeming exclusivity. I had lamented on the fact that it was so hard to find any pictures from behind the scenes, but I've recently stumbled upon quite a few. You may have seen the same set ups from previous posts but albeit these are at different angles. There are some new shots as well including Daria and Balmain designer Christophe Decarnin ... I'll find it quite hard to believe if Daria doesn't end up with the Balmain campaign!

There is also something else to add. Daria has her first editorial of the new decade (funny how the fashion world is already a month ahead of the real world!) in the January 2010 issue of Vogue US. It is entitled "Go West" and the man behind the lens is photographer Patrick Demarchelier. If you can recall, earlier this year Daria appeared in Indian Summer in Vogue UK . Judging from the title of the Vogue US editorial and Patrick Demarchelier's penchance for travel editorials it might be another location piece. But Demarchelier is also known for his studio work at Vogue so it could go either way.

Balmain Spring Summer 2009 | The Candids

I've changed up the posts a bit to make a gallery, so I'm very sorry if your comments got deleted! As it stands, I think I shall divide the new pictures from Balmain into two posts: runway, which you can see here, and this post for candids (my favourite images so far, and I will tell you why).

As soon as I learned Daria walked the Balmain runway I was curious to see whether or not she would be captured by Tommy Ton, of jak&jil fame, and I was right! To the right is a picture taken by Tommy Ton. He always captures his subjects in such an enlightened way and the composition is beautiful. So happy he got to photograph her!

Before I ramble on any further about photography, I must say why I love candid shots. Of all of the pictures that encompass a models career I always find something so revealing about candids - its like taking away the mask. And it doesn't hurt that models always have the most impeccable style! Below you have a gallery of Daria backstage, getting her makeup done, posing with designer Christophe Decarnin and goofing off with her friend Carmen Kass. I've also updated the runway gallery which as of now has 33 pictures! I've also added all of the Balmain videos to The Daria Files video gallery, which you can see here. 

Daria at Balmain!

Update Daria will be attending an exhibit to celebrate 90 years of French Vogue Covers on the Champs-Elysées. So expect a huge amount of pictures and news these following days!

Even a Vogue Italia cover couldn't have been quite as shocking as this - Daria walked the Balmain Spring Summer 2010 runway in Paris today! You can add me to the hundreds on the Fashion Spot who are shocked by her appearance - over the past three years Daria has only ever appeared on the runway twice!

If anything, I thought Daria would have walked in Milan but an appearance in Paris is even better. Although Daria says Balmain is the only show she'll be walking for this season, I'm more than excited. What makes this appearance even better is the fact that Daria both opened and closed the show, with three looks in total. The theme this season at Balmain was just like the last couple of few - trashy chic (although the chic is debatable) with slashed minidresses and big shoulders. Daria walked with runway veteran Carmen Kass as well as some established girls like Freja Beha (my favourite!), Natasha Poly and Anja Rubik. So far the pictures are still popping up, and there is also a video. Daria appears below in the beginning and at 1:12.

Of all the runways Daria could have appeared in Balmain makes the most sense - she's been a faithful follower of the brand, wearing a Balmain dress to the Costume Institute Gala and appearing in Fall Winter 2008 campaign as well as Spring Summer 2009. Maybe the campaign count will be up to three ... Is anyone else ecstatic?! Click read more to see all of the images on the runway.

Balman Spring Summer 2009

Daria has the Balmain Spring Summer 2009 Campaign! I'm pretty sure it's another collaboration between Emanuelle Alt and Inez & Vinoodh.

Last time (Spring Summer 2008) we only had one image from Balmain so this may be the only campaign image they release.

Daria for Balmain SS08

Looks like the rumors were true! Daria Werbowy is the face of Balmain for Spring Summer 2008.  This is the only image to be released from this campaign

What do you think?

Trashy or Fabulous?