Friday, December 19, 2008

What a relief...

So today, after months of waiting, guessing and hoping like hell you're not disappointed, the first image from the Prada Spring/Summer 2009 ad campaign has made it's debut and guess what? It doesn't suck, not even a little bit, and after last season's horrific campaign starring the incomparable (and unable to register emotion) Linda Evangelista, that's a HUGE relief.

I always get excited about campaigns. For me it's like an extension of the runway show, another way to capture the mood that the designer is trying to create. There's usually one campaign per season that really blows me away, that manages to completely overshadow all of the others in terms of beauty, power and creativity. I usually wind up forgetting about or ignoring the other campaigns. Now, it's still too early to make any kind of declaration of love, there have after all only been 4 or 5 major campaigns that have debuted thus far and campaigns like Balenciaga, Lanvin and Marc Jacobs (which are always highly anticipated) haven't surfaced yet, but I have a feeling that this campaign is destined to be on my very short favorites list.


I've gone on and on about how much I loved the collection, and when I love a collection I get my hopes up that the campaign will do it justice. It doesn't always work out that way, but luckily this time it did. Steven Meisel (who's done the Prada campaigns every season since '04 I believe) and Miuccia came up with something that was both unexpected and yet completely fitting for the collection. It was inspired by Greek and Roman bas-reliefs, and the glammed-up multi girl cast really does capture the look and feel of the Muses from Greek Mythology. The static movement, dramatic lighting and spare coloration with those streaks of black ribbon all work together really beautifully, and the way the image captures the crumpled texture of the clothes is absolutely gorgeous. It's nice to see these waifish models using their swanlike necks to full effect, and is that actual cleavage I see on the third girl from the left?!?! I don't care if it's the result of padding, good lighting or skillful photoshopping, point is there's a dicsernable breast on display!!! Most importantly though, it does what a good ad is supposed to do...captivate.

BTW, is that not the cheesiest title for a blog entry, or what? I promise, never again.

image: Steven Meisel for Prada from fashiontimes.it

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's OK, I guess. I don't like the fact that it's a legion of white girls. To Linda's defense, she was only doing what the powers-that-be asked her to do. What happened with last season was not her fault.

Spike said...

You can defend Linda all you like, but the fact is that her face always looks that way. In ads, on the runway, in candids....she always looks like she's had too much botox (which is probably the case).

You can't blame Prada and Meisel for that.

Anonymous said...

it looks like they're all kind of coming off a production line...because they all look so similar...which i think is a strange feeling to have when you're looking at an advertisement for a fabulous collection...there seems to be a lack of individuality because most of the faces are hidden...if it was a shopfront window display, it would be awesome.

looking forward to more blogging entries for 2009! thanks!

Spike said...

I totally understand why you and others might be put off by the fact that all of the models look very similar, and they definitely do, but I actually think that for the concept behind the photo, the fact that they all look alike works.

In all of those Greco-Roman reliefs, the people depicted are all kind of identical looking. That's why I have a feeling it was completely intentional and not just a case of bland casting.

- said...

models looking that similar is also a part of the whole idea of the shoot/collection.