The Fall 08 Calvin Klein Collection ad campaign stopped us in our tracks. We picked up the heavy September editions of the glossies last weekend. We had a coffee, we turned each page slowly, digesting each spread how it articulated (or shattered) our impressions of the collections from Fall 08. We know these campaigns have turned up in previous editions of the glossies but, we will be honest, September is the only month we really indulge in opening the books. That said, we felt that the Prada campaign did not make the impact we were hoping for. The department stores, by and large, butchered the clothing they shot. And Klein, by far, made the most impact. The Fall 08 collection was sharp and androgynous, it was just what we would have expected but dark and brooding and appropriate for the mood of Fall 08 (which commented on our economic climate). And the ads, their graphic quality, epitomized 'modern' dressing. We're happy to see that Balenciaga isn't the only brand who knows how to evoke this sentiment. If the collection pivots on silhouette, then the ads, we think, should follow suit (no pun intended). Below,our video interview with Francisco Costa, the Fall 08 collection, and, at left, a shot from our favorite Fall 08 campaign.

For fall and holiday, Lucky Brand is turning to its artisan roots. We just received a press release for Lucky Brand's fall and holiday ad campaign and, as often as we dismiss these efforts because we know the news will turn up in a million places on the same day, we felt like this endeavor was something pretty neat for the brand. Lucky Brand has found an eclectic group of interesting artists and creative people, with the help of Gen Art, to feature in their upcoming campaign. They said of the campaign, "Lucky Brand has always been inspired by the idea of serendipity and possibility. The possibility that you can pursue your passions, and, with a little luck thrown in, live your dream. The artisans we feature in our campaign inspire us because they are following their passions, often times despite hardship. We find, in general, the people who wear our brand are a soulful bunch. The company itself is an eclectic, soulful, group who doubles as employees by day and musicians or artists by night." Which we think is really sweet and should, no doubt, give the brand some special attention this season. The handful of other companies who have employed similar tactics, like Uniqlo or Nike, have, as far as we can tell, been successful with their campaigns. Showing models who are attractive for their moral fiber and extracurricular efforts always, as we know, strikes a chord with the consumer. The first glance at the campaign, shown left, and below, our roundup of some current Lucky Brand duds we'd put our stamp on.

The Tsumori Chisato Spring 08 ad campaign could easily double as a Pantene Pro-V advertisement. Our network partner, Platinum Blonde Life, tuned us onto the Surface to Air produced campaign. Chisoto's print-centric, bohemian designs have been rallied into advertisement by the team at Surface to Air for some seasons now. The Parisian creative agency organizes everything from ad campaigns to trade shows. Their work with Japanese designer, Tsumori Chisato is consistently rich with color and movement. This season, the campaign was inspired by jellyfish and underwater textures. Check out Platinum Blonde Life's report on this collaboration and our gallery of the campaign below.


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As the tension between the scarcity and demand for animal skin mounts, animal prints are riding on the coattails of the debate. Leopard prints are becoming increasingly more popular and from Spring 08 to Fall 08 and we think it's actually one print that feels fresh, particularly for summer. We like a woman who doesn't associate summertime with baby doll dresses and bohemian prints. We like a woman who, even in ninety degree weather, can pull off a leopard print cardigan, bowler hat, and crisp pair of jean shorts. A.P.C.'s Spring 08 collection definitely has this flavor, and the model they've used for the ad campaign is a perfect fit. Thick eyebrows, little makeup, and an unsmiling 'even though I'm at the beach, doesn't mean I'm going to wear a sarong' attitude, make us feel like Spring 08 will actually bring a different aesthetic than the countless nautical/bohemian/aviators and a bathing suit-summers of year's passed.




Links:
Network partner Pink Rock Candy on Leopard prints
Network partner She Finds on Oscar de la Renta and animal prints.
Network partner Shoewawa on leopard print pumps at a decent price.
And...check out our original Coutorture editorials!