The news from the fashion world today is that Alber Elbaz (the creative director for Lanvin) is going with "real people" as opposed to professional models for the brand's fall ad campaign. Women and men, from 18 to 80, hailing from a wide spectrum of day jobs, from waiter to milliner, will model the new line.
I love the idea and the approach, but what I'm most excited about (based on the single released image, shown above) is the styling of the spaces they'll inhabit for the photos. If this example is a good indicator, we look forward to seeing what the creative team (House & Holme) come up with to dress the "home"-like sets.
The mix of darkly chic, offbeat colors (lime, lavender and gold) with the gunmetal wall is right on trend - as are the textures (mirror, velvet, silk, lacquer, lucite) - all with a touch of gleam and a bit of decadent edge. And, yes, points for the pooch.
Bring it on, Lanvin - can't wait to see more!
Read More:
• WWD | Alber Elbaz Keeps It Real for Lanvin Campaign
• Lucky | Lanvin's Fall 2012 Campaign Doesn't Have Professional Models
(Image: Steven Meisel/Lanvin)
10 No-Fail Decor Tricks & Tips for Small Spaces
Beth's Romantic & Retro Residence
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Shaw's Original Fir...
How To Make Perfect Bacon in the Oven
How To Cook Tender, Chewy Wheat Berries on the Stovetop
That woman is a "real person"? She sure looks like a model --albeit a real one! -- to me.
Urbancricket made me curious so I looked it up. A few WWD commenters identified the "non-model model" as Stella Rose St. Clair, an artist and milliner.
These "real people" compaign are so obnoxious. The minute they put my fat, mohawked ass, or my big bellied Caribbean neighbor on a cover then I'll believe the "real people" tag. A stick insect is still a stick insect; profesional or not.
Agreed, Conejitoasesino. But I think that's why we (or Lanvin) probably shouldn't be using the phrase "real people." All people are real people, even skinny ones. There's nothing wrong with being skinny, and there would be nothing wrong a fashion spread that showcases skinny bodies if it weren't for the fact that 99% of the people we see in visual media are of this very idealized body type (especially now that pretty-much all of these images are "enhanced"), and these media don't even attempt to represent diversity in size, shape, and ethnicity. "Non-professional-model people" would better describe what Lanvin is doing. But they chose "real people" because of its resonance--we are primed to think "not skinny" or "not glamorous." I don't ever like the word "real" placed in front of man, woman, person, etc. Our culture shouldn't be deciding that some people are real and some aren't; it actually reinforces the behaviors and modes of thought that create body stigmatization.
I follow Advanced Style Blog and it was fun to see one of the advance style ladies chosen for this campaign. This lady is also very slim I believe she was a dancer in younger years. Here is another page layout http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/lanvin-features-82-year-old-jacquie.html
real people as in real people that could have been models but chose another path.....
I'm sure it's just a coincidence that all these "real people" look just like models.
I really like one of the ads from this campaign simply because the girl in the picture is smiling broadly- you don't get a lot of that in fashion mags!