Leave it to Barneys New York to be the first in this country to hire a young British photographer who is gettting so hot she’s taking over some of Steven Meisel’s territory.
Londoner Corinne Day is a 27-year-old former model who turned photographer three years ago; she was also the first person to photograph Kate Moss, the waifish model who now appears in so many Calvin Klein and Gianni Versace ads.
Barneys’ advertising creatives saw Day’s work in some British publications, liked her simple, clean, modern portraits and lined her up to shoot a campaign dubbed, “How to be Good.”
New York magazine says Day has since shot for Vogue and Interview and “has been courted by”-among others-Mademoiselle, Allure, Banana Republic and the Gap.
The current Barneys ad campaign is very different from the recent ones shot by Meisel starring supermodel Linda Evangelista. Day’s photos feature fresh faces, mostly unknowns and not all professionals (though the frog in one picture is said to be a pro frog). Day says she likes to find people who look natural, untainted-she found one in a McDonald’s, another renting a go-cart.
The ad kicks off in March Vogue and will continue in other magazines through April.
A booklet (plain white cover with only the words “How to be good” in very small type), which is being mailed to 500,000 customers, shows one person per page, has no selling copy, no prices, just a few definitions on every other page.
Sample:
“Simplicity: Cross out half of everything you write. Don’t say half of what you think. Get rid of half your clothes, furniture and friends. Answer questions true or false. Look on the bright side and if there isn’t one buy a flashlight.”
Snippets from others:
“Resilience: Consider rejection lack of imagination on their part.”
“Purity: Only lust after one person at a time.”
“Kindness: Whisper, don’t shout that something is stuck in their teeth. . . .Tell your friends how good they look when everyone is looking at you.”
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Speaking of March Vogue: There’s a long but interesting story on the state of French couture, as designers and financiers “struggle desperately to weather today’s economic hard times.” Lots of other fashion stories, including profiles of two of the most avant of the avant-garde, Britisher John Galliano and a very severe Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons.
When you’re flipping through the magazine’s ads (millions of them), take notice of a black-and-white Gap page and another for Ferretti jeans. Both star Loulou de la Falaise, muse of Yves Saint Laurent and the one who actually designs his jewelry and accessories-and also aunt of model Lucie. Lucie’s with Loulou in the Ferretti ad but, who knows, in these days of aging Baby Boomers, maybe Loulou’s the one we should keep our eyes on. (Incidentally, it sure looks as though Loulou’s wearing practically the same clothes in both pictures-which, by the way, were both shot by Steven Meisel.)
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Back to Barneys: Fans of Prada, that tony Italian line of luxury-priced bags and understated clothes, will welcome a new addition to the family. It’s Miu Miu (sounds like a kitty-cat’s mew mew), nickname of its designer, Miuccia Prada, who describes the new collection as “anti-fashion fashion.” It’s exclusive in this country to Barneys New York stores and is available at the one located at Oak and Rush Streets.
The clothes are quite young looking: a brief, A-lined top is edged with ruffles; there are cotton drawstring pants, an ingenuelike dirndl skirt, a little skimmer of a suede dress. Sweaters with a hand-knit look are expected soon.
Accessories are eye-catching: boots and high-heeled shoes decorated with biker hardware; a tan crocheted bag with a rigid leather bottom; bags in ponyskin; a shoulder-strapped suede covered with long fringe; an enormous don’t-touch-me white suede shoulerbag that is wonderful to look at; very soft moccasins.
Prices are being touted as at least a third less than the Prada line, but that doesn’t mean Miu Miu is cheap. Clothes and bags are between $285 and $500 (the suede dress is $555); shoes are about $185 to $300. Pony pieces can go up to $1,000.
Well, they tried. And, for some who think Prada prices are reasonable, these are indeed on the low side.
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The Apparel Industry Board, Inc., and some Chicago retailers plan a salute to Chicago fashion from April 12 to 23. Among the stores that have agreed to do ads, windows and trunk shows featuring fashions from Chicago companies and designers: The Forgotten Woman, Handle With Care, Tiffany, Toshiro; Nordstrom and Aversa of Oak Brook; Scarboro Fair of Glencoe; Elaine Blumenthal and The Village Set of Highland Park.
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Congratulations to Neiman Marcus: President/CEO Terry Lundgren recently presented a check for $130,000 to AmFar (American Foundation for AIDS Research). The donation was a result of NM’s “50 Against One” program, a collaboration of the retailer and 49 designers to create an exclusive collection for the purpose of raising funds for AIDS research and to heighten awareness of the disease.
