{FASHION NEWS} | Louis Vuitton Series 4 (Part II)

Today I will be continuing to share the #LVSeries4 Spring/Summer 2016 campaign with you. In my last post we looked at The Heroine by Juergen Teller. Today we will be completing the Triptych with Lightning: A Virtual Heroine and The Heroine by Bruce Weber.

Lightning: A Virtual Heroine

Lightning is a very interesting and unique choice for a campaign like this one. She was born Claire Farron and changed her name to “Lightning” after the death of her parents.  Lightning was created by Square Enix as the heroic figure in “Final Fantasy”, the cult series of video games that have inspired more than 100 million players around the world, she navigates many worlds with courage and strength in search of her sister who is being held captive. Louis Vuitton has always pushed the boundaries and it is so fitting that they explore the infinite possibilities of the virtual world and ask this imagined character to interpret the essence of a heroine.

Creative director Nicolas Ghesquière has said, “It’s clear that the virtual aesthetic of video games is predominant in this collection. If we push the reflection about heroines, or what might constitute the nature of a woman whose actions can be so courageous that she becomes superior and iconic, it becomes obvious that a virtual entity integrates with the founding principles of the Maison. Lightning is the perfect avatar for a global, heroic woman and for a world where social networks and communications are now seamlessly woven into our life. She is also the symbol of new pictorial processes. How can you create an image that goes beyond the classic principles of photography and design? Lightning heralds a new era of expression.”

I am still in awe of this series of images. I do not play Final Fantasy but I am familiar with the game and Lightning (I love her hair!) and I find it so exciting that she is a part of this campaign. I love videogames and how they now blur into pop culture and fashion. As you may know, I sometimes like to include videogame characters in my outfit posts so this really speaks to me.

“My clothes were nothing more than armor to stay alive; “dressing up” was a concept I’ve never had. Perhaps that makes me an unseemly choice as ambassador. But this experience has opened my eyes. Fashion isn’t something you’re taught or given; it comes from your own taste and your own choices. It displays the essence of who you are to those around you. It makes me feel excited, a feeling similar to when I venture to unknown lands. Louis Vuitton is a new adventure―a new fantasy―that I will enjoy from the bottom of my heart,” says Lightning.

The Heroine by Bruce Weber

Bruce Weber is known to capture the vitality of youth with his images. These photos are shot in the timeless city of Tampa on the west coast of Florida. The photos feature Jaden Smith who exemplifies stylistic freedom and the new generation with his bold and fascinating choices. A group of girls take the promising streets with haughty indifference.

I love the preppy feel of these photos and the attitude that they exude. Gone are the days when unconventional choices are frowned upon both in fashion and in life itself.

“Only Bruce Weber can capture the energy of a group and orchestrate it in vibrant harmony. Why does Jaden Smith star in this campaign? He represents a generation that has assimilated the codes of true freedom, one that is free of manifestos and questions about gender. Wearing a skirt comes as naturally to him as it would to a woman who, long ago, granted herself permission to wear a man’s trench or a tuxedo. Jaden Smith conveys something very interesting about the integration of a global wardrobe. He’s found an instinctive balance that makes his extraordinary attitude a new norm. That really inspired me in the creative process for this collection,” says Nicolas Ghesquière

The #LVSeries4 advertising campaign for the spring-summer 2016 collection will be unveiled in the January 2016 issue of magazines worldwide. It will also be accompanied by two films created by the campaign’s two photographers. To see the first part of the triptych have a look at my post here.

What do you think of the photos? I think that I want absolutely everything from the Spring/Summer 2016 collection!

Until next time

Love and sparkles

Zaakira xox