Angelina Jolie Leads Paris Fashion Week Film Couture
Angelina Jolie stars in Couture, a Paris Fashion Week–set drama directed by Alice Winocour and set to premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. According to Vogue, the film unfolds “during the frenzy of Paris Fashion Week” as the lives of three women converge in the French capital: Maxine (Jolie), a filmmaker in her forties who learns she has breast cancer and reconnects with a familiar collaborator (Louis Garrel); Ada (Anyier Anei), a rising model escaping a predetermined future in South Sudan; and Angèle (Ella Rumpf), a make-up artist working behind the scenes of the runway. Their intertwined stories reveal quiet resilience beneath the spectacle of fashion and honor the unspoken solidarity shared across professions, cultures, and continents. [Vogue]
Vans Taps SZA as Artistic Director
Vans has named SZA as its first artistic director, marking the start of a multiyear creative partnership with the five-time Grammy winner. In her new role, she will help shape the brand’s creative direction by leading upcoming campaigns and collaborating on exclusive collections, including new footwear and apparel inspired by her laid-back style. SZA said, “In Vans, I feel free. I’ve been wearing Knu Skools and other styles for years, they’ve always had an ethos I connect with. As artistic director, my mission is to show that joy, community, creativity and fashion are all still intersectional. That humanity, culture and connection are still the access points.” [WWD]
Library180 Opens Its Vault of Iconic Fashion Imagery
A new image reference library has opened its doors: Library180, a sprawling corner suite on the 26th floor of 180 Maiden Lane, a WSA property in the Financial District, founded by Nikki Igol and Steven Chaiken, founder of SN37. The space houses an impressive collection, from iconic prints like Kurt Cobain in a baby-doll dress on the cover of The Face Magazine, Donna, to the complete runs of Visionaire, Interview Magazine, and V Magazine, along with rare finds such as the zine Tiwimuta. Library180 is open to all, though visits are by appointment only. “So much image research is now digitally driven by algorithms, which are getting increasingly good at serving you exactly what you want — and sometimes what you ask for is not what you need to see,” Chaiken and Igol said. “It’s a self-discovery thing as well; you have to go out and start developing your aesthetic and shaping your eye.” [NYT]
LuisaViaRoma Files for Protection Measures With Florence Court, Italian Chamber of Commerce
LUISAVIAROMA.COM has filed for protection with the Florence Court and the Italian Chamber of Commerce. Preliminary figures show 2024 sales of €310 million. As of last month, financial debt stood at €30 million, following a capital increase of just under €20 million. Under the Chamber of Commerce’s Composizione Negoziata della Crisi process (a voluntary, out-of-court negotiated restructuring), commissioner Alessandro Angelo Solidoro has been appointed to lead talks with creditors. CEO Tommaso Maria Andorlini wrote on LinkedIn: “This is a challenging moment, but also the starting point for a new strategy. Luxury and online fashion are facing a structural crisis, and we, both retailers and brands, have made mistakes that we must now acknowledge.” [WWD]
Models.com Looks Back At the Faces and Forces That Defined the Year
Models.com looks back on a year of conversations with creatives like Stefano Tonchi, Sissy Vian, Isamaya Ffrench, Daniel Sannwald, Fara Homidi, and many more whose singular visions came into focus through stories reflecting the ever-evolving pulse of the industry. Along the way, we spoke to the visionaries steering culture, including trailblazers like Luar’s Raul Lopez, whose impact in New York continues to reshape the industry from the inside out and models like Kristen McMenamy, Tyson Beckford, Sora Choi, Precious Lee, Gabbriette, Mona Tougaard, Paloma Elsesser, Amelia Gray, and Betsy Gaghan. To see more visuals from leaders at fashion’s forefront, click the link here.
MDC Selects: These Rookies Are Horse-Riders, History Buffs, and Music Lovers
Don’t miss this week’s MDC Selects. Beyond the runway, these rookies are here to share more about themselves, how they started in the modeling world, their love for music, and more. Find their answers and other MDC Selects here.
