As the last of the spring/summer 2016 campaigns come flooding in, we’re taking a moment to reflect on just how much has happened in the fashion industry over the past year: There was Balmain’s revival of the “supers” — Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, and Claudia Schiffer — who don’t get out of bed for less than $10,000; Moschino’s cheeky car wash- and cartoon-themed extravaganzas starring the likes of Lexi Boling, Joan Smalls, and Fei Fei Sun, and Alessandro Michele’s eccentric (and immensely popular) '70s-driven Gucci revival— and the ground-breaking ads that accompanied these moments.In the past few weeks (and months), though, we've seen the release of tons of advertisements starring not just models — but some of the biggest actresses of the moment (think Zoe Kravitz for Calvin Klein, and Jaden Smith and Lea Seydoux for Louis Vuitton). The list, of course, is much longer than that. Ahead, we chart 10 of the best (in our opinion!) star-studded campaign cameos of late.
Bette Midler, Marc Jacobs SS16
When Marc Jacobs calls you up to star in his latest ready-to-wear campaign, shot by David Sims, at the age of 70, you know you’ve got a good thing going on. Bette Midler has exactly that. Last week, the designer announced the leading ladies of his latest ads, and in true MJ form, the casting was out-of-the-box — and absolutely brilliant (think fellow actor Sandra Bernhard and transgender director Lana Wachowski).
And though we love the images equally, there was something particularly moving about the sentiment Jacobs shared about his relationship with Midler on Instagram:
"While I have always felt a certain connection with and influence by Bette, the moment that struck me so profoundly was a statement she made about her footprints from the past disappearing as she retraced old haunts of her once familiar New York. It all felt so relevant and apropos of the pieces of the yet-to-be collection that lay before me weeks before the show. It reminded me of the pride I felt in having the privilege of calling myself a born and raised New Yorker. To her beauty, her brass, her glamour. To that energy, vitality, verve, nerve, and curve..."
Gwendoline Christie, Vivienne Westwood FW15
As if killer roles in Game of Thrones, TheHunger Games, and Star Warsweren’t enough, British powerhouse Gwendoline Christie bagged herself a lead in Vivienne Westwood’s fall/winter 2015 campaign, too. “In this collection the same suit can be worn by a man and a woman — then I realized Gwendoline would be perfect and would fit the clothes so I asked her to do it. She is such an attractive woman,” the designer told Vanity Fair of the Juergen Teller-photographed advertisement.
Millie Brady, Miu Miu SS16
It’s no secret that Miu Miu has a soft spot for actresses, which probably explains why nearly all of its campaigns from the past year were decorated with the faces of Hollywood's young and talented. Joining the likes of former campaign stars Lupita Nyong’o, Elle Fanning, and Elizabeth Olsen, Miuccia Prada enlisted Brit-babe and newcomer Millie Brady (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) for SS16, and put her in a striped button-down, silky slip, and patterned coat. Also making an appearance in the ads were other on-the-rise talents Julia Garner (Grandma), Matilda Lutz (Rings), and India Salvor Menuez (White Girl).
Stacy Martin, Miu Miu Fragrance 2015
Nymphomaniac actress-turned-Miu Miu girl Stacy Martin has, at just 25 years old, appeared in three ads for the brand, the most recent of which was for its first ever fragrance this past September. Co-starring the most adorable black-and-white kitten named Truman, the Steven Meisel-lensed shoot stands as a firm reminder of Miu Miu’s 20-year-strong support of fearless and young rising talent.
Mia Goth, Miu Miu FW15
Stealing the stage in Miu Miu's fall/winter 2015 "Subjective Reality" campaign was rising beauty Mia Goth (alongside the aforementioned Martin and Ricki and the Flash's Hailey Gates). But this isn't the first time Goth, who's best-known for her starring role in Nymphomaniac and her longish relationship with Shia Lebouf, has been selected by Prada as a face of the brand.
Her role alongside Imogen Poots in the SS15 campaign was deemed"likely to cause serious offense," by the ASA, leading the British organization to ban the advertisement in its entirety, claiming it presented a “child” (read: 22-year-old woman) “in a sexualized way.” It was surprising news, of course, considering the mid-orgasm pose she took for Nyphomaniac's poster. But when Prada sees young talent, she runs with it, so it's no surprise that Goth was back on billboards just one season later.
Zoe Kravitz, Balenciaga SS16
When Alexander Wang announced his not-so-long stint at Balenciaga was coming to an end, it was no surprise that his final collection for the house celebrated his cool-girl, laid-back aesthetic whole-heartedly — and featured his bona fide BFF Zoe Kravitz, making her runway debut.
For his last campaign for the brand, Wang made the same move: The ad showcases Kravitz alongside his model/friend/muse Anna Ewers in a garden setting, both decked in ethereal clothing.
Kravitz is particularly of the moment right now, too: Just last week, it was announced that she and her mother, Lisa Bonet, were named the faces of Calvin Klein watch and jewelry, which “highlight[s] the immediacy of time and the richness of relationships.”
Emilia Clarke, Dior Joallerie FW15
Following in the footsteps of Gwendoline Christie, fellow Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke found herself fronting a Dior campaign, as the face of the Rose des Vents fine jewelry collection in November 2015. Looking like a quintessential English rose with her naturally dark hair and classic Dior rouge lips, Clarke is the first non-model (and first mother of dragons, of course) to represent the Rose des Vents line.
Jennifer Lawrence, Dior FW15 Accessories
Alongside other #girlbosses like Rihanna and Marion Cotillard, Jennifer Lawrence has proven herself as a Dior favorite, having starred in the brand's beauty and accessories campaigns since 2013. Exclusively wearing the house to award shows, J. Lawr has made quite the splash in many a Dior gown; seriously, who will ever forget her Oscars incident, when she tripped up the stairs in couture? Prompting tons of spoof ads, the actress, who was on her way to collect her Best Actress award, laughed the incident off, reminding us that even at her most glam, she's still real at heart.
Alicia Vikander, Louis Vuitton FW15
Though Louis Vuitton's latest gender-bending campaign went viral for showcasing 17-year-old Jaden Smith in women's clothing, it's hard to forget the ad that came before it. The images show actress-of-the-moment Alicia Vikander (who's currently nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards for her role in The Danish Girl) in Palm Springs, wearing a leather-and-silk combo designed by Nicolas Ghesquière. Declared a "new muse" by the house, Vikander poses alongside longtime Vuitton veteran Michelle Williams.
Klara Kristin, Saint Laurent Resort 2015
Following her lead role in boundary pushing director Gaspar Noé’s squirm-worthy, sexually charged melodrama Love, 22-year-old Copenhagen-born actress Klara Kristin bagged herself a slot in Hedi Slimane’s Saint Laurent “Surf Sound” resort campaign starring alongside fellow actor Jack Kilmer. The pair also walked in the label's spring/summer 2016 menswear show.
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