Celebrating the financial crisis, April’s Italian Vogue and Steven Meisel show a playful dress-up game in what seams to be either a thrift store or the messy wardrobe of a Bertolucci character.
Young models Darya Kurovska, Portia Freeman and Eliza Cummings are gorgeous in their decadent roles. Despite the fact that they are actually wearing Cavalli, Margiela or Burrbery, they still transmit that optimistic feeling that you can make smashing couture out of anything as long as you have the right attitude.
It’s not the first time Steven Meisel makes the best out of social drama. Take a look at the solemn making of the Italian Vogue War Editorial in 1998.
Recession Editorials
‘Fashion Bailout' by Steven Meisel in Vogue Italy
Trend Themes
1. Fashion Upcycling - Creating high-end fashion from thrift store finds, promoting sustainability and conscious consumption during economic downturns.
2. Playful Dress-up - Modeling the fun in dressing up with whimsical styling and attitudes, offering an escape from financial worries.
3. Spectacle Marketing - Using extravagant fashion editorials to generate buzz and attention, utilizing the novelty of financial crisis themes.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - Upscaling secondhand clothes into high-end couture, offering unique and sustainable styles as an alternative to fast fashion.
2. Marketing and Advertising - Using unconventional and attention-grabbing campaigns, catering to consumers looking for novelty and escapism during challenging economic times.
3. Thrift and Consignment Stores - Promoting the use of pre-owned fashion items, educating consumers about the value of incorporating thrifted pieces into their wardrobes, and capitalizing on emerging trends in upcycling.