As WWD points out, before Daria Werbowy was the face of Balenciaga‘s most recent, ivy-covered campaign (pictured here), she walked at the label’s corresponding Spring 2014 show, as a runway exclusive. (Having an “exclusive” typically refers to a model agreeing to turn down other runway opportunities in return for a lucrative compensation package and exclusive runway appearance from a specific label).
Who doesn’t love Werbowy? The 30-year-old model has sustained a stellar high-fashion career for a decade. After the model first walked at fashion week, she was handpicked by Steven Meisel to appear in Prada‘s Fall 2003 campaign. By 2004, she was posing for American Vogue spreads, getting photographed for them by Helmut Newton and signing a lucrative cosmetics contract with Lancome. Nine years later, the Ukrainian-born model is still one of Lancome’s two spokesmodels. She also appears in campaigns for hyper-luxury label Céline (the only LVMH brand which doesn’t have e-commerce), Parisian designer Isabel Marant, legendary Italian house Salvatore Ferragamo — and now, Alexander Wang‘s Balenciaga.
The first ad image appeared on WWD earlier today. Photographed by Steven Klein, Werbowy poses against a white wall, her eyes shrouded by a tangle of vines. The stark, high-contrast lighting is reminiscent of the label’s Fall 2013 campaign, which featured Kristen McMenamy and was also photographed by Klein, and helps create an overall moody effect.
Related: Parental Advisory: What is Anna Ewers Doing in a Bathroom for Alexander Wang’s Billboard Ad?
