After opening the brand’s Fall 2023 haute couture presentation and more recently for Spring 2024 during Paris Fashion Week, we aren’t at all surprised to see Pierpaolo Piccioli pick Kaia Gerber as the face of Valentino’s Fall 2023 advertising campaign titled Black Tie. The all-American beauty reunites with photographer Steven Meisel for the occasion, having previously joined forces with the master photographer on multiple occasions for the likes of British Vogue and Ports 1961 (to name a few). Valentino’s latest campaign offering sees Meisel capture Kaia within the plush surroundings of Oheka Castle located in Long Island, New York.
The campaign left members of our forums a divided bunch. “Hard to believe this is what Meisel has to offer these days…” critiqued DK92 the second the campaign came to light.
“Seriously? It’s so lackluster and being black and white does not help at all,” chimed in WAVES.
“I hate how flat Meisel’s work is nowadays. It could be AI generated,” avonlea002 expressed.
Also underwhelmed was GivenchyHomme: “If they were going the Instagirl route they should have booked Gigi or Bella. Kaia still looks very juvenile and inexperienced. It also doesn’t help that the clothes are as equally unimpressive. Two wrongs do not make a right.”
Not everyone, however, was left so disgruntled over the outcome. “Kinda liking this…a lot. Giving me 90s Meisel vibes,” pointed out justaguy.
“This instantly transported me back to his Vogue Italia cover stories (May and June 2011 in particular) and I’m not mad at it. Always been a fan of Kaia Gerber, and appreciate the solo casting. A thumbs up from me!” approved forum member vogue28.
See more from Valentino’s Fall 2023 advertising campaign starring Kaia Gerber and share your thoughts, here.
