BOMBSHELLS IN THE WILD
KATE UPTON, CANDICE SWANEPOEL, AND DAIANE SODRE PHOTOGRAPHED BY ALVARO BEAMUD CORTÉS STYLED BY NICOLA FORMICHETTI
INTERVIEWED BY MATHIAS ROSENZWEIG
BOMBSHELLS IN THE WILD
KATE UPTON
INTERVIEWED BY MATHIAS ROSENZWEIG
BOMBSHELLS IN THE WILD
CANDICE SWANEPOEL PHOTOGRAPHED BY ALVARO BEAMUD CORTÉS STYLED BY NICOLA FORMICHETTI INTERVIEWED BY MATHIAS ROSENZWEIG
BOMBSHELLS IN THE
DAIANE SODRE PHOTOGRAPHED BY ALVARO BEAMUD CORTÉS STYLED BY NICOLA FORMICHETTI
INTERVIEWED BY MATHIAS ROSENZWEIG
WILD
BOMBSHELLS IN THE WILD
PHOTOGRAPHED
BY
INTERVIEWED BY MATHIAS ROSENZWEIG
ISABELI FONTANA AND MARIA KLAUMANN
BY ALVARO BEAMUD CORTÉS
STYLED
NICOLA FORMICHETTI
FALL FOR KARLIE
PHOTOGRAPHED BY EMMA SUMMERTON
STYLED BY GRO CURTIS
INTERVIEWED BY CHRISTY TURLINGTON
KARLIE KLOSS
When building this issue, our goal was to provide the ultimate beach read. Something entertaining, juicy, but, most importantly, just plain beautiful. To meet that mark, we reached out to some of our favorite top models—Kate Upton, Candice Swanepoel, Daiane Sodre, Isabeli Fontana, and Maria Klaumann—and flew them somewhere befitting their sultry, steamy good looks: Miami Beach. On Ocean Drive, these five femme fatales paid tribute to the great fashion photographers Richard Avedon and Guy Bourdin, via an ultra-girly, mega-catty, and high-camp shoot.
In This Issue:
V News, 15
Heroes, 18
V Girls on Tour, 22
V Trends, 24
Lily by Knight, 26
Miami Vixens, 42
À la Carat, 62
Tyla Quenches our Thirst for More, 70
Go for Gold, 78
Force of Nature, 84
Manchester on the Street, 92 On the Rocks, 98
What V Want, 104
FRINGE BENEFITS
Over in Connecticut, we followed legend Karlie Kloss into the woods as she donned Loro Piana’s latest capsule collection—cozy, chic, and an athletic twist compared to the classic knits the Italian powerhouse is known for. For her cover interview, Kloss couldn’t think of anyone more fitting than one of the original supers and her personal mentor, Christy Turlington. The two chatted about the first time they met (Kloss burst into tears at the sight of her literal hero) and how Turlington’s guidance led Kloss to start her organization, Kode with Klossy, which just celebrated its 10 year anniversary.
Meditating on this idea of mentorship, we also spoke with Nick Knight and his latest muse and collaborator, filmmaker Lily Gavin. Their collaboration told the story of two creatives at play, breathing life into this season’s most vibrant couture. Story telling through clothes is a concept one of our VGIRLS, Doechii, deeply gets, as she was once a costume-obsessed theater kid. The rising star is in good company this issue, appearing alongside international entertainers like Tyla and Lola Young, and homegrown heroes Santigold, Kyle MacLachlan, and Laurie Anderson. Flicking through these glossy pages, we feel good about meeting our beach read goal, a moment of relaxation and sunny ease before we gear up to celebrate 25 years of V with our 150th issue this September. We couldn’t be more excited. Until then, happy tanning! MR. V
Photography ZOÉ KOVACS
CONQUEST
BARBARA PALVIN
Contributing
ADVERTISING / FINANCE
Mediaberna S.r.l.
(Advertising Office for Italy and Switzerland)
Luciano Bernardini de Pace luciano@bernardini.it
Grazia Mortari mortari@bernardini.it
Mariolina Siclari mariolina@bernardini.it
Eleni Gatsou Bureau
(Advertising Office for France and America)
Eleni Gatsou eleni@elenigatsou.com
Marie-Loup Faggioli marie-loup@elenigatsou.com
PRESS AND EVENTS
Purple PR
Andrew Lister andrew.lister@purplepr.com
Shiana Madray shiana.madray@purplepr.com
Remi Jiang remi.jiang@purplepr.com
SPECIAL THANKS
The Lions Ali Kavoussi, Clayd Yila, Ben Goldenbrg
SHOWStudio Charlotte Knight The Society James Wood, Cheri Bowen, Liza Barlow FORD Arthur Demarchelier
DNA Tony Craig SOUL Sarah Hamilton Bailey Omit Timoth Rosado
Interlude Project Elena Mereu, Amy Needles, Elena Sophia Ivaldi
2b Management Sandrine Bizzaro, Thuy Tran SN37 Casey Flanegan
CAA Elizabeth Mitchell Art Partner Caitlin Thomas The Wall Group Alexia Efstathiou, Alexander Williams
Exposure NY Meghan Tully Forward Artists Shae Cooper, Nico Quarantino Studio Formichetti Tiffany Square
E.D.M.A Ethan Miller Streeters Michael Brown, Sonia Hamidi, Emma Davies, Maya Wanelik, Sasha Respinger
L’Atelier Malena Holcomb SEE Management Laura Groudine Bryant Bantry Carole Lawrence Maki Ryoke Studio Jennifer Pio
Walter Schupfer Management Cheyenne Vesper
Hello Artists Anna Groth-Shive Opus Beauty Natalie Miller
Honey Artists Anne Robinson Chelsea Hotel Anatomy Gym MIA Greg Foley Interns Alice Almeida, Nartay Ualikhan, Anastasia Inborn, AJ Grove, Nevaeh Chludzinski, Joyce McFarland
ZouZou is the winsome, coquettish girl with a shiny brunette bob, plucked from a Parisian square in 1963 and dropped at Balthazar for Sunday brunch in 2024. Celine’s latest addition to their Haute Parfumerie line, conceived by Hedi Slimane, ZouZou joins its daytime scent roster. The fragrance features some notorious olfactory characters that evoke the everevolving nature of the young girl, warm and rambunctious.
Benzoin and labdanum secure its musky base, while tonka bean, patchouli, and vanillin supply both the sweet, and the sassy. Intended as an elixir from the fountain of youth, this juice unfortunately cannot be imbibed. Its effects, however, can still be achieved with a spritz on each of one’s pulse points and the backs of scabby knees.
V NEWS
Nostalgia will always be Queen, but these novel takes on tried-and-true classics, from institutions we trust, make us want to replace our old faithful garms and start over this fall
Photography CHARLES BILLOT
BISOUS, BISOUS, CELINE’S ZOUZOU!
A one stop shop for wearable treats, Louis Vuitton’s Pre-Fall 2024 collection serves up tasty delights in various forms. Intending to bridge the gap between art and audience, Beijingbased artist Sun Yitian sought to create functional, wearable art to live life with us. Among the juiciest of options is a mini trunk handbag resembling an orange creamsicle we’d like to sink our teeth into, like a kid in a candy store.
Selecting new shoes for a season’s inception can feel not terribly unlike the “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” porridge debacle. They must (debatably) be comfortable, fit just right, and help us cultivate that main character energy we have been so collectively seeking. In Gucci’s Fall Winter 2024 collection, looks are topped (well, bottomed) with familiar and foreign shoes to match. Crisp monogrammed sneakers and preposterously elevated platform loafers with the house’s iconic horsebit hardware are just a few of the elements that make Sabato De Sarno’s second collection with the house so memorable.
Much like the namesake region off the toe of Italy’s boot, Dolce & Gabbana’s Sicily bag is a cultural mainstay, made portable. The house has reinvented this classic silhouette with recent iterations in tantalizing multicolor snakeskin, balmy black and red calfskin that nearly appears wet, and with metal plated gold and black lacquer basket weave bottoms. Who are we to tell an institution to respect tradition, when their latest renditions offer such a thrill?
this
when
the
and the
Bag DOLCE & GABBANA
Shoes DSQUARED2
Shoes GUCCI Pants stylist’s own
Bag LOUIS VUITTON Gena wears dress and belt stylist’s own
DSquared2 knew what they were doing
season
they fiercely tugged on our indie sleaze heartstrings. The brand’s Fall Winter 2024 offerings are a siren call to the scantily clad, dirty girls and boys living on the fringes of society, whose belongings live within
fringes of their brown suede crossbody bags. Paying homage to basement parties
unadulterated Facebook photo albums posted subsequently, the collection harkens back to the purest visions of 2009: leather belts with an abundance of grommets, sleeveless hoodies, lace-up jeans, suede statement sneakers waiting to be worn to bits, saving us a trip to our time capsule childhood bedrooms back home when we are feeling wistful.
LOUIS VUITTON AND SUN YITIAN TAKE US TO THE CANDY SHOP
D&G’S SICILY BAG TAKES US HOME
DE SARNO STEPS UP
DSQUARED2 INTRODUCES: SEEDY SOPHISTICATION
Seán McGirr’s first runway with Alexander McQueen was, in a word: Wild. Echoing its eponym’s style, McQueen’s Fall Winter 2024 collection employed the house’s roots of divine fantasy and unapologetic otherworldliness, taking on many different shapes, characters, and… species. The debut collection is spotted with animalistic sensitivities by way of endless strands of pony hair, heeled boots that give the look and shape of actual hooves, and corresponding prints to mix, match, or clash.
Our North Star: making Twiggy proud. Givenchy’s new Antigona Cube handbag calls to mind women from a bygone era, with more tactical updates for the Gal of Today. The bag can certainly function as your (mini) daily driver, with strategic inner compartments for easy access to your calling cards. Worn either crossbody or held by its structured top handles—the Cube is up for grabs in small, and even smaller size options. Color offerings include classic neutrals, gunmetal metallics, and a surprisingly refreshing pistachio green. Crafted in both tumbled leather and smooth calf leather, this line is for the effortlessly mod girls.
understated face, available in grounding neutrals like fresh evergreen and rich cocoa brown. Thick, buttery leather straps commingle with the brand’s trademark 18k Sedna and Moonshine Gold options: finishes that just work, time after time.
Shoes ALEXANDER MCQUEEN
Watch OMEGA
Suitcases MCM
Bag GIVENCHY
Some of us feel second-hand guilt surrounding our favorite celebrities’ gratuitous use of private planes. Luckily, MCM has collaborated with Harper Collective, an eco-conscious luggage brand created by Jaden Smith and fashion veteran Sebastian Manes, to remedy the waste created by travel and all its necessary gear. The suitcases in this collaboration, made from postconsumer and recycled sea plastics, do not skimp on style, featuring a sleek black exterior and iconic MCM logo print paneling, to last the responsible travelers among us for years, and years, and years, to come.
Omega maintains that its wearers are never late. The most recent extension of their Speedmaster 38 mm collection has arrived right on time, keeping wrists equipped, embellished, and punctual. Each timepiece’s dazzling bezel, comprised of 52 individual 1.5 carat diamonds, perfectly frames its suave yet
OFF THE CUFF WITH OMEGA TRAVELING
GIVENCHY’S ANTIGONA CUBE, FOR MODERN PRINCESSES
MCQUEEN’S WILD NEW WAY
HEROES
LAURIE ANDERSON THE AVANT-GARDE LEGEND HONORS AN AVIATION HERO
Laurie Anderson knows making good art takes time. Over her five-decade career, the avant-garde artist and musician has applied her talents to voice acting, poetry, filmmaking, and multimedia, each project coming together in its own unique life cycle. Still, even she finds it “crazy” that her latest project, an album titled Amelia, is 24 years in the making. Begun in 2000 as a commissioned piece for the American Composers Orchestra, the album was started and stopped three times during the creative process before the multi-disciplinary artist crafted a version she was satisfied with. What started as an overwhelming 80-piece orchestral work transformed into a pared-down soundscape performed by the Czech orchestra Filharmonie Brno—helmed by conductor Dennis Russell Davies—and bolstered by Anderson’s own ensemble, providing additional percussion and strings. Complementing the moving composition are the
wordsmith’s poetic lyrics recounting the ambitious, ill-fated final flight of renowned 20th-century aviator Amelia Earhart.
Amelia puts you in the cockpit with Earhart, immersing you in the wonder and the monotony, the triumphs and the ultimate tragedy of her attempt to become the first female pilot to circumnavigate the globe in 1937. Anderson was drawn to Earhart not only because of her trailblazing accomplishments in the male-dominated world of aviation, but because the pilot was “the original blogger,” as Anderson puts it. Long before social media, Earhart kept the world up-to-the-minute on her adventures. “Every single stop on her flight, she would either use a telegram to talk about it, or she would phone it in to the press, or she would scribble it in her pilot’s log. She was very conscious of letting everybody in the world know what she was doing, [and] she was very famous at the time,” Anderson notes.
This rich archive of newspaper clippings, a recorded speech, and photographs from the Smithsonian and elsewhere provided a fruitful foundation for the album’s 22 lush tracks, which also drew inspiration from Earhart’s diary entries and telegrams to her husband (and press agent), George P. Putnam. Filling in the gaps is the songwriter’s imagination of how the aviator may have felt as she surveyed the open skies, vast deserts, and glittering waves from her unique vantage point. “Where did I get this obsession/to hurl myself against the sky?” the singer, as Earhart, muses on B-side standout “Fly Into the Sun.” The narrative is delivered in Anderson’s signature spoken-word style, mesmerizing from the first line to the last.
Music has been an integral part of the 76-year-old artist’s storied career. The Illinois native first gained renown for her innovative performance art, including the famous Duets on Ice (1974) that saw her playing violin while wearing frozen ice skates—each performance lasting as long as the blocks of ice on her feet took to melt. Anderson’s breakthrough single, 1981’s “O Superman,” catapulted her to global recognition, and was hailed as a marvel of experimental electro-pop that remains singular in its sound today. She followed up the track with seven uniquely captivating studio albums for Warner Bros. Records, as well as collaborations with the likes of Peter Gabriel, William S. Burroughs, and late husband Lou Reed. More meaningful for Anderson than “O Superman”’s commercial success is its continuing relevance, and resonance, in the decades since it debuted—a snippet even went viral on TikTok last year.
“Every few years I crack that song out and play it, and it’s weird—it’s like, ‘Oh, God, this was written yesterday!’ It thinks about power, technology, identity, and those are still very big issues,” she reflects.
Whereas “O Superman” spoke on contemporary events, Amelia sees Anderson turning her gaze to a time long gone—one listeners are invited to lose themselves in as an escape from the harsher contours of the present. For the album’s runtime, the listener’s world is marvelously supplanted with Earhart’s in a whirl of 3-dimensional sound. Telegraphed by Anderson’s hypnotic vocals and the sweeping power of the orchestra, the fearless flier’s journey becomes ours—and what an incredible journey it is. “Amelia takes you into your own mind, and you get to picture all of [her adventures] for yourself,” Anderson explains. “And there’s nothing like flying. You’re free.”
Laurie wears all clothing talent’s own
V caught up with talents who have shaped New York’s cultural landscape via their commitment to play and experimentation
A TV STAR, MYSTERY PODCASTER, AND ALGORITHM FAVORITE WALK INTO A WINE CELLAR
“I’m aware it’s a juxtaposition: I’m 65 but I’m still pretty silly and goofy, or I like to think I am,” actor Kyle MacLachlan says of his newly found social media fame. Taking Lorde-inspired selfies on his bedroom floor and posting lip-syncing TikToks have earned him a cornerstone in Gen Z culture, heart eye emojis and “soooo babygirl” comments to boot. (For those unaffected by TikTok brain rot, “babygirl” is to say “a man with a loving chokehold over a fandom.”)
Moniker aside, this fan affection is nothing new for MacLachlan. Gen Z has simply put a word to what fans have felt for decades. To Gen X, he’s heartthrob Paul Atreides from Dune (1984). For Millennials, he’s Special Agent Dale Cooper in 90s TV phenom, Twin Peaks. Ask Zillennials and he’s Charlotte’s almost perfect guy, Trey MacDougal, from Sex and the City. Since his global debut in the 80s, Kyle MacLachlan has made it clear that he always understands the assignment: a starring role in a post-apocalyptic thriller and becoming an internet meme are equally valid endeavors.
I catch up with MacLachlan in between conferences, dialing in from his hotel room in Austin, Texas. He’s in town for South by Southwest as a guest speaker to answer the simple yet existential question of “What Am I Doing Here?”, delving into the disjointed topics of film, investigative journalism and winemaking. At his core, he’s a storyteller and each medium he’s drawn to becomes a tool to craft a narrative.
His latest medium? Podcasting, but not the mic-stand-in-bedroom kind. For this new creative foray, MacLachlan took a more “method” approach, accompanying cohost and investigative journalist, Joshua Davis for boots-on-the-ground research in Varnamtown, North Carolina, a sleepy fishing port where time seemed to stand still for decades, but in true crime fashion, all was not as it seemed. For those seeking a Twin Peaks reunion, chew on this: Through a friend who had recently retired to the coastal village, MacLachlan caught wind of a local mystery—the 300 townspeople were rumored to have been embroiled with Pablo Escobar and his blood money during the drug kingpin’s heyday. The 24-month long assignment was interspersed alongside other projects like flying out to Mexico for a few days to shoot Zoë Kravitz’ directorial debut and summer blockbuster, Blink Twice. His role? “You’ll have to stay tuned.” He’s got this mystery thing down pat. One project MacLachlan is not keeping under wraps is Pursued by Bear, his Walla Walla, Washington, winery (say that three times fast) and offscreen passion project. “Wine had always been my drink of choice since high school,” he laughs. I was an odd person. In the early 2000s, between days on the set of Desperate Housewives, MacLachlan traveled to his home state of Washington and noticed the region transforming into a vino hub. As with all of his creative endeavors, MacLachlan is hands-on, heavily involved in all things crushing, processing and storing of his 3,000 case production. So handson, in fact, he hosts “Tastings with Kyle”, a meetand-greet sort of affair at the vineyard for fans to test the Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Rosé, and interact with the onscreen titan and offscreen proud Washingtonian. “I want the wine to speak for itself. Over the course of time, it’s done that and I think people have accepted the fact that I’m an actor that makes good wine.” When he’s not being the Internet’s Dad, that is. Important to note: he signs off the Zoom chat with a dramatic air kiss. “Muah!” See? Sooo babygirl. SAM TRACY
Photo assistants Bryan Martinez, Andrew Park Location Vision Studios
SANTIGOLD
YOU LOVE HER BUT YOU’VE BEEN SAYING HER NAME WRONG
If you’re a fan of Santigold’s timeless bangers: the hazy, anthemic “Disparate Youth” and coolly angst-ridden “L.E.S Artistes,” but have never attended one of her concerts, chances are you’ve been mispronouncing her name. “It’s ‘Sawntigold,’” she tells me over Zoom after I pronounced the first part of her name like I would Santa Claus. “I correct the crowd at my shows.” Coincidentally, she’s just played the first show of the tour tied to her latest album, Spirituals—though she’s hesitant to call it a tour. “I call them live show dates,” she explains. “A tour to me is months on the road.” This string of performances will be much more relaxed than the traditional fullblown, months-long schlep across the continent. Nonetheless, we’re excited because Santigold is perhaps one of the most dynamic artists, visually and musically, out there, and those live shows offer us a privileged peek into her world. Being on stage in general is something that makes Santigold a bit antsy. She has an incredible ear—“a blessing and a curse”—which makes her, yes, capable of exploring all genres with expert execution. (In her career, she’s dabbled in everything from reggae and neo soul to
alternative rock, and, more recently, spirituals.) But it also makes her highly sensitive to production inconveniences like in-ears, the earpieces musicians wear to keep track of the music as it’s playing in front of an audience. “I would say like 50% of the time, it’s a real struggle for me,” but, she says of her recent Redondo Beach performance, “this show was so fun because I was sandwiched in between Steel Pulse and Devo, who are my all time favorites. I would’ve gone to the festival just for them.” In fact, for Santigold, genre goddess, being slated between a new wave band and a reggae band feels like home.
Growing up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Santigold’s father provided her with a rich foundation of Black music. “I grew up listening to Fela Kuti, Nina Simone, Steel Pulse, John Coltrane,” she says. “It was all Black music in my house.” But the artist has such a perfectly weird and blended sound, I wondered exactly at what point in her past she was exposed to (or corrupted by) other types of music. “By the time I was 11, my sister who was 14, had an insane record collection and it was all Bad Brains, Suicidal Tendencies, Dead Kennedys, Joni Mitchell, and Fun Boy 3. All kinds.” Bingo.
After having spent her school years in chorus, Santigold double majored in music and African American studies at Wesleyan University. Only two years post undergrad, she procured a co-writer and executive producer credit for her work in How I Do, the debut album of fellow Philly-native,
Res. Working on that project made her realize that she had her own sound, “[How I Do] wasn’t exactly how I wanted it to turn out because it wasn’t my record. At the end of that, I was like, ‘I want to do something that sounds like what I wanna hear in my head.’”
So she reached out to friend, professional skater, and “also like, the best musician hands down,” Chuck Treece, and said, “I just want to make this record, Chuck, but I never want to perform live.” Treece recommended she take things one step at a time. They formed a punk band and named it Stiffed—and, yes, she did eventually get on stage. “It was the most fun ever,” she says. “I pretty much learned how to perform by performing [punk]. It was so free and so raw. There are no rules and no technology and no dancing. You just show up with what you’re wearing and perform.”
SAVANNAH SOBREVILLA
Santigold wears all clothing ISSEY MIYAKE Harness FLEET ILYA
Shoes SAINT LAURENT
V GIRLS ON TOUR
Here to prove that girls run the world, we got backstage passes to two acts currently dominating the global stage
DOECHII
THE SWAMP PRINCESS TAKES HER CROWN
As if emerging from the murky depths of a bog, rapper Doechii’s piercing eyes, flowing tresses, and meticulously coiffed eyebrows feel, appropriately, out of this world. Weaving the essence of her swampy Florida roots into her public persona, the artist’s smashhit singles (including the playful and witty “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake’’ and infectious “What It Is”) have catapulted her from lyrical master on the rise, into a new role as the musical doyenne of the swamp. Subsequent touring (with Doja Cat, among others) and noteworthy performances at Coachella, the Billboard Music Awards, plus a pride run slated for this summer, have only served to further her marshy mythology. “It’s about pushing narratives and telling stories,” she tells V.
The most recent example of her signature genre-blending, energizing sound is also a collaboration with rapper and close confidant JT, called “Alter Ego.” The club-primed track is a testament to her ability to merge delightful contrast and originality. JT injects the track with raucous, celebratory thrill.
V MAGAZINE: I heard you had a great night out with JT and V Magazine. Tell us about it!
DOECHII: It was a fun, spontaneous night. We went to a gay club first. Somebody was straddling down from the ceiling—that was crazy. We had some bottles, they played “Alter Ego.” Then we went to karaoke, and finally to the spot where JT was. She’s a superstar. We ran “Alter Ego” back like three times! The girls were outside, the gays were outside, and everyone was having so much fun.
V: Your look was incredible. How does fashion contribute to your identity as a performer?
D: I’m a theater kid! I love to wear costumes, [which] are used to tell stories. A lot of what I do when I’m getting dressed for performances is building characters
D: When you grow up in Florida, you make it part of your personality. I also think that in the fashion world, I haven’t seen the swamp “aesthetic” embraced or integrated yet, so I thought it was a unique opportunity to build a world in the swamp and carry it with me everywhere I go, while also representing where I’m from.
for my music, and it’s more than just putting on an outfit.
V: Outside of music, what goals drive you forward?
D: I have this desire in my heart… I want to get into cosmetics and makeup, but not regular makeup. I want to get into special effects makeup and build a company that caters to that. It’s a super limited space, so I’d love to come out with a brand that is accessible to the average person, and allows people to experiment and afford special effects makeup in a day-today way.
V: As a self-crowned “Swamp Princess”—could you tell us about the swamp aesthetic?
V: I know JT is from Florida too, and you just came out with a collaboration. How did you work through that together?
D: I made the song when I was in Miami. I was finishing my album out there. And with “Alter Ego,” it just kind of happened. The producer Zach Witness revamped an older version, and I was still thinking, this beat needs something and I love contrast. I wanted to integrate a voice that felt like the opposite of the style, but still belonged. JT immediately came to mind. I knew she would kill it and she did!
V: Do you have other projects coming up that you’re excited for?
D: I have a tour coming up for pride month in June. I wanted all of the venues to be gay clubs, gay festivals. We’re going to be organizing donations to different foundations in the LGBTQ+ community to ensure that, not only am I providing a good show, but I’m giving back to the community that has given me so much. They’ve supported me throughout my whole career, and I’m proud to be part of it as a bisexual woman.
Doechii wears coat and glasses talent’s own
LOLA YOUNG
THE BRIT BADDIE MAKING BEATS FOR A GENERATION
There’s something pleasantly disarming about Lola Young’s honesty. In her music, and in conversation, you get the sense that everything she says is perfectly authentic, as if you’re having an off-the-cuff chat with a friend. In a moment when attempts to suss out industry plants and manufactured hype are the norm, Young’s candidness is a breath of fresh air.
The 23-year-old singer-songwriter first landed in the spotlight at 13, when she won the prestigious Open Mic UK competition. While training at the star-making BRIT School, she met future managers Nick Shymansky and Nick Huggett. The former managed Amy Winehouse and came out of retirement to work with Young, while the latter signed Adele to XL in 2006—promising co-signs on Young being England’s next global phenom.
Gigging around her native London, Young honed her powerhouse vocals and signed to Island Records in 2019 when she was just 18. In the years since, the soulful singer’s career has blossomed: her 2023 debut project My Mind Wanders and Sometimes Leaves Completely served up an irresistible medley of R&B-tinged alt-pop, traversing topics of heartbreak and hope. More recently, singles such as the raw track “Wish You Were Dead” have further fanned the flames of her popularity. It’s a good time to be a Lola Young fan, knowing that the already-impressive artist is just getting started.
V MAGAZINE: Who were your earliest musical influences?
LOLA YOUNG: I listened to a lot of early hip hop, and a lot of Eminem, growing up. Avril Lavigne was massive. Bon Iver. I was split between that singer-songwriter type stuff and then loads of hiphop. As I got older, it was people like Prince and Michael Jackson, and all that good stuff. So [my taste] was quite broad, growing up.
V: You’ve been touring recently. Do you have a favorite song to perform live?
LY: “Wish You Were Dead” and “Conceited” are the two that I feel really excited about, because they’re the two songs, when I’m performing live, that are the biggest and that go down the best. But it always depends on the gig and what the crowd are loving at that point in their lives. I love performing live. It’s one of my favorite bits of what I get to do, especially when there’s a new, fresh song that I’ve never played live before. It’s always really fun.
V: Your next show is in New York. How are you feeling about performing there?
LY: I love New York. I did a performance there before at Elsewhere [in Brooklyn]. It’s kind of like London, so playing there felt like an extension of where I had to perform a lot. But I’m excited for that show. Obviously I’m doing a massive set this time, so it’s going to be pretty busy and intense.
V: What can you share about your upcoming album and the new music you’ve been working on?
LY: This album is a really lovebased piece of work. All the tracks revolve around love, apart from one or two. It’s an album that talks a lot about my past relationship, getting over that, and having a whirlwind of emotions with a new person. It’s a very introspective piece of work—but I also think that it’s very relatable in many ways. There’s a bunch of songs that feel like more of what I’ve been wanting to make for a very long time. It feels like a debut album, I basically went out to LA last year and made this album in a couple of weeks. It feels really cool, it feels really me, it feels like the right time. And I’m excited to release it, for sure.
V: In 2022, you revealed you’d been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, and in your recent track, “Intrusive Thoughts,” you addressed that aspect of the condition. What was the songwriting
process for “Intrusive Thoughts?” And what does it mean for you to be candid about your mental health in your music?
LY: It’s probably the most important thing to me in terms of what I want to speak about. Obviously, there are a lot of other things that are way more important going on in the world. But I think it’s important because if you don’t have your mental health straight, then nothing else can be straight. “Intrusive Thoughts” was a gateway into me being able to address [my diagnosis] and talk about it again. A lot of my fanbase, and a lot of people who listen to sad, deep, intense music, are finding a way of relating to something that they’re already feeling through music.
My diagnosis changed my life, but it also really affected my music, because whenever I’m in a certain state, I tend to write more music. It’s very complex. But, I would love to use my platform to be able to talk about these things. I think it’s really important to have someone who has quite an intense or acute diagnosis talk about their experiences with mental health disorders, and I think I can be that for people. Hopefully I’m able to do that in the future, and continue to do that in my journey.
Lola wears shirt and bandana talent’s own
V TRENDS
Marilou wears dress and shoes MAX MARA Tights WOLFORD Earring AETHERA
All clothing MICHAEL KORS Earring AETHERA
Photography ANTHONY ARQUIER
Denim is dominating this fall. With designers incorporating the classic workwear material into high luxury collections, it seems the high-low revolution is here to stay
All clothing and shoes ISABEL MARANT Earring and necklace AETHERA
Jacket TORY BURCH Pants COPERNI
Top COPERNI
Skirt DIESEL Tights WOLFORD
On lips MAKEUP BY MARIO
Ultra Suede Lipstick in Garth
All clothing, belt, shoes MOSCHINO Earrings TORY BURCH Necklaces and bracelets AETHERA
LILY BY KNIGHT
Photography NICK KNIGHT
TREVELYAN
When fashion photographer Nick Knight met filmmaker Lily Gavin on the set of a mutual friend’s shoot, sparks flew. What was supposed to be a one-and-done portrait turned into a full blown concept that involved running around the streets of New York City dressed in this season’s most buzzed-about couture. The results of which warmly reminded us of the fact that fashion, unsurprisingly, is much more compelling when it is given life by real people
John Galliano
All clothing DILARA FINDIKOGLU Earrings HUGO KREIT
Lily Gavin comes by her innate coolness honestly. She is a born and bred New Yorker who lives in London and is fluent in French, a description that almost exclusively applies to itgirls. Her mom, Irena, is a punk documentarian with a nomadic spirit who, at the age of 18, left her native France for New York, in pursuit of a bigger life. Coolness is just in Gavin’s genes. But the filmmaker doesn’t come across as someone who is merely following the glamorous bohemian path laid out for her by circumstance. Instead she radiates a kind of happy-go-lucky curiosity, a sort of natural playfulness that, you sense, has really been the engine powering her unique and glamorous life.
“When your eyes are open, anything is possible,” Gavin tells me as we chat on a bench in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene Park. As a tomboyish teen, Gavin used to play basketball on Houston Street. As the only girl on the court, she made friends with the boys, one of whom turned out to be the son of artist and filmmaker Julian Schnabel. At the time, Gavin wanted to be a painter; it was kismet. “That was really big for me, to have someone on that scale, who was living their truth in that kind of way. He was hugely encouraging of me as a young artist,” she says of Schnabel, who later invited her to work on his film “At Eternity’s Gate,” which was about the final years of a tortured Vincent Van Gogh.
Joining Schnabel in the South of France for the making of “At Eternity’s Gate” was Gavin’s first time on a film set. “I don’t know if he asked me or if I asked him if I could do the pictures for it, but it was one of those moments where
he was like, ‘Well, can you?’ So it was a fake it ‘til you make it.” The film itself aligned with Schnabel’s general output: moody, and poetic. Plus, quite star-studded. Willem Dafoe played the role of Vincent Van Gogh while Oscar Isaac portrayed his famed foe Paul Gauguin; even Mads Mikkelsen joined for the role of Nameless Priest.
Gavin shot portraits of all the actors, eventually compiling her images into an exhibition held at the LUMA cultural center in Arles, France— titled, “Une Histoire Avec Vincent,” meaning: a story with Vincent. It was later turned into a little black booklet with a yellow finish on its edges. Back at the park, Gavin handed me a copy. When I opened it, there was a poem written by someone else that she had decisively crossed out with black marker. Whoever wrote that bit of text wrote it in the first person, Gavin explained, which made it seem like Gavin wrote it herself since her name is on the cover. Whenever she gives out a copy, she makes sure to strike the text.
“You know, life places you in these certain situations, and you don’t know who you’re gonna meet or what’s gonna lead to something that’s very significant down the line,” she muses. Around the same time “Une Histoire Avec Vincent” was on display at LUMA Arles, Gucci held its 2019 Resort runway at that same venue. Interested in her work, the brand reached out to Gavin on Instagram, but it seemed too good to be true. “I got a DM that I thought was spam, so I was ignoring it. I was in Thailand with a monk,” Gavin recounts, with a hearty yet breathless Annie Hall-esque laugh. “The first short film I made, ironically, [ended up being] for Gucci. This is another one of those things where life goes into itself.” The film, titled, “The Companion,” is a 3-minute phantasmagoric vignette of a little boy left to watch his mother’s Jackie handbag while she meets with a male suitor.
Another serendipitous connection that came from the “At Eternity’s Gate” set was meeting actor Aimee Mullins, who’d later end up starring in Gavin’s forthcoming short film, “When I Close My Eyes.” While on set, Mullins mentioned to Gavin that she should connect with photographer Nick Knight. “I already was aware of Nick, and kind of felt that one day we were going to meet,” Gavin says. “When [Mullins] was 25 or something, she shot a Dazed cover for Alexander McQueen with Nick. She told me that they basically became family after that: ‘You have to meet Nick and Charlotte [Knight’s wife], they’re so special. They’re real people!’ So that was always in the background, but we hadn’t met yet.”
A couple of years later, Gavin’s friend Sonny Hall was working on a poetry book project that involved original photos of his loved ones, so he asked if she would sit for a portrait—which, of course, was to be taken by none other than Nick Knight. “Immediately Nick and I started talking about 3D sculptures because we’re both into 3D printing,” she laughs. “Then we did a second shoot for the book. Then, there was still this feeling of, ‘Let’s do another shoot together.’”
I wanted to get Knight’s side of this serendipitous, platonic fairy tale. So, I called him up on Whatsapp.
“What’s always driven me in my work is the people I get to work with,” he says, his reception spotty as he exits his studio. “I really enjoyed photographing Lily. She’s a young filmmaker,
she’s in acting classes, she takes great photographs, and has a very nice… sort of way about her. I thought it would be a very interesting project to do in a fuller way. To photograph somebody in high fashion who I also find to be a very fascinating person.” V turned out to be just the place for such a shoot.
As with most things in Gavin’s journey, everything surrounding the shoot fell into place, as though it were all part of a carefully yet easefully orchestrated performance with someone sitting in the director’s chair. “Our whole shoot felt like we were floating on this ethereal plane through the city,” she says. The idea came from their shared interest in the way fashion shoots used to work: only two people on the call sheet, model and photographer, both carrying everything they’d need to get the shot. Scrappy, spontaneous, and intimate. “That was the seed,” Gavin clarifies, “Because, of course, logistically, there are rules like, no mixing brands, for example.” The idea of shooting on the streets of New York City was outside of Knight’s comfort zone, which has been the studio for most of his career. But the city’s pulse and energy proved to be incredibly amusing and inspiring to him.
“I was taken by the fact that, walking on a street in Midtown in a very pronounced fashion look, people in New York will talk to you!” Knight recounts, tickled. “As an English person, that really lovely American friendliness, that spontaneity that New Yorkers have to be able to express their opinions straight to you, is quite different to Britain, which is usually very reserved.” For Gavin, the romance was in the organic harmony the city provided. “There was so much synchronized magic. Like the neon Chelsea sign that had been broken for however many years, got fixed the day before the shoot—you know that kind of thing where it just feels like someone’s saying: ... and action!”
The two shot a second installment in Knight’s London studio, where he applied an impressionistic effect to the images—an homage to the Dutch painter Kees van Dongen. “It really is exactly what I had hoped it would be: an artist and her work,” he says of the end result. Gavin and her paintings, to be more specific. Over email, she updated me on her recent artwork, noting that she’s been painting at her friend Olaolu Slawn’s studio. “I’m finding that painting is almost a form of meditation or exercise for me. To use the hands, helps move the energy and clear the channels for the writing… gets you out of your own way,” she posits. Photos of Gavin in an oversized gray t-shirt and jeans, smiling proudly next to her works, provide visual context for the work that helps her, well, work.
If you’re not paying attention, as Gavin suggested earlier, you may very well miss the opportunities the world puts right in front of your face. Coolness, it-girldom, icon status, are not so much a matter of good luck—though being a city kid with cool parents helps—but a matter of marrying one’s curiosity, putting yourself out there, and seeing good ideas through to their logical conclusion. At the end of my conversation with Gavin at Fort Greene Park, we stood up from the bench to walk towards the train together. When we turned around to check if either of us had left anything, we noticed, right on cue, that the bench had a little plaque engraved with a Bill Cunningham quote: “He who seeks beauty will find it.”
Makeup (NYC) Maki Ryoke (Streeters) Makeup (London) Laura Dominique (Streeters) using BYREDO Makeup Hair (NYC) Panos Papandrianos (The Wall Group) Hair (London) Angelo Seminara (Streeters) using KEMON products Talent Lily Gavin Manicure (London) Abena Robinson Set design Andrew Tomlinson (Streeters) Executive producer Kat Davey (Liberte Productions) Producer (NYC) Jordan Vernes KingRexx Production coordinator Alice Carlet (Liberte Productions) Digital technician Joe Colley 3D SHOWstudio Photo assistants Grace Hodgson, Hassan Saif, Mossy McDermott Stylist assistants Ruairi Horan, Niambi Moore, Hannah Rose, AJ Grove, Luca Parkes, Beth Knight Makeup assistant (studio) Naomi Nakamura Hair assistants (studio) Janet Barone, Ilaria Belleo Production assistant Berlin Nichols, Eliza Jouin Set assistant Bradley Barrett Retouching Epilogue Imaging Location (NYC) Love Studios Location (NYC) Chelsea Hotel Location (London) SHOWstudio
MIAMI
Photography ALVARO BEAMUD CORTÉS
Fashion NICOLA FORMICHETTI
Text MATHIAS ROSENZWEIG
Candice wears top HERMÈS Sunglasses JACQUES
VIXENS
Five supermodels converged for an athletically-charged shoot on Miami’s beaches, streets, and gym floors—reminding us that bombshells don’t only appear on Hollywood’s red carpets
Kate wears top HERMÈS Earring MESSIKA
Sunglasses JACQUES MARIE MAGE
“Confident and empowered women have always disrupted the status quo.”
—Kate Upton
From left to right: Candice wears all clothing SCHIAPARELLI
All jewelry MESSIKA
Kate wears dress SCHIAPARELLI Ring MESSIKA
“[Social media] gave us another platform for work, especially during COVID. And a voice.”
—Daiane Sodre
“Growing up in Brazil, I always admired iconic supermodels such as Gisele
and Isabeli
To get the chance to work with Isabeli... was a dream come true.”
—Maria Klaumann
Bündchen, Adriana Lima,
Fontana.
Before the term “bombshell” became associated with curvy, sexually suggestive, and often blond-haired movie stars with a certain hedonist joie de vivre—perhaps most famously, Marilyn Monroe—it had other meanings. Of course, its initial usage in the 17th century pertained to literal warfare and bombs. According to Merriam-Webster, it grew to mean “one who is stunning, amazing, or devastating.” When the Great Depression came around, “bombshell” became associated with dangerous women before its first Hollywood application to actress Jean Harlow, who was called “The Blond Bombshell” in the 1931 film Platinum Blonde
Like wild animals, bombshells can appear in various terrains—whether it’s the beach, gym, a clothing shop, or even just prowling down the streets while hunting for whatever they damn well please, talons ready and big, beautiful manes perfectly intact. V released five such bombshells—Kate Upton, Candice Swanepoel, Daiane Sodre, Isabeli Fontana, and Maria Klaumann—into the wild to capture how these head-turners can be found all around us when we least expect it. And despite looking tame, they can still be dangerous.
V MAGAZINE: Let’s start with the shoot. Can you describe that day?
CANDICE SWANEPOEL: I think all of us have been through a lot of crazy shoots. It was actually a really pleasurable day.
KATE UPTON: It was such a lovely day, which instantly puts you in a good mood. Plus, we were wearing workout clothes, so there’s a comfort level that you don’t always get on high fashion shoots. Also, I feel like, in the last couple of years, a little bit of creativity has been lost in editorial shoots… There have been so many recent shoots when they’ve been like, “Just come and be yourself.” And I think, I don’t really want to come on set and be me (laughs). I’m here to create something. And that’s really what this shoot felt like.
DAIANE SODRE: I want to add that it was one of the most special days of my career. Working with so many creative people and with two beautiful supermodels, I had to pinch myself so many times to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.
ISABELI FONTANA: The day on set surpassed my expectations and I felt revitalized with the group. It’s always refreshing to be surrounded by art, creativity, and professionalism. I’m very excited for the results.
V: What are the best and hardest parts of your job?
MARIA KLAUMANN: The best part of the job is traveling the world, meeting new people, and being open to embodying different personalities in each job. The worst part is that the career is very uncertain, with irregular jobs and, most importantly, no guarantee of success.
IF: The most rewarding part of the job is how special I feel to be part of a major team like this and to be able to inspire others. The hardest part is that we must deal with insecurities and are not able to have a routine. Fashion requires us to live in several places, in several time zones. I have the opportunity to travel all over the world and am so thankful for that. However, many times I land in a city and have to go from the airport to the studio and from the studio to the hotel. I end up not even knowing the city I’m in. That being said, I am extremely grateful for the profession and the path I have taken in fashion.
From left to right: Isabeli wears all clothing, accessories, shoes CHANEL
Maria wears all clothing, accessories, shoes CHANEL
From left to right: Candice wears all clothing and accessories GUCCI Isabeli wears all clothing GUCCI
Kate wears all clothing GUCCI
On eyes MAC COSMETICS
Eyeshadow in Memories of Space and Girlie
V: For those of you who’ve modeled for many years now, how has the work changed?
CS: The beauty of our jobs is that it’s always evolving. Some people like change. Sometimes I do, and sometimes I fight against it a bit. We spend so much time figuring out how to navigate a world, and then once you’ve figured it out, it changes. The other day, I had to make a “Get Ready With Me” video, and I felt like it was easier for me to fly 15 hours across the world and to do a 12-hour day than to make one of those videos (laughs).
KU: I’ve never questioned my life more (laughs). For those of us who didn’t grow up knowing how to navigate these new apps, it can be really difficult. The content now is very much in real-time, and is very raw, which I like as well, but personally, I prefer the glamor of the old-school way of making content. Honestly, social media has changed every industry. Now you’re coming from a place of analytics. I see it in my husband’s [Justin Verlander] job playing baseball, too. Like, “Oh, how many new followers did you get? How many views?” It’s so funny because fashion never felt honest to people, but it actually was honest. And now it can be very calculated.
DS: I think it’s made the market much more versatile. You’re going to be able to see more bodies and ages. It also gave us another platform for work, especially during COVID. And a voice. For example, I’m an ambassador for three different charities, [Delivering Good, Larger Than Life USA, and Love Together Brazil], and I’m able to use [my] platform for that.
KU: That’s exactly why we needed her on set. We need this young positive energy (laughs). But yes, in the old-school world, it was hard to make a name for yourself. And there were only like five or six girls who were able to accomplish that. Social media expanded that and gave so many models platforms.
V: You ladies are very busy and very booked. I wonder what your ideal day looks like when you’re not working.
MK: My dream day would be skiing, then going to the spa, followed by sitting around a warm fire with family and friends.
DS: My perfect day would be on the beach, maybe in Miami, drinking coconut water, and having a massage with my dog next to me.
IF: A dream day would be getting a big house right in front of the beach to bring my family and friends to stay the entire day on the beach, eating great, and dancing.
CS: Mine would be sleeping until I want to because that’s not a part of my day anymore. So my perfect day would start with sleeping in, spending time outside on the beach, or in nature with my kids. Eating good food, listening to some good music, and massages would be involved for me as well. And going to sleep early. Like, my guilty pleasure is sleep.
KU: My dream day is similar. Spending time with my family, doing something outside, whether it’s in nature or the water, paddle boarding, something involving animals—like going to a farm… Then having a movie night, staying in, having a good meal, and going to sleep early.
V: I love that three supermodels have the same ideal day, which basically involves sleeping, eating, being outside, and then it’s a toss-up between massages or hanging with kids.
KU: We’re really into necessities these days.
V: Who are some of your fashion icons?
From left to right:
Candice wears all clothing ALO YOGA
Kate wears all clothing ALO YOGA Isabeli wears all clothing ALO YOGA
“[Often], I land in a city and have to go from the airport to the studio and from the studio to the hotel. I end up not even knowing the city I’m in.”
—Isabeli Fontana
MK: Growing up in Brazil, I always admired iconic supermodels such as Gisele Bündchen, Adriana Lima, and Isabeli Fontana. To get the chance to work with Isabeli, in V Magazine nonetheless, was a dream come true. She is constantly inspiring me, and I feel honored to receive guidance from her.
IF: Stephanie Seymour, always.
V: With this story, we’re playing up the “traditional” use of the term bombshell. But the word has actually gone on an interesting journey full of changes in meaning. What does it mean to you today?
CS: In the past, a bombshell was purely about how women looked. It was meant to suggest that the woman was a sex symbol, but today it refers to women who are strong, confident, and successful.
DS: When someone calls me a bombshell, I take it (laughs). For me, every time and anytime I hear the expression “bombshell,” it is always in a positive way. I think of it as a strong, powerful, smart, and sexy woman that not only just owns who she is, but is able to influence people by expressing her sexuality, her wit, and her charm…The first thing that comes to my mind are the angels from Victoria’s Secret, Brigitte Bardot, Marilyn Monroe, etc. Bombshell has been used on some of the most influential, powerful women for generations.
KU: It’s interesting how “bombshell” has historically implied something “devastating” or “dangerous.” But to whom? Confident and empowered women have always disrupted the status quo. Previously it seems the term was most closely associated with a woman’s looks, and now it has grown to so much more. Today, “bombshell” signifies women fighting for basic rights of humanity such as reproductive rights, ownership of our bodies, gender pay gaps, and justice against violence and harassment. Did you know that until the 1970s, women in the U.S. were considered their husbands’ property? It’s sad that fighting for these basic rights is considered metaphorical to a bomb, but if that’s the case, then I’m proud to do so. I embrace being a “bombshell” and am grateful for others doing the same—mothers, career women, creatives, activists, politicians, leaders, and more.
From left to right:
Maria wears dress and belt GUESS Shoes JIMMY CHOO
“We spend so much time figuring out how to navigate a world, and then once you’ve figured it out, it changes.”
—Candice Swanepoel
Makeup Raisa Flowers (E.D.M.A.) Hair Akki Shirakawa (Art Partner) Models Kate Upton, Candice Swanepoel, Daiane Sodre, Isabeli Fontana, Maria Klaumann (The Lions) Set design Cristina Forestieri
Production HG Producers Inc Digital technician Christopher Murray
Photo assistants Simone Triacca, Craig Miller Stylist assistants Brianna Dooley, Sophia Hernando Makeup assistant Eunice Kristen Hair assistant Ubu Nagano Set design assistant Jonathan Ruffini Location Runway Swimwear Location Anatomy Gym MIA
Kate wears dress SCHIAPARELLI
are
À LA CARAT
Bracelet
Photography KEITH GREENBAUM
Necklace TIFFANY & CO.
(in platinum, 18k yellow gold, Sri Lankan sapphires, star sapphires, diamonds)
Blue Book 2024: Tiffany Céleste (Price upon request, available upon appointment)
From
Ring TIFFANY & CO.
(in platinum, 18k yellow gold, a Fancy Brown Purple diamond, white diamonds)
Blue Book 2024: Tiffany Céleste (Price upon request, available upon appointment)
Ring TIFFANY & CO.
(in platinum, 18k yellow gold, a red spinel, diamonds)
Blue Book 2024: Tiffany Céleste (Price upon request, available upon appointment)
Necklace
TIFFANY & CO. (in platinum, 18k yellow gold, red spinels, diamonds) Blue Book 2024: Tiffany Céleste (Price upon request, available upon appointment)
Earrings TIFFANY & CO.
(in platinum, 18k yellow gold, Sri Lankan sapphires, star sapphires, diamonds) Blue Book 2024: Tiffany Céleste (Price upon request, available upon appointment)
Earrings TIFFANY & CO.
(in platinum, 18k yellow gold, Fancy Intense Yellow diamonds, white diamonds)
Blue Book 2024: Tiffany Céleste (Price upon request, available upon appointment)
Set design Maya Bookbinder (Hello Artists) Production John Moore (Walter Schupfer Management) Photo assistant Justin Bordeaux Location Beverly Estate
Necklace TIFFANY & CO.
(in platinum with light blue sapphires, mother-of-pearl, diamonds)
Blue Book 2024: Tiffany Céleste
(Price upon request, available upon appointment)
Necklace TIFFANY & CO. (in platinum, 18k yellow gold, Colombian emeralds, diamonds) Blue Book 2024: Tiffany Céleste (Price upon request, available upon appointment)
TYLA QUENCHES OUR THIRST FOR MORE
If you’re one of the over half a billion people who’s streamed Tyla’s instant viral hit “Water” since last July, chances are you haven’t been able to get the catchy hook out of your head. But for the Johannesburg native, the track was more than the addictive song of the summer, it marked the beginning of her quest to bring South African culture to the forefront of the global music scene.
If the single was an announcement of her intentions to break through on her own terms, the singer’s self-titled debut album TYLA is proof that she’s already well on her way to superstardom. The 14 tracks complement one another seamlessly, utilizing the recent Grammy-winner’s signature mix of pop, R&B, afrobeats, and amapiano (a specifically South African subgenre of house music) to create something simultaneously experimental yet true to her roots.
“When I was younger, I always wanted to see a South African girl doing the things that I wanted to do,” she tells V over a Zoom audio call. “So I really would like to give that [example] to not only South African girls, but all African girls, and all girls everywhere—just to show that no matter where you’re from, it is possible. Because being in South Africa, it didn’t seem possible [for me] at the time. Just bringing this genre that I’ve been loving for years, and that people in Africa have been dancing to for years – sharing it with the world and seeing how they love it is such a nice thing to see.”
On “Jump,” a collaboration with rapper Gunna and Jamaican dancehall DJ and rapper Skillibeng, Tyla is more confident than ever as she muses, “They never had a pretty girl from Joburg / See me now, and that’s what they prefer / I don’t touch no wheel ‘cause I gotta chauffeur / First class how I get ‘round the world.” On this project, Tyla proves herself to be many things—but one thing she is not is a one-hit wonder. She’s here to stay, and if these songs are any indication, the talented artist thrives under pressure to follow up hits. She’s just getting started.
Tyla wears all clothing and tights GCDS Navel ring MARIA TASH
On lips
VICTORIA BECKHAM BEAUTY Posh Gloss in Poolside
V MAGAZINE: You’ve had an incredible year! Though you released your first single “Getting Late” in 2019, last year, you absolutely exploded in popularity—largely thanks to your viral sensation “Water.” The hit track led to over 500 million streams globally, a Grammy award, a TikTok dance trend performed over 5 million times, and even remixes featuring Travis Scott and Marshmello—all before your 22nd birthday. Did you expect “Water” to take off like that?
TYLA: No, not at all. It came as a surprise to all of us, myself and my whole team. It was really a cool moment.
V: What do you think it was about that pivotal moment in your career, your sound, and the direction you took at that time that resonated with audiences?
T: I don’t know, I feel like maybe [because] it was something new. It was even new for people back home in South Africa, because even though the [Bacardi] dance style was around for years, it was never really [applied to modern] music like this. So it was that dance style with the style of music that I make, and I feel like people just liked it. And I’m happy that they did because it really changed my whole life.
V: Reflecting back on your roots, you started writing music at just 12 years old, growing up in South Africa. How has your trajectory as a young songwriter influenced your career now?
T: All those years of writing, making music by myself, performing in talent shows or for family, acting in plays—I feel like all of those moments developed me in a way and help me now as a performer and as an artist. Just having had some sort of experience, even though it wasn’t professional, it definitely helped me.
V: Obviously, you’re very multifaceted: You’re a singer, a songwriter, a dancer, and you mentioned acting as well. Do you think that your performing arts experience helped influence your artistry as a whole? What was it like growing up acting in plays?
T: Yeah, definitely. I loved doing it in school. Every single play, I would be there auditioning and singing and acting. I just loved playing a character on stage and entertaining people, really. So I really incorporate those [passions] into my performance today. I love combining everything that I enjoy into one show, balancing acting [and] singing. I really have fun with it.
V: That’s so cool. I think it really shines through in your performance art, and of course, on your highly-anticipated debut album TYLA, which came out March 22nd. The album really showcases your incredible range and signature sound. In the years that you’ve spent working on this project, how have you noticed your sound and personal style evolve?
T: It evolved a lot. I’ve loved fashion and music since I was very young, but I never really had the resources when I was growing up to access the things that I personally liked. Now, I’m able to play around more and get the pieces and wear the things that I’ve always wanted to wear, so I’m enjoying that as well. And musically, my direction has always been to take African sounds to the world and mix pop, R&B, afrobeats, and amapiano together and make it huge. All those years of trying, making terrible songs, making okay songs, brought me to this point where I feel like I’ve made a sound that I’m happy bringing to the world.
All clothing, tights, socks GCDS Earring and ring CARTIER
ring MARIA TASH Shoe JIMMY CHOO
Makeup Jamal Scott Hair Hos (The Wall Group) Manicure Sonya Meesh (Forward) using DIOR Vernis Digital technician Jacky Jiang Photo assistants Simone Triacca, Astin Ferreras Stylist assistants Niambi Moore, Olivia Vitale Makeup assistant Hinako Takagaki Hair assistant Elise Bueno Location Smashbox BK
GO FOR GOLD
Ralph Lauren has a legacy of exceptional sports collections. (Anyone remember the brand’s short-lived yet iconic rugby line?) With the Olympic and Paralympic games taking place in Paris this summer, the all-American brand’s Team USA Collection evokes classic Parisian cool with a red, white, and blue palette for the ultimate cultural blend. Thinking ahead, the pieces are cut from American-made wool and recycled polyester— perfect to match the freshly cleaned Seine
Sara Grace wears all clothing, accessories, shoes POLO RALPH LAUREN
Photography TINA TYRELL
Fashion GRO CURTIS
Lindsey wears all clothing, accessories, shoes POLO RALPH LAUREN
Marcos wears all clothing and accessories POLO RALPH LAUREN Jewelry model’s own
Makeup Ingeborg Hair Blake Erik (Forward Artists) Models Samuel Elie (Soul), Sara Grace (The Society), Anyier Anei (The Society), Noel Hernandez (DNA), Lindsey Leonard (Ford), Marcos (Omit)
Casting director Julia Gilmour Digital technician Nick Barr
Photo assistant Alonso Ayala Location Shio Studio
FORCE OF NATURE
Those in the world of fashion can recall the moment Karlie Kloss appeared on the scene at fifteen with feline, emerald eyes, and a smize that has made her a muse to many. A walking phenom since her early days of dominating catwalks, campaigns, and covers, the industry has been trying to keep up with Kloss as she makes leggy strides toward her next goals with intent, grace, and the guidance of her fellow supers in the business. For Kloss, that mentor position was filled by none other than Christy Turlington. “She is such a North star for me,” Kloss explains. “For what it could mean to be a model and also use your platform [to promote] things that make a real impact in the world.”
With Kloss now in her early thirties, her activism work and outspokenness echo that of Turlington. The two have walked uncannily parallel paths: both were discovered in their early teens, made the decision to step away from the modeling world to attend college in their early twenties, and now have two kids. Additionally, both have dedicated much of their efforts to their community-driven organizations like Kloss’ Gateway Coalition, focused on reproductive care, and tech education initiatives, Kode with Klossy, and Turlington’s Every Mother Counts. Most recently, Kloss has ventured into new territory, adding another title to her impressive resume by taking on the role of CEO of Bedford Media, overseeing the soon-to-be-revived publications, i-D and LIFE magazine. It seems nothing can stop the force of nature that is Karlie Kloss.
In conversation with fellow top model Christy Turlington, Karlie Kloss opens up on how being a muse and a mother unlocked the next great chapters of her life
Karlie wears all clothing and accessories LORO PIANA
V MAGAZINE: How did you meet? Do you remember that first interaction?
KARLIE KLOSS: The first time I met Christy Turlington, it was almost like a scene out of a movie because I’ve idolized Christy long before ever meeting her. I was always a super fan. She was shooting in the Donna Karan studio over in the West Village. Donna invited me because she knew how much I admired Christy, and I remember walking into Urban Zen where the shoot was happening. I was standing face-toface with Christy, and I just started crying. I’ve never had that reaction ever again with anyone in the world, but I was so moved and humbled to meet her, and so I just was bawling.
CHRISTY TURLINGTON: What I remember very specifically about you and Donna’s interaction is you talking to Donna in a very sophisticated way, giving her commentary on the collection that you had just worn, which was very sweet. I was touched. I felt in the middle of these two worlds. It was kind of like the confluence of past, present, and future.
V: I’ve seen many moments where you two were together—at events, in campaigns, and on covers—and I read in the New York Times that Christy actually wrote Karlie’s recommendation letter for college.
KK: Yes, for NYU!
V: How did that even happen?
KK: This was before ChatGPT, so she really had to write it! It was so generous of Christy to do that. Even knowing that Christy Turlington— who continues, over many decades, to have an extraordinary fashion career as an iconic supermodel—also cares about her education was so important for me. When I was in my early twenties, I was really nervous about the decision, because I thought, “If I take any amount of time away from my fashion career, will it all disappear?” and Christy was such an important sounding board to prove that [I should] invest in my own education.
CT: After we met, within a couple of years we started to get together and meet for lunch, and just talk about things. So, when Karlie mentioned that she was interested in going back to school, of course, I was ecstatic for her. I think you were already recognizing that you were not as excited about all the things you’d already experienced. So I was really in support of this choice, and also tried to give as much of a reality check of what it would feel like, and try to reassure her that the more that she did work on herself, the more in-demand she would be. The more you continue to evolve and invest in yourself, the more people want to be a part of that, and want to get closer to you to learn all the different things that you’re now interested in.
KK: Wow! This is like a dream. I’m glad this is being recorded. I think on days when I’m having a bad day, I need to look back at this.
V: Now at 31, having all that modeling experience and taking those investments in your education, you’ve gone on to start all these organizations. And the same goes to Christy with Every Mother Counts, which Karlie has been involved in quite a bit. You went on a trip to Haiti a few years ago. I’d love to know at what point you had the ideas for those organizations?
KK: It’s so funny, I actually had a YouTube channel at the time [where I recorded the trip], I’m going to go back after this and rewatch those videos.
CT: Yes, I forgot about that!
KK: Remember that? Oh, it’s probably so cringe, but I was such a nerd. I was so passionate and excited about being on this trip [to Haiti], it really was a turning point for me in a lot of ways. [Because] we live in New York, it’s easy to kind of feel disconnected from these topics—you go to a charity event and you write a check. But actually going on this trip and seeing where Every Mother Counts was really changing the lives of women in Haiti in the most profound and important of ways, [especially] in that moment of when you’re most vulnerable: bringing your child into the world. I founded Kode with Klossy a year or two later. [That trip] set me on this path and helped show me what could be possible through my own natural curiosity. So after that trip, I went back to NYU and I started taking coding classes, which made me realize there are so many opportunities in the changing world that we live in, and for young women in particular— imagine the problems they could solve with this ability. It started simply like that with 21 scholarships, and next year is our 10th year.
CT: That’s big, that’s huge!
KK: It’s huge! We’ve had more than 10,000 young women and gender expansive teens in our programs over the past years. We’re going to probably have close to 4,000 scholars in our programs this summer alone.
CT: I’m a big fan of Bryan Stevenson [social justice activist], and I love the way he speaks about proximity. For me that’s really the truth. I would say through Kode with Klossy, similarly, you want to be with those kids. You want to be in the room where the lights turn on and everyone has that feeling of connectivity and you’re a part of a community. I think that’s one of the parallels that we share is the ability to build a community that will ultimately have a greater impact… I can see the multiplier effect happening between coding and technology and the community you’ve built, and also the commitment you’ve made to do this work at this moment.
KK: Thank you, Christy. That means a lot. I really continue to learn from Christy in so many ways. After I just had my first [child] and came back home, Christy and Grace [Burns], her oldest, came over and met my little guy, and it was just so crazy. Having the entry into motherhood, and having your first child, no matter the resources you have or where you live in this world, it is a profoundly life changing experience, and you have to have your community and village around you. I feel very lucky that Christy and Grace are now in my village.
CT: I sort of marvel at Karlie, and how much she’s able to take on. Seeing her do all the things, it appears effortless, but I know it’s not. Then, with my daughter who’s 21 in October, it’s like really another full circle. She’s in class full time, she’s publishing books of poetry, shooting campaigns, and being shot in campaigns, I’m like, “Of course you can do that because Karlie is your [role model].” So it’s a very direct correlation in the way that we’re all continuing to inspire and care for and support one another.
Head to VMAGAZINE .com now to read the extended interview.
Karlie wears all clothing, accessories, shoes LORO PIANA
Makeup Romy Soleimani (The Wall Group) Hair Recine (The Wall Group) Model Karlie Kloss (The Society) Set design Viki Rutsch (Exposure NY) Production Dana Brockman (Viewfinders) Digital technician Matthew Thompson Lighting technician Nathan Martin Photo assistants Chris Moore, Lauren Damaskinos Makeup assistant Jackie Piccola Hair assistant Shinya Iwamoto Set design assistant Mateen Barekzai Production assistants Rachel Williams, Jack Seney, Ha Chu
‘Ello, Coco! With a rock ‘n roll powered show that electrified Thomas Street in MCR, here’s how Virginie Viard’s latest Métiers d’art 2023/24 collection for the house of CHANEL finds solace in the energy of the downtown scene
Photography LEON MARK
Fashion RUBEN DE MELO MOREIRA
Text KEVIN PONCE
MANCHESTER ON THE STREET
From left to right: Simona wears all clothing, jewelry, accessories CHANEL
clothing, jewelry, accessories CHANEL
When one thinks of Manchester, it’s almost instinctual to think of some of the major musical acts that have emerged from the North England city. A starting point for English rockers such as the Gallagher brothers of Oasis, Morrissey of The Smiths, Joy Division, and even modern players like the boys of The 1975, the city pushes the idea of connection through creation. It’s similar to the ethos of CHANEL which became the first major luxury fashion house to show in the city last December. Among a strip of tattoo parlors, vintage record shops, fish and chip spots, and a bevy of pubs for some good old-fashioned pints of beer, the fashion glitterati were completely out of their comfort zone, but perhaps, that’s what made the show’s “venue” so special.
Tapping into that down-to-earth Mancunian spirit, Virginie Viard turned up the volume on the house’s codes, which contrasted with the neighborhood’s energy. Against the gritty, CHANEL brought the glamour, notably with the pop of colors and details that captured the vibrancy of Manchester’s characters. Followed by an abundance of tweeds in silhouettes that harken back to the swinging sixties, this love letter to Manchester finds itself in nearly every facet of the pieces that make up the 72-look collection. Naturally, it wouldn’t be a proper Métiers d’art collection without all the delicious details that punctuate Viard’s vision.
Through Métiers d’art pieces, one can expect an orchestra of classic Chanel motifs like bejeweled buttons and chain-adorned hems. Infused with the varying cultures that make up the DNA of the city, from music to sports to punk nightlife, this collection melds worlds like no other. Think adorably referenced details of electric guitarshaped jewelry items, “CC” brooches fixed onto tweed paperboy hats, cashmere knits inspired by vintage nightclub flyers, and even sequin badges shaped like the Manchester City crest. Watching from the sidelines, it’s clear that only a rockstar like Viard can pull this off.
Makeup Johanna Nomiey (Home Agency) using SUBMISSION BEAUTY Hair Lauren Palmer Smith (Forward Artists) Models Simona Kust (The Lions), Majesty Amare (Freedom Models)
Executive producer Nicole Prokes (Blond) Producer Heather Blum (Blond) Casting Tallulah Bernard (11th House Agency) Stylist assistant Rachelle Duperoux
Production assistant Peter Giang Location Primo Studios
Between its founding in Rome, the Eternal City, 140 years ago, and the brand’s signature serpent, a Greco-Roman symbol for rebirth, BVLGARI’s legacy can be captured in one central idea: eternity. And while the time between 1884 and 2024 may be finite, Aeterna, Latin for eternity and the name of BVLGARI’s exquisite new luxury jewelry collection, manages to embody a timeless beauty
Dripping in symbolism and metaphors, Aeterna might tickle those with literary inclinations and a passion for ancient Western civilization. It successfully ties in motifs associated with Italy’s rich history, making not only for beautiful jewelry but an homage to Romulus’s creation of his eponymous city in 350 B.C.
The collection’s magnificent centerpiece, the Serpenti Aeterna necklace, pays tribute to Bvlgari’s 140th anniversary in its seven pure pear diamond drops totaling a celebratory 140.00 carats. The platinum structure flows in a snake-like
movement, evocative of the mythic Ouroboros serpent eating its tail—and, true to the Maison’s animating principle, serves as a symbol of eternal rebirth.
Apart from the stunning Serpenti Aeterna, the collection boasts eleven main creations, with a snake motif appearing in several pieces. The Serpenti Chiseled necklace includes a strawberry red pear shaped rubellite suspended from a snake’s mouth. And a white gold snake with two heads holding two pear-cut sapphires sourced from a pair of 1930s Bvlgari earrings is the motif of Serpenti Sapphire Echo
Necklace BVLGARI Aeterna High Jewelry necklace (in white gold, 8 baroque emeralds, diamonds)
Bvlgari Aeterna High Jewelry Collection (Price upon request)
The Sapphire Aeterna Waves platinum necklace’s shimmering shades are inspired by the Sri Lankan ocean, the country of origin for the cushion-cut sapphire incorporated in the creation. The piece includes a detachable pendant— a nod to Bvlgari’s tradition of creating transformative and versatile jewelry. Diamonds and sapphires are also the combination used in the Sapphire Brocade necklace, with the added treat of buff-top emeralds, a Bvlgari signature.
Drawing on inspiration from the iconic 1980’s Chandra Line, the Aurea Chandra spherical choker consists of five
rows of alternating pink gold and pavé-set diamonds spheres referencing cyclicity.
The Tubogas Flower ofTime necklace fuses the modernity of the iconic Bvlgari Tubogas design with a classic romantic floral motif engraved on an oval-cut Zambian emerald.
Bvlgari’s distinctive smooth cabochon cut can be seen on the Lotus Cabochon, inspired by the lotus flower—yet another symbol of eternal rebirth. The necklace evokes the silhouette of a sartorial collar with flamboyant colors and a pebble-like texture.
Necklace BVLGARI Aeterna High Jewelry necklace
(in pink gold, onyx elements, 2 cushion kunzites, 3 cushion green tourmalines, pavé-set diamonds)
BVLGARI Aeterna High Jewelry Collection
(Price upon request)
Necklace BVLGARI Aeterna High Jewelry necklace
(in pink gold, 1 cushion cabochon emerald, 312 buff-top emeralds, pavé-set diamonds) BVLGARI Aeterna High Jewelry Collection (Price upon request)
Necklace BVLGARI Aeterna High Jewelry necklace
(in yellow gold, 3 oval cabochon mandarin garnets, 2 oval cabochon amethysts, 64 step cut diamonds, 20 fancy polished orange quartzes, pavé-set diamonds)
BVLGARI Aeterna High Jewelry Collection
(Price upon request)
Lighting technician Giacomo Gianfelici Photo assistant Matteo Cigala Location Villa Aurelia, Rome
Earth Song is a brilliantly kaleidoscopic creation combining a thick pink gold chain and an array of five colorful gems cut in three different shapes. The Mosaic of Time necklace is a testament to the extraordinary craftsmanship achieved by Bvlgari’s master jewelers. 150 distinct modules form a mosaic in an array of pastel colors and gem cuts in a creation that pays tribute to Rome’s eternal transcendence.
The Monete Aeterna Augusts Emerald necklace celebrates the brand’s heritage through utilizing a rare Imperial
bronze coin sporting the profile of Augustus, the first Roman emperor. A directional arrangement of diamonds symbolizing a radiant future can be seen on the Sequence of Eternity earrings, at the center of which appear two oval-cut rubies. Attached are three diamond drops representing the past, present, and future—which for Bvlgari, of course, is as bright as this storied collection.
Necklace BVLGARI Aeterna High Jewelry necklace
(in pink gold, topaz, tanzanite, aquamarine, amethysts, rubellite, diamonds)
BVLGARI Aeterna High Jewelry Collection
(Price upon request)
WHAT
When it comes to a closet splurge, timelessness is of the essence. If you’re itching for a new hunk of leather, here are several reasons why we’re eyeing Saint Laurent’s latest it-piece, the Pochon
V WANT
Every closet needs a black leather, gold accented shoulder bag. Ideally, one that’s sealed with the iconic YSL logo. Butter-soft leather delicately crafted to bring just a bit more wow-factor to any outfit, the Pochon will liven up everything from a demi-couture number to a pair of your favorite paint-splattered, decades-old 501s. Whether you treat your shoulder candy like fine china or prefer to beat it up like the Olsen twins with their luxury carry-alls, you can really get the most from the Saint Laurent Pochon.
It’s the bag for not only the it girl, but also for those who lug their whole life around. While looks may be deceiving, this chic accessory can hold any icon’s basic needs: phone, wallet, makeup, money, power, and all the secrets every woman possesses. If you need an elegant, yet edgy closet refresh before the fall, there’s one thing you can always count on: leather accessories. Pair this bag with your favorite pair of black leather knee-high riding boots or maybe even a pointed toe kitten heel and watch the admiring stares and jealous scowls roll in. V can promise this bag will replace those in your current rotation faster than you can say “Yves!”
While we are drowning in options, some are easy to choose. Whether you are more of a Park Avenue princess or a Debbie Harry wannabe, the Pochon serves every aesthetic. They say “the girls that get it, get it,”—the girls being Saint Laurent and trust us, they get it. LIV VITALE
ICONS THAT SHINE
To present our new Speedmaster 38 mm in its best light, we called on a friend with her own inner glow: model, actress, and OMEGA brand ambassador Kaia Gerber. Our new chronograph has a bezel paved with 52 diamonds, and a polished crown set with a single diamond. The perfect finishing touch to Kaia’s sophisticated style.