It’s bad form to attend a party without a gift. So, to celebrate our 150th issue, we have a surprise for you, our devoted readers and beloved collaborators, who have inspired us over the past two and a half decades (and counting!). Our cover star—and gracious leader for the first of many magical moments we have planned for the year ahead—Gigi Hadid added a personal flair to this monumental edition of V as a wink to our 25th year all-out celebration later this year. (Stay tuned!)
Artwork GIGI HADID
SPEEDMASTER 38mm
Co-Axial Chronometer
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 fnishing touch to Kaia’s sophisticated style.
V150: Welcome to the Issue
In This Issue:
V Girls, 34
Powerhouse, 38
V News, 42
V Trends, 44
10 Years of V & Gigi, 46
Musée d’Alex, 52
Fugget About It, 66
Vision Quest, 78
C’est Lulu, 84
Flash Back, 96
Go to Heaven, 106
Grin and Bare It, 112
Winner Take All, 118
Hide and Seek, 124
What V Want, 128
Photography CHARLES BILLOT
Works Like a Charm
When we launched V Magazine in 1999, the idea of 150 issues over the following two and a half decades was unimaginable. That’s 150 cover shoots, thousands of makeup brushes, an ocean’s worth of espresso, uncountable sleepless nights, hundreds of flights between New York, Paris, London, Milan, and Los Angeles, and more contributors from across the globe than one can fathom.
As a creative publication based completely on our ability to imagine, it is odd when the reality becomes more unimaginable than the initial fantasy—that of starting a fashion and pop culture magazine with a true impact. Somehow, 150 issues later, we are here. And we are grateful for the readers and contributors who’ve made V Magazine something much larger than the names on the masthead.
In this sesquicentennial (!) issue, fashion’s favorite models of the moment, Lulu Tenney and Alex Consani, team up for boudoir-inspired and gallery-hopping editorials, shot respectively by Nikolai Von Bismarck and Nick Knight. This issue’s VGIRLS gets a retrospective spin with talent we shot for the series before they became household names, like Zendaya, Sabrina Carpenter, Julia Fox, and more.
And of course, to celebrate our fifth cover with superhuman Gigi Hadid, we take a look back at all the times she’s shown up to a V set and Ha-did the damn thing. Mr. V
CONQUEST
BARBARA PALVIN
(Advertising Office for Italy and Switzerland)
Bernardini de Pace luciano@bernardini.it
Mortari mortari@bernardini.it
Siclari mariolina@bernardini.it
(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
WYO
Tickled Pink
boutiques nationwide)
CREATIVE PRODUCTION STUDIO
V GIRLS
“My family played salsa music, merengue, and lots of Latin rhythms. And there was always this clash—especially in my teenage years—of trying to have my own identity as a Latin American. But now, I try to create a modern identity through Empress Of and not go into the tropes of what people expect a Latin American woman to look like.”
—Empress Of on figuring out her identity, musically and personally
In honor of ten years of spotlighting fierce entertainers early in their career, we’re taking a look back at some former VGIRLS
“My goal was for [audiences] to hear a different side of me. A side of me that wasn’t holding back; a side that was willing to experiment.”
—Carpenter on leaving Disney and dropping her third album, Singular
“One time we stayed with a family that we just literally met a week before at church. I kind of miss the adventure, but I definitely don’t miss the being unsure that it was all going to work out.”
—Spaeny on moving to Hollywood as a teenager
SABRINA CARPENTER, V116 (WINTER 2018), PHOTOGRAPHED BY SHARIF HAMZA
CAILEE SPAENY, V115 (FALL 2018), PHOTOGRAPHED BY MILOŠ NADA Ž DIN
EMPRESS OF, V138 (FALL 2022), PHOTOGRAPHED BY CURTIS JEHSTA
“I remember thinking, if someone else can play me better than me, then what am I even here on this earth for? It was my role. It had to be me.”
—Fox on her role in Uncut Gems
“They told me I got it that night, while I was at an event, so I couldn’t really freak out. It was killing me. The first day on set was a dream; I wanted to cry, scream, and smile at the same time.” —Sweeney on her role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Fun fact: Sweeney was nominated as a VGIRL by her The Handmaid’s Tale co-star Elizabeth Moss.
“I played bass guitar in seventh grade, and these highschoolers would make fun of me every day on the bus like, ‘There’s that weird girl with a bass guitar that’s the same size as her.’ My family moved 16 times in all, so I had a lot of opportunity to reinvent myself.”
—Russell on how she related to her character, Emily, in Waves
JULIA FOX, V122 (WINTER 2019), PHOTOGRAPHED BY MATTHEW SPROUT
SYDNEY SWEENEY, V117 (SPRING PREVIEW 2019), PHOTOGRAPHED BY MILOŠ NADA Ž DIN
TAYLOR RUSSELL, V122 (WINTER 2019), PHOTOGRAPHED BY MATTHEW SPROUT
“I knew what I wanted from the beginning, but now I really, really know what I want. I have a clearer vision.”
on turning 18 and leaving her role on
“I’ve been sitting at the grown-ups table my whole life. So I’ve always been watching those kinds of movies, even if someone’s hands were over my ears!”
she got from her parents
“The female Patrick Bateman, minus the killing. It’s the craziest shit I’ve ever read in my life. I can’t say much, because people are trying to hack into all our emails to get the scripts. But the music is incredible and the visuals will be stunning.”
—Hawke on the film education
Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman
Fun fact: Paper Moon (1973), Nashville (1975), Paris, Texas (1984), and Margaret (2011) are some of the films Hawke’s Hollywood parents recommended.
—Demie on the first season of Euphoria
MAYA HAWKE, V112 (SPRING 2018), PHOTOGRAPHED BY BEN HASSETT
ALEXA DEMIE, V116 (WINTER 2018), PHOTOGRAPHED BY SHARIF HAMZA
—Zendaya
Disney’s Shake It Up
ZENDAYA, V92 (WINTER 2014), PHOTOGRAPHED BY DARIO CATELLANI
“I think everything I do now is completely authentic to me. It’s not so much being like, ‘Oh, do you guys actually really like this?’ That’s not how I judge things anymore. It has to be about whether I really, really like it.”
—Maidza on committing to her artistry early in her career
“Friends are friends, regardless of them growing up in the spotlight. I just love having people in my life I can trust and rely on. And all of them understand crazy, last-minute schedules… We all have to deal with jealousy at one point or another in life. I take the positive and use it to give me drive and ambition.”
—Bieber on growing up with famous friends
HAILEY BIEBER, V92 (WINTER 2014), PHOTOGRAPHED BY DARIO CATELLANI
TKAY MAIDZA, V132 (FALL 2021), PHOTOGRAPHED BY TYRELL HAMPTON
RASH POWERHOUSE
Kip, lighting designer and owner of Inner Light production studio
Ivan, bartender, door person, and pizza maker
Chuki, resident DJ, performance artist, and sculptor
Jelani, bartender and professional dancer
Tyler, bartender and owner of Byroads catering company
Enzo, Rash mascot
Zk, bartender, rock musician, and perfumer
Cleo, bartender and library worker
Joaquim (AKA DJ Sour), resident DJ
Not
Can you give us the backstory behind the name? I like people’s theories behind the name too much... I’m obsessed with the lore, so I don’t think I’ll ever reveal the origin ;) When was Rash founded? Rash was founded in March 2021, doors opened October that same year. After the arson in 2022, we opened again in April of 2024. What’s the busiest day and time of the week for you? Mondays, because that’s when we start cleaning and restocking everything to do it all again next weekend. What are you known for? I think we were the first venue in NYC to embrace what was happening online in the club, it left people with really strong memories of our space. What was the opening night act? It’s a Rash tradition now, all of our major moments are warmed up by a local jazz quartet organized by Kevin Eichenberger. This spring we had SCRAAATCH and Drumloop play opening night. Craziest thing that’s ever happened here? Besides the arson? Isabella Lovestory parked an LED truck out front and transformed the whole club into a psychedelic operating room for her video premiere. AG Cook’s show was so crazy, we had to briefly empty the venue out so people could get some oxygen. Best drink on the menu? Midori Sour. Try it how we do it: with freshly juiced melon and citric acid. What do you look for in a staff member? Our staff is a family. You could have all the accolades in the world on your resume and I’m still like, Do I see you working and collaborating with us week in and week out? 3 words to describe this place? Live Laugh Love. What’s going on this weekend? We’ve got a free party by Melonee with some of our favorites; Nzingha, Wxzard, Gia Love, and Daniro (who bartends at Rash), we’re bringing out PC Music’s Kane West from London, and an all-trans party called T4T by Venus Melissa. JEN SILLEN
Left to right:
Jen, owner of Rash
Lilith, booker, DJ, and artist
Angel, bartender, DJ, rapper, and host of the Money Talks podcast
Jacob, graphic designer
pictured: Claire, Nell, Miss Cleo, Rock, Rose, Umru, Nana, Redd, Daniro, Ivana, Renata
If it weren’t for nightclubs, we wouldn’t have disco, Lady Gaga, or a brat summer. And behind every popular after-hours venue is a fabulous in-the-know staff keeping it up and running. V hit the dancefloor to find out more about Brooklyn and Queens’ hottest spots and the tastemakers defining them
NOWADAYS
Can you give us the backstory behind the name? I say it’s called Nowadays because we’re the only club that cares about our customers Nowadays. When was Nowadays founded? It was established in 2015. What’s the busiest day and time of the week for you? Sunday morning, 3 a.m. About 1,500 people inside, and normally around 200-300 waiting outside. What are you known for? Our 24-hour Nonstop Party and our Harm Reduction (Safer Space) Team. What was the opening night act? Justin Carter & Eamon Harkin. Craziest thing that’s ever happened here? Malia Obama (Barack Obama’s Daughter) came on a random Thursday to “decompress.” Best drink on the menu? Spiked Cucumber Agua Fresca. What do you look for in a staff member? Someone who cares about queer and trans people color, and has proper de-escalation, harm-reduction skills. They should also be okay with loud techno, and not easily shaken by rowdy customers at the door. Bonus if they’re a cutie, because we have a cute staff. 3 words to describe this place? DJ’s Favorite Club. What’s going on this weekend? Bodyhack has a residency with us, they are a Black and trans-ran collective using nightlife for mutual aid amongst the queer POC community. This weekend they are taking over our Nonstop party to raise 1 million dollars for Black Trans Housing (G.L.I.T.S). MAXWELL VICE
Left to right, top to bottom:
Katja (AKA DJ Raw Uncut), bartender and DJ
Aaron, door person, safer space, and DJ
Taryn, light engineer
Chucky, security supervisor
Mo, head of security
Alberto, barback
Evie, safer space and coat check
Slainee, bartender
Sevyn Love, safer space and DJ
Devante Melton, bartender, set designer, and performer
Marwan Shalaby (AKA Solofan), safer space and DJ
Kurt Gregory, safer space and painter
Cai Crosby, bartender and model
Maxwell Vice, door manager, DJ, and photographer
Josue, safer space and model
BOSSA NOVA CIVIC CLUB
Candido, porter
Mikaela, door person and cunt
Sowa, door person and cutie
Juno, barback and vinyl DJ
Amran, door person, pilot, and model
Michael, bartender and underground bar manager
Edward, manager
Madeline, bartender and experimental musician
Nickarel, bartender
Andrew, bartender, artist, and exotic dancer
Kash, bartender and yoga enthusiast
Giovanny, bartender and DJ
Christian, barback, cook, and owner of exotic pets
Luna, bartender and partyer
John, owner of BOSSA NOVA CIVIC CLUB
Rogelio, bartender, barber, and DJ
Dada Cozmic, bartender and DJ
Karen, security and paralegal
Can you give us the backstory behind the name? At the time we opened (in 2012) the Cabaret Law was still in effect and it was literally illegal to dance. NYPD was raiding everything that appeared to be even vaguely dance music-oriented, so we wanted to pick a name that sounded both mature and low-key in order to avoid being shut down. We named the bar “Bossa Nova” after the relaxing vacation music genre and the NYPD shut us down anyway. When was Bossa Nova Civic Club founded? 2012. What’s the busiest day and time of the week for you? Late night weekends but the best time to visit, in my opinion, is weeknights anytime after 11. What was the opening night act? Kim Ann Foxman, Steve Summers, Umfang. Craziest thing that’s ever happened here? Lots of psychotic events have taken place here but one of my personal favorites was our opening month when this rabid lady covered our bathrooms in all of this notably passionate Anti-Lena Dunham graffiti and then went on Yelp and accused us of being essentially in cahoots with Lena Dunham. As far as I know, no one who has ever worked at Bossa has been affiliated with Lena Dunham. Best drink on the menu? The Tropical Goth: Jamaica and vanilla-infused mezcal, honey and fresh lemon juice topped with White Label Yerba Mate Soda. What do you look for in a staff member? Nice and dependable people who can handle a lot of stress. 3 words to describe this place? Rambunctious. Bushwick. Affordable. What’s going on this weekend? NYC Dance Music. JOHN BARCLAY
Left to right, top to bottom:
PARAGON
Stephen, incoming owner and programmer
John, owner of PARAGON
Michael, manager and audio producer
Edward, manager
Evan Korn, bartender and pole dancer
Ariana, bartender and modern dancer
Steven, booker, vocalist, and songwriter
Sabs, security and partyer
Candido, porter
Bunni, bartender, DJ, and stylist
Luna, resident videographer and partyer
Husky, head of security and full-time dad
Louis, busser, barback, and songwriter
Jupiter, door person, actor, and DJ
Juno, barback and vinyl DJ
Nkosi, barback, DJ, and photographer
Giovanny, bar manager and DJ
Can you give us the backstory behind the name? We were kinda going for a shiny/glamorous discotheque theme and we were thinking something diamond-oriented might get the point across. We came across this diamond named “Paragon” that is supposedly the largest flawless diamond in the world… Felt absurd yet subtle. When was Paragon founded? We’ve been working on this project for half of our lives in one form or another but we officially opened to the public about 2.5 years ago. What’s the busiest day and time of the week for you? Generally Friday and Saturday after 11 p.m. What was the opening night act? Our top- secret unofficial invite-only night was part of Dweller Festival and featured Juliana Huxtable, Crystallmess, and DJ Miss Parker. Craziest thing that’s ever happened here? Eric Adams was here once. Best drink on the menu? We have a great house red. What do you look for in a staff member? Nice and dependable people who can handle a lot of stress. 3 words to describe this place? Enchanting. Flamboyant. Fun. What’s going on this weekend? NYC Dance Music. JB
Left to right, top to bottom:
V NEWS
It’s been a good year for NYC-based musician Harrison Smith — better known as The Dare. The success of 2023’s The Sex EP not only caught the attention of the sweetheart of the summer, Charli xcx (resulting in the raunchy, ravey track, “Guess” and a massive Boiler Room set in Ibiza), but it also led to Smith’s debut album, titled What’s Wrong With New York?, dropping September 6th. Expect more irreverent lyricism, catchy hooks, and, he tells V over the phone, guest remixes, “It’s a surprise, so I can’t tell you who’s involved… but you can imagine who.” Oh, we can only guess.
Few collaborations feel more right, or are as cherished, as the iconic joining of forces that happened between Tiffany & Co. and Elsa Peretti 50 years ago. What better way to honor this marriage than by reissuing some of Peretti’s iconic designs for the house? Modern, sensual, and organic in form, the anniversary collection features mainstays like Peretti’s Bone and Split rings (inspired by her legendary cuff), as well as rare Bone cuffs hand-set with pavé diamonds, pavé rubies, and hand-carved cabochon stones. Though they’re effortless in style, these designs are anything but off-the-cuff.
TWO PANTHERES ARE BETTER THAN ONE
The kind of bag that makes you do a double take, the Cartier Panthere Double is a timeless piece with some claws. Outfitted with sturdy gold-finished top handles that have been punctuated with not one, but two classically Cartier panther heads, this carrier takes on a perfectly petite shape to accommodate essentials like mini notebooks, lipsticks, headphones, and, obviously, citygirl snacks like to-go olive packs and sour gummy worms.
Some people have an eye for talent, some an eye for photography. In the case of Tom Kublin, he had both—which led to his short-lived but rich career intimately photographing Cristóbal Balenciaga’s practice. Kublin’s work covered the golden era of couture as it unfolded in the ’50s and ’60s across Zurich and Paris, with photos capturing everything from fit sessions and the making of Balenciaga’s sculptural silhouettes to runway shows, with editors and buyers fiercely at home in front rows. Explored in a brooding bible published by Thames & Hudson, BALENCIAGA - KUBLIN: A Fashion Record is the first book to document this creative relationship.
Bag CARTIER
THE DARE HEARTS NY WHAT ELSA COULD WE WANTA
KEEPING UP WITH BALENCIAGA
Ring TIFFANY & CO.
What’s Wrong With NewYork? Album cover
July 1964, Harper’s Bazaar US Courtesy Hearst Magazine Media Inc
Collaborations make the world go ’round, here’s the latest on some of our favorite artistic alliances
LONGINES CONQUERS ALL
This year, we’re celebrating a few things, V’s 25th birthday, the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, and the 70th anniversary of Longines’ Conquest collection adorning wrists worldwide. Coined “the everyday watch,” it’s the Conquest’s thoughtful design—including the brand’s proprietary self-winding mechanical movement—that has cemented its place in the current capsule wardrobe. That, and modern updates like expanded sizing options, sporty straps, and nonmagnetic properties (to keep us on time), are only some of the reasons we’re comfortable sharing the spotlight for this special anniversary.
Hailed as the greatest male actor of American cinema, the late Humphrey Bogart’s life story is explored in a new documentary released this fall by Universal Pictures Content Group titled Bogart: Life Comes in Flashes. Filmmaker Kathryn Ferguson and Bogie’s own son, Stephen Humphrey Bogart, come together to bring a new perspective on his life through the five most important women in it. “On screen, he was most famous as rugged, individualistic, and a loner, but off-screen, he spent the majority of his adult life married,” explains Ferguson to V. “Bogart’s private life was extraordinarily eventful, arguably more so than many of his cinematic characters.”
British artist Tracey Emin has long been that girl. In the early 90s, with her defiant subject matter and baked-in smirk, she joined the ranks of Damien Hirst and Sarah Lucas via the Young British Artists (YBA). Through her confessional, political, and deeply autobiographical work, Emin has sparked conversations about gender, sex, and violence worldwide—and done so with both nerve and style. (Anyone forgotten to make their beds this morning?) Now 40 years into her practice, Emin has partnered with publishing powerhouse Phaidon to create the first in-depth exploration of the punk painter’s oeuvre, Tracey Emin Paintings
The kind of bag with a sophisticated composition and a rebellious spirit, the Teen Garance is Celine’s latest good-girl-gone-bad. Crafted in a candy-ish patent calfskin leather, its blackand-white dual tone and structure boast a sort of prep school elegance, while its long leather straps are perfect for tossing over your back, totally unbothered. Paired with some Mary Janes and a chic crew, it’s perfect for a parfait and gossip sesh on the Met steps.
SMELLS LIKE TEEN GARANCE
DON’T GET MAD, GET EMIN
BOGART IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER Watch LONGINES
Bag CELINE by Hedi Slimane
Tracey Emin in her Margate studio, September 2023. Image courtesy of Harry Weller
Getty Images
A LA MOD
Photography LEA WINKLER Fashion SCOTT SHAPIRO
All clothing, accessories, shoes CELINE by Hedi Slimane
Anyiang wears dress GIVENCHY
All jewelry CARTIER
All clothing MOSCHINO Watch OMEGA
Dress GUESS
Earrings DAVID YURMAN
Shoes MANOLO BLAHNIK
Liza, Twiggy, Jackie… the list goes on. Something about a voluminous do, a nice slab of eye shadow, and a cheeky bottom lash just does the trick
Dress ISABEL MARANT Watches LONGINES
All clothing MICHAEL KORS COLLECTION
Necklace CARTIER Shoes GIANVITO ROSSI
All clothing MCM Shoes ROGER VIVIER
All clothing MIU MIU Sunglasses JACQUES MARIE MAGE
10 Years of V & Gigi
Turning 25 is a big deal. It allows us the opportunity to reflect on the many wonderful memories created over the last two and a half decades. With over 150 covers, more than 30,000 pages of stories documenting pop culture and fashion history, and the hundreds of contributors who have joined in on the fun to make V what it is today, we have managed to bring together a creative circle that we can truly call family. Among one of our family members, you’ll find Gigi Hadid. When she first appeared in the pages of our Spring 2014 issue, a seed was planted. It has gone on to blossom before our audience’s eyes, both on-and-off the pages of our magazine. Here, photography duo (and fellow V family members) Inez & Vinoodh help us celebrate the past ten collaborative years between Gigi and V, incorporating images of the supermodel taken when V was just kicking off in 1999 and culminating into a visual poem as an ode to years passed, as well as those ahead of us.
Cheers to many more years to come!
Earring CARTIER
A Star is Born (1999)
Ahh, 1999. It was the last year before a new millennium began. The Y2K scare was sweeping the nation, the Euro was created, the likes of Britney Spears and SpongeBob were dominating our channels, and the idea of V Magazine was born. As the plans for producing V were in development, a then four year old girl named Gigi was already gearing up to become a force in the modeling world as she was shooting Baby Guess campaigns on the beaches of Southern California…little did we know that 15 years later, our paths would cross for the first time.
When Gigi Met V (2014)
For our V88 Spring 2014 issue, V were in the mood to capture the new and the now with profiles on then-burgeoning singing sensations Ariana Grande, Lea Michele, Lorde, and many more. Only a few months earlier, on a Monday in December of 2013, a cherubic 20-year-old named Gigi Hadid walked on set for one of her first fashion editorials (ever!) with her agent Luiz Mattos, it ended up in the pages of that very issue. A newcomer to the hustle and bustle of New York City, Gigi was breaking out of Beverly Hills, ready to make a name for herself with the help of V—the rest is…her-story!
A Girl Never Forgets Her First V Cover
(2015)
Only one year later, Gigi’s first V cover came along—and it was shared with her younger sister, Bella. Photographed by Steven Klein and styled by Patti Wilson, V organized a conversation between the Hadid girls and fashion legend China Machado. In it, Gigi shares a bit of evergreen advice: “I have three goals: be kind, work hard, and make a friend. When I do those little things on set every day, those are the things that then lead to creating relationships and building opportunities. Because you don’t know who those people are gonna go have dinner with and talk to that night.”
The Gigi Journal Part One (2016)
Putting on her contributor hat, Gigi came up with the idea of compiling a photo diary for our Summer 2017 issue and, thus, the Gigi Journal was created. Serving as the first in what would go on to become a series, the photos were captured by Gigi throughout a year of fun. They feature some of her closest and favorite fashion folks—all documented around the time when Gigi was fresh off her first collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger—which included the likes of some of the industry’s boldest luminaries such as Karl Lagerfeld, Franca Sozzani, Naomi Campbell, Kaia & Presley Gerber, Carolyn Murphy, Marc Jacobs, Patrick Demarchelier, Nicki Minaj, and more.
Fearless: Part One (2018)
For those who know Gigi, the deep sense of courage (and daredevil-ness) in her is unmissable. So when the time came for her first solo V cover, Gigi was ready to take on extreme sports—but made it fashion. Ripping waves on a Fendi jet ski, doing donuts in a Philipp Plein dune buggy, and deep-diving in Chanel jewelry—and, yes, she did her own stunts—her V114 cover story was carried out in Miami by photographer Mario Sorrenti and stylist George Cortina (with Serena Williams interviewing, swoon!), kicking off the first of a “Fearless” cover series led by the thrillseeker herself.
The Gigi Journal Part Two (2020)
During 2020’s COVID-19 pandemic, part two of the Gigi Journal was conceived while Gigi was pregnant with her daughter Khai. FaceTiming with the V editors (her baby bump growing between each call), Gigi felt more inspired than ever. Together, we hosted a global search that received over 20,000 artist submissions, giving us a diverse pool of artists and perspectives to champion in the book. The journal heavily focused on narratives from Black American writers with a percentage of the Gigi Journal proceeds supporting organizations such as Black Lives Matter, NAACP, ACLU, and Campaign Zero—which Gigi matched with a personal donation.
Fearless: Part Two (2022)
As a new mom in a risk-averse post-pandemic world, it’s safe to say Gigi was ready for a leap of faith. Kicking off part two of her “Fearless” cover series for V134, Gigi glided through the New York City sky on a trapeze, as she reunited with photographer Mario Sorrenti and stylist George Cortina for an aerial editorial like we’ve never seen before, taking on yet another adrenaline-pumping activity in style (and in heels, might we add). Another historic moment for Gigi and V
Supermodel, Superhero (2022)
Later that same year, our V139 issue paid tribute to supermodel superheroes. From Gisele Bündchen and Pat Cleveland to Gigi (interviewed by Helena Christensen) as one of several cover stars, the superstar cast was indeed awe-worthy. The two fashion forces got real on the friendships that are made in our industry, explaining, “Fashion is seen as this fake, disconnected world where we get together and wear clothes. But really, the most special moments are the parts that aren’t printed in magazines and don’t make social media— there’s a very human part to what we do.” And V couldn’t agree more, Gigi!
Earrings CARTIER
Musée
It’s about time model Alex Consani gets inducted into the glossy pages of V—and who better than dreamy, long-time collaborator Nick Knight, to usher her in?
Alex wears dress BURBERRY Earrings YSSO Shoe PIFERI
Coat DOLCE & GABBANA
Earring GIOVANNI RASPINI
Dress JACQUEMUS Necklace and earring GARRAD Shoes D’ACCORI
From left to right:
Makeup Val Garland (Streeters) Hair Charlie Le Mindu Model Alex Consani (IMG) Manicure Liia Zotova (Future Rep) Set design Andrew Tomlinson (Streeters) Executive producer Kat Davey (Liberte Productions) Digital technician Joe Colley Photo assistants Grace Hodgson, Hassan Saif Stylist assistants Federica Battisatino, Rhea Purewal, Orla Peppett, Gabby Pearce Makeup assistants Paula Maxwell, Axel Brown
Set design assistant Alfie McHugh Retouching Epilogue Inc Location SHOWStudio
Fugget About It
What’s behind the mob wife trend? Fashion writer Katherine Maria Rojas got the skinny from two Italian American baddies
Photography BLAIR GETZ MEZIBOV
In January of 2022, on TikTok, where trends these days are created and then put to rest, fashion and lifestyle TikToker Kayla Trivieri declared, “Clean girl is out, mob wife is in.” If you’re not already hip, the “clean girl” aesthetic champions barely-there makeup, slicked back (and usually pin-straight) hair, the daintiest of silver jewelry, and a buffed nude manicure. For the “mob wife” aesthetic, the checklist is as follows: sky high hair, stacked stilettos, chunky gold hoops, bangles and rings, floor-grazing fur coats, second-skin clothing, and an atmospheric fragrance noisier than the clacking of one’s acrylic French tip fingernails. Depicted in The Sopranos, the reality television series Mob Wives, and the movie Goodfellas, among others, this way of dressing is undoubtedly loud and proud, though not necessarily tied to the shady dealings its name suggests.
Those with sociocultural proximity to this style have a complex relationship to it.
“The mob is a dark reality of [Italian history],” remarks Rachel Cuccia, Sicilian American photographer and founder of her own namesake line of lingerie. “Most Italians like any form of attention towards our culture, but many also feel offended when it is associated with the mob. But, it does make me think, are people celebrating [our culture], or exploiting it?”
Hailing from Long Island, Cuccia is no stranger to this stylistic expression. “My Grandma Marion embodied the mob wife aesthetic. With hair and nails always freshly done, she always wore gold, huge furs, and refused to drive anything but a Cadillac. I grew up in a house of really dramatic Italian women involved in the arts. We’re all so overly expressive. It’s what I know.”
The mob wife aesthetic is an amalgamation of elements worthy of deeper study: pride in one’s culture in a foreign land, economic aspirations and mobility, as well as feminine expression and sexuality in a Man’s World. “Growing up, we had nude sculptures in the house. The female body in Italian art is [something] I grew up seeing. I think the mob wife [wants to show] her physique…that’s somebody having fun in their skin. I’m attracted to that essence of [the trend],” says Cuccia over the phone, in a gentle and identifiably Long Island accent.
Abby wears top DIOR
Earring DAVID YURMAN
Bracelet TIFFANY & CO.
Pencil in Whirl
Top DIOR
Earring DAVID YURMAN
Abby
The trend veers away from more youthful fashion movements like the “coquette” or “baby girl” trope, wherein bows accent mini skirts, penny loafers, and pigtails. Cuccia sees dressing like a mob wife as a form of protection. “The mob wife, in essence, is a lion tamer. I think looking unapproachable or tough is a good energy. Arousal and fear are intertwined,” says Cuccia.
For Ida Giancola, an Italian American TikTok creator by the username @dionysian.girl, the trend’s use of jewelry is more than decoration – it is familial commemoration. “I wear my Mother Mary pendant that I’ve had since I was born. I’m 31 and I still wear it every day. I know when I wear it, that it came from the village my family is from. I feel very connected to my family who are no longer living, in a place we no longer live, when I wear it.”
Giancola offers passionate takes on personal styling, made ever more expressive with chatty hands that boast unchangeable red nails, (specifically Ferrari Red by DND Gel). With regards to the naming of the trend, “It’s a bit of a LARP. A lot of these [trends] that pop up on TikTok…they’re search terms to plug into Pinterest so that you can easily adopt and copy. It’s a little catchy name, I guess,” states Giancola. It is also a leap away from the “stealth is wealth” trend and its quest for esotericism.
Abby wears all clothing and belt SAINT LAURENT by Anthony Vaccarello
Necklace DAVID YURMAN
Cara wears dress and belt ALAÏA
Sunglasses JACQUES MARIE MAGE
Rings DAVID YURMAN
Cara wears all clothing and belt EMPORIO ARMANI All jewelry DAVID YURMAN
Makeup Kiki Gifford (Streeters) Hair Teddy Charles (Nevermind Agency) Models Abby Champion, Cara Taylor (Ford) Executive producer Anastasia Suchkov (Noted Collective)
Production manager Lauren Beck (Noted Collective) Digital technician Jamie O’Brien Lighting director Corey Danieli Makeup assistant Nana Hiramatsu Hair assistants Hannan Siddique, Natan Unce
Production assistant Ohene Okera (Noted Collective)
Cara wears
The maximalist nature of the mob wife trend can have transformative effects on its wearer. Cuccia notes, “I’m a Leo, so I’m naturally drawn to anything bold, showboat-y—a lot more fun.” Giancola, an Aquarius, notes that the way she dresses “is a conversation starter. When flashy is done in the right way, it can be really magical.”
It’s worth noting that countless other cultures’ styles can feature similarly outsized aesthetics. Some Jamaican Americans in Flatbush, Brooklyn might don gold bamboo earrings proudly. You might see Cuban Americans working Jesus pendant pieces into just about any outfit. And in Eastern European immigrant culture—new and established—mink coats appear in many wardrobes.
When taking cues from a trend cycle moving at the speed of light, experimentation is important, but for best results, authenticity is key. The way you dress “will come back into style 3 times in a year.” Giancola notes. “At this point, we cannot make declarative statements like ‘this is in and ‘this is out.’ Everything is in, all the time.”
If a trend resonates with you and your stylistic “heritage,” then follow it into the sunset, chewing gum and pinching your fingers together while you tell someone to watch who they’re talkin’ to, ideally with a tri-state twang.
VISION QUEST
Photography DAVID FERRUA
Makeup PETER PHILIPS
On
On eyes
If
windows are the eyes to the soul, then makeup mogul Peter Philips posits: Why not dress for the best in Dior Beauty?
Dior Forever Glow Veil, Dior Forever Skin Perfect in #0N, Dior Forever Skin Correct in #0N
Diorshow Brow Styler in #033 Grey Brown, Diorshow On Set Brow in #032 Dark Brown
DIOR BEAUTY
Diorshow Maximizer 4D, Diorshow Iconic Overcurl in #090 Black, Diorshow On Stage Crayon in #774 Plum, Diorshow 5 Couleurs Collector Eyeshadow Palette in #983 Champs-Élysées
On skin
DIOR BEAUTY
Dior Forever Glow Veil, Dior Forever Skin Perfect in #4N, Dior Forever Skin Correct in #4N
On brows DIOR BEAUTY Diorshow Brow Styler in #05 Black, Diorshow On Set Brow in #032 Dark Brown
On eyes
DIOR BEAUTY
Diorshow Maximizer 4D, Diorshow Iconic Overcurl in #090 Black, Diorshow On Stage Crayon in #099 Black, Diorshow 5 Couleurs Collector Eyeshadow Palette in #173 L’Étoile
On skin DIOR BEAUTY
Dior Forever Glow Veil, Dior Forever Skin Perfect in #1W, Dior Forever Skin Correct in #1W
On cheeks
DIOR BEAUTY Rouge Blush Shape & Glow in #257 Dioriviera
On eyes
DIOR BEAUTY
Diorshow 5 Couleurs Collector in #083 30 Montaigne
Makeup Peter Philips (Art + Commerce) using DIOR BEAUTY Models Margaux Lecharny, Tifany Tatin, Alysée Caffa, Agathe Teyssier Production David Chapuis (DCA Management) Photo assistant Marek Dague
Makeup assistants Ayana Awata, Sayuri Yamashita Location Studio Astre
On
Dior Forever Glow Veil, Dior Forever Skin Perfect in #2N, Dior Forever Skin Correct in #2N On eyes
DIOR
Diorshow Maximizer 4D, Diorshow Iconic Overcurl in #090 Black, Diorshow On Stage Crayon in #099 Black & #529 Beige, Diorshow 5 Couleurs Collector Eyeshadow Palette in #663 Saint-Honoré
C’est Lulu
Sometimes the best fashion shows happen within the comfort of our own lived-in spaces, powered by special elixirs and cheeky smokes. Here, model Lulu Tenney seduces us in fall’s most effortlessly cinematic pieces
LISA ELDRIDGE Seamless Glide Eye Pencil in Black Treacle
All clothing and shoes SAINT LAURENT by Anthony Vaccarello
Makeup Val Garland (Streeters) Hair Ali Pirzadeh (Streeters) Model Lulu Tenney (Lumien Creative) Set design Miguel Bento (CLM) Production Kate Skittrall (The Production Factory) Photo assistants Olivier Barjolle, James Stopforth, Sami Weller Stylist assistants Peter Aluuann, Lucy Proctor, Ella Gurney Makeup assistant Alex Brown Hair assistant Tommy Stayton Set design assistants Kika Silva, James Cross
Production assistant Olivia Luke Location Castle Gibson
Anthony Vaccarello
Inspired by magazine covers from the ’50s and ’60s and the ubiquity of hats these days, we turned this season’s offerings into a literal blast from the past
Flash Back
Jac wears all clothing and shoes ERDEM Hat RACHEL TREVOR MORGAN
Jac wears coat
MICHAEL KORS COLLECTION
From left to right:
Aylah wears all clothing and accessories PRADA Jac wears all clothing and accessories
Watch CARTIER
Aylah
Jac wears all clothing, accessories, jewelry, shoes CHANEL
On eyes
Stylo Ombre et Contour in #08 Rouge Noir
ROWAN
Aylah wears all clothing DIOR
Aylah wears all clothing and shoes MQUEEN by Seán McGirr
Makeup Miranda Joyce (Streeters) Hair Malcom Edwards (LGA Management) Models Jac Jagaciak (DNA), Aylah Peterson (Elite) Manicure Edyta Betka using MANICURIST Set design Robbie Doig (Dragonfly Scenery)
Production Paula Ekenger Digital technician Lucie Rowan Photo assistants Michael O Williams, Matt Davies, Felix Walton Stylist assistants Keeley Dawson, Ella Knez, Alvaro Merino Makeup assistant Simona Svanterova Hair assistant Karen Bradshaw Set design assistant Amelia Yolland Production assistant Giulia Brescianini Retouching Digital Light Ltd Location Gods Own Junk Yard
Good girls wear what TikTok tells them to wear, bad girls wear Palm Angels. We rounded up some downtown denizens to sport the Italian skatewear brand’s latest collection
Go to
Heaven
Photography YOSHIYUKI MATSUMURA
Fashion SAM KNOLL
Daniel wears all clothing PALM ANGELS
Hayden wears all clothing and accessories
PALM ANGELS
Earrings talent’s own
Makeup Andrew D’Angelo (Saint Luke Artists) Hair Adam Markarian (Streeters) Models Daniel Aguilera (NEXT), Hayden Graye (State), Tanner Reese (The Society), Liberty Love (The Society), Nile Winchester (NEXT), Willa Devereux (One Management) Production Catherine Ware (Quadriga) Photo assistant Mitsu Watanabe Stylist assistants Jay Divine, AJ Grove Hair assistant Mai Kimura Production assistant Max Charhon Location Vandervoort Studios
Willa wears all clothing and shoes PALM ANGELS
Grin and Bare It
Abény wears all clothing, accessories, shoes DSQUARED2
Abény wears
Makeup Morgane Martini (The Wall Group) Hair Sebastien Bascle (Calliste) Models Abény Nhial (Select London), Teun van Stein (SOUL) Manicure Romane Martini (The Wall Group)
Production Daisy Bendel (Canvas Represents) Digital technician Sophie Lemidioni Photo assistants Hugo Veuillet, Julien Robles Stylist assistant Pierre Le Page Hair assistant Aurore Lebacle Location Studio Jacques
Winner Take All
’Tis the season for play. With the Paris Olympics and Paralympics still fresh in our minds, we’re sporting Chanel’s latest Haute Joaillerie Sport collection and letting our inner athletes shine
Photography DAMIEN ROPERO
Necklace CHANEL HIGH JEWELRY Chanel Sport Chanel Print Black & White Necklace in 18K white gold, diamonds, black lacquer, black ceramic (Price upon request, available at select Chanel boutiques nationwide)
Necklace CHANEL HIGH JEWELRY Chanel Sport Sweater Prestige Transformable ring in 18K white gold, diamonds, onyx, 1 emerald-cut diamond (Price upon request, available at select Chanel boutiques nationwide)
Necklace CHANEL HIGH JEWELRY Chanel Sport Graphic Line Sapphire Ring in 18K white gold, diamonds, sapphire, red lacquer (Price upon request, available at select Chanel boutiques nationwide)
Necklace CHANEL HIGH JEWELRY
Chanel Sport Graphic Line Prestige Transformable Ring in 18K white gold, platinum, diamonds, sapphire, onyx, 1 cushion-cut Kashmir sapphire
(Price upon request, available at select Chanel boutiques nationwide)
Necklace CHANEL HIGH JEWELRY Chanel Sport Quilted 2.55 Necklace in 18K white gold, diamonds, red lacquer, black lacquer (Price upon request, available at select Chanel boutiques nationwide)
Peek-a-boo, we see you. Fendi’s FW24 meditates on transparency via the use of tulle and organza, but keeps it fun with a Chupa Chups collaboration. See? It’s all about balance
Hide and Seek
Photography DREW JARRETT
Fashion PEGHAH MALEKNEJAD
Makeup Maki Ryoke Hair Pasquale Ferrante (Sant Luke Artists) Model Lineisy Montero (NEXT) Production Leslieann Santiago (Supervision New York) Photo assistants Jake Webber, Laadan Jarrett Stylist assistant Emari Campbell
What V Want
Legend has it that the first known painted lip in a sumptuous shade of red was created over 5,000 years ago in Mesopotamia by mixing crushed gemstones, insects, and natural pigments–yet the bullet lipstick in a tube that we’ve come to know and love wouldn’t be made until the early 1920s. Over a century later, women of a new era have adopted red lipstick in their own way and have made it a permanent beauty staple—from Marilyn Monroe to Taylor Swift to perhaps your own mother who may have an old lippie lying around the bottom of her purse. And of course, we can’t forget French girls, for whom lipstick has become part of their beauty standards: fresh skin, groomed brows, a slick of mascara (1 to 2 coats, no more, no less), and a healthy amount of red lipstick glided across the lips for a certain je ne sais quoi
Keeping on this trend, CELINE is throwing their hat into the ring as the French fashion house is finally launching a proper beauty range called CELINE BEAUTÉ, starting with the Le Rouge Celine lipstick (and an even more expansive collection at the top of next year). Kicking off the line in a bold way—with only one singular red shade available this fall called 01 Rouge Triomphe—the lipstick echos the house’s design codes, set in place by Hedi Slimane. With the gold metal faced case itself drawing inspiration from late 18th-century French-style classicism (think Louis XVI gold jewelry), with notes of the Art Deco era. With striking (and refillable) packaging, the satin-finish formula of the lipstick is comprised of 89% natural origin ingredients, delivering the promise of clean beauty while offering a radiant and hydrating look for the lips. Topped off with delicate rose accord and rice powder, for a powdery soft note that echos the scents of the house’s Haute Parfumerie fragrance collection, Le Rouge Celine will be the perfect accessory for your boudoir or tucked away neatly in your CELINE Teen Nino bag. KEVIN PONCE
Lipstick CELINE BEAUTÉ by Hedi Slimane
Le Rouge Celine lipstick in shade Rouge Triomphe ($75, available in select Celine boutiques and celine.com)
With the upcoming launch of CELINE BEAUTÉ by Hedi Slimane, prepare to meet your new lip addiction: Le Rouge Celine
