CHLOE FOR CHLOE - NO BRAINER

French fashion house Chloe is featuring actress and part time fashion designer Chloe Sevigny in the latest fragrance campaign for the namesake scent - Chloe.  The simplicity of the idea and the artistic direction of the ads are perfect.   

Chloe Sevigny is a unique character.   A symbol of New York Cool, Sevigny is always at the hottest spots to see and be seen.   However, unlike the mindless socialites and paparazzi loving tartlet-actresses that flutter around- Sevigny is always in charge.   For years, she was known as much for her social appearances as her acting career.   HBO changed all that by casting her in the hit series BIG LOVE.  Sevigny plays one of three "sister wives" in a devoutly religious polygamist family.    Sevigny can never complain about type casting, as just prior to BIG LOVE she starred in one of the most controversial films in recent memory.   Her role in The Brown Bunny drew attention for one act, more than the acting.   Sevigny's character performs oral sex on co-star,  writer, and director of the film Vincent Gallo.   No prosthetics were used, and the scene was let's say "authentically shot".      While the film itself was bad, and Gallo likely wrote the scene more to satiate his own exhibitionist obsession ( google him and his penis obsession) than to carry the story,  you have to commend Sevigny for having the guts to shoot that scene and maintain her artistic integrity.

The Chloe ads tap into a fresh, natural feeling that evokes a mood of the 70's.   Photographer Inez Van Lamsweerde was able to create images that are modern and nostalgic at the same time.  My super talented friend, Luigi Moreno was behind the fresh and clean hair styling that was so important to the campaign.   Like an updated version of the 1970's Breck Girl Shampoo ads, the shots maintain the balance between innocence and sensuality.    Casting Chloe for Chloe also strikes a balance between the traditionally feminine feeling the name Chloe means in France, with the much more androgynous tom-boy energy that Sevigny has.    Simply beautiful!  Watch the making of the Chloe ads - click - SHOOTING CHLOE