Following his acclaimed Spring/Summer 2009 ready-to-wear show for Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs knew exactly who he wanted to embody the spirit of the season: Madonna should be the face of Louis Vuitton’s Spring/Summer fashion campaign.
The iconic pop star was photographed by her long-time creative collaborator Steven Meisel, the first time the influential fashion photographer has shot a campaign for Louis Vuitton. The chemistry between the two is evident as – in a sepia-toned setting reminiscent of a Paris café in the Forties, with its zinc bar, bentwood chairs and air thick with smoke – Madonna transforms into Marc Jacobs’ vision of the quintessential Parisienne, striking provocative poses in the season’s sexy short skirts, ethnic-inspired sandals and animal-print bangles.
“I wanted the campaign to be very bold, very sensual and very atmospheric. To carry off all these references and all this sophistication, we needed the ultimate performer – and for me, that is Madonna ” says Marc Jacobs.
I LOVE Madonna and does she not looks amazing at 50!?!? I am still sore I didn’t catch her concert when I was in NYC, my friend Terry went and she cried. Call us corny but any old Madonna song from the ’80s bring me to tears, too. It seems all of my childhood memories are attached to her music; the first kiss, first dance, and don’t get me started on all my lace leggings and tie up booties! What do you guys think of the ads?
Louis Vuitton available online at eLUXURY.com
Images courtesy of Louis Vuitton
I think anyone who grew up in the ’80s have a soft spot for Madonna. She’s one of the great entertainers of our time.
The ads are gorgeous! The ready to wear and shoes are hot. Not so much in to the bags.
glad to hear your opinion Tina. I actually liked the ad campaign too, she does look good. I am not crazy about the bags either, they are just not doing it for me. The little multicolored bead tassels? hmm
I stumbled on a blog called` Fabulously Broke in the City ´and there I saw a post on`stars without makeup´. There is Madonna too, with and without. If the latter is authentic,then WOW! Great wonders can be made to a picture. When we do look at pictures like these,we loose our sense of reality. If the bags were good,they´d sell without all this photoandwhatevershoppingstuff!
madonna is a product of great marketing and photoshop
But still, love her
The ad campaign is a work of art,as usual but the bags disappoint,also as usual.Time to move over,Marc!
Amen, I agree and think its time for a new bag designer!
The ads would make beautiful photographs.
I agree with you, I LOVE Madonna, I remember her first time on American Bandstand with Dick Clark singing her song Holiday!! he asked her where she wanted to be in 20 years and she replied with she wanted to “rule the world” (I have a photographic memory)Yes, T-not to mention whatever she wore I wore!! (dork-I know) good times-good times–(she brings back GREAT memories when I hear her old stuff)-saw her in concert a couple years back (front row) she ROCKED the house!!!! =)
Sorry, Got caught up with my walk down memory lane, I forgot to comment on the LV ad, I love the ad, as Lina said “its a work of art” but not loving the bags!
This ad is more about Madonna and her fishnets than the bags. I’ve read a few interviews with Marc Jacobs, and he’s obviously a media and celebrity whore. Gone are the days when luxury labels had a discreet touch of class. The only luxury label that maintains that level of discretion, avoiding the doomed dive into the trash zone is Hermes. I actually don’t mind the bags (usually I don’t like Jacobs’ bags, everything actually), but I think the LV bags and other accessories ought to stand on their own without the need of a 50 year old chanteuse. It’s not like I’ll buy a bag because of Madonna. I’ll buy a LV bag for the quality and design I like. Marc Jacobs needs to move beyond adolescence methinks.
I love the ads – it’s very chic. I like Madonna having those waves in her hair and the crimson lips, in that smoky french bistro.
And ANYONE who is or is above 50 and can put their legs up to THAT height just owns it all!!
Despite the horrendous bags, I love the clothes and accessories – super chic!!
Now, I need to plan for a trip to a smoky french bistro!
thank God for Photoshop
B, I have to agree with everything you said! I remember the American Bandstand moment as well…Years later at my wedding, I must played all of the Madonna songs from the 80′s and we all had an amazing time! I love the pictures but can’t say the same for the bags.
It’s what a French bistro looks like for an American. Once you’ve been to Paris, you know that there isn’t anything like that and also Madonna doesn’t look like that without a lot of help. Great singer and all the rest of it, but frankly she’s hardly somebody I would think about for a fresh new look. I am torn between describing the images as fraudulent or just slightly pathetic.
good point,anyone who have been to Paris will agree with you that this is a very American vision!
I love it
I can’t stand her!!!
Louis Vuitton has such a marvelous history of making leathergoods. So sad it has been deminished by some really BLINGED OUT bags in such bad taste.Of course, the classics are still there, but even those have been hurt by the horrible FAKES that are sold. Marc Jacobs is a talented designer, that just sold out. I think a lot of the LV’S sell now are to a lot of people who have made a lot of money, but have NO taste. The ads are interesting and I think the photography sets a mood.Madonna of the 80′s was great fun. She has become an angry women, trying to cling to youth in the most desparate way.
I disagree. I lived in Paris for 17 years, and these photos seem to capture the mood of French photography and film. Of course it is an American interpretation, but I think it’s a good photo.
I actually like the bag, with the LV on it.[not the orange one] Maybe the first LV I ever liked on sight.
I would have to see it, and I might add, liking it had nothing to do with the model.
The bag just appealed to me.
Is there a place they are for sale yet?
The ads are stunning. I’m glad they touched up her wrinkly old hands and her enormously muscular legs..ew. I can only recognize Madonna’s face. The body isn’t even close to resembling her own!
I really love these ads, and I am not sure about the bright colored tassels on the bags as well, but I do like the shapes.
All ads get photoshopped so we should not be surprised that Madonna looks 30 and the like…if I was in the ad I would look 20 again, even though I am in my 30′s.
Ads are all about fantasy and like living a dream, not reality.
Love it!!!
I have to admit I’m a little tired of Madonna showing up half-undressed everywhere, but these photos are really fabulous!
Ads are going to be about fantasy no matter what the product. Madonna looks lovely in the ad.
I like the bags. The brown LV print one is my favorite.
Agree. This ad is a complete distraction from the bags and LV in general. Love Madonna but I thought LV was trying to go back to basics and its great history and heritage? Not feeling this so far. JPG over at Hermes seems to have very strict guidelines over what he can and can’t design whereas MJ seems to be able to run wild over at LV! In my opinion JPG should have a freer reign whilst MJ should get reigned in somewhat!
So, so, sick of seeing photos of her with her legs open. This woman is the epitome of crass, trash, and overexposure. Marc, like most designers and magazine editors have lost all creativity when it comes to marketing their products. Just show some overaged, or talentless actress, or singer with a hit movie, tour, or record to help sales. The bags are wretched so naturally do whatever you can to distract from the appearance of it.
Have to agree with Devin.
If you’re a parent with children, as is Ms. Madonna, first and foremost, your children are watching you and seeing how you conduct yourself, on and off the stage! Have some sense of self and realize that the bag(s) should sell because they’re attractive, well-made, and are on trend, not because a famous you’re half naked, posing, once again, in a photo that makes you look like you just don’t care, and remember, your children are going to emulate you at some point!
There is no arguing the appeal of the Madonna / LV campaign. But bags are bags; they go up and down in market favor with each season. Still, this brand leads in the top strongest brands worldwide. Marc doesn’t need to move over. No one could do such a fab job on LVMH as well as his own lines to oversee, from couture to Marc by Marc for how many years now????? Still, while he approves the designs, he has entire TEAMS working for him as well. So if these bags do not move because they don’t meet the desires of the market, that will be his cue to “move over” with a new accessories team. And he probably will if he determines it’s a lack of popularity due to design and not economic woes.
I am much of a Madonna fan now as I was twenty years ago. I just recently saw her in concert in Houston and it was a great show. I am not a fan of LV bags, but I give cudos to LV for having Madonna represent the brand. I think it’s amazing how fit and flexible Madonna is at 50. As for being photoshopped…we all know every ad and/or magazine cover is photoshopped, not just Madonna’s.
Her inablity to keep her legs closes says more about her than anything. Rather pathetic a 50 year old woman with no grace or class. Only time will tell what sort of influence she has had on her daughter.
Wow, I didn’t know there were so many Madonna-haters. I personally have no problem with her and think the ads are not bad.
Wow, never noticed that she never sits with her legs closed. LOL
Now that you’ve pointed out the (very) obvious I can not remember a photo of her without her legs wide open. Still, love old Madonna songs from the ’80s. Have not bought any of her CDs since La Isla Bonita though.
Any thoughts on the re-release of the Vuitton/Sprouse graffiti bags? I think 2008 was a bad money making year (thus they canned opening the new Ginza Tokyo store, and lowered prices across the line according to NY Times), so this is a way to make some $$$ on a much sought-after collection. And the older graffiti bags already dropped their eBay prices as well due to the coming new colors. What do you think?
Louis Vuitton knows what they are doing. They know how to draw attention to the LV name.
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