NEW MUSE: Gone are the blonde days of actress Lily James, who earlier this year was seen playing Pamela Anderson in the Hulu miniseries “Pam & Tommy.” The British actress, who recently appeared on the red carpet and on Instagram in a mane of brunette, switched to an even darker jet-black hairstyle to headline Versace’s latest ad campaign, a first for the brand.
Almost unrecognizable with graphic bangs and a dark shade of lipstick, James was tapped to embody the new Versace goddess for the fall 2022 season, posing for photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.
The beauty makeover echoed a similar transformation fellow Versace muse Dua Lipa underwent last year, when the singer wore long hair in a fiery red hue to headline Versace’s fall 2021 ad campaign, also pictured by Alas and Piggott.
While images at the time were dominated by the looks’ vibrant primary colors and monogrammed patterns, the latest ads, which debuted Tuesday, took a bolder turn, featuring all-black minidresses and tailored suits, gloves latex and leather accessories. These made the bold graphic outfits contrast with the classical statues in the background.
Versace fall 2022 advertising campaign.
Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott/Courtesy of Versace
Along with various talents including Sofiane Belaasri, Yilan Hua, Avanti Nagrath, Reece Nelson, Parker Van Noord and Lulu Wood, James was portrayed brimming with self-confidence with her fierce expressions and poses.
“When Lily stepped in front of the camera, she was transformed,” said the brand’s creative director, Donatella Versace. “Using the collection unlocked her own personal attitude and took on a new energy and power. This is exactly how you should feel when you wear Versace.”
For example, one of the images shows James posing confidently while holding the brand’s new Greca Goddess bag above his head. Introduced for Fall 2022, the sculptural leather look is enriched with the house’s signature gold Greca hardware, which also defines the chain strap for cross-body wear and mirrors the layered metal bracelets on the latex gloves of the brand. James.
“It has been very special and exciting to be welcomed into the Versace family by Donatella,” James told WWD. “I have truly never felt more empowered since working with Versace and it has been extraordinary how wearing the clothes instantly made me feel like a Versace goddess. It is a great honour”, added the actress, thanking the designer “for everything” and defining her as “an inspiration”.
As the face of the brand, James follows in the footsteps of the Hadid sisters, Maluma and, more recently, Iris Law.
The ads further cement the relationship James has with Versace, a brand the actress has favored on many occasions, frequently sharing her looks and appreciation for the label with her 3.4 million Instagram followers.
Lily James and Sebastian Stan at the premiere of “Pam & Tommy”.
HULU
“@Versace this outfit is everything I could want and more,” she wrote as a caption below the image of the Atelier Versace look she wore to the Los Angeles premiere of “Pam & Tommy” in January. At the time, James arrived wearing one of his boldest looks to date: a pink cut-out blazer over a silver bustier cutout dress.
Other red carpet highlights included the pink fall 2021 Atelier Versace gown with a high side slit the actress wore to the 2022 Academy Awards and the beaded number she donned to the Met Gala.
lily james
Lexie Moreland/DMA
In addition to the outfits she wore during press tours, James also opted for a pastel-hued dress from Versace’s Pre-Fall 2022 collection to attend the brand’s fashion show in Milan in February.
Prior to the role of Anderson, James played a number of different characters, from Lady Rose MacClare in the period drama series “Downton Abbey” to Ella in her breakthrough film “Cinderella” in 2015. She also had starring roles in such films as “Baby Driver, “OMG! Here We Go Again” and “Rebecca.” She will next be seen in the upcoming British romantic comedy film “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” alongside Emma Thompson and Shazad Latif, among others. .
Source: wwd.com