Barneys Features Transgender Models In Spring Campaign

Call us optimistic, but we’ve seen change for the better in the Spring ’14 campaigns. Rather than opting for the expected slim, Caucasian catwalkers, major brands are taking the road that’s been historically less traveled, casting models of all shapes, sizes, colors, and beyond. Riccardo Tisci, for instance, brought Givenchy to the front of the ongoing race-in-fashion conversation by tapping neo-soul star Erykah Badu for the house’s Spring ads. Nicola Formichetti championed the beauty of a 26-year-old blogger with muscular dystrophy in his latest campaign, and now Barneys has released its Spring snaps, which star seventeen transgender models. Dubbed Brothers, Sisters, Sons, and Daughter, the Bruce Weber-lensed ads mark Barneys’ collaboration with two organizations: the National Center for Transgender Equality, and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. Ten percent of sales made on February 11 at Barneys’ flagship stores and Web site will go to said initiatives. Barneys creative director Dennis Freedman told WWD that the choice to feature transgender models had “a lot to do with the realization that such extraordinary progress has been made in the last few years for the lesbian, gay, and bisexual community, but it’s striking how the transgender community has been left behind. It’s disturbing and upsetting to see that.” Is there a big marketing element behind brands’ decisions to stray from the norm? Probably–but who cares. It doesn’t take away from the fact that key companies are celebrating individuality in all forms. We have to mention, though, that Riccardo Tisci included transgender model Lea T in Givenchy’s ads back in 2010—that Riccardo, always ahead of the game.

David Bailey Brings His Art to the Masses

Thank you, David Bailey, for offering an affordable option for the skint art lover. “Not everyone can afford a print, so this is a nice way of making my work available for everyone,” the famed photographer told Style.com. “What’s the difference between putting it on a canvas and putting it on a T-shirt that everyone can afford? I think it’s quite nice that everyone can have a T-shirt with an image that has some history behind it.”

Bailey is referring to his debut collection of six tees, which launches today exclusively at Selfridges. The tops are printed with some of his most iconic portraits, including those of Michael Caine, Mick Jagger, Boy George, and Grace Jones. Bailey collaborated with the edgy East London creative group The Bleach Room to update the images with a cool collage effect.

The collection is a clever way to reach art collectors and distant admirers alike, especially as his new exhibition, Bailey’s Stardust, is set to open at the National Portrait Gallery next week. At £70 a pop, this is a prime chance to grab an authentic Bailey—while the getting’s good.

Captain Sully Tries Out Watch Design Avec JeanRichard

(NEW YORK) A mere 208 seconds is all you need to compose a tweet, apply eye makeup, or order dinner on Seamless. For Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, 208 seconds is the amount of time it took him to save 155 lives when he maneuvered an emergency landing of Flight 1549 on the Hudson River on January 15, 2009. To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the pilot’s quick thinking and valiant actions, JeanRichard, the iconic Swiss watchmaker, toasted their current brand ambassador with a cocktail party. “We immediately thought that for America, Sully would be the perfect ambassador because he represents our values: living life to the fullest, living passion to the extreme and doing it all the right way,” COO, Bruno Grande explained.

Amidst the many, many watches in the Tourneau TimeMachine building, the timepiece of the evening was the JeanRichard “208 Seconds” Aeroscope Watch, created with a few touches from Sully himself. “I’ve always been fascinated by the concept of time,” he explained.  “For a pilot, time is a finite resource; you have to manage it and use it efficiently.”