The look of the self sculpted through LOEWE FW23

LOEWE’s new women’s campaign, photographed by David Sims, takes place in blurred environments, as if reflecting the blurred prints that are a central element of the collection.

LOEWE Global Ambassador, actress and director Taylor Russell, and award-winning actress Tang Wei are portrayed in suspended time, in a vanished place, playing with glasses, mirror in hand, holding the Puzzle folding bag or the Squeeze Bag in pleated, unlined nappa leather, a soft sculptural object in its own right, with customisable chain and fluffy handle. Both the lightness and craftsmanship of these objects are evident in the images and contribute to the overall sense of lightness.

Tang Wei and Taylor Russell’s looks are equally significant from a narrative point of view: they exude a sensual femininity wearing the flowing duchesse satin dresses covered in blurred prints that deceive the eye, or become body sculptures with the bonded nappa pieces and square lines in pastel shades reminiscent of children’s toy garments, Polly Pocket. Meanwhile, it is texture that takes centre stage: feathers, rhinestones, brushed suede, shearling.

The surrealism of the compositions hints at an allegorical symbolism that carries over from the men’s FW23 campaign in the images of a trio of portrait models reclining on a table in feathered dresses with the Squeeze bag in hand. The still lifes are surreal in their directness, showing the bags and shoes, such as the Puzzle Edge, the Flamenco, the Goya and the Paseo, as well as the Toy and Bow shoes, for what they are: objects of desire. A strange and reductionist visual conundrum emerges.