Review of Bottega Veneta Winter 2023 Ad Campaign by Creative Director Matthieu Blazy and Photographers Maria & Louise Thornfeldt, Malick Bodian, and Sander Muylaert with models Liu Wen, Mariacarla Boscono, Awak Odhiang, and more
Time slows in the latest campaign from Bottega Veneta, a gorgeous Fall 2023 outing that develops the house’s mastery of motion. Continuing the collaborative and multifaceted approach of the brand’s previous campaign incarnations, the campaign features several different photographers seeing Bottega through their own dynamic perspectives: Malick Bodian, sister duo Maria and Louise Thornfeldt, and Sander Muylaert.
Also returning as an organic extension from the previous campaigns is the motif of quiet beauty and luxury in motion among everyday surroundings. Matthieu Blazy’s time at the house has been characterized by an eclectic but deeply considered take on fashion craftsmanship, creating clothing that is both beautiful and meant to be lived in.
The campaign communicates this design mission with a quiet focus. Captured against elegant modernist interiors and everyday urban environments, the photographs serve as studied portraits of the collection, which is brought distinctly to life by the personalities wearing it.
But it is in the film that Blazy’s vision fully flourishes. Expanding the world and narrative of the still imagery, the film lets us see the clothing as it is meant to be seen – in motion, and sometimes even in glorious slow-motion, giving us the time to revel in all the rich details and textures. Though we don’t know what their destination is, the characters clearly walk with one in mind, drawing us in a way at once abstract and concrete into a cross-section of a world that is familiar yet newly illuminated and vibrant.
As particularly evinced by its continued commitment not to participate in social media, Bottega Veneta takes a slower, more considered approach to the luxury fashion industry than many of its peers. This means that everything they do put out needs to be especially impactful, considered, and representative of the brand. As this campaign shows, Bottega Veneta is more than up to the challenge: cutting through the noise, the house offers up a soulful and tangible vision of living luxury.
Bottega Veneta Creative Director | Matthieu Blazy
Photographer | Malick Bodian, Louise and Maria Thornfeldt, & Sander Muylaert
Videographer | Massimiliano Bomba
Models | Badhiel Lony, Chu Wong, Dara Gueye, Emma Balfour, Flavie Sammartano, Heather Diamond Strongarm, Lara Menzes, Liu Wen, Paola Manes, Silas De Maat, Tim Piglowski, Tommaso Zana, Walid Fiher, Alejandro Albaladejo, Diaz Awar Odhiang, Badhiel Lony, Cecilia Wu, Dara Gueye, Diane Chiu, Emma Balfour, Haroon Sherzad, Heather Diamond Strongarm, Lara Menezes, Mariacarla Boscono, Mary Ukech, Renny Alade, Sanggun Lee, Tessa Bruinsma, Tess Breeden, Tommaso Zana, And Walid Fiher
Hair | Duffy
Makeup | Hiromi Ueda
Casting Directors | Anita Bitton and Finlay Macaulay