Review of Tod’s Spring 2026 Ad Campaign by Creative Director Kevin Tekinel and Charles Levai and Photographer Alasdair McLellan
Tod’s returns to the Amalfi Coast for its Spring 2026 campaign, continuing the Italian Stories series with a meditation on ease, intimacy, and the quiet poetry of shared time. Shot by Alasdair McLellan and creatively directed by Kevin Tekinel and Charles Levai, the campaign situates itself firmly within Tod’s long-standing visual language: understated, sun-warmed, and anchored in the rhythms of everyday Italian life. The hook here is subtle but clear—when craftsmanship is lived in, not displayed, luxury becomes a feeling rather than a statement.
Set at the Torre della Limonaia in Maiori, the imagery unfolds like a sequence of unguarded moments rather than a formal narrative. Friends recline on terraces, linger by the pool, or pause mid-conversation as the Mediterranean stretches quietly behind them. McLellan’s camera resists dramatization, favoring natural light and soft shadows that allow gestures to feel incidental rather than staged. The palette—creams, sun-faded blues, warm browns—echoes the tactility of the setting, blurring the line between environment and wardrobe.
The clothes and accessories move with similar restraint. The Gommino loafer, Tod’s most enduring icon, appears less as a hero product than as a familiar companion, its craftsmanship implied through repetition and wear rather than explanation. The Red Dot sneaker and T Timeless bag slip seamlessly into the scenes, reinforcing Tod’s proposition of luxury as continuity. Even the Pashmy jacket, with its emphasis on weightlessness and artisanal refinement, feels integrated into the rhythm of the images rather than elevated above them.
What the campaign does particularly well is preserve Tod’s identity without leaning too heavily on nostalgia. The Italian lifestyle here is not mythologized; it is observed. Relationships take precedence over styling tricks, and the images trust the viewer to recognize quality without being told where to look. That said, the campaign remains safely within Tod’s established codes. While this consistency reinforces brand equity, there is limited risk-taking in either composition or casting. A slightly sharper visual tension—perhaps through unexpected framing or contrast—could have introduced a new layer of intrigue without compromising the brand’s core values.
Still, Spring 2026 succeeds in articulating Tod’s philosophy with clarity and confidence. These images function as a visual diary of lived luxury, where craftsmanship supports life rather than interrupts it. In a fashion landscape often driven by urgency and spectacle, Tod’s once again makes a convincing case for slowness, intimacy, and the enduring appeal of things made well—and worn often.
Tod’s Creative Director | Matteo Tamburini
Creative Director | Kevin Tekinel and Charles Levai
Photographer | Alasdair McLellan
Location | Torre della Limonaia, Maiori, Italy