Review of Poster Girl Fall 2023 Ad Campaign by Creative Director Francesca Capper & Natasha Somerville with Photographer Moni Haworth with Talent JT, Daphne Groeneveld & Gabbriette
Autumn Winter 2023 is a bold fantasy – at once gritty and opulent – from Central Saint Martin’s alumni, Francesca Capper and Natasha Somerville. With references spanning eras – from pirates of the Renaissance to future versions of the Ice Age, from the prehistoric to the Romantic – AW23 is a provocative journey into Poster Girl’s boldly feminine, fiercely sensual oeuvre. It is a trippy, sexy, feminal detonation of diamantes, fishnet and chainmail for which Capper and Somerville are known.
The RTW collection features coquettish brocades with hardware-heavy detailing and frilled velvet trims. A pearl chainmail technique was developed in-house, creating a mottled three-dimensional pearl surface on metal mesh, an innovative approach to the category of micro-mesh that has been a signature of the brand since day one.
Lace is both romantic and cheeky, featured in flirtatious mini dresses, provocative corsets and flared, low rise scanty pants. There is a feeling of rebellion and opposition in the offering – the rawness of the silhouettes in contrast with luxe fabrics like satins and silks, and opulent embellishments such as pearls, crystals – creating a tension that calls on the audience’s primal duality.
Notably for AW23, rapper JT of City Girls becomes POSTER GIRL’s latest muse. The musician and social media star joins the ranks of Kylie Jenner, Dua Lipa, Paris Hilton and Megan Thee Stallion – fearless women who are each natural poster girls. “POSTER GIRL is very luxury hoe,” JT said simply when asked about her partnership with the brand. The campaign, shot in Los Angeles is raw, boldly saturated and visceral, manifested in the rough seediness of the LA streets and motels in which it was shot, next to the glamor of the clothes and JT herself.
Three new categories in shapewear, all an evolution of the phenomenon for which the brand is notorious, are introduced this season including a striped wide lattice category, a transparent mesh category and a flocked control wear category. Latex is ruffled and structured with built-in bra corsetry and frill trims.
This season’s accessories – bags and footwear – continue to evolve and build upon the foundation of Spring 2023 with a more romantic, lavish feel. The ‘Whorne Bag,’ a perfect example, was updated this season with faux fur and pearl embedded hardware.
Furthermore, the jewelry collaboration, which debuted for Spring 2023 with Parisian jeweler, Hugo Kreit, continues this season with satin bows and intricately crafted metal-work to highlight the hardware-heavy features in the RTW looks.
In essence, Autumn Winter 2023 is an escape to fantasy – an impenitent celebration of hedonism and dishabille – from two designers unafraid to push the boundaries of femininity.
Creative Director | Francesca Capper & Natasha Somerville
Photographer & Videographer | Moni Haworth
Models | JT, Daphne Groeneveld & Gabbriette
Stylist | Akeem Smith
Hair | Erol Karadağ
Makeup | Isamaya Ffrench
Manicurist | Nails By Mei
Casting Director | Terry Long of 69 Crosby