Review of Saks Fifth Avenue Fall 2025 Ad Campaign by Photographer Angelo Pennetta with models Paloma Elsesser and Camille Rowe

Saks Fifth Avenue’s Fall 2025 campaign transforms the sidewalk into a strut-worthy runway, reimagining New York street life as an elegant stage for fashion’s layered stories. Shot outside the retailer’s iconic Manhattan flagship, the series feels like a cinematic daydream where the city becomes a catwalk, café culture turns editorial, and every crosswalk promises a wardrobe change. From sweeping gowns to sculptural tailoring and textural coats, the cast glides, lounges, and commands attention—often in the middle of traffic.
Directed by photographer Angelo Pennetta, the visuals bring together a curated selection of Fall’s most distinct silhouettes, styled with offhand sophistication. The dynamic is intentionally diverse: some moments are classic and polished, others off-kilter and character-driven. The cast appears not just dressed but fully styled—coffee cups in hand, dogs in tow, and a deliberate, lived-in glamour that speaks to the retailer’s evolving tone. It’s not about stiff perfection but attitude in motion.

What’s most compelling is the sense of fashion occupying public space—not in the abstract, but literally. These women are not posing in glossy studios; they’re sidestepping curbs, navigating café chairs, and making eye contact with passersby. It turns the street into a shared experience of fashion, not just a performance for the elite. Saks isn’t whispering luxury behind velvet ropes—it’s shouting it from 50th Street, with a wink and a strut.
While many department store campaigns struggle to unify disparate designer aesthetics, Saks leans into the tension. The store itself becomes the through-line, with its architectural gravitas and cultural significance doing the heavy lifting. By embracing a collage of moods and silhouettes, the campaign reflects the modern shopper’s real wardrobe: a mix of moods, houses, and intentions. This kind of editorial fusion doesn’t flatten the brands—it heightens the energy.
It’s a savvy reminder that Saks isn’t just a destination—it’s a character in the story. And this season, it’s playing the role of chicest matchmaker on the block, pulling together fashion’s most expressive personalities for a downtown meet-cute. All that’s missing is your cameo—preferably in heels.







Photographer | Angelo Pennetta
Models | Paloma Elsesser and Camille Rowe