DÉJÀ VU: BALENCIAGA FALL 2011 AD CAMPAIGN VS BALMAIN SPRING 2014 AD CAMPAIGN

We recently tweeted about how copying in the fashion industry democratizes fashion and is an integral part of the nature of the fashion industry. With that in mind, the Goss-IP girl came across advertising campaigns of two of the most important historical French labels in fashion. The French fashion house Balmain ad photographed by Inez and Vinoodh [right], featuring pop star Rihanna,  might have been an inspired by that of Steven Meisel’s earlier Fall/Winter 2011/12 campaign for Balenciaga [left]. The campaign’s graphic set is almost exactly the same and the resemblance of the Mise-en-scène for these two adverts is so similar, you might wonder if your experiencing deja vu?

According to Susie Bubble, both photographers are under the influence of French artist Jean Pierre Raynaud, who is most famous for his investigation of space at La Maison in La Celle-Saint-Cloud in Paris.  Who in 1969, began to build this house, with an interior composed almost entirely of 15 x 15cm white tiles.

It’s no secret just how much Rhianna inspired Balmain’s creative director, Olivier Rousteing Spring 2014 Collection. Giving testimony to her as an ‘icon’ he has said: "In front of the camera, she makes you feel like she is the only girl in the world…When the woman that inspires you wears your creations, your vision feels complete." Using the icon to front his ads, has gone down well, congrats to him for his efforts, but the Goss-IPgirl wonders, if somewhere in the world of fashion Steven Meisel is raising an eyebrow.