The recently released Angelina Jolie Louis Vuitton campaign is no ordinary celebrity endorsement. The ad is the newest addition to the celebrated "Core Values" campaign from Louis Vuitton which has made waves with stars like Sean Connery, Keith Richards, Bono and Catherine DeNeuve.
The series features legendary, high profile stars in their own element and clothing, completely nude of the excessive makeup and styling which the public is accustomed to seeing. Always photographed by the brilliant and controversial photographer Annie Liebovitz, the shots are natural, striking and appropriately named.
The Jolie print ad features the iconic actress and philanthropist both bare-faced and bare-footed, wearing her own casual clothes, and according to US Weekly, "savors a solo moment of Zen aboard a wooden boat floating in a green marsh in Cambodia's Siem Reap province." Cambodia is the birthplace of her eldest son Maddox. Executive VP of Louis Vuitton Pierre Beccari says, "People are not used to seeing Angelina like this... I like the fact that it's a real moment. This travel message we give through personal journeys is a fundamental one for the brand."
The goal of the campaign is to reinforce the core values of the brand -- less about fashion and more about quality and experience. Jolie reportedly made millions from the shoot, and is donating it all to charity.
Bare-Faced Celebrity Campaigns
The Angelina Jolie Louis Vuitton Ad is Natural and Striking
Trend Themes
1. Core Values Campaign - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Using celebrity endorsements to showcase the natural and stripped-down side of their personal lives, challenging traditional notions of beauty and style.
2. Bare-faced Advertising - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Promoting products and brands by featuring celebrities in their authentic state without excessive makeup and styling, appealing to consumers seeking authenticity and natural beauty.
3. Personal Journeys as Brand Message - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Emphasizing personal journeys and experiences rather than just fashion, allowing brands to connect with customers on a deeper emotional level and create meaningful connections.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion and Luxury Goods - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Embracing a more natural and stripped-down aesthetic in advertising campaigns, challenging conventional fashion norms and promoting authentic style.
2. Cosmetics and Beauty - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Highlighting the beauty of bare-faced celebrities to challenge the notion of heavy makeup and encourage a shift towards natural and minimalistic beauty routines and products.
3. Photography and Creative Arts - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Exploring new ways to capture celebrities and brands by showcasing their natural and unfiltered selves, offering a refreshing alternative to heavily edited and retouched imagery.