Max Mara and Steven Meisel’s relationship goes way back to the 90s. So when Ian Griffiths welcomed back the legendary lensman to capture the brand’s campaigns in 2016, you can imagine our delight. Campaigns since his comeback have definitely enthralled us to no end. (Although we had to endure Brigitte Niedermair for Fall 2020 and Spring 2021.) Now he’s back for Fall 2021 to celebrate Max Mara’s 70th anniversary. Amar Akway, Chloe Oh, Jits Bootsma, Malgosia Bela, Mona Tougaard along with Steinberg pose together against a gray backdrop with Carine Roitfeld on styling duties.
Clearly one model really stood out, however. “Malgosia introduces her young apprentices, who will never be able to match the master,” declared tigerrouge.
“Malgosia looks like a babushka doing a family portrait with her fashionably adopted children,” described GERGIN.
“The rest of the girls look so out of place next to Malgosia, poor things…” voiced kokobombon.
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“Meisel’s Max Mara ads are usually hits right off the bat, but the dynamic here between the models is beyond strange. (I almost feel sorry for Malgosia being lumbered with this concept),” stated an obviously disappointed Fiercification.
GivenchyHomme certainly couldn’t agree more: “Malgosia is dominating every picture she’s in. The other models blend into the background. The products they’re wearing are getting lost. The contrast between an experienced top model and a group of newbies does not work.”
“A weak offering of a campaign, especially considering it’s Max Mara celebrating their 70th anniversary. I do love me a Steven Meisel studio shoot with a gray backdrop, but the casting here is atrocious…” noted vogue28.
See more from the Fall 2021 campaign and join the debate here.
