Glasses have the ability to totally transform your face: from style icon to rock‘n’roller, to geek and intellectual. They are the trademark of Andy Warhol, Johnny Depp, Buddy Holly and even Gandhi, with circular frames now known as 'Lennon' and
Glasses have the ability to totally transform your face: from style icon to rock‘n’roller, to geek and intellectual. They are the trademark of Andy Warhol, Johnny Depp, Buddy Holly and even Gandhi, with circular frames now known as 'Lennon' and heart-shaped lenses 'Lolita'. Whilst the eyewear of choice for this season is definitely the bold curlicues of Prada’s Minimal Baroque frames, the AnOther Loves community are currently coveting the oversized pair as captured by Chris von Wangenheim for Dior. One of the leading fashion photographers of the 1960s through to early 1980s, Wangenheim was also famous for his successful Calvin Klein and Revlon advertisements, as well as shooting for Harper’s Bazaar, American Vogue, Playboy and Interview. With an incredible ability to shoot persuasive advertisements, if this Wagenheim for Dior advert existed today we would definitely be bought. Seductively peeping through window blinds with her bouncing curls and red varnished talons, this Dior model is everything a woman wants to be and a man wants to be with. Part of a series, Wangenheim’s other Dior advertisements included 'Fairplay is Your Dior' which featured Jerry Hall in Christain Dior swimwear riding an inflatable shark and 'Silken is Your Dior' in which a model lies provocatively on a carpet revealing Christian Dior’s pure silk legwear collection. Here, we speak to AnOther’s Fashion Equations illustrator Tom Baxter about what his favourite advertisements are and what his view on women in glasses is.
What made you choose to Love this Chris von Wangenheim image for Dior Glasses?
At first, I thought it was a painting then recently came across a collection of advertisements and realised they were photographs. They're really subtle and open to interpretation, letting you conjure up your own narratives. I reckon it's what Deirdre Barlow would have looked like if Coronation Street was in Kensington.
Where did you find it?
A tumblr I've forgotten the name of. I stumbled on the set on this blog though.
Wangenheim was known for creating advertisements for Christain Dior, Calvin Klein and Revlon – which other fashion photographers and fashion advertisements do you admire?
I quite like Steven Meisel's new Dior campaign; and Terry Richardson and Helmut Newton. My favourites are all the old illustrated fashion advertisements where they were actually trying to sell clothes rather than logos.
What denotes a successful advertising campaign?
Simplicity and memorability.
What glasses or sunglasses do you wear and why?
I've got a pair of Rayban Wayfarers like pretty much everyone else, they're stylish. I had aviators before but everyone kept telling me I looked like a young Michael Jackson.
Are there any frames you are particularly coveting this season?
Not really a man of seasons, although I did come across these: Ashbury Knives Out with Carl Zeiss lenses.
Do glasses make a woman look sexy or geeky? And which woman wears them best?
It depends if she really needs them or not; I don't see why you can't look sexy and geeky at the same time. Sarah Palin pulls them off pretty well.
What is your dream product to own?
I've always wanted to drive out of the sea onto a beach in the Lotus Esprit that James Bond had in The Spy Who Loved Me. Just need to learn how to drive...
What was the last thing you bought?
A pair of kr3w shoes that look like Creepers.
What is your favourite online shop?
Don't really do online shopping, nothing ever fits properly and I have a healthy distrust for postmen.
Text by Lucia Davies
