Valentino SS16 ad campaign by Stephen McCurry

Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli seem to be able to do no wrong at Valentino at the moment but there were mumblings about cultural appropriation around the brand’s SS16 RTW collection a few months ago. However, those complaints don’t seem to have caused any rethink because the dynamic duo decamped to Africa to photograph the ad campaign for the collection.

It was shot in the Amboseli National Park in Kenya not by one of the big names of fashion photography but by photojournalist Stephen McCurry, best known for his Afghan Girl cover on National Geographic magazine.

Valentino SS16 ad campaign by Stephen McCurry

It’s not a bad choice – the images are a refreshing change and certainly make as much of the amazing and timeless location as they do of what may be amazing clothes but are still essentially transitory.

The models starring in the campaign include Alice Metza, Cameron Traiber, Greta Varlese, Kirin Dejonckheere and Tami Williams, but the Maasai who also figure in the shots, are also stars.

I like this one. What do you think?

Valentino SS16 ad campaign by Stephen McCurry

Valentino SS16 ad campaign by Stephen McCurry

Valentino SS16 ad campaign by Stephen McCurry

Valentino SS16 ad campaign by Stephen McCurry

Valentino SS16 ad campaign by Stephen McCurry

Valentino SS16 ad campaign by Stephen McCurry

Valentino SS16 ad campaign by Stephen McCurry

Valentino SS16 ad campaign by Stephen McCurry

Valentino SS16 ad campaign by Stephen McCurry