Every season Vanessa Bruno, of the eponymously titled French fashion house, creates beautifully evocative short films inspired by her collection. This S/S11 is no different. Set in the exoticism of Cuba, ‘Miracle’, exclusively shown for the first
Every season Vanessa Bruno, of the eponymously titled French fashion house, creates beautifully evocative short films inspired by her collection. This S/S11 is no different. Set in the exoticism of Cuba, Miracle, exclusively shown for the first time on anothermag.com, stars the brand’s romantic, French muse Lou Doillon alongside flame-haired beauty Jessica Joffe. Reflecting the contrasting natures of her collection: gentle romanticism – a trademark of Vanessa Bruno – and technicolour, the film is split into two parts, echoed by the rhythm of the juxtaposing soundtracks Four Tet and The bewitched hands on the top of their hands, and Loud-E. With what starts out to be a gentle daydream in a night car ride and a fantastical swim at the beach, turns into a vigorous bashing of drums and energized tribal dance with powder paints. As the tension rises in her film so does the loudness of her garments which range from pure white, nude and pale-coloured floating dresses to heavily embroidered neon brights and shorter cuts.
Here we speak to Bruno about the inspiration behind the film and her collection, as well as finding out how they managed to fill a car up with water, whilst Doillon was still inside.
Each season you create a new video to coincide with your collection – what draws you to moving image and why do you find it such an
important medium?
The videos we make each season are like visual poems. This medium is important because it’s more contemporary, and it embodies the spirit of Vanessa Bruno women.
Please describe what inspired and influenced this film?
The first inspiration came with the collection; the exoticism of the clothes brings a certain tropical sensuality. That is why we choose to shot in Cuba. I had in mind this liberated exotic girl, filled with electric beat energy.
Is there an underlying narrative?
The music is the source of this film, there is no underlying narrative. At first, it's a dream lulled by pieces by the 'Four Tet' and 'The bewitched hands on the top of their hands'. Lou gets carried away, under the water, inside her dream. Jessica is an apparition suspended in the air. One can see in this sweet and pale light, a suspended moment where water meets the air. Then it is the return to life with a piece by 'Loud E' and its ubiquitous percussion. Just as if it was a tribal rite, Lou and Jessica struggle in an ocean of colors and let their passion exult. Through the whole film, life is what prevails.
How did you go about and how hard was it to fill the car up with water?
A car was suspended by a crane and plunged in a lake. Lou was very brave because she really was in the car! It was very stressful, however she is a real perfectionist and even did the scene twice.
Lou Doillon has long featured into your campaigns – moving and still – what makes her the perfect muse for the brand?
Lou is a perfect muse for the brand because she embodies the femininity I like, both feline and delicate.
Jessica Joffe is also appears alongside Doillon in this video – what made you cast her?
Jessica and I met in Los Angeles during the opening of my boutique. Her personality and beauty stroke me: red hair, pale skin, soft and graceful with a wild spirit.
There is a very ethereal quality to your S/S11 collection accented with bold flashes of neon and tropical prints - what did you base your
current designs on?
In this collection the tropical prints, which evokes Hollywood very Bel Air of the 50s and Aloha style, are mixed with a gentle romanticism. An effortlessly casual Parisian chic.
How would you sum up your S/S11 collection and video in one line?
Electrical summer fun!
Text by Lucia Davies
Vanessa Bruno’s S/S11 collection is out in stores now.
