Steven Meisel Captures the New S/S 22 Alexander McQueen Campaign

Back in October last year, the Alexander McQueen brand returned to their London roots. Staging a show atop a car park in East London, guests at the S/S 22 womenswear show were seated inside a huge Smiljan Radic-designed bubble. Look up, and one could see the blue skies of London on a cold winter's day, which soon became muddied storm clouds. Unfolding as looks came onto the runway, the poetic state of affairs couldn't have been more fitting for a collection which featured prints made from photographs of the sky taken by the McQueen design team over lockdown. Looks emulated a punkish team of characters, mixing fragility and hardness in the only way Alexander McQueen can. Leather corsets and denim jackets were combined with organza skirts and bejewelled tailoring - as worn by Naomi Campbell. Now, Steven Meisel has reimagined the collection in a black and white campaign, continuing his long working relationship with the British label.

Starring a stellar cast including Awar Odhiang, Lucia Fairfull, Celina Ralph, Sora Choi, Anok Yai, Arta Gee, Lara Stone, Eny Jaki, Wali Deutsch, Jill Kortleve, Cassie Wong, Fran Summers, Achenrin Madit, Florence Nicholls, Guinevere Van Seenus, Modupe Oluwalade and Jennifer Ball, the campaign is presented like blown up contact sheet squares. Stripping back the colour, the viewer is faced with the gritty attitude of the London from which the brand was born, which creative director Sarah Burton has been returning to in recent campaigns. The visible boning of corsets, seasonal balloon sleeve silhouette and shimmering embroidery also become the focus also can't help but catch your eye. Bravo.