9 Fashion Films Weirder Than Harmony Korine's Dior Commercial
Harmony Korine, the auteur behind Spring Breakers and Kids, directed Dior's latest fragrance ad. The commercial features a model wandering around a decked-out mansion before stumbling across a secret garden where a heavily remixed version of Die Antwoord's "Enter the Ninja" drops in. The last time Korine was tapped to direct a fashion film was 2011, for Proenza Schouler. It was widely panned.
Still: Christian Dior's Youtube channel
Korine's films tackle issues like poverty, mental illness, and dysfunctional families. He isn't a traditional filmmaker: His work is non-linear, experimental, and surrealist with elements of Vaudevillian minstrelsy, dark humor, and absurdism. In other words, he's never been one for mainstreamers, so it's interesting to see him so restrained. In honor of Harmony Korine, here's a roundup of other outlandish fashion films. This one's for the weirdos. Mazel.
JULIETTE LEWIS & DAFT PUNK X GAP
Let's start off simple. In 2001, when the only songs by French robotic duo Daft Punk on your radar was the house favorite "One More Time" or the meme bait "Harder Better Faster Stronger", they were tapped by Gap along with Juliette Lewis to shill jeans. Oh 2001, what a year to be alive.
VERSACE X H&M
Meanwhile, H&M seems to hold the crown for making nightmare-fuel quickies for their capsule collections. In the Versace short, Donatella herself is a literal puppet master controlling the strings of Lindsey Wixson, Daphne Groeneveld, and other blonde, bewigged models. The spot, directed by Johan Renck, features allusions to mind control. There's a literal maze that models run around in, a lion's cage in which models walk aimlessly in circles, and in a final touch, a model-operated hamster wheel controlling the entire operation. "My house, my rules, my pleasure," Donatella purrs at the end. Mind control isn't a silly idea after all. I mean, I really do want those dresses...
MATTHEW WILLIAMSON X H&M
Matthew Williamson's spot, on the other hand, is a delightfully disjointed acid trip. The models have more agency than in the previous Donatella spot, but unfortunately, they're bored. Bored of waking up to beautiful male models, standing poolside, and riding pink ponies. Filled with crippling self-doubt and ennui, they literally spring off the pages of a magazine and run searching for excitement of some sort. All of this comes to a head when a meteorite crashes to the ground and Williamson surfaces. Daria Werbowy also stars.
LANVIN FALL/WINTER 2011-2012
This Steven Meisel-directed video for Lanvin features models, including Karen Elson and Raquel Zimmerman, dancing (badly) to Pitbull's "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)". Those of you with Kinect for Xbox 360 will recognize moves from Dance Central. Keep your eyes peeled for artistic director Alber Elbaz busting a move at the end.
TAKASHI MURAKAMI X LOUIS VUITTON
It's a super-flat world, and we all live in it! Or so Takashi Murakami would have you believe in his commercial for Louis Vuitton. A young girl gets swallowed by a teddy bear while trying to retrieve her cell phone (as you do). From there she emerges in a LV-emblazoned wonderland. Think of this as the luxe version of Summer Wars.
WILLY VANDERPERRE X DIOR HOMME
Willy Vanderperre's short film entitled Underpass features a man getting hit by an unknown and unseen assailant who is subsequently resurrected in an all-red suit (just like Yeezy taught us). If anything, this seems like a handsomer version of Radiohead's "Just" video.
TODD COLE X RODARTE
Produced by The Creators Project, filmmaker Todd Cole and fashion label Rodarte's collaboration "This Must Be the Only Fantasy" is an ode to video games from the '80s, tabletop role-playing games, and haute couture. The 13-minute-long feature stars actress Sidney Williams, models Guinevere van Seenus, and the hobbit of your dreams (Elijah Wood) as the sought-after missing gamer from a campaign in progress. Roll for fashion, if you wish to continue.
KENZO RESORT 2013
Illustrator Matt Maitland creates a visually explosive environment in “Electric Jungle” for Kenzo's 2013 resort line. Short and sweet, but not recommended for those who are photosensitive or epileptic. This isn't included here for its weirdness so much as we just like it.
TELL NO ONE X NOWNESS
An interesting blend of commercial and editorial meeting in a singular video. "Mine" is a collaboration between Tell No One (directing duo Luke White and Remi Weekes) and Nowness (an interactive luxury site owned by LVMH). Dancers from Sadler’s Wells Theater in London chase-dance through an unusual, sartorial form of tag. The complete interactive shopping video is available on Nowness' website featuring labels such as Louis Vuitton, Kenzo, Maison Martin Margiela, and La Perla.
BONUS: MATTHEW FROST X VIVA VENA
Had enough? Here's a palate cleanser. Matthew Frost and Viva Vena, Vena Cava's affordable little-sister line, take the piss out of the fashion film genre and turn it on its head by gleefully poking holes at common clichés. The short also does this while still selling the type of clothes that appeal to the demographic it's kinda making fun of. Brilliant. Did we mention it stars our fantasy celebrity best friend Lizzy Caplan? No? Because it does.
