Naomi’s Show, Jacquemus at Versailles – WWD

NAOMI AT THE MUSEUM: Naomi Campbell is getting her own major exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London’s South Kensington.

The exhibition, titled “Naomi,” will run from June 22, 2024, to April 6, 2025, and trace her four-decade career featuring items and objects from designers such as Alexander McQueen, Azzedine Alaïa, Gianni and Donatella Versace, Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano, Karl Lagerfeld, Vivienne Westwood, Yves Saint Laurent and more.

“I’m honored to be asked by the V&A to share my life in clothes with the world,” Campbell said in a short statement.

“Naomi Campbell’s extraordinary career intersects with the best of high fashion. She is recognized worldwide as a supermodel, activist, philanthropist and creative collaborator, making her one of the most prolific and influential figures in contemporary culture,” said Sonnet Stanfill, senior curator of fashion at the V&A.

British Vogue’s outgoing editor Edward Enninful has formed an installation for the showcase that will feature imagery from Nick Knight, Steven Meisel and Tim Walker.

The exhibition will touch upon Campbell’s initiatives throughout her career, from meeting Nelson Mandela; joining the Black Girls Coalition in 1989; campaigning for The Diversity Coalition with Iman and Bethann Hardison; her support for Arise Fashion Week, and spotlighting Emerge, the global initiative that she started in 2022.

The model was recently part of Apple TV+’s documentary series “The Super Models” alongside Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington and Cindy Crawford.

“I’m looking at myself as a changemaker. As a changemaker, I thought this was something that was a good thing to do. I know that it’s fast fashion, and that people have their criticism. I’m not denying them. But as a changemaker, I felt this was a great way to effect change in the industry in getting my emerging designers recognized and seeing them on a global platform,” Campbell told WWD in an interview ahead of her collaboration with PrettyLittleThing that launched at New York Fashion Week. — HIKMAT MOHAMMED

PUFF PIECES: Simon Porte Jacquemus continued to elaborate on his fall 2023 collection “Le Chouchou,” staged at the Château de Versailles last June and featuring puffball shapes.

The French fashion brand and Net-a-porter invited 60 guests to the palace on Wednesday night for a lavish dinner, which started with cocktails and cheese puffs and ended with a religieuse au chocolat, a dessert wrapped up in — you guessed it — puff pastry.

“Choux” is the term for the dough used for éclairs, profiteroles and other sweets, while “chouchou” is French slang for “the favorite” or “teacher’s pet.”

Tina Kunakey, Khalil Ghani and Anaa Saber were among those who caught the last moments of golden hour overlooking the palace’s vast gardens and fountains, before repairing to a long table laden with grapes, dates and tall candelabras.

The event was the celebrate the launch of a capsule of exclusive pieces in collaboration with Net-a-porter, one style worn gamely by the online retailer’s president Alison Loehnis, who sang the praises of its stretch velvet fabric surrounded by all that “choux.”

“Everyone think about Jacquemus for daily life, and we want to connect with the night also,” Jacquemus told WWD. “We dress a lot of people for weddings, and I think there is also a space for us with eveningwear.”

Loehnis noted that eveningwear is an important category on Net-a-porter, and the Jacquemus items just went live.

“What he’s done is reissued his signature silhouettes, but in eveningwear fabrics. It’s very elegant and elevated, equally quite young with that wink that Jacquemus gives throughout the whole collection,” she said.

It was photographer Tyler Mitchell’s first time at Versailles, but he forgot his camera.

“I’m regretting that,” he said as he took in the views. “I mean, I’m blown away, it’s breathtaking. I have no words. Perfect time of day. Perfect weather.…The fact that this was someone’s backyard alone is insane.”

Richie Shazam was camera-less also, but not without reason.

“Actually, the last time I came was over 10 years ago, I brought a little digital camera and I lost the camera with a memory card and I was so gutted. Because I know there was a lot of magic on that camera,” Shazam said.

After dinner, guests were invited to wander the palace, filming everything in the dim light, and devoting the most footage to the famous Hall of Mirrors, empty but for a few dozen guests — and free of choux. — MILES SOCHA

NEW ROLE: Timberland has hired Maisie Willoughby as vice president and chief marketing officer.

In her new role, Timberland said in a statement that Willoughby will be tasked with leading its global marketing team in “bringing the brand to life across all consumer touchpoints.” The company also stated Willoughby will work in partnership with its marketing leaders in the Americas, APAC and EMEA regions “to drive consumer activations across the globe, especially in the digital space.”

Willoughby will start Oct. 16 and will report to Timberland global brand president Susie Mulder.

“The Timberland brand harnesses tremendous impact through its iconography, rich heritage and immersion in culture,” Willoughby said in a statement. “I am thrilled to join such a global force and plan to bring heightened energy to an already incredibly dynamic brand.”

Breaking down her responsibilities, Timberland stated Willoughby will drive global brand strategy and vision; conceive and create ideas to fuel demand creation, and position Timberland to achieve sustainable, long-term growth. Also, Timberland said Willoughby will “cultivate bold storytelling and activations to amplify Timberland’s presence in the global marketplace.”

Willoughby most recently led the rebranding efforts at Alexander Wang, where she also helped drive double-digit growth globally. Her other prior professional experience includes Anomaly, Wieden+Kennedy and Cult Ldn.

“We are thrilled to welcome Maisie into our brand and community,” Mulder said in a statement. “Maisie is a passionate marketer who has deep cultural connections and insights, as well as a keen understanding of how to activate and drive the business. As we wrap up our 50th anniversary year, she will play a critical role in helping to shape the next chapter of Timberland. We’re excited to have Maisie on the journey with us.”

Willoughby is filling the global chief marketing officer that was left vacant by Drieke Leenknegt in June, who assumed the same role at Vans after spending three years at Timberland. — PETER VERRY