It seems as though big-budget celebrities are the answer to the trending brand revamps, especially when it comes to mainstream ladies' brands like Ann Taylor and Talbots.
For Ann Taylor's fall campaign, Demi Moore has replaced Katie Holmes in a series of shots from a midtown rooftop; Meanwhile, Talbots tapped Julianne Moore for its rose-colored spread. Both mall favorites have been freshening up their looks to stay modern in recent seasons, and the new faces front both stores' amped-up fashion activities, including Ann Taylor's recent partnership with the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund and Talbots' gradual design updates over the past few seasons.
While Demi Moore has 16 years on her predescessor, she's got a slightly sexier image -- if perhaps a more chiseled one, as a group of Ann Taylor's divided Facebook commenters have pointed out. On the other hand, some shoppers seem to view Moore as more of a film icon and happily-married mother of three.
Julianne Moore comes with a more buttoned-up, thinking man's sex symbol appeal, which seems appropriate for Talbots' slightly more conservative base. A serious actress most often spotted in (and sometimes with) high-fashion darling Tom Ford, Moore also boasts an unconventional, freckled beauty that could seemingly transition easily from sidewalk to red carpet.
In an interesting twist, high fashion brands have actually been veering back towards featuring models instead of celebrities. Prada's new campaign notably features lesser-known models, and brands like Dolce & Gabbana have gone from featuring Madonna in the spring to models in the fall. Those brands that are featuring celebrities seem to be favoring lesser-known and fringe stars, like rising talent Hailee Steinfeld for Miu Miu and Helena Bonham Carter for Marc Jacobs.
