Since it's unofficial early release via the stylist Nicola Formichetti's Instagram over the Easter weekend-you can even see the shadow of Formichetti's ear in the image- Saint Laurent's Marilyn Manson campaign has spread like wildfire. Shot by Hedi Slimane in Los Angeles, the image has now been accompanied by shots of Kim Gordon, Ariel Pink and Courtney Love, together making up the Saint Laurent Music Project.
Shooting musicians is of course nothing new for either Slimane or the house-Christopher Owens and Beck have both appeared in similarly moody campaign imagery already this year-the new project goes further, with the portraits styled by the individuals themselves, the clothes a mix of personal Saint Laurent archive and new season. In one image Love wears a dress from the prefall '13 collection and in another a men's fur coat from winter '14 while Gordon even borrowed Slimane's scarf for one shot.
The portraits add a new element to collections that have not always been greeted with the warmest of welcomes. An image of Courtney sat pouring over her guitar screams of Marianne Faithfull, while interestingly Marilyn's image-the only member of the gang to have a single image released-is the plainest of them all, dressed in just a shirt and jacket, no jewellery on display and no trademark eerie contact lenses. Each is strong and emotive, creating a further depth to the label's current mood.