(1888PressRelease)
September 30, 2009 - Los Angeles, CA – Oliver Peoples Eyewear announced today that the brand will reunite with acclaimed photographer and director Autumn de Wilde and cast another set of influential tastemakers to star in their 2010 campaign. An unexpected pair of two distinctly different individuals - Actor Elijah Wood and lead vocalist of Garbage, Shirley Manson - come together to set the season’s tone. The designer eyewear house has an established reputation for producing spirited short films that, combined with still photographs, bring life to the collection each season.
Recognized for his roles in Lord of the Rings, Sin City, Everything is Illuminated and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Elijah Wood takes on the male lead. While acting has brought him much acclaim and remains his primary career, his accomplishments extend far beyond major motion pictures. Photography and music have been long time passions. In 2005, he started his own record label called Simian Records (releasing albums by The Apples in Stereo and Heloise & The Savoir Faire). His artistic yet refined and dapper personal style makes him a perfect fit for the brand, whose eyewear designs reflect the same attributes.
Playing opposite Wood is Shirley Manson, a Scottish native who discovered fame as the lead vocalist of the Grammy-nominated alternative band, Garbage. Known for her flame-red locks, the singer has captivated audiences worldwide since the early 90’s with her edgy and dramatic sense of style. Recently, in addition to working on a solo album and collaborating with artists such as Gwen Stefani and Kings of Leon, she added acting to her resume, assuming a role in the television series Terminator: the Sarah Conner Chronicles.
The unexpected duo combines their expressive talents, styles, personalities and energies to form a provocative storyline consistent with the Oliver Peoples brand image.
Orchestrating the scenes once again is internationally renowned photographer and director Autumn De Wilde, whose work with some of today’s most recognizable musicians is unparalleled in creativity and styling. Her most recent subjects include artists such as Beck, The White Stripes, Jenny Lewis, and celebrated fashion designers, Rodarte. Her work has been featured on the pages of Vanity Fair, W, Elle, Rolling Stone, and V Magazine, to name just a few.
“I was eager to be involved in a project that had so many dimensions,” said Wood. “As someone who wears and appreciates great eyewear, I couldn’t ask for a better brand to align with. And, working with Autumn, you know exactly what you are signing up for – a creative journey with a goldmine at the end.”
“I was incredibly pleased with the result of last year’s campaign and thrilled to be able to work alongside Autumn again and this year’s amazing team of talents,” said Michelle Walnum, Oliver Peoples Senior Director of Marketing and Brand Image. “The synergy of the collective, being that everyone comes from such different worlds, was extraordinary, and the result will illustrate my belief that the best things often come out of those that are most unexpected.”
The Oliver Peoples 2010 campaign will debut in November on www.oliverpeoples.com. Please contact Jamie Katz, jkatz ( @ ) oliverpeoples dot com for more images.
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