Miu Miu Adds Twenty Years

Fashion loves a controversy, but the recent trend of major brands using kids to front their luxury products morphed into a more international topic of conversation. Newspapers devoted a surprising number of words to research and opinion wondering what it all means, my parents asked why fashion was obsessed with children and a few influential women publicly wondered, “Why would I buy a $2500 dress from a twelve-year-old?” But, like trends on a runway, it took just a season for the tide to turn. Miu Miu, which probably caused more excitement than uproar for hiring fourteen-year-old Oscar nominee Hailee Steinfeld to front their fall campaign, just released their resort ads. This time, thirty-four-year old Guinevere Van Seenus is in front of the camera. Van Seenus, though by no means old in real life, is at the very far end of the modeling age spectrum (at least for those still modeling and not mogul-ing). Though it may be tempting—especially for anyone who’s anti-Fanning/Moretz/Steinfeld—to grant the move added significance, chances are that Miu Miu, like any brand, is anxious to appeal to all its customers while projecting a fresh image each season. They’re doing so by mixing models with actresses, young and, well, a little less young, and Bruce Weber’s Americana with Mert & Marcus’ high fashion shots.