Claudia Schiffer cements comeback with YSL’s Spring 2009 campaign

Posted by Colleen Nika at 1:43 pm December 4th, 2008 | 1 comment

In the past year, veteran Glamazon era supermodels recaptured their crowns from the Sasha’s, Coco’s, and Lily’s of our era, dominating many of the most enviable fashion and beauty campaigns. Along with Linda, Naomi, and Cindy, Claudia Schiffer has been on the comeback trail, reasserting her commercial rebirth with a heady contract with her old ally Chanel. Now, Claudia ascertains her resurgent status as the star of Yves Saint Laurent‘s upcoming Spring 2009 campaign.

As Stefano Pilati’s latest muse, 38-year-old Schiffer follows in the footsteps of many quirkier, younger icons – Kate Moss, Karen Elson – as well as like fellow glamazons Gisele Bündchen and, most recently, fellow sultry veteran, Naomi Campbell.

Where Naomi’s YSL campaign was slick, glamorous, and just a little mysterious – thematically coherent with Pilati’s moody Fall 2008 collection – Claudia’s ads, so far, look bright, crisp, and dare we say it, chipper. But, with Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin lensing the entire project, we expect nothing less than excellence and the early previews look promising. Looking graceful and mighty against a dramatic Hollywood Hills backdrop, Claudia radiates a screen siren’s magnetism. As far as iconic blonde bombshells go, she holds her own.

We will get to see the whole campaign in February, when it hits fashion and lifestyle publications worldwide. According to WWD, Claudia’s “Y’s up” pose is also slated for the cover of YSL’s “manifesto” – their seasonal newspaper-style advertorial handout, which debuts on Valentine’s Day.

As for Claudia, 2009 looks set to be her busiest professional era in years. Her upcoming YSL campaign is only the beginning: after successful turns with Dolce & Gabbana and Salvatore Ferragamo this year, both labels have invited her back again for Spring. We don’t know how long this glamazon revival will last – in a recession, our blue chip assets are all we can count on! – but Claudia’s impressive return to the editorial and campaign circuit is reassuring and welcome.

So far, how do Claudia’s YSL ads stack up against Naomi’s current campaign?