Madonna in New Versace Campaign

Madonna in New Versace Campaign
The house of Versace has called in two favorite superstar pals for its latest advertising campaign in November. In a major break with recent seasons, Mario Testino shot Madonna in London for the label's next women's ad campaign, which will break in February 2005 issues of major magazines.

The ads, shot in a London studio, represent a major change in style for the house, which for most of this century has used Steven Meisel to shoot its major publicity efforts. The move also signals a renewed burst of commitment from Donatella Versace, newly revitalized by her trip to substance rehabilitation clinic this summer. The combination is not unprecedented, as Versace used the duo of Madonna and Testino back in the mind-nineties.

The decision to drop Meisel in favor of Testino is understood to have been inspired, in part, by concern that Meisel has become too much of a ubiquitous presence in fashion advertising. A perennial snapper of US Vogue covers, Meisel regularly shoots oodles of ad campaigns for the major houses.

Although the stunning images of the Material Girl office-bound remind us of no working environment we've ever seen, we wouldn't have it any other way. Seen lounging on her office daybed (every office should have one) in classic Versace print shirt and jeans, perhaps deigning to lick the occasional stamp, this is