Mercedes Benz AW 2013

The new CLA stars supermodel Karlie Kloss in Chloé, shot by Ryan McGinley with creative direction from Jefferson Hack.

A striking beauty stands alone, surrounded by an imposing landscape, dark clouds gathering ominously behind her; she has two expressive and powerful companions – a white horse and the new CLA.

American photographer Ryan McGinley is known for his striking reportage, an evolving aesthetic that often captures the exquisite interplay between nature and natural beauty.

McGinley captures Karlie Kloss, who cuts an ethereal figure in billowing white Chloé – against a breathtaking natural setting of rocky canons and yellow grass.  Under the creative direction of Jefferson Hack, a leading figure in the cultural zeitgeist for the last 20 years, they illuminate the CLA’s ethos; non-conformist and provocative, an avant-garde style rebel.

Karlie Kloss, originally hailing from Chicago, Illinois, has been setting the fashion world alight since her discovery aged 13. Walking for everyone from Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs to Louis Vuitton, she recently renewed a two-year contract with Christian Dior.

The A/W 2013 “Untamed.” key visual is the newest in a stunning series of eye-catching visuals that celebrate the unique dual features of design and style that is Mercedes-Benz. Nick Knight posed Julia Stegner in Gareth Pugh with the SLS AMG; Miles Aldridge photographed Milla Jovovich wearing a spectacular hat from Philip Treacy next to the E-Class Convertible; Craig McDean and David James staged Karolina Kurkova next to the new CLS; Terry Richardson captured Jessica Stam on the roof of the A-Class concept car, Alex Prager presented Lara Stone with the SL Roadster and last season Joan Smalls posed with the CLS Shooting Brake for Mario Testino.

 

The protagonists:

Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

The new CLA is a four-door avant-garde style rebel with breathtakingly sporty proportions. Featuring concave and convex surfaces that form a poetic interplay, they give the new Coupé a structural edge. Staking its claim as the main competitor in the sporty-executive segment, technical highlights include a striking headlamp design, four-dour cylinder turbo-charged petrol engine and an all-wheel drive system 4MATIC – taking the Coupé to a class of its own. A provocative exterior, high-grade fashion orientated interior and innovative multimedia system makes this an icon in the making.

 

Ryan McGinley

Hailing from New York City, McGinley began his career creating snapshots of the graffiti and skateboarding scene in his locality. Following his solo show at the Whitney Museum of Contemporary Art, as the youngest ever featured artist – he has gone on to exhibit at the Solomon R. Guggenheim and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

 

Jefferson Hack

Dazed&Confused has been at the forefront of youth culture for 20 years. Co-founded by Jefferson Hack, it showcases pioneering editorial and fashion photography. The Dazed Group now encompasses an impressive portfolio of publications, these are AnOther Magazine, the bi-annual luxury fashion magazine and menswear title Another Man, as well as their respective websites DazedDigital.com and Anothermag.com.

 

Karlie Kloss

International supermodel Karlie Kloss is a classic beauty, whose modeling credentials span nearly every major fashion house conceivable, including Marc Jacobs and Alexander McQueen. She is co-host of MTV’s House of Style alongside Joan Smalls and is ranked amongst the top models in the world.

 

Chloé

The esteemed Parisian label founded in 1952 by Gaby Aghion, is now under the watchful eye of Clare Waight Keller, whose predecessors include the likes of Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney and Phoebe Philo. Inventing the luxury ready-to-wear market, or ‘Prêt-à-Porter’, Chloé spearheaded move away from haute couture and is an internationally renowned brand.