Following her stint as the face of Giorgio Armani and fresh off the heels of a Mulberry campaign, Nimue Smit strikes gold with a Givenchy Absolu advert lensed by Willy Vanderperre. Despite the rose petals on the floor, the campaign lacks the signature hallmarks of a floral perfume - the flowing hair, the fairytale dress, the profusion of pink (think Nina by Nina Ricci). In a reflection of Ricardo Tisci's designs, it skews more darkly edgy than cloyingly saccharine. The juxtaposition of innocence with darkness perfectly embodies the gothic beauty of the fashion house in a single, striking image. A shadowy door replaces an outdoorsy backdrop; there are no intact flowers, only strewn petals. The model doesn't fix the camera with an icy stare, yet she isn't sporting a cheesy come-hither look either. She wears slicked-back hair, smoky eyeliner, and a sequined rocker dress at odds with the freshness of the flowers surrounding her. There is something vaguely haunting about it all that's impossible to pinpoint - and that's exactly what makes it so striking.

The Fashion Spot