Anthony Vaccarello’s latest campaign captures the fantasy of an endless Mediterranean summer.
When temperatures climb and the city begins to feel like an oven, Saint Laurent offers a different kind of forecast. Respiro—Italian for “breath”—is Anthony Vaccarello’s latest summer campaign, inviting us to slow down, exhale and disappear into the effortless glamour of the Mediterranean. Shot by South African photographer Henrik Purienne, the campaign feels less like a fashion advertisement and more like a hazy holiday remembered through sun-faded film.
Set against the rocky coastline of the South of France, Respiro unfolds through moments rather than poses. Models Vittoria Ceretti, Mona Tougaard, Loli Bahia, SJ and Jenn du Puy drift between the sea and sun-drenched cliffs, lounging on pebbled beaches, carrying leopard-print swim rings, balancing surfboards and slipping into raffia accessories as if they had packed only the essentials for an endless Riviera escape.
Purienne’s signature analogue aesthetic is central to the campaign’s appeal. Grainy textures, golden-hour light and spontaneous compositions blur the line between editorial photography and personal holiday snapshots. Rather than polished perfection, the images embrace movement, heat and intimacy—qualities that have made the photographer one of fashion’s most recognisable visual storytellers.
The wardrobe reflects that same understated confidence. Vaccarello pares back summer dressing to its essentials: breezy silhouettes, barely-there dresses, raffia interpretations of the House’s iconic Panier and Loulou bags, oversized acetate sunglasses and lightweight layers that feel designed for late afternoons by the sea. The styling never appears overworked, yet every look carries the sharp precision synonymous with Saint Laurent.
Beyond fashion, Respiro expands the Saint Laurent universe through Rive Droite, the House’s lifestyle platform. Alongside ready-to-wear, the campaign introduces exclusive summer objects, including collaborations with Wilson, handcrafted Jitensha bicycles and Fieldbar coolers—transforming luxury into a complete holiday state of mind rather than simply a wardrobe.
At a time when Europe is experiencing another intense heatwave, Respiro feels especially timely. The campaign doesn’t simply sell summer dressing—it captures the universal desire to escape. Whether that’s diving into the Mediterranean, switching off for the weekend or simply imagining yourself somewhere far cooler, Saint Laurent delivers a visual fantasy that feels impossible to resist.
Sometimes the best summer destination isn’t on a map—it’s inside a campaign.
