ADR

Anna dello Russo is what you could call the Lady Gaga of the fashion industry. A self-identified “pasionista fashionista”, dello Russo has dedicated her life to the art of fashion. ADR, born in 1962 in Southern Italy, she wasn’t necessarily in the epicenter of the fashion world. But, according to ADR herself she has always known “I want to be fashion”.

  

Anna first began her work in fashion at Vogue Italia and worked her way up to Fashion Director. She now works at Creative Director and Editor at Large of Nippon Vogue (Japan). The funny thing about ADR is that I have only just begun to look through her spreads in the past few weeks after researching her. But, I have been salivating over he style for months- she is on every fashion blog during every fashion week for her outlandish style.

  

With the increasing popularity of street style blogs, ADR has become an Internet sensation. I feel like the general public sees the fashion world as nonsense- and in some ways it is. They are not curing cancer, or solving world hunger- but they are adding a flair of fun to people lives through magazine spreads, clothes, and accessories. No other editor enjoys taking fashion full on as dello Russo.

  

Unlike other editors, Anna wears full runway looks. She takes the vision of the designers, and puts it on. Of course, runways looks are meant to be mixed and matched, and styling pieces from each designer is part of what makes a great editor. But, I think part of what makes her such a designer darling is that she respects their vision.

But ADR is far braver than other editors by taking on the riskier looks that flank the runways. Tommy Ton of jakandjil has snapped Anna multiple times en route to shows in see through lace looks from Dolce and Gabbana. I only hope that when I am Anna’s age, I can pull off such a daring ensemble.

She does not mix and match, and she does not re-wear. While her clothing practices may perpetuate the ideal that the fashion industry is ‘ridiculous’ and ‘frivolous’, but Anna lives and breathes fashion. So much so, that she has a separate apartment for her clothing collection and accessories- that is kept at around 15 degrees Celsius, the ideal temperature.

Her dedication to fashion permeates her love life as well. Anna dello Russo does have a boyfriend, but doesn’t live with her because, well, there is no space with all of her clothes.

I find Anna dello Russo a living reincarnation of Grace Coddington- American Vogue’s creative director. Grace is the real genius behind the styling of Vogue’s fashion spreads. She doesn’t worry about sales, celebrity, or what is current. Grace just lives for fashion that is beautiful. And ADR? She lives to wear fashion that is just beautiful. 

All Photos via jakandjil.com/blog and annadellorusso.com