Inside Saint Laurent’s Winter 2025 Campaign: Masculinity Redefined with Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Christopher Walken

For Winter 2025, Anthony Vaccarello enlists filmmaker and photographer Glen Luchford to deliver a Saint Laurent campaign that transcends fashion. Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Christopher Walken, the campaign unfolds in striking black-and-white stills and cinematic short films, crafting a powerful dialogue between two generational icons.

A Dual Portrait of Masculinity

The campaign contrasts youthful unrest with mature composure. Taylor-Johnson, best known for Nocturnal Animals and Kick-Ass, channels physical intensity and emotional volatility. His raw, dancer-like movements suggest sensual chaos and inner turmoil. Walken, by contrast, brings quiet gravitas. Known for playing enigmatic villains, he exudes wisdom and restraint – every gesture deliberate, every glance weighty. Rather than conflict, the two personas create a harmonious tension. Their interplay embodies masculinity as layered and evolving – not singular, but plural.

Tension and Tenderness

Luchford’s lens captures constant contrast: flesh against fabric, vulnerability balanced by strength. Taylor-Johnson moves through anguish, obsession, and release, pierced by moments of playful sensuality that soften its gloom whereas Walken compels with stoic mystery to relaxed assurance.

A Mapplethorpe Mood

Inspired by Robert Mapplethorpe, the campaign echoes his blend of erotic minimalism and classical composition. It also nods to Yves Saint Laurent’s 1970s portraits – evocative, provocative, and bold in their depiction of masculine beauty.

The Saint Laurent Man, Reimagined

From intensity to calm, this campaign charts a journey of emotion and identity. Through Luchford’s cinematic eye and Vaccarello’s vision, the Saint Laurent man emerges as a study in contrasts – strong yet tender, timeless yet modern.

And in the final scene, a smile. A subtle reminder that beneath the romance and rigour lies something softer: hope.

Watch the campaign video with Aaron Taylor-Johnson here:

Image Credits: Saint Laurent