Luigi Murenu is a virtual byword for excellence. The native Sardinian is of course well known for his hair styling for just about every top magazine, designer, and photographer in fashion today. Murenu’s artistic reach has long since extended from the world of hair to art direction, which is precisely where I would like to pick up today’s story. Muse editor in chief Fabio Crovi invited Murenu as a guest artistic director for a special editorial collaboration with photography duo Daniele Duella and Iango Henzi better known as the Daniele + Iango. The last time this page saw Daniele + Iango team up with Murenu was for the i-D Fall 2010 “Supermodel Beauty Exclusive,” which featured Ford’s Ming Xi and Valerija Kelava. Today’s Muse story, however isn’t any less supermodel, in fact it’s more than a touch divine. Titled “The Goddesses,” the story features models whom Fabio Crovi describes as “represent[ing] a source of inspiration to [himself] as well as Luigi.” Ford’s Alana Zimmer is included shoulder to shoulder on a list of muses that also contains amongst others Gisele Bündchen, Karen Elson, and Carolyn Murphy. Alana herself could not look any more divine than if she were placed amongst Ionic columns at the Acropolis. Case in point is Alana’s opening look, a Christian Dior chiffon long dress with gold cuffs by Herve Van Der Straeten. Muse…”The Goddesses”…Alana Zimmer…spoken in one breath couldn’t ring truer than it does in this Luigi Murenu story.

Credits include: Publication, Muse Number 25 Spring 2011; Title, “The Goddesses”; Art Direction, Luigi Murenu; Photography, Daniele + Iango; Fashion editor, Joanne Blades; Hair, Luigi Murenu for John Frieda; Makeup, Virginia Young; Manicure, Jackie; Photography assistance, Matt Roady, Julie Guez, Letizia Ragno, Olivier Renck; Fashion assistance, Anna Bellati, Jenelle Phillip, Eugenia Torroella, Jaime Kay Waxman, Natasha Shick; Hair assistance, Akiko Kurizuka; Akinori Shirakawa, Tsuyoshi Harada, Mari Watase, Aleksandra Nesterchuk, Kuri, Andre; Makeup assistance, Kawika Anderson; Thanks, Pier 59 Studios, Canoe Studios.