To be a Louis Vuitton ambassador, one must be more than a hot new starlet. From acclaimed actresses like Jennifer Connelly and Alicia Vikander to a Final Fantasy protagonist, the women who pique Nicolas Ghesquière’s interest are consistently accomplished, beautiful, and multidimensional (except, maybe, in the case of Final Fantasy’s Lightning, though she lacks dimension only literally). For his latest campaign, the designer looked to one of his most prolific muses, Korean actress Doona Bae. A star in South Korea since the early aughts, Bae has been a fixture in films from such influential directors as Chan-wook Park, Joon-ho Bong, and the Wachowskis, and more recently she made waves stateside as a star of the Netflix hit Sense8.
But more important, Bae is as compelling offscreen as she is on. Discovered by a model scout while attending college in Seoul, she began her career doing catalog work before transitioning to acting in television dramas. Quickly establishing herself as an actress, Bae has played everything from a sentient blow-up doll to a morally conflicted policewoman. Favoring art-house films over mainstream fare, Bae is much more likely to be spotted at the Cannes Film Festival than in the latest blockbuster, but when she isn’t filming, she’s busy working as a photographer and has published books dedicated to her landscape shots and self-portraits.
When it comes to fashion, Bae takes her status as a Vuitton ambassador seriously, sporting Ghesquière’s designs almost exclusively as of late and often taking his gowns into the real world before anyone else. If she isn’t Instagramming the latest Vuitton Steamer bag, she’s coordinating ensembles with Marie-Amélie Sauvé, and her genuine appreciation for Ghesquière’s talent sets her apart from the typical celebrity spokeswoman. But before her Vuitton tenure, Bae was no slouch in the fashion department, working pieces from Marni, Dior, Chanel, and Fendi into a quirky look. Still, there’s something to be said about the perfect combination of designer and muse, and Bae is never more fashionable than when she’s clad in head-to-toe Vuitton.
The post How Doona Bae, a South Korean Actress and Photographer, Became Louis Vuitton’s Latest Muse appeared first on Vogue.