The holidays may be months away, but Tommy Hilfiger’s new campaign already has me equal parts excited and overwhelmed about sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner with my extended family. For the Fall 2011 spread “Home with the Hilfigers,” the highly coordinated Hilfiger clan have packed their collection of tennis rackets and bocce balls into the trunk of their ’84 Mercedes wagon and have left the country club (the backdrop of the summer 2011 ads). They’ve now returned home to the grounds of their private New England estate for a family photo shoot that gives the Kardashian’s super-retouched, super-glamorous 2010 Christmas card a run for its money.
Reprising his role as the dreamy older brother, Noah Mills continues to make readers swoon in luxe turtlenecks and tartan trousers. Despite trading in summery margaritas and linen pants for vodka tonics and driving loafers, Mrs. Hilfiger looks as glamorous and intoxicated as she did poolside in the summer ads. Other beautiful members of the Wes Anderson-esque family include Iselin Steiro, Jacquelyn Jablonski, and Sam Way.
The preppy, American cool vibe essential to the Tommy Hilfiger brand is maintained throughout the new campaign. And by filling each frame with one too many models, photographer Craig McDean captures the chaos necessary for any good family gathering. Yes, Aunt Margaret is going to try to set you up with her neighbor’s son, and your cousin Henry is still going to pick you up and spin you around- even if you are wearing a skirt and are no longer wearing pig-tails. The ads suggest that dressing well (and keeping a cocktail in hand) can make the holiday season a bit more bearable and glamorous- or in the true WASP way, at least keep up appearances.