What is the Pirelli Calendar? You may have seen some of it floating around the internet now and then. Glamourous photos of today’s celebrities in a variety of backgrounds and poses, taken by some of the most talented photographers of all time. In terms of artistic concept and execution, there are very few examples that can beat the Pirelli Calendar.
RELATED: The 25 Most Famous Australian Celebrities
Only 20,000 of these calendars are printed per year: an exclusive item that very few people can fully appreciate. Gifted only to select A-listers, car enthusiasts, and journalists, the photos show some of our favourite celebs (such as Jennifer Lopez and Kate Moss) in an all-new light.
With the release of the Pirelli Calendar 2019 (headlined by the gorgeous Gigi Hadid) let’s take a brief look at the past five years of this fabulous item: the people, the photos, and the stories behind them.
Pirelli Calendar 2018 – Alice In Wonderland
Features: Whoopi Goldberg as the Royal Duchess, RuPaul as the Queen of Hearts, Lupita Nyong’o as the Dormouse, Djimon Hounsou as the King of Hearts, Naomi Campbell as Royal Beheader, and more
Widely praised as being a step forward for its all-black models, the 2018 Pirelli Calendar featured the most promising and iconic people of colour to shine on television and media. Themed after the beloved classic, it’s a celebration of inclusiveness amid all the racial tension in today’s digital age. It’s also one issue that has quite a few male models – a rarity for the publication’s early run.
Pirelli Calendar 2017 – The Guts To Be Yourself
Features: Penélope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Helen Mirren, Julianne Moore, Kate Winslet, Léa Seydoux, Uma Thurman, and more
2017’s Pirelli Calendar was about unblemished beauty: a bold statement in an era of Photoshop and digital retouching. They shot all the celebs that appeared in this issue as-is with no filter or post-production of any kind. It encourages women everywhere to be themselves and not as a reflection of what society expects them to be. And that goes for everyone, even the most gorgeous women in Hollywood!
Pirelli Calendar 2016 – Strong Poses By Strong Women
Features: Tavi Gevinson, Serena Williams, Amy Schumer, Yoko Ono, Fran Lebowitz, Patti Smith, Yao Chen, Natalia Vodianova, and more
Pirelli calendars were known for their nude photos, but “The Cal” has made steps forward into baring a new definition of sexy for its viewers. The 2016 issue displayed very few models in their underwear – and the few that did it sent a message of female empowerment and body acceptance. Featuring 12 outstanding women from various fields, it was a year where self-acceptance outside of conventional beauty was the primary focus.
Pirelli Calendar 2015 – Sexy Under Pressure
Features: Adriana Lima, Isabeli Fontana, Sasha Luss, Anna Ewers, Cameron Russell, Gigi Hadid, Candice Huffin, and more
A tongue-in-cheek homage to the then-stereotypes of beauty and fame, the 2014 calendar features some of the most sizzling celebs in dazzling poses. With a sensual encounter in which each model owned their space, it also subverted the typical, polished beauty expected of the models. It’s especially noteworthy for including Candice Huffin, the first plus-size model to feature on The Cal.
Pirelli Calendar 2014 – Two Is Better Than One
Features: Miranda Kerr, Alessandra Ambrosio, Helena Christensen (studio set) and Neith Hunter, Susie Bick, Betty Prado, Antonia Dell’Atte (vintage set)
For the 50th year of the publication, Pirelli released their usual risque studio set but also included a previously unseen calendar issue from 1986. They never released the latter because of the photographer’s problems, but finally got a print for the modern age. It’s a stunning combination of old and new of Pirelli Calendar history, showing how far both concept shooting and photography have come since then.
Conclusion
The Pirelli Calendar is a record of how society’s changing standards of beauty develop throughout the years. We’re excited to see how it influences the trends of what’s fashionable in decades to come.
RELATED: ‘World’s hottest gran’ creates festive calendar
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
