For fashion fans, unveiling the Pirelli Calendar is always a major moment in the year, from the photographer’s announcement to its all-important celebrity stars. Titled “Refresh and Reveal,” next year’s calendar marks the 51st iteration, and, in keeping with the theme, its subjects were shot in barely there ensembles, if not entirely nude.
As Vogue reports, this year, the calendar was captured by eminent photographer Ethan James Green, and it has an even more impressive roster of names than the year before. Styled by longtime Vogue editor Tonne Goodman and set in Miami—both on the beach and in the studio—the calendar features a diverse, influential cast spanning the worlds of television, film, fashion, and art: Simone Ashley, John Boyega, Vincent Cassel, Elodie Di Patrizi, Connie Fleming, Martine Gutierrez, Hoyeon Jung, Padma Lakshmi, Hunter Schafer, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Jenny Shimizu, the latter of whom appeared in the 1997 Pirelli Calendar shot by Richard Avedon. It also features James, who, having photographed a group of people willing to strip down for the camera, decided it was only fair that he do the same.
“I look at the pictures and I’m very happy with how it turned out,” says Green. Not only did he shoot the 2025 calendar, but he was also instrumental in selecting its stars. “We started with people that I have personal relationships with that were more like guaranteed yeses,” he explains, adding that from there, he cast a relatively wide net. “When you’re doing a project that [has] so much nudity, it’s not a clear path of who you’re going to be able to get. [But] then you end up with people who really want to participate in making images like that. You can’t approach work like this without it being that way.”
Shot earlier this year in Miami Keys, imagery from the iconic calendar was teased back in August with a behind-the-scenes look at the 2025 concept. The New York-based photographer utilized themes of identity and sexuality, capturing each subject in “barely-there” clothing and skin-colored tones alongside suggestive poses and powerful stances.
Says Lakshmi of her experience working with Green, “I had worked with Ethan before. I actually picked him to shoot my lingerie campaign earlier this year, and I loved working with him. I loved how collaborative he was, I love how safe he made me feel, but I also trusted his good taste. I think he’s an extraordinary photographer, especially when you consider how young he is. If Avedon and Meisel had a baby together, it would be Ethan. He loves the classic lines, but he’s also very good about challenging our perceptions of what beauty is and trying to expand that.”
Head to the Pirelli website to see the official calendar images and for more information.
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