Pirelli Calendar

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The Pirelli Calendar has become an annual publication that belies its origin in 1964 as merely a trade calendar published by the Pirelli company's UK subsidiary.

The calendar is famous for its limited availability because it is not sold and is only given as a corporate gift to a restricted number of important Pirelli customers and celebrity VIPs. The Pirelli Calendar is perhaps the world's only prestigious and exclusive "girly" calendar, featuring pictures generally considered glamour photography including artistic nudes.

Publication was discontinued after the 1974 issue as an economising cut back in response to the world recession from the oil shock. It was resurrected 10 years later and has been published regularly since then.

Appearance on the calendar has become a mark of distinction for those photographic models that are chosen, as well as for the photographers commissioned to produce the images used. Over the years the models who have appeared have included Selma Blair, Lauren Bush, Naomi Campbell, Rachel Leigh Cook, Cindy Crawford, Milla Jovovich, Heidi Klum, Kate Moss, Sofia Loren, Penélope Cruz, Brittany Murphy, Amy Smart and Julia Stiles.

The Photographers and locations

1964 Robert Freeman – Majorca
1965 Brian Duffy – South of France
1966 Peter Knapp – Al Hoceima, Morocco
1967 no calendar
1968 Harry Peccinotti – Tunisia
1969 Harry Peccinotti – Big Sur, California
1970 Francis Giacobetti – Paradise Island, The Bahamas
1971 Francis Giacobetti – Jamaica
1972 Sarah Moon – Villa Les Tilleuls, Paris
1973 Brian Duffy – London
1974 Hans Feurer – The Seychelles
1975-1983 no calendars
1984 Uwe Ommer – The Bahamas
1985 Norman Parkinson – Edinburgh, Scotland
1986 Bert Stern – the Cotswolds, England
1987 Terence Donovan – Bath, England
1988 Barry Lategan – London
1989 Joyce Tennyson – the Polaroid Studios, New York
1990 Arthur Elgort – Seville, Spain
1991 Clive Arrowsmith – France
1992 Clive Arrowsmith – Almería, Spain
1993 John Claridge – the Seychelles
1994 Herb Ritts – Paradise Island, the Bahamas
1995 Richard Avedon – New York
1996 Peter Lindbergh – El Mirage, California
1997 Richard Avedon – New York
1998 Bruce Weber – Miami
1999 Herb Ritts – Los Angeles
2000 Annie Leibovitz – Rhinebeck, N. New York City
2001 Mario Testino – Naples, Italy
2002 Peter Lindbergh – Hollywood, Los Angeles
2003 Bruce Weber – Campania, Italy
2004 Nick Knight – London
2005 Patrick Demarchelier – Rio de Janeiro
2006 Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot – Côte d'Azur (Models: Jennifer Lopez, Kate Moss, Gisele Bündchen, Natalia Vodianova, Karen Elson and Guinevere van Seenius)
2007 Inez van Lamsweerde and Vindooh Matadin – studio set (Models: Penélope Cruz, Sophia Loren, Lou Doillon, Hilary Swank, Naomi Watts)