Futuristic catsuits, all-leather looks, velvet boleros. We stan Janet Jackson as an eternal style icon – and it turns out we’re not the only ones, as Balmain’s creative director Olivier Rousteing has enlisted the help of supermodel Cara Delevingne to pay homage to the 90s queen.

For the French fashion house’s spring campaign, the model poses nude with Rousteing behind her, emulating Janet Jackson’s famous 1993 Rolling Stone cover where she poses similarly covered by a mysterious pair of hands. Rousteing confirmed the source of the inspiration on his Instagram.

The other black and white shot shows Delevingne lounging to the side, amidst a group of stone sculptures.

“I’ve always enjoyed the special chemistry that I share with my friend Cara,” explains Olivier. On the decision for both of them to appear naked, he adds: “Please forgive all the following puns but these images literally aim to strip away all the pretence, focusing on nothing but the bare essentials of today’s Balmain woman: her audacity, strength and confidence.”

Perhaps already anticipating a backlash, the creative director has insisted: “Yes, we’re naked. Yes, I’m black and she’s white. So, go ahead, trolls, give me your best.”