For more than 40 years, one of the most coveted items in the entire automotive universe has been the annual Pirelli calendar. Originally conceived as a perk for Pirelli’s sales force, the calendar came to be appreciated by all who saw it. Today the publication becomes an instant collector’s item the moment it is released. It still cannot be bought, but is rather, as tradition dictates, bestowed upon an individual deemed deserving by the Pirelli company.
To give you an idea of how valued these calendars are, a pristine version of the first one (1964) is currently being offered on eBay for $2500.  Long story short, the Pirelli calendar is a very big deal. Routinely featuring the most beautiful women on the planet, in various states of undress, the photography for the calendar is produced by the most renowned photographers in the world.
The first topless model appeared in 1972, and each year, from the very beginning, the greatest stars of fashion have taken part—epitomizing the ideal beauty of each age. Because of this, the calendars also depict how the image of femininity has evolved over the years.
For 2011, fashion designer/photographer Karl Lagerfeld was tapped to produce the images. Settling on the theme of mythology, for the first time, the calendar includes photographs of male subjects as well. The first couturier to be involved with the Pirelli calendar in this way, Lagerfeld also created special accessories and jewels for the occasion.
The 36 photos that make up the 2011 Calendar show 24 different subjects, including gods, heroes and myths. The actress Julianne Moore is featured as Hera, Queen of the Gods. Lagerfeld has ‘sculpted’ these photos, both in terms of their aesthetic and the recurring references to the art of sculpture and its classical tenets. All of the photos are in black and white, which gives them three-dimensionality through the careful use of light.
The 2011 calendar was revealed in Moscow on November 30, and sadly, if you didn’t get one already, odds are you won’t.
Pirelli Calendar