2016 Pirelli Calendar Focuses on Fully Clad, Distinguished Women [PHOTOS]

A photo posted by Fashion Week (@fashion_week) on Nov 30, 2015 at 7:12am PST

In the past, the Pirelli calendar – the arty, softcore ode to pinups, shot by world renowned photographers – has been known to dress women in scantily clad clothing, or none at all. The New York Times reports that the 2016 Pirelli calendar, however, has taken a new approach to the criteria for selecting each model and the way they are dressed. Next year, the exclusive calendar known for 50 years of "eye-popping advert for their high-quality products, a freebie that would be proudly displayed and obsessed over year-round by their target market," will showcase 12 months of fully clad women mostly chosen for their achievements.

The publication further reports, "Though the calendar has, on rare occasions, featured women in clothes (most notably in 2013, when it was shot in Brazil by Steve McCurry), this is the first time there is no provocation in the posing, and the first time the attraction of the subjects is in their resumes, not their measurements."

So who are the women that helped pull together the 2016 Pirelli lineup?

Agnes Gund, a 77-year-old philanthropist and president emerita of the Museum of Modern Art; Fran Lebowtiz, a 65-year-old author; and Mellody Hobson, 46-year-old president of Ariel Investments and filmmaker George Lucas' wife. All assisted in hand selecting the women of the 2016 calender. Legendary and world-renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz then finished things off by getting a shot of each lady in black and white.

Adweek reports what Leibovitz's initial response was to being chosen:

"When Pirelli approached me, they said they wanted to make a departure from the past. They suggested the idea of photographing distinguished women. After we agreed on that, the goal was to be very straightforward. I wanted the pictures to show the women exactly as they are, with no pretense."

I love the new direction of the world-renowned #PirelliCalendar—it's amazing to see such talented #womenwhowork in the spotlight! A photo posted by Ivanka Trump (@ivankatrump) on Dec 1, 2015 at 11:12am PST

If you were not privy to this calendar, some of the past issues reported by Times were, "a coffee-table book from Taschen, it has featured a completely naked Kate Moss, Lara Stone and Joan Smalls (2012, Mario Sorrenti); Gisele Bundchen, Karen Elson and Carmen Kass playing peekaboo with bottoms and bosoms (2001, Mario Testino); and a topless and/or naked Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell and Nadja Auermann (1995, Richard Avedon)."

Without even seeing these images, the descriptions are totally different from the images of today's calendar. 

What do you think about Pirelli's change in presenting women in the 2016 calendar? Tell us your thoughts below.