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When New York meets London

Fashion Styling, Interior Design, Photography

First of all, we have to say a big thank you to our client, Well-done Medium or Rare Architects, who gave us the opportunity to conceptualise, develop and successfully complete this shoot; the very first of our series “Habitat + Fashion Imaginary”.

While inviting you all to read more accurately the main ideas behind this concept on our previous blog post “Habitat + Fashion Imaginary : Manifesto”, we have to write briefly here what was our mission within this project: to match the style of our client’s architecture and interior design with selected garments, creating an imaginary story, although realistic – or hyper-realistic we should better say.

The objective was to create enhanced habitat images – H+ in our coded word – to help the client achieve market exposure, gaining extra attention to clientele new to the architecture/interiors world.
living room area: bespoke white laquered bookcase with sliding ladders, Steinway & Sons piano
WMOR appointed us to shoot a refurbished apartment in the heart to the London’s West End, located in a Grade II listed building, a former hospital opened on 29 June 1882 by Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany.

It is singular to read that one of the requirements of the original design by J. M. Brydon was that the building should be planned to permit its possible future conversion into ‘separate dwellings or chambers in flats’.

This is probably the main reason why this apartment today is preserving most of the features of the original spaces: big size rooms, high ceilings, face brick internal walls, tall casement windows. WMOR have been wise and careful to maintain and valorise all these qualities in their refurbishment design.

Coherent to that vision, the initial brief we have received from the clients was:

“We would like the photography to show off the scale of the property and explore the relationship between the original Victorian, hospital features and the modern bespoke elements.

The photography should show a modern, fashionable, exciting lifestyle amidst the traditional setting of Covent Garden Market.

There are possible ties between the stage connotations, linked to Covent Garden as the theatre district, and to the grand, open spaces in the apartment.”

We started then to brainstorm ideas accordingly to this theme, until we created a story able to contain and develop all the messages stated above.

Before read the rest of the story and see the final images, please have a look at this short behind-the-scene video:
Working closely as a team – photographer, wardrobe/interior stylist, make-up/hair stylist, models and clients as well – we ideated a storyboard where the owners of this flat, an american composer and his wife, a british theatre actress, come back from their trip to New York and arrive to their London home.
her: jacket by RIVER ISLAND, skirt by TOPSHOP, vintage belt from 1950s, shoes by TRAMP VINTAGE BOUTIQUE, gloves by MICHAEL KORS, bangle by KIMAYA, hairband from Portobello Market. him: vintage tweed jacket by BURBERRY, trousers by RALPH LAUREN, vintage black shoes from 1960s, suitcase by VINTAGE WAREHOUSE
Following their arrival with the camera, we had motif to show the building, the flat and its usage with style and charm: from the early morning when they arrive and find flowers and theatre tickets as unexpected present, to the evening when they get ready for the West End night life.
her: jacket by RIVER ISLAND, skirt by TOPSHOP, vintage belt from 1950s, shoes by TRAMP VINTAGE BOUTIQUE, gloves by MICHAEL KORS, bangle by KIMAYA, hairband from Portobello Market. him: vintage tweed jacket by BURBERRY, trousers by RALPH LAUREN, belt by CALVIN KLEIN, vintage black shoes from 1960s
Vintage camisole and belt fro, 1950s, skirt by TOPSHOP, pearls from Grace’s grandmother, hairband from Portobello Market.
day dress by IZABEL, fur by KAREN MILLEN, gold shoes by TED BAKER
day dress by IZABEL, fur by KAREN MILLEN, gold shoes by TED BAKER
her: day dress by IZABEL, fur by KAREN MILLEN, gold shoes by TED BAKER. him: suit KURT MULLER, vintage black shoes from 1960s
her: vintage American sundress from 1950s, shoes by TRAMP VINTAGE BOUTIQUE, bangle by KIMAYA, hairband from Portobello Market. him: suit KURT MULLER, vintage black shoes from 1960s
her: red velvet dress from St.Wilfreds Hospice (charity shop), pearls from Grace’s grandmother, gold shoes by TED BAKER. him: tuxedo by PRADA, gloss shoes by TED BAKER, glasses by TOM FORD
her: red velvet dress from St.Wilfreds Hospice (charity shop), pearls from Grace’s grandmother, gold shoes by TED BAKER. him: tuxedo by PRADA, gloss shoes by TED BAKER, glasses by TOM FORD
More technical posts, describing preparation, shooting techniques and equipments will be released soon… then stay in touch!

Credits

client : Well-done Medium or Rare Architects - www.wmor.co.uk

photography : Marco Fazio, mjfstudio photographic bureau - www.mjfstudiophoto.com

behind the scene video : Cristian Mantio, Gingerstudio - www.cristianmantio.com

wardrobe stylist : Upesh Mistry - www.stylecreative.co.uk

make-up artist / hair stylist : Emily Johnson - emilyjohnsonmakeup@gmail.com

assistant photographer : Alex Curtis

models : Grace Cruse, Michael Fairbanks
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