Hotel Urania: a bohemian fashion editorial for New Face Magazine

When I reached out to stylist Diana Gold about creating a fashion editorial in a hotel setting, I was looking for a space that felt visually quirky and slightly bohemian — something that could match the relaxed but polished wardrobe direction we had in mind.

After researching a few venues in Vienna, I was drawn to Hotel Urania, a family-owned hotel just outside the city’s old center. Its eclectic interior design, vintage textures, and moody lighting made it an ideal match. Located near the Hundertwasser Museum and right across from the Danube Canal, the area had a subtle charm — less polished, more eccentric — that fit the narrative we wanted to create.

I was thrilled when both models I had in mind — Chiara Koppelstaetter from Stella Models and Enie Tag from Look Models International — were available for the shoot. Paired with the expert makeup work of Vanessa Standhartinger, the team brought the vision fully to life. The blend of models, styling, and setting came together naturally, channeling a poetic blend of Vienna’s past and present.

The editorial was loosely inspired by Leonard Cohen’s song “I Remember You Well at the Chelsea Hotel” — but with a European twist. In the end, we opted for the simple title “Hotel Urania”, both a nod to the hotel and the nearby historic cinema that shares its name.

What I loved about shooting here was the freedom to use the entire space — from velvet sofas and wallpapered lounges to the grand vintage staircase. We even had a run-in with an irritable guest who slammed a door on us (true to the city’s reputation for a certain grumpiness), but my team stayed unfazed and professional throughout.

We wrapped the series with a subtle tribute to Ukrainian mysticism, using a spread of hand-drawn tarot cards as a symbolic close. It felt like the perfect visual echo to the editorial’s dreamy, moody spirit.

Shooting on location — especially with 5 to 6 people in a non-studio setting — always brings logistical challenges, but the result here made it worth every moment. I left Hotel Urania feeling inspired, and more committed than ever to stepping outside the studio more often.

Published in New Face Magazine.

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