My Secret Garden: Editorial Fashion Series on Location
Yes, I confess. One of the movies I secretly enjoyed as a child was “The Secret Garden.” I say “secretly” because as a boy, a story involving a girl heroine who takes charge of a consumptive boy in a wheelchair—or was it polio, or both?—(which, considering my frequent asthma attacks as a young child felt a little too close to home), was not exactly Rambo V or The Last of the Mohicans (where a particularly brutal scene is still traumatically etched on my retina).
Be that as it may, in spite of my skepticism and determination to remain untouched by the film (the latest James Bond was sold out), my stoicism quickly melted when faced with the female protagonist’s irreverent charm and “can-do” personality. I too wished for a magical key that would unlock the enchanted place where everything would be revealed (in the film, the memory of the children’s deceased mother is rekindled in the heart of her grieving widower—in my case, having grown up without a father, perhaps a missing piece lay buried in a secret land).
So when the opportunity presented itself to shoot a series of personal work in a beautiful garden landscaped by Annelies Vercruysse, all the various elements that made up this fashion series fell into place.
Model Sydney Vanden Bussche (at Dominique Curve) was the perfect protagonist for this fashion story that felt less like a Tim Walker fantasy and more like Alice waking up from her nightmare and deciding that Wonderland isn’t that wonderful at all. Especially post-pandemic, our blissful collective slumber in the garden of delights has suffered a rude awakening. This is why I liked those instances where Sydney’s strength as a model seemed to take control of the garden, as if wanting to “shake things up”—which is only apt, as the norms and standards that used to define not only the fashion industry, but society as a whole, are starting quiver in the wind of change. Hence, no Victorian waif at the mercy of irrational forces, but, much like Mary Lennox in the Secret Garden, a female protagonist capable of calling the shots.
As for the styling, I opted for clothing that would match the feeling of this English-style garden, evoking a feeling of transport, allowing the model to blend with the surroundings, but with a slightly anachronistic modern touch. When we were lucky enough to get the very ill-tempered and indifferent cat into the frame, I enjoyed playing with the idea of a reluctant Alice “trapped” in this magical—but oh so tedious—land of wonders, trying to break free.
Last but not least, Red Lipstick Makeup seamlessly complemented the looks with natural-looking makeup that highlighted the pastels and floral tones in the scenery and clothing. All in all, it was an exciting adventure, made possible by an amazing team!
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