Dreams Coming True Right Here; French Vogue Photoshoot!!!!

mattyowie101
Jul 13, 2014
5 min read

"Si Botticelli était vivant aujourd'hui, il voudrait travailler pour Vogue"

Peter Ustinov

Every so often people are blessed with having a dream come true. Yesterday I experienced that exact sensation. Nope it wasn't putting my name above the door of a multinational luxury fashion & lifestyle conglomerate (hint what dream #01 could be hahah) but something slightly more humble. Today, in my very first ever styling assistant job, I was part of the crew styling some truly phenomenal looks for a French Vogue Photoshoot! !! It just felt like a once in a lifetime opportunity.

The shoot location was the old Thornbury Theatre, somewhere I'd never visited or seen pictures of. Well didn't I just fall in love?!? I honestly had no idea that authentic gilded havens such as these existed in Melbourne. The sheer scale of detail just blew me away, and each time I walked up and down the stairs through the day I imagined that gilded marble foyer with powder blue ceiling as an entrance hall for a stately home or Parisian Townhouse from an era long gone. All that seemed needed were a few powdered footmen with stockings and a harpsichordist. One could almost smell the pomade and jasmine...

I was a little starstruck at the idea of all of the people I'd be working with. Uber-stylist Lynette Pater, designer Judith Penak, the gorgeous millinery supplied by Vintage Designs, and stylist/Menswear Designer Eduardo Xavier. As well as this the amazing hair stylist Jeanette Louise and makeup artists Mishel Bratsos and Shula Keyte, the lovely talented writers Christina and Christine from FashionAustralia.com, and finally photography by SniperShots Melbourne and Eddie Teddie Photography Each one proved to be such an amazing personality with so much flair and vision, I definitely felt in my element watching their mastery come to fruition.

Everyone immediately got to work, taking boxes and racks of clothes and gloves and shoes up the gilded marble staircase that honestly just looked out of a fairytale. Out of the garment bags came some of the most beatiful bridal couure imaginable. Intricate Burano Vintage Lacework worked over sheer veils, and opulent embroidery and beading along the tops of strapless bodices and the hems of leg of mutton half-length sleeves, giving this gorgeous old world charm that leaves the viewer thinking of now one particular era of the past but in fact many!

As well as this there was a trestle table just lathered in every kind of haute joallerie imaginable (provided by Le Dain Designs and Stella Nemiro) . Strands of perfect pearls just ready to drape in every which way along necks and wrists and coiffures. Rock crystals formed in stunning clusters into necklets and earrings, gorgeous tiaras intermingled on the table with fur and feather mohawks, Native American Headresses, and a set of truly extraordinary headwear. As well as the beautiful Vintage Design Creations, there were also a group of hats from an old Millinery teacher of mine, the delightfully eccentric Paris Kyne who sadly passed away last year, had some marvellous pieces ready to attach to the models, abstract structures that work to change the perception of beauty and highlight individiual features.

The shoot began with group photos of the models seated along the staircase, trains cascading down the steps and the regal expressions of ressurected Grand Duchesses, and then proceeded into individual shots taken around the theatre. As it progressed, things quickly became more wild, skirt hems foraying rapidly in their height, different periods flying by in a quick fly of chiffon and so many influences for each look that to my new friends and I, we all picked completely dfferent points of beginning for the original inspiration. The day overall had so many funny moments, but one overall was when the male model on set had to go shirtless with a fur coat and needed to change into more formal black shoes. As it turned out, my favourite pair of Gucci black calfskin brogues made their own little entrée into the fashion shoot, borrowed for a moment under the camera flash :P. Ahh the memories

The final results of the shoot turned out pretty fantastically, and I for one can't wait for them to be formally published so everyone can see. It was truly an honour to be a part of such a team of phenomenal creatives with such vision! It was an amazing first shoot for me to be a part of, and I can't wait for more to come along very soon. The lovely models who proceeded to entrance the camera and everybody else behind it (Babushka, Caitlyn, Jess and La-Toyah) were also absolutely amazing in terms of work ethic and also persistance, they kept good humoured and graceful through what was a long strenous day of work, It was lovely to meet them, see them take the bridal couture to a whole new level of beauty and make some new friends along the way. They pulled off absolutely every look with gorgeous elegance: the sort one could expect of a real Grand Duchess! I never realised what an intricate process taking the perfect picture involves: like a delicate dance with so many members involved to make the looks just immaculate. It was amazing to see so many people so skilled in their own field come together to create something so gorgeous and opulent, the passion was without a doubt evident in the pictures!

I'd like to thank Lynette Pater and Judith Penak for allowing me to help out with the shoot, and to have the chance to work with you two fashionable goddesses, it was honestly a dream come true, and also for making me feel so valued by allowing me to add my two cents on the styling. Many many thanks, can't wait for the next shoot!

Please make sure to take a look at everybody's links and websistes below. They're without a doubt an extraordinary group of people, can't wait to see what amazing creations each individual produces next!

I have a lovely friend without whose introductions and lovely consideration I wouldn't have met Lynette or had the chance to be part of this amazing photoshoot. She's also a Melbourne-based designer and I wanted to take a moment to thank her. She's talented and dedicated beyond belief and I think it's absolutely destined that she'll be going places! So would love if you took a look at her page JR DESIGN

"Quand je mourrai, je veux aller à Vogue"

David Bailey

"Most people know no other way of judging men's worth but by

the vogue they are in, or the fortunes they have met with"

Francois de La Rouchefoucauld

Credits

-Lynette Pater (Stylist) - Facebook

-Judith Penak (Designer) -Website

-Facebook

-Dianne - (Judith Penak PA)

-Dan Ilicak (Photographer) - Facebook

-Eddie Teddy (Photographer) - Facebook