Inspired by works of fiction – whether that being superheroes, anime, or cinema, this editorial by Reinhardt Kenneth explores the limitless possibilities pop culture has presented us in this new age. One no longer must only have one look, not constrained to a singular box or category.
In this fashion editorial, model Gabrielle Epstein embodies a fashion chameleon, a modern-day muse with many looks. While the personifications are inspired by anime characters, she catered to not only just one look – a modern-day schoolgirl, a fashion icon, a warrior princess, a secret agent, a goddess, and whatever else the audience interprets her striking photographs to represent.
In collaboration with fashion stylist Michelle Wu, Reinhardt Kenneth wanted this editorial to mirror today’s fashion icons. From brands to socialites, there has been an evolution of style and versatility. Inclusivity of taste and style has been explored more and more. While looking for the perfect “set” for this shoot, Reinhardt resorted to shooting the entire shoot on a plain studio in collaboration with Barcelona-based visual artist Angel Jimenez. Reinhardt wanted to make sure that the entire scenery caters to the world of fiction that he visualized, whether that being a battlefield, a sailor moon inspired evolution, or a pastel sky infused backdrop.
The two collaborated on creating a dynamic yet surreal story. Enhancing Gabrielle’s striking yet elegant beauty, Archangela Chelsea and Carisa Arellano collaborated to create an otherworldly yet subtle glam.
Archangela emphasized on a glowy yet flawless skin to start, paired with a bold striking eye to create the dramatic effect, yet paired with subtle lips to balance the whole look. Reinhardt Kenneth emphasized the importance of the fluidity of the hair, leading Carisa to create a very dramatic and impactful, yet still very “windswept” hair look.
As the main inspiration for hair was the hyper-dramatic, surreal, elongated floating hair in anime, Carisa created a custom pair of giant pigtails on Gabrielle Epstein to recreate the effect.
As the team collaborated into creating this striking fashion story, together, they created a fashion story that juxtaposes the many “characters” Gabrielle Epstein embodies. うら◌おもて or Ura Omote means “front and back” or “reverse” in Japanese. Gabrielle’s character goes “back and forth” in the course of a day into the different roles she plays. Whether she’s saving the world or sitting pretty under the pastel-colored sky, one thing remains the same: she’s an empowered, modern, yet kind-hearted young woman.
The team
Photography: Reinhardt Kenneth@reinhardtkenneth
Muse: Gabrielle Epstein@gabbyepstein
Fashion stylist: Michelle Wu@michellewustylist
Make up Artist: Archangela Chelsea@archangelachelsea
Hair stylist: Carisa Arellano@carisadoesitall
Post production: Angel Jimenez@angel_jiro of Oniric FX@oniricfx
Retouch (rainbow look): Ferdinan Linardi@ferdinanfiv
Special thanks to Cece Asuncion@yetasuncion & Irvin Rivera@graphicsmetropolis for the location hospitality
Behind the scenes videography: Phillip Lewis@phlipisme
Photo assistants: Victoria Sirakova@victoriasirakovaphotographer & Jamal Baptiste
Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam