The word breathtaking springs to mind, though for what
exactly I’m not even sure. The oriental gardens teeming with a vast
array of plant and animal life? The rich hues of makeup that turn Karlie Kloss' eyes and lips into exotic jewels, or perhaps the oriental-inspired hair
that’s been immaculately twisted into circular shapes and embellished
with lush flowers? Truth is that it is impossible to single out just one
element of this shoot by Alexi Lubomirski: the ‘breathtaking’ label is
what’s applied when all of those things and more come together into one
beautiful picture, like an artwork that draws your eye from place to
place as you grasp each detail in turn.
But while there’s much to admire for enjoyment’s sake, there’s also
much to take away. The opulent styling in this Vogue Germany editorial
is a perfect melding of 1920s fashion and oriental inspirations.
It seems proof that the former era’s fascination with the latter
culture is the bigger revival than the culture alone. If the early half
of the 20th century was engaged in creating luxurious interpretations of
all things exotic, then we’re now engaged in revisiting their
interpretations. As fashion trends go, it’s a dream within a dream as
hazy and alluring as the mists that weave their way through the Oriental
gardens Karlie inhabits.
