Future Nostalgia

Model ALEXANDRA at THE SQUAD

How were you scouted? 
A scouter spotted me after my first runway for Rejina Pyo and I was signed to my first agency and what a stepping stone that was because I’m now with one of my dream agencies, The Squad Management.

What makes someone beautiful?
Being unapologetically yourself, so what if you have bigger eyes or feet than someone else that’s what makes you, you. So own that! 

What are your top 3 beauty and/or wellness tips? 
Laughter is one of my biggest tips. Having a good stretch at the end of the day to let go of all the tension and finishing off with a good dance and I mean dance like no ones watching kinda moves! 

If you could change anything about the fashion industry, what would it be? 
Stop being selfish and start supporting one another more, in this industry sometimes it can be a lot about competition and it’s about time we start bringing each other up together! The Internet has its advantages: tag your friends, repost a small business. These things go a long way because you never know who’s watching.

Photographer CHANTEL KING

What was the original inspiration for the shoot?
The shoot was a collaboration between myself & Eoin. Eoin initially approached me with the concept. We wanted to do a beauty story showcasing a contemporary take on vintage, with a focus on the eyes. The 60’s and 70’s were all about the eyes, but we also wanted to address how the standards of beauty have changed and progressed with black women due to confirming to racial struggles of that time. Retaining texture in hair was particularly important to me for this shoot, for years black women would chemically straighten their hair to fit in or be accepted. 

The photography period of that time was all extreme close-up, paying close attention to the eyes, I wanted to pay homage to that.

What do you think makes a strong image?
What I feel makes a strong image is one that evokes an emotion, the viewer stopping, looking and feeling something to the root of their core.

What is the purpose of art?
Big question! The purpose of art is self-expression or a statement. Art comes in many forms and can be interpreted in many ways, depending on how the viewer is looking or listening. For me it’s about enhancing emotion and creating a mood.

Makeup Artist EOIN WHELAN

How did you interpret the brief for the shoot?
In this case the original idea for the shoot was mine, I approached Chantel to see if she would be interested in collaborating on it. Then when Sharon and Joey joined the team, each person brought something unique, and the idea grew into a more realised concept. For me there were two important elements to how I achieved the looks. I felt I needed to have a clear nod to sixties makeup styles but not be too literal and risk the whole shoot looking dated. More importantly we wanted to really celebrate Alexandra’s natural skin and hair, texture and tone, which keeps the whole project look more current I feel.

What are the key makeup trends for AW21?
Metallics and Pops of colour are big for AW21. There’s also a big focus on nostalgia for past eras, pretty much every decade of the last century was referenced somewhere this season.

What are the hero products in your kit? 
– A good gentle liquid exfoliant, they are great for removing patches of dry skin and I prefer them to sugar scrubs for lips. Far less abrasive. I’m using Alpha-H Clear Skin Tonic at the moment. 

– Surratt Lash Releve Eyelash Curlers – they are just amazing 

– Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascara. Must be my 5th consecutive one and I so rarely repurchase products because there is so much to try on the market.

Hair Stylist SHARON ROBINSON

How did you interpret the brief for the shoot?
I looked at it as how we would wear our hair now if we were into the 60’s era, but also paying a beautiful homage to the culture of that time. I say “now” as now as black women we are more and more keeping our natural hair texture rather than straightening it with chemicals, which we were more likely to do back in that time for an image of beauty. I wanted to show that we can wear these looks by using what we naturally have and keeping the hair in its natural curl and use it as a foundation to create shapes.

What are the key hair trends for AW21?
I think whatever you do, try and make sure you embrace what your hair does and work with it on a day to day and be playful with it. Healthy and glossy hair will always look beautiful which will surpass any trend. 

What are the hero products in your kit?
– The Hair by Sam McKnight range
– Gold Lust oil and Supershine by Oribe
– Coconut and Monoi Gelée and Leave-in treatment by Design Essentials
– 5 in one treatment by Living Proof
– Rita Hazan Root Concealers

Manicurist JOEY SILVA

How did you interpret the brief for the shoot?
I interpreted the brief as muted and warm tones with a pop of colour to bring a modern feel!

What are the key nails trends for AW21?
I predict that the key nail trends this AW will be reverse French (aka cuffs), dark shades of green, navy and burgundy.

What are the hero products in your kit?
Hero products in my kit are my Navy Professional Tools for the best prep before gel application. I also absolutely love the Builder in a bottle range from The Gel Bottle, they are soak off gels that create a strengthening barrier for natural nails! And lastly, I can’t live without the Navy Professional cuticle balm, smells divine and so nourishing.