02/29/12 - 0 Comments
Charlotte Free by Terry Richardson for Purple Fashion Magazine
Purple Magazine was founded in the early nineties to serve as a hub for all things hip in the art scene. It aimed to be “radically different” as a backlash of sorts against the over-glamourized eighties. This punk-rock approach led the French publication to make a name for itself by teaming up with risky realist fashion photographers like Terry Richardson and Juergen Teller. It seems that the Purple team’s anti-fashion approach to style has yet to fail. It’s still the coolest magazine with under-the-radar appeal, and the latest issue’s spring/summer features are already making waves.
This editorial, entitled “Tenderness”, featured Charlotte Free and was shot by Terry Richardson, my favorite controversial photographer. If you didn’t jump on the Charlotte Free bandwagon last year when her name started popping up everywhere, then you better catch up. Her notably badass attitude and colorful locks quickly gave her a cult-like following of online fashionista fan girls, and she has appeared in tons of runway shows, from Jeremy Scott to Chanel. She is also one of Richardson’s favorite models, so much so that impromptu photo shoot sessions between the two appear frequently on his blog, Terry’s Diary.
Styled by Mel Ottenberg, the story was effortlessly hip. In true Purple fashion, the looks were so anti-trend that they inevitably became trendy. Free wore an oversized jumpsuit tied at the waist, accompanied by an equally oversized white tee and platform sneakers. An alien mask complimented metallic pants and a mesh tank, very club-kid approved. From floral print tees and leather trousers to monochromatic army-green styling, the looks created a theme that seemed like a drug-induced game of dress up. This wasn’t surprising, since Ottenberg has a way of constantly making fashion look simple and fun. He never tries too hard to get conceptual, and he loves to play with color. Ottenberg has also been styling Rihanna recently, which would account for her insane new wardrobe… no complaints here!
Images courtesy of Mode
