River Island seem to be on a roll at the moment, the collections keep on getting bigger, stronger and more original, they debut at London Fashion Week in February with their collaboration with Rihanna and their Design Forum project with Georgia Hardinge is the best yet. So when the retailer asked me if I wanted to document behind-the-scenes at their autumn/winter 2013 womenswear lookbook I jumped at the chance, as well as getting to see the new collection first, I have always wondered what actually goes into making one.
Shot by photographer Nick Haddow, who has been working with River Island for the past couple of years now, in the Park Royal studios the lookbook features three gorgeous models Betty, Sisi and Sane, who were all styled to perfection by Cathy Kasterine from Harpers Bazaar. Then there were two hairdressers, a make–up artist, a dresser, a studio manager, a couple of PRs, numerous lightening and studio technicians, photography assistants, etc, etc – seriously a lot of people go into making a lookbook.
It was so much fun watching a campaign come together, the positions the models have to get in, the waiting around, playing with the gorgeous accessories, munching on all the snacks, the use of a hairdryer to get the wind-blown look, and even seeing thigh-high boots being pinned on a skinny models legs – from start to finish the whole shoot is completely crazy and full on.
Trying not to get in the way my pictures aren’t close up, I will leave that to Nick, I wanted them to portray the work that goes into the lookbook and the setting, they are more of a glimpse into the new collection – which is amazing!!!
It really was a great day – thanks River Island for having me!!!
