Duckie Thot & Hannah Ferguson by Mario Testino for V Magazine #109 Fall 2017
Photographer: Mario Testino. Model(s): Duckie Thot, Hannah Ferguson. Source: V Magazine. Stylist: George Cortina. Makeup: Yadim. Hair: Didier Malige.
Posted Sep 13, 2017
Duckie Thot & Hannah Ferguson dance as if nobodies watching in “The Bold and the Beautiful” by Mario Testino, for V Magazine #109, Fall 2017. Sing like no one is listening… Love like you’ve never been hurt… Dance like nobody’s watching and Live like it’s heaven on earth.” Our eyes are cast over the page hungry for the artistic sustenance. We peruse each piece as if it were the last, and, that my friends is the mark of something substantial. Beauty captures the intensity of couture through the boldness of black & white. Embellishments burst over the body, cascading down the curves in beaded glory. As a flat, white backdrop gives off a theatrical display, allowing the garb to take center stage.
Hannah’s moments come in the form of close up shots that expose themselves in geometric format. A deluge of designs drape over the body without and inch to spare. She wears a variety of smooth styles that hug her body like a long, lost lover seeking comfort from the storm. Garbed in a dramatic array of costumed attire, each piece projects a sense of cinematic story. A step beyond the usual fair, this asks that we push past perusing and get to something deeper. George Cortina invites us to experience the dynamism of these exquisite pieces through the process of participation. Fashion isn’t about flaunting, it’s about engaging in a fantastical pursuit. Chasing the ultimate mind/body blend, this connection comes when we go beyond the typical and get to the core of haute couture. Duckie lures us in with long, lean limbs that will leave you breathless. Ferguson wears smooth styles that hug her body like a long, lost lover seeking comfort from the storm.
Color is cast aside as we venture into the land of dark/light. A dynamic reality that doesn’t limit rather it exposes. Like a kid in a candy store, we feel the excitement as Yadim takes on the face. An exquisite exchange that requires a shift in our thought process. We’re often obsessed with the perfect makeup placement, however, here we enter into a dance with the dark. Using dark shadows to his advantage, he plays with the dimensions of light, pushing them to expose rather than hide. Hannah’s body glows, as her lids are lined with wings, only to be matched by a smudged version below. Not a hint of cover up takes place as we are exposed to the natural Poetry of her Face. Duckie’s features are so inspiring, to really look at her is to be totally awestruck by her beauty. Every curve swerves in sensual form while every line defines something unique. Taking things a step further, he’s mixed in what appears like dirt marks, showing through the holes of her dress. Her longing eyes sink into the soul, as her bronze skin is topped with a golden glow. Staring straight through us, I find myself stunned by the close up shot of Thot. I know… I know… I get too dramatic! But, here I think it seems reasonable.
Didier Malige’s job was difficult here, as he takes control of the coiffure. What I mean is that movement is key. You can prepare with a dew that’s divine, but in the end you have to give the elements room to rise. Strands of straight hair lie flat down their backs, only to fly high when the air hits. Once again the drama of Thot’s hair went a step further, as her waist, length locks dance around her in choreographed format. Topped in marvelous millenary, each shot showcased black chapeau’s. Our eyes are cast over the page hungry for artistic sustenance. Testino went deep here as he set out to explore the Evocative Nature of Now. We peruse each piece as if it were the last, like a mark of something substantial.
