Malgosia Bela by Chris Colls for Vogue Ukraine October 2017
Photographer: Chris Colls. Model(s): Malgosia Bela. Source: Vogue Ukraine. Stylist: Art Direction: Sergei Kovalyov, julie pelipas, Set Design: Jesse Kaufmann. Makeup: Georgi Sandev. Hair: Panos Papandrianos.
Posted Sep 25, 2017
Malgosia Bela goes “Vertigo” as she hits her stride in a dizzying ride by Chris Colls for Vogue Ukraine, 10/17. Elements of the sea are artfully expressed in a lavish spectacle of style and structure. Set against the midnight sky the darkened night is draped divine. The high seas come alive, as scarlet doesn’t just fill the scene it oozes it all over the screen. This amps up the passion as it pulls down the red film, exposing us to the purity of seduction. Luxury lures us in as haute couture brings the heat in Art of Extravaganza ~ drama is defined by the quiet mastery of Malgosia.
Julie Pelipas dresses her in a series of titillating styles, all designed to stimulate. This evocative story isn’t about clothing that covers, it’s more about the beauty that’s beneath. Shapely silhouettes provide curves that capture without clinging in desperation. Fashion is an illusion waiting to fuse, as we feel the temperature rise this gets us deeper in the mood. An interlude of excess that’s longing to express. Pieces fall in poetic rhythm, some hugging the body while others skim in fluid form. This is a woman in motion… a female on the edge. Wearing leather, fur and nothing else she exposes us to what’s below. Silk & Stilettos Never Looked So Fine with See-Thru Panties that will Blow Your Mind. Her tough girl status is kept in check, as thigh-high boots are matched with Lycra and lace. Grasping the ladder, she lets her blinding, white, fur-coat open to expose her unbelievable body below. Seething with sensual energy these shots tease with a tectonic reverberation.
Bela burns free as cosmetics concede letting red ignite and light up the scene. Her features surrender, as her square jawline demands attention. Focusing his attention on the lure of her perfect lids, Georgi Sandev uses his makeup to highlight the eyes. This isn’t only about the privilege of pretty, rather, it’s about the art of obsession. Tones of amber reflect off of her green eyes, as smudged liner gives a seductive effect. Her skin glows with a neo-naked tone, while a just-kissed hint blows across her lips. Panos Papandrianos backcombs us into another decade, with a dew that done with precision. Starting with the succulent 60’s he moves to the rageon 80’s, and leaves us with luxurious locks in the land of now. Colls keeps the vibrancy alive by bouncing from black/white to radiant red. An interlude of excess waiting to express. We can feel the wanting come through the page in a riotous rage. There’s a kind of aching to Bela’s performance. This nuanced effect, allows elements to rise in different times.