Being inspired by something, whether that is a person, place, thing or idea, is the cornerstone of a collection. For Gary Hooker and Michael Young, it was everything (and then some) that roused them to create this visually seducing collection titled ‘Heroes.’
“This collection was influenced by 70’s icons and characters from Studio 54,” they shared. “We looked at album covers and styles from the likes of David Bowie, Debbie Harry, and Roxy Music.” It was a time when androgyny was shocking, when glamour was expected and when self-expression was what got people out of bed in the morning (or late afternoon following a late night at Studio 54). Heroes is a stunningly styled and colorful nod to a time when individuality, creativity and an artistic and expressive community coexisted on a level of transcendence.
But…it’s more than just that.
For me, Gary and Michael have taken the collection creation process to another level. They knocked it out of the park with precision cutting, creative color placement and formulas, and entrancing styling and finishing.
But…it’s still more than just that.
They’ve turned their models into characters. When I look at the “cast” of this collection, I see a myriad of mavens who would have sipped cocktails at Studio 54. These are the women who would have engaged in stimulating conversations at Andy Warhol’s The Factory. They would have been seen backstage at a Blondie or Grace Jones concert or sat in on the recording session of Bowie’s “Heroes” single.
You can’t help but look at the eight models individually and ask, “What’s her story? Where is she going? What is to become of her?”
It’s up to you, the viewer of this collection, to come up with her story and evolve the characters that Gary Hooker and Michael Young have created for your visual and creative entertainment. I also challenge you to keep a question in mind when you’re developing your own collection; are you styling models or are you creating characters?
Do you accept this challenge?
Photo Credits:
Hair: Hooker & Young
Photography: Jack Eames
Clothes: Clare Frith
Makeup: Megumi Matsuno