Ford Models Fashion

The intersection of art and fashion is made literal in a Purple Fashion Magazine Spring Summer 2012 editorial set in the New York studio of Norwegian artist Gardar Eide Einarsson that features Julia Nobis (Ford) and Erjona Ala (Ford). Editor in chief and creative director Olivier Zahm explains, “These hidden places [studios] are a city-person’s creative refuge. They’re the most promising of worlds — micro-utopias, in fact.” The white walls and hardwood floors of Einarrson’s studio as such enable stylist Vanessa Reid (last seen on this page for that Aiden Andrews cover for Arena Homme+) to extend outward the monochromatic canvasses of Gardar Eide Einarrsson.

The story opens (Slide 1) with Erjona standing before a painting that calls to mind the Japanese Rising Sun flag. In the portrait she wears a white muslin dress and cotton pants by Chanel, cotton caps by Dr. Noki, and vintage scarves with drawings by Augustin Steyer. On the opposite page (Slide 2), Julia is pictured wearing a jacquard print silk dress by Narciso Rodriguez over a band-printed shirt, jeans, gloves, and socks by Libertine, and a dress by No Editions that is worn as a headpiece. Erjona wears a hand-painted silk and wool jumpsuit and cowhide boots by Comme Des Garçons, a graphic dress by Julien David worn as a headpiece, and a duct tape hat made by Gardar Eide Einarsson. The shot that best captures the tenor of the story (Slide 5) shows Erjona and Julia both wearing gazar hats by Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière. Erjona also wears a black silk top with ribbons and a gray and white striped silk skirt by Fendi and Julia, back to camera, a geometric silk dress by Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière.

Olivier Zahm closes out the issue’s opening letter by concluding, “Visiting a studio is to engage with endlessly stimulating and consistently inspiring possibility.” The studio of Gardar Eide Einarsson drips not only with paint, but also with the above described possibility, realized in no small part by Julia Nobis and Erjona Ala.

Credits include: Publication, Purple Fashion Magazine Spring Summer 2012 Vol. III, Issue 17; Title, “Gardar Eide Einarsson Studio x Vanessa Reid”; Photography, Gardar Eide Einarsson; Styling, Vanessa Reid; Hair, Brent Lawler at Streeters; Makeup, Ozzy Salvatierra at Streeters; Photography assistance, Elise Gannett; Styling assistance, Grace Atkinson, Zara Mirkin, Miyako Belizzi, Danielle Van de Camp; Models, Julia Nobis and Erjona Ala at Ford; Special thanks, Fergadelic, Maria O’Sullivan, Augustin Steyer, Pryscille Pulisciano, Raffaele Ascione; Art, Gardar Eide Einarsson, courtesy of Team Gallery, New York.