Photography: Olivia at the Sea

Olivia - New Brighton: concept, costume design, photography James Wafer, Bluewhistle

Liv is a local model and creative mind. She has become a collaborator of choice over the last few years, and this concept that I've had in my sketchbook finally became a reality on a baking summer's day in New Brighton. She is an incredible model, thinks as a creative, and has added so much to my work on an ever-growing number of projects, with fantastic flourishes of styling.

As my working title, I've called this concept "the big hat shot," and making the hat was a challenge as millinery really is harder than it looks! Thankfully, lighting and Photoshop mean I became an expert milliner overnight. The dress was sourced, a hula hoop was sprayed black, and I Posca-penned a geometric design influenced by Bauhaus and Deco. Liv then created a striking, glamorous makeup look to accent the concept. In the background, you can see the industrial end of leafy Liverpool, and these cranes totally fascinate me. They are War-of-the-Worlds-esque, dystopic, and ominous, and over a foggy winter, I used them as part of my backdrop for the music video I created for The Weave "A Study in Fog." See here. I will revisit these industrial behemoths, no doubt, in the future.