LV Style Couture Magazine - Summer Issue

Russel Frank
May 27, 2015
8 min read

05.27.2015

Theme: LV Style Couture – Swimsuit Issue | Summer 2015 Issue

Client: LV Style Couture Magazine

Creative Director: Jennifer McCray | Justin Nelson

Fashion Stylist: Myself

Fashion Assistant: Keyska Diva

Photographer: Daryl Pearson

Makeup: Emily Larson

Hair: Lynn Hall

Designer:

Jewelry Designer - Rhinestones & Razor Blade

West London Boutique

Elemental Swimwear

Model:

Michael Egemba (Envy Model Management) | Esonica Veira (TNG Models) | Sianna Nelson (Envy Model Management) | Ashlee Nelson (TNG Models)

A few weeks ago, I attended a magazine mixer for Deluxe Version Magazine. It was their release of their new cover with model Shlebi B. gracing their cover and spread she had in the next issue. I was taking photos with Shelbi, and I remember when Jennifer (Advertising for LV Style Couture) approached me asking if I work for the magazine (Deluxe Version). I explained to her I’ve collaborated on a few shoots for their previous issue, but I am not on staff. Later, I ran into photographer friend who then introduced me to Jennifer (2nd time that night), but when she did, Jennifer then realized who I was… “ Oh you’re Russel, the stylist?! We love your shoot you did for our ‘Coming Soon’ on our website. I love your work”. Jokingly, but yet serious I replied with thanks and asked if it was gonna be the cover??!!” She told me no, but that they are excited to feature my work on their home page. That they get 20 – 30 new subscribers to their magazine online. So that’s a new traffic of 30 people seeing my work. I’ll take that, that’s a win. She and I exchanged business cards and went on our way. Few days passes by, I call, and she and touch base to stay in contact. Nice gesture, wasn’t sure what it would lead to, but local Vegas based magazine as a contact list for published work is always good!!

Few weeks passes by, she reaches out to me asking if I was available to style a spread for their summer swimsuit issue coming out in July. Jennifer broke down the logistics, and I was able to make it work out! Now, I already was booked to do a shoot that was featuring me for another magazine this same day. Since LV Style Couture had an early call time, it worked out. However, I was a little hesitant about I, only because I’ve never done two shoots in one day. One shoot is busy enough for me. Going into it, my only thought was… well sometimes you have to hustle jus to get a head or stay ahead. Suck it up Russel, you can do this. Immediately after it was confirmed with my schedule, I reach out to Keyska, my assistant to make sure I can have her on board. This was going to be a busy hectic day, I need to make sure I had her on set with me. She was excited and was ready for the shoot.

*On Location at Hard Rock Casino - Rehab Pool Modles: Esonica | Sianna | Michael

LV Style Couture held a casting call a week prior to their shoot. I was invited to attend so that I can meet the rest of the team and meet Laura Rubeli (LV Style Couture Publisher). I was a little nervous about meeting her. I mean, how many people have special meetings where they meet and greet a publisher for a magazine. There was pressure on my end, that I felt we needed to click. If she didn’t like me, personally she might take me off the shoot. I just told myself don’t even sweat it, she’s using your work on her website homepage. My work speaks for itself. She was super nice and welcoming!! We chatted about fashion week for August, what the magazine will be doing for fashion week, and how excited her and her team is getting involved. Felt like this was a set done deal. I met the photographer Daryl, he was a nice guy as well. He and I clicked, we laughed made jokes, talked about our shoot. Which was a good thing. When I got the request for me to style the shoot, I was told it was going to be an urban shoot. So I was thinking on Pinterest, Beyonce, NIcki Minaj, street wear, urban close, hip-hop wardrobe. Yea…. Same concept except change the wardrobe from street wear to swim wear. I totally missed that!! They wanted hip hop, just brought in with swimsuits as the theme or key wardrobe pieces. I was so glad I brought up my Pinterest, and talked about wardrobe. I had already started reaching out to boutiques to pull wardrobe for the shoot. Could you imagine showing up to Rehab (Hardrock Casino Pool) with racks of mens and womens urban wardrobe?? And not have use any of the pieces because it was suppose to be swim!! Jennifer quickly walked me through the story board. Some of the text was a little mislead, but we cleared it up.

* A few pieces from West London Boutique

Which this made my job as a stylist completely easier. I don’t have to bring wardrobe?? It will be on set?? Perfect!!! No worries!! I was partnered up with 3 designers, one that did show up was West London Boutique. She had pieces that were custom made, hand painted, with such great details. These series of suits were those kinds you just lay on the sideline but don’t get wet in them because of the fabric and designs. Then some were long sleeve suits, like a leotard dance suits. Very different. The designs was very appealing, but I think the cut was very different, but made it ok because those chili summer nights, you sometimes need those long sleeve / no jacket type of suits. We picked out some typical two pieces and one piece suits as well to keep it traditional suitings.

After the casting, I left, I wanted to go home and rework my Pinterest board. Granted the photos I pinned, are good ones. Good to have them for inspiration, and set the mood and tone of the shoot. I also added some suits with urban hip hop feel to it. Nicki Minaj and Beyonce’s video… “Feeling My Slef” literally just came out. It was really the best inspiration for a hip hop urban swimwear shots! I went and pulled some accessories to help bring out the urban in the shots. Picked up some caps with bright color prints and city names. I organized my own collection of gold chains and bracelets. Jennifer had told me that she had contacted Kristen Pock of Rhinestones & Razor Blades for jewelry. I’ve worked with Kristen before, and she is a talented, amazing jewelry designers. I’ve worked with other jewelry designers, but with Kristen, she makes her pieces on set on the models. For the most part, 80% of her pieces are already made, but she adds pieces and connects different pieces together by clasping them on the models. She has her jewelry kit and tools on set so she can adjust the pieces. The great thing about it, is none of her pieces will look the same as seen before. Similar how I style with accessories, some pieces may be repeated, but it looks completely different from one shoot to the other it looks different because the pieces are combined with other pieces. Except, she cuts and binds the pieces on set. She is amazing! So I knew for sure jewelry was going to be more than plentiful on set.

5am came along for the shoot sooner than I thought. I arrived with Keyska, and we got acquainted with the models. Since we knew them from fashion week, it was a comfort feeling. I was excited about the models, because I have worked with them as a group through fashion week, but to work with them personally one on one is different. Hair and makeup was close to being done, but we still were behind schedule. Keyska and I grabbed the wardrobe and brought it downstairs to the pool of Rehab (Hard Rock Casino). We separated the looks so each model could quickly go through their changes as soon as the shots were nailed. We had three designers on set, so Jennifer had explained that each designer needed to be in the shots. To make it easier, I just picked one suit from each designer for each model. For a fourth look, I added West London for each model’s fourth look.

We started to dress the models, but Esonica was still in hair prep. Kristen and I went through the jewelry and added on some chains!!! Normally I wouldn’t add that much jewelry, especially for swimwear, but thinking of urban hip-hop heavy jewelry was key! I added rings and had the girls wear wear Timberland boots. Their hair was big and high, with the hats, I wasn’t sure how I was going to get them in the shot. I respect the hair and makeup team, I try to not interfere with their work with my styling. I worked with the models to make sure they had some hats in some shot but tilted it to the side so the bangs and high hair wouldn’t get messed up. The looks still came out pretty awesome!! When you see the shots, it’s like hip hop girls. They have their hair all did up… top it off with a hat to keep the bright colored styling cohesive, but you can still see the big hair styling. We got through two looks of each of the models before Esonica was able to join us. When she came down, I could see why it took longer than expected. Lynn had brought some hair pieces with her on set. She added red extensions and glued them in Esoncia’s hair. She looked like an R&B singer on set of her summer video! She looked perfect for this look for swim. We used Esonica with our male model Michael for their love story shoot. I saved a body piece from Rhinestone | Razor Blades collection. She was dressed in a black and gold two piece suit from Elemental Swimwear, with the body jewelry accented her perfectly. We shot this look in the pool with the strip in the back drop.

Styling 4 models with in a 2 hour window for shot, was time crunch! It was a hectic day, not in the sense of chaos, but in the sense of the number of models. Between Keyska my assistant and myself, working with Kristen we were able to get different aspects of styling in the shots for urban hip hop feel. From hats, the TWO CHAINS, heals, timberland boots, down to the hair and makeup.

Later after the shoot, I chatted with Jennifer to get a feel of what her thoughts were from the shoot. None the less she loved the complete outcome. We had some hiccups that was easily overcome, nothing too major. She loved everything. It was exactly what she had envisioned it. She and Justin (the graphic designer for LV Style Couture) spoke to me about some upcoming events and shoots that they want me to part take in. With out hesitations, I agreed and will be in touch with the team! Closing a shoot like this makes it all that much more rewarding. Everyone is happy, and future projects are already in the works.

TEAM SHOT AT THE END OF THE SHOOT! (Missing Keyska)