Nadia Lee Cohen

In & Other Stories' Fall Fashion 2024 campaign, Nadia Lee Cohen takes on the roles of photographer, director and subject, crafting a series of portraits that capture her personal and artistic vision of the new fall collection.

What themes do you explore in the campaign?

NLC: The idea of dressing for oneself and remaining reclusive rather than for the purpose of an audience at a party or event. In a Little Edie in Grey Gardens type of way.

What inspired the campaign concept?

NADIA LEE COHEN: It was generally that feeling of isolation that can so often present itself while living in Los Angeles. Overall, it’s considered a particularly exciting place to live, and it is! For the most part, you do have to leave your house to find the action. Some of the richest and arguably most glamorous of the inhabitants live in ‘Sunset Boulevard’ style existences tucked away in beautiful houses in complete isolation. That idea of segregation by choice is very interesting to me, like a wild, beautiful bird that never leaves its cage and ends up just dying in it. It holds certain parallels to an ageing movie star who chooses a remote lifestyle and exists in an environment so perfect that there’s hardly a reason to leave it. Only spotted at the occasional party and slowly dwindling into complete Jack Nicholson-style exile somewhere in the Hollywood Hills.

How did the collection influence your creative direction?

NLC: Of course, the collection is quite chic and simplistic, which I was drawn to as I’m not really one to wear patterns. I love tonal, solid colours and was paying particular attention to the neutral, earthy colour palette. It actually reminded me of the palette I was surrounded by as a farm child in the English countryside and the peaceful isolation that comes with existing somewhere utterly remote. I was excited to encounter a location in Los Angeles that not only reflected that typical Mid Century, Hollywood Hills isolation but also echoed the tonal palette of the collection.

How would you describe the campaign’s visual style?

NLC: There’s a quiet, feminine softness to it, and perhaps even something melancholic. It often helps me to think of a soundtrack when looking at a project. This probably feels like a sad Brenda Lee ballad partnered with the ambient suburban sounds of a pool filter flapping, birds cawing, a coffee pot quietly bubbling and the whirring of a distant lawnmower.

Which outfit stands out to you the most in telling a particular narrative in the campaign?

NLC: Probably, the long, camel-coloured dog walking coat reminded me of seeing my mum in her long coat in the muddy, wet fields. There’s something so effortlessly chic about throwing a big coat over a little slip night dress and not caring if the hemline gets a bit muddy.

What pieces from the collection do you see as key moments in the campaign?

NLC: The diamond chain necklace top is pretty spectacular. It’s not an outfit to wear to meet someone’s parents, but I really hope someone does. I also really love the little maroon cardigan; it has the perfect amount of puffy shoulder for a structured silhouette.

Who is the character in the images?

NLC: There wasn’t really a specific character development; it was more about getting across the idea of glamour gloriously fading in isolation. If I had to base it on a character, though, it would be Little Edie, aka ‘Edith Bouvier Beale’.

You’ve spoken about how the narrative style of artists like Martin Parr, Philip Lorca Dicorcia, Cindy Sherman, and William Eggleston has resonated with you, and how their style is reminiscent of fashion photography, but each image still has such standalone worth and power. How do you think imagery acquires this ‘standalone worth and power’? What is it?

NLC: Screaming a point with subtlety.

Bio

Nadia Lee Cohen is a British photographer, filmmaker and artist known for her ability to craft timeless visuals deeply rooted in narrative and storytelling. Her work, often inspired by cinema and the magical underbelly of Los Angeles, offers a compelling perspective on contemporary fashion and culture. She consistently transforms fashion moments into extraordinary visual narratives, proving that the most compelling stories lie within the unexpected.