ISSUE: #3299

On the Cover:

LOVE GARDEN

In the quiet hush of a waking estate, where the silver dew still clings to the ivy and the air holds the scent of damp earth, a story of love begins to unfold. This is a story of Love Garden, an editorial odyssey that captures the moment a landscape draws its first breath of spring. It is a visual exploration of romance not as a grand, loud gesture, but as the softest flutter of the heart—delicate, short-lived, and deeply rooted in the soil of the imagination. Against a backdrop of custom-painted canvases in verdant green, celestial blue, and midnight black, the collection blossoms through nine distinct moments, each a study in high-fashion flora.

The journey commences in a sanctuary of green. Here, the garden is young and naive. We see a vision in powder pink, where delicate apple blossoms drift across a dress paired with the soft edginess of vinyl gloves and stockings styled with a cascading waterfall of different varieties of pearls. The narrative then shifts toward the avant-garde; a grass-green bustier with a skirt of abundant volume is crowned by a literal vessel for growth—a vase tied elegantly to the model’s head. This emerald chapter closes with a tactile fusion of textures: pale rose teddy fur and mohair meet the sharp crystal and metallic glisten, all framed by a profile that captures the quiet dignity of a flower leaning toward the sun.

As the light fades into the dramatic depth of a black background, the garden enters its most sophisticated hour. We find an homage to the timeless Grace Kelly, rendered in dusty rose and punctuated by sharp black accents—satin gloves and vintage clip florals that ground the ethereal sweetness in a modern, graphic reality. This transitions into a spirited celebration of the sakura season. Inspired by the delicate beauty of cherry blossoms, soft petal pink tweed becomes a canvas for crystal buttons and fringed details. Whether in a playful volant dress or a maxi silhouette draped in tweed and silk organza, the presence of wind breathes life into the model’s silky hair, evoking the scattered beauty of fallen sakura petals. The transition culminates in a futuristic lavender dream, where several meters of fluid pale blue tulle drape like morning mist over a floral-woven bustier and skirt blurring the lines between the garment and the atmosphere.

The final act rises against a pale, ethereal blue, representing the sky at its most hopeful. A model stands atop a ladder, her spring-green organza skirt caught in a dramatic wind, a testament to the movement of the seasons. This verdant aesthetic is grounded by a green velour bag overflowing with snowdrops, yet the true poetic depth of the ensemble emerges in its veiled variation. By enveloping the model’s head in sheer organza the look creates a profound symbolism of a burgeoning flower. Nearby, the mood turns surreal and reflective as she sits before a black marble table, interacting with a veiled mannequin head embellished with hardened flowers—a hauntingly beautiful meditation on the self and the masks we wear in love. The symphony reaches its crescendo in a display of dark, high-fashion drama. Departing from the soft pastels, a commanding vinyl gown in ink-black sweeps across the frame, adorned with dried, golden-natural flowers that represent the endurance of beauty over time. Crowned in a hat of feathers that dance in the wind and accessorized with vintage elements, this final look is a powerful reminder that even in the softest garden, love possesses a sharp, indelible strength.

Love Garden is more than a photoshoot; it is a seasonal rebirth, captured in the stillness of a morning that promises never to end.

Stylist & Fashion & Cr Dir: @byplakinger

Pub: @imiragemagazine

Photo & Cr Dir & Retoucher: @jensvanzoest

MUA & Hair: @carolin_classen_hairandmakeup

Fashion: @galinaplakinger

Model: @suna.mgl