This project was built around the idea of haute couture displaced into the everyday, a collision between sacred glamour and the ordinary city street. City Saints explores what happens when garments usually confined to elite, controlled spaces are worn outside, with a sense of camp and irreverence. Shot entirely on film, with no post-production, retouching or reshoots, the work captures real life as it unfolds, embracing imperfection, movement and unpredictability.
Casting was central to this. I focused on individuals with strong presence and natural energy, rather than conventional perfection, allowing them to inhabit the garments in an instinctive, unforced way. This brings a sense of honesty to the work — couture not performed, but lived in.
The visual language sits between devotion and play: exaggerated silhouettes placed against everyday urban backdrops, creating a tension between preciousness and ease. I led the creative direction from concept through to execution, overseeing casting, building the team, and directing on set to ensure the outcome remained raw, immediate, and true to the original vision.
Creative Direction: Femke van der Hulst
Casting Direction: Femke van der Hulst
Production: Femke van der Hulst
Photography : Archie Herrington
Styling Charlotte: Courtney Maxwell
Styling Sophie: Jeninna Wallace & Joe Ogulskij with hair by Pauliina Pitkanen
Creative Assistant: Pauliina Pitkanen
Talent: Sophie Lawrence and Charlotte Coppellotti via Noemi James Management