DESIGN STORY: An Elven Tale Of Design, Interns, And the Latest Fashion
Once upon a time...
...there was a pair of elves interning for one of the design world’s most notorious fairies. It was two days before the scheduled unveiling of his latest collection, but the fairy had yet to make a single piece. “I know,” he thought, “I’ll get the interns to do my work in exchange for seats at the gallery dinner.” That night, he provided his unremunerated minions with the finest materials in all of Fairy Land and instructed them not to leave the studio until the work was complete. But when he returned the next day, eager to see what his underlings had created, he was shocked. The tricky little elves had taken everything, leaving not even the guestlist behind.
There’s always time for lounging when you’re not getting paid. Elf Tenille is counting the hours with a HAY Time hourglass while reclining against THOMAS BARGER’s Save the Fabergé Egg, Save the World chair, which is available through Salon 94 Design, New York. She is wearing a wool ensemble by SECTION 8, her shoes are by PUPPETS AND PUPPETS, and her jewelry by AMBERGRIS.
Forget Hänsel and Gretel: these elves know what’s hot. Posing with SAM STEWART’s secret door, Tenille wears a camo top and skirt by PUPPETS AND PUPPETS, a leather belt bag by WANT LES ESSENTIELS, and cobra boots by MARYAM NASSIR ZADEH. David’s coat is by BARRAGÁN, his pants by ISSEY MIYAKE HOMME PLISSÉ.
Tenille trades her toadstool for a Cilindro ottoman designed in 1963 by Luigi Caccia Dominioni for AZUCENA and now available through B&B ITALIA. Her wool mesh body is by RUI ZHOU, her hat and socks by TELFAR, her jewelry by AMBERGRIS.
The elves stow their loot in Fenêtres sur ciel, a hand-painted lacquered box designed by Gianpaolo Pagni for HERMÈS. David’s zip-sleeve top is also available through HERMÈS. All nails in the story were created by Juan Alvear.
Tenille crowns herself queen of the studio in a mango-yellow leather Wings hat by LOEWE. In her hands she’s cradling a stone that’s been artfully wrapped in leather strings, a collaboration between LOEWE and the California-based mother-daughter design duo Shinzo Studio. Tenille’s wool bra is by BARRAGÁN.
Why work for fairies when you can be your own boss? David is ready to take a stand holding a portable Parrot light, designed by Timon and Melchior Grau for TOBIAS GRAU. Tenille is biding her time against the Aengus chair in pleated baby-blue organza, which was designed by SAM STEWART and is available through Fort Gansevoort, New York. Tenille and David are both wearing outfits by COURRÈGES. Their sheepskin mules and loafers are by UGG X ECKHAUS LATTA.
David gets ready to light the way home with LLADRO’s portable Ice Cream lamp made from translucent porcelain with a navy-blue base. His corduroy shoulder shrug is by CFGNY, his pants by ISSEY MIYAKE HOMME PLISSÉ, and his Desert Boot sneakers by YEEZY.
Tenille lives out her designer dreams on Pierre Paulin’s iconic Pumpkin chair, originally created in 1971 for French president Georges Pompidou. It is now available through LIGNE ROSET. Her Zionic shearling jacket, woolen Sally top, and Kiss leather boots are all by RICK OWENS.
When the boss is away the interns will play. Tenille gets frisky with two handblown, hand-cut vases by THADDEUS WOLFE. Her corset is by LOU DALLAS, her top by GAUNTLETT CHENG, her bottoms by COLLINA STRADA, and her shoe by OLIVE WOODWARD.
Did someone say big bad elf? David shows off his cropped-shawl sheepskin fur by UGG X ECKHAUS LATTA while strapped to Stacked, a stackable new bench designed by Shawn Maximo for TORTUGA LIVING. His pants are by Y–3.
Text by Taylore Scarabelli.
Styling by Avena Gallagher.
Photography by Asger Carlsen.
Creative direction by Sean Santiago and Felix Burrichter.
Production by Sean Santiago.
Casting by Jordan Ray.
Talent: Tenille (RED) and David (Midland).
Hair by Evanie Frausto for Streeters.
Makeup by Caitlin Wooters for Art Department using MAC Cosmetics.
Makeup assistant: Dani Gerkens.
Styling assistants: Gregory Miller and Marcel Mander.
Photographer’s assistant: Ryan Razon.
Nails by Juan Alvear.
Assistant on set: Phoebe Kerr.