It’s an understatement to say New York Fashion Week looks very different this season. The key missing element is live runway shows, which are typically the main stage for models to make their mark throughout the month. Without back-to-back catwalks and fittings to dominate their schedules, they’re tackling NYFW with a new mindset and a new set of expectations.
“When I started, I loved doing shows because of the adrenaline,” Mexico City native and model Issa Lish tells Vogue. “As time went by and I started shooting more [campaigns and lookbooks], I realized it’s easier and more comfortable to get to know the people you’re working with. Two hours at a show is great, but there is so much happening around you that if you don’t cocoon yourself, you can get lost.”
Lish was cast for Anna Sui’s fall 2021 lookbook and video shoot, and Vogue tagged along for her day on set. The morning began with her quick beauty routine, followed by the most important meal of the day: breakfast. Over an omelet, Lish reflected on her fashion career, from high school bullies to being scouted on the street. With just Sui’s shoot on her schedule for the day, she arrived on time for hair and makeup, then jumped into her first of seven looks.
Since an IRL show wasn’t possible, Sui created a 3D image set for her lookbook and video to match her dreamy, escapist collection. Shot in Chelsea under strict COVID guidelines, she brought the magic we’ve experienced at her shows to an entirely new, virtual experience. Here, follow Lish as she preps for the shoot, and see how it turned out on Vogue Runway.
Director: Talia Collis
DP: Rachel Batashvili
Sound: Lily Van Leeuwen
Editor: Jeff Bernier
Color: Keyhan Bayegan
Assistant Editor: Roberto Herrera
Filmed at The Crosby Street Hotel
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