NUMÉRO NETHERLANDS PRESENTS A FASHION EDITORIAL CAPTURED BY BYRON SPENCER
Numéro Netherlands Digital presents a story that invites us to ponder the choice between sky and sea—between the freedom of flight and the mysteries of the deep. Inspired by the vibrant youth of Tamarama, this editorial captures the eternal question: where does your heart lie? In the vast expanse of the heavens or the uncharted depths of Neptune's realm?
archer
dress JARROD REID
prop arrow BENN HAMILTON
Hark, noble friends and curious minds alike, who find joy in pondering the realms of what is, what was, and what could be! I come before thee today with a question most wondrous, a question that rings in the ears of many a traveler who doth yearn for powers beyond the mortal coil. A question that, if answered true, may lead one to paths of flight or seas unfathomed.
Let us imagine, then, that in some divine providence or magical whimsy, thou art bestowed the choice of two grand abilities. On the one hand, ye might fly as the very birds of the air, to mount the lofty sky, free of tether or chain. On the other hand, ye might breathe as the creatures of the sea, plundering Neptune’s watery realms without fear of pressure or drowning. In such a crossroads, which way would ye turn? Which gift would ye embrace, and which wouldst thou forsake?
In the spirit of this pondering, let us delve into the heart of the tale, aided, mayhap, by the images of brave youths from the coastal town of Tamarama—where the land meets the waters, and where their very hearts reflect the waves and winds of this debate.
costume Stylist’s own
On the Joy of Flight
Oh, to fly, dear listeners! 'Tis the stuff of dreams and fancies that hath captivated men and maidens since time immemorial. From the falcon’s wings to the soft flutter of the lark, we have oft admired the ease with which these creatures traverse the heavens. Were we given such wings, what might we achieve?
Imagine, if thou will, yon youthful figure standing upon the cliffs of Tamarama, the wind tousling his sun-kissed locks. The sea behind him rumbles and rolls, but his gaze is upon the horizon, where the clouds meet the sky. He lifts his arms, and lo! As if touched by the hand of a deity, his feet leave the earth. No longer bound by the soil, he soars into the air! The freedom! The ecstasy! With the sky beneath him and the stars as his companions, he glides through the air with a grace unmatched by the earthly bound.
In flight, he is not merely transported; nay, he becomes one with the elements. The wind whispers sweet nothings to him, urging him onward. The sun embraces him warmly, and the heavens unfold before him like a kingdom made for him alone. He need fear no beast nor peril, for he might escape all earthly threats by simply taking to the sky. War, famine, and pestilence are naught but trifles when thou can rise above them all.
And so, my noble friends, the case for flight is strong indeed. It offers freedom, it offers escape, and, above all, it offers the promise of endless adventure.
left
costume L.IAXS x JULES BRAMLEY
hat BENN HAMILTON
right
tights and scarf MAROSKE PEECH
belts ANGEL ROBERTSON
On the Power of the Seas
Yet, on the other side of this wondrous choice lies the deep, mysterious ocean—Neptune’s realm, vast and unexplored. To breathe beneath the waters and swim unhindered by the pressure of the deep is no lesser gift, I assure thee.
In the town of Tamarama, those selfsame youths who might dream of flying are also drawn to the azure depths of the sea. Picture, if thou will, a different scene. A lad of similar stature stands upon the shore, his bare feet sinking into the wet sand as the waves lap at his toes. He gazes not to the sky but to the vast ocean before him. He wades into the water, deeper and deeper still, until he vanishes beneath the waves. But does he drown? Nay! For this is no mere mortal—he breathes the very waters as easily as the air above. The pressure of the deep does not crush him. Nay, it welcomes him as one of its own.
right
bag ANGEL ROBERTSON
To swim as the fish and whales do, to dive into the darkest reaches of the ocean where no light doth pierce, is to enter a world unknown to most men. Here, among the coral and the creatures of the deep, the young man finds treasures beyond gold. The sea sings to him, and he listens. The dolphins play beside him, and he laughs. The jellyfish glow with ethereal light, and he marvels. No monster of the deep can frighten him, for he moves with the ease of a shark and the grace of an eel. Here, under the waves, he is a king, master of all he surveys.
And what, pray tell, is more wondrous than this? To dive to the very bottom of the sea, to explore the ruins of sunken cities, to uncover treasures lost to time—these are the adventures that await those who choose the sea as their dominion. And need I mention, friends, the power of water to heal, to cleanse, to sustain? He who controls the waters doth hold life itself in his hands.
belts ANGEL ROBERTSON
trousers OTTOLINGER
The Final Judgment
Thus, noble souls, we stand at a crossroad, with the winds above and the waters below. Shall ye choose the sky, where flight brings freedom unbound, or the sea, where breath brings the secrets of the deep? Both paths are wondrous, both filled with adventure and awe, yet one must choose.
The young men of Tamarama, their images immortalized in art, serve as reminders of this very choice. For some, the call of the heavens is irresistible; they dream of flying from cliff to cloud, unshackled and free. For others, the ocean’s depths call them to explore mysteries untold, to become one with the creatures of the sea. Both are noble pursuits, yet each heart must decide for itself.
And so, dear friends, I ask thee—where lies thy heart? In the open sky, or in the fathomless sea? For this is the question that hath plagued many a man, and the answer is thine alone to choose.
Exit, pursued by a question.
archer
top CLOVER CUTLER
cape FRANCES HARVEY
tights TYTM8
TEAM CREDITS:
models ARCHER ROSE FROM KULT & JOEL LUMBROSO FROM FIVE TWENTY & GUANDONG FROM KULT & TOBY FROM FIVE TWENTY & ZYON AT PRISCILLAS & RYAN DUNCAN AT MODULES
photography BYRON SPENCER
graphics 3RD WORLD ELITE
styling GEORGIA HARPER X BENN HAMILTON
props BENN HAMILTON
assistant ANGEL ROBERTSON
