When the Sun Fades – L’Officiel’s High-Fashion Narrative with Latelita’s Silver Bee Studs

L’Officiel’s recent editorial “When the Sun Fades” (L’Officiel Baltic, Nov 2025) is a masterclass in high-fashion storytelling. Photographed and styled by Alessia Gallarini and featuring model Maria Pakhomova, the spread weaves a poetic narrative through fashion. The concept casts each day as “a small journey: we are born with the sunrise, grow through the hours, and fade with the dusk,” portraying a “quiet, endless evolution” over the course of a single day. This creative vision transforms the editorial into a storyboard of sunrise-to-sunset metamorphosis, using clothing, lighting, and mood to mirror the passage of time. The result is not just a showcase of style but a visual chronicle of transformation, where the model’s poses and expressions subtly shift from dawn’s freshness to evening’s depth.

In the opening images, the styling evokes early morning lightness – think a crisp blouse and skirt ensemble in airy fabrics that capture the first rays of sun. In fact, the published credits reveal Pakhomova wearing a Mango blouse paired with an AllSaints skirt, grounded by Calzedonia tights and Zara shoes, a clever mix of accessible fashion pieces elevated to editorial chic. The choice of high-street brands for the day look adds a sense of realism and effortlessness, as if the character has dressed for a morning in the city. The palette and textures here appear soft and optimistic, complemented by naturally glowing makeup and free-flowing hair crafted by Sveva del Campo (makeup and hair artist). The atmosphere is bathed in gentle light – one can imagine a golden morning glow – accentuating the outfit’s subtle details and the model’s serene, new-day expression.

As the “hours” progress in this story, the mood intensifies. The styling transitions into bolder territory to reflect afternoon and dusk. We see hints of this evolution as the editorial moves toward an evening look – reportedly a dramatic gown (one look includes a New Aquinomoda dress, according to social media teases) – signalling the onset of twilight glamour. In these later images, Pakhomova’s poise becomes more statuesque and contemplative, matching the formal wear’s elegance. The lighting likely turns richer and more directional, evoking the slanting rays of sunset and the encroaching shadows of dusk. Deepening contrast and longer shadows envelop the model, highlighting luxe details like sequins or satin in the gown that glint in low light. Through Gallarini’s lens, the composition harnesses this changing light: a bright, sunlit clarity gives way to the dramatic chiaroscuro of sundown. By the final frames, the editorial achieves a crescendo of evening elegance – the model fading into a beautifully lit darkness – embodying the concept that one day’s end is as transformative as years of change.

What makes “When the Sun Fades” compelling is how every element in the editorial serves the narrative. The model’s portrayal is central – Pakhomova exudes a fresh, hopeful energy in the “sunrise” scenes and gradually adopts a stronger, more introspective demeaner by “dusk,” effectively story-acting the day’s emotional arc. Gallarini’s dual role as photographer and stylist ensures a cohesive vision: the poses, the garments, and even the set or background (whether a minimalist interior or an outdoor scene) all work in concert. The editorial’s storytelling is nuanced – there is no literal sun in the frame, but through shifts in colour tone and styling we sense its presence and decline. For example, morning might be conveyed with soft illumination and pastel or neutral tones, while late day brings elongated shadows and richer hues, perhaps a warm amber or sunset-orange filter cast over the scene. This cinematic progression invites the viewer to feel the time of day in each photo. Such an approach elevates the fashion editorial into a narrative art form, a signature of L’Officiel’s high-fashion editorial style. It’s a reminder that in top-tier magazine editorials, clothing and imagery together create mood and story, not just visual appeal.

Despite the grandeur of concept, the editorial pays close attention to accessories – most notably Latelita’s silver bee stud earrings, which Pakhomova wears in the daytime look. These delicate earrings become a focal point of the styling, proving that even the smallest adornments can play a storytelling role. Latelita, a British atelier jewellery brand, is known for blending Eastern influences with contemporary British design to create unique, handcrafted pieces. True to the brand’s ethos, the bee studs add a dash of whimsical elegance to the outfit. Crafted from sterling silver and encrusted with Latelita’s signature sparkling zircons, the earrings catch the light with every subtle turn of the model’s head. The design – charming little honeybee motifs about 2 cm wide – brings a playful, nature-inspired element into an otherwise chic urban ensemble. In the crisp morning scenes, these studs glint softly, almost like dewdrops or “tears of the sun” in the first light.

Indeed, bees carry rich symbolism across cultures (diligence, wealth, and in ancient myth even royalty – it was once believed bees were the tears of the sun god). Placed in this editorial, the bee studs subtly echo the sun motif: the notion of sunlight distilled into tiny golden creatures accompanying the model at dawn. This clever accessory choice by Gallarini ties the jewellery into the narrative framework – not overtly, but as a delightful Easter egg for the keen-eyed viewer.

Visually, the silver bee studs also provide contrast and focus. Against the neutral tones of a blouse or the fall of the model’s hair, the bright silver and crystal sparkle draw the eye to Pakhomova’s face, framing her expressions. They complement the story without overwhelming it – a perfect example of jewellery in editorial styling, where pieces are chosen to enhance mood and theme rather than as blatant product placements. Latelita’s design aesthetic of marrying playful motifs with fine craftsmanship shines here; the studs feel like a bespoke storytelling tool, bridging fashion and narrative. In a shoot about the passage of a day, one could imagine the bees symbolizing vitality in daylight – and perhaps by evening, as the model dons different jewels or the bees quietly recede, it’s as if they have flown off with the last light of the sun.

“When the Sun Fades” exemplifies the symbiotic relationship between fashion and jewellery in high-editorial art. The clothing provides the broader strokes of character and time setting – the shift from a daytime ensemble to an evening gown physically marks the passage of time. Jewellery, on the other hand, adds nuanced highlights and storytelling accents within those scenes. In this L’Officiel spread, the Latelita bee studs serve as a storytelling accent: they not only enhance the style (adding a touch of sparkle and luxe to a daytime look) but also reinforce the theme (tiny sun-associated creatures glinting like morning sunlight). The high-fashion context elevates these earrings beyond mere accessories; they become part of the visual language of the story.

Crucially, the editorial does not treat the jewellery as an isolated product to showcase, but as an integrated element of the composition. In the images, the bee studs likely catch the same sunlight that bathes the model, linking them to the shoot’s lighting scheme. For instance, when a ray of morning light hits the zircons in the earrings, it creates a fleeting sparkle – a small moment that enlivens the photo and subtly draws attention to the model’s face. By the time the narrative reaches dusk, if the bee studs are no longer in focus or have been replaced with other pieces (a possibility as styling often changes per look), their early appearance still lingers in the story’s continuity, much like a motive in a film score introduced in the opening and echoed later. This demonstrates how a piece of jewellery can have a narrative arc: introduced, highlighted, and perhaps symbolically left behind as the story evolves.

Moreover, the styling direction under Gallarini’s vision shows a keen understanding of balance. The outfits are thoughtfully accessorized – a choker from the stylist’s own collection is even noted in one look, indicating personal, characterful touches. Nothing feels random; a bold choker or a second set of earrings might be used in later shots to amplify the drama of twilight, just as the subtle studs served the simplicity of morning. The overall visual tone moves fluidly from one image to the next, each new accessory or garment building on the previous, much like scenes in a film. The photography’s focus might shift from wide, full-body storytelling shots to closer portraits as the light dims, thereby making jewellery and facial expression more pronounced in the frame. In those intimate close-ups, fashion and jewellery converge to convey emotion and luxury – a sparkling earring alongside a smoky eye or the glint of a necklace on fabric, all captured in sharp detail by the camera.

In analyzing this L’Officiel editorial, it’s clear that fashion, styling, photography, and jewellery have been orchestrated into a cohesive allegory of a day. “When the Sun Fades” is more than a showcase of outfits and accessories – it’s a high-fashion narrative, told through sartorial changes and the mutable quality of light. The collaboration of the creative team (from Gallarini’s artistic direction to Pakhomova’s modeling and Del Campo’s beauty work) results in images that resonate with mood and meaning. The inclusion of Latelita’s silver bee studs underscores how a well-chosen piece of jewellery can enrich a fashion story: the studs offer both textural sparkle and symbolic depth, embodying the sunlight that the editorial’s heroine absorbs and eventually leaves behind. 

By prioritizing storytelling – through styling, through the model’s portrayal, through photographic mood – this L’Officiel piece stands out as an inspiring example of how fashion and jewellery together can tell a story. It invites the reader to not just see what the model is wearing, but to feel the time of day, sense the atmosphere, and appreciate the narrative woven into every fabric fold and gleaming jewel. In the world of high-fashion editorials, the best stories are wordless – told in silk and sunlight, in shadows and studs – and “When the Sun Fades” speaks volumes.