Claire Pettibone | Ethereal Woodland Shoot

Claire Pettibone’s dresses have always captured my imagination. They are soft, light and ethereal often inspired by nature with unusual laces, romantic flowers, embroidered embellishments and pretty jewels. To me, her gowns bring to mind the stuff of British folklore; Victorian faery paintings, Shakespeare, John Keats, Lord Alfred Tennyson and I wanted to somehow capture this in a shoot.

“I met a lady in the meads, Full beautiful—a faery’s child, Her hair was long, her foot was light, And her eyes were wild.”  – La Belle Dame Sans Merci, John Keats.

“The bluebell wood is an extremely hazardous place to be – a place of faerie-woven spells and enchantments” – Faeries (an illustrated examination of the myths & legends of Faeries), Brain Froud & Alan Lee.

I met Lily a year or so ago through a mutual friend. I was struck by her faerie-like features and tumbling auburn hair so was thrilled to have her model for the project. Adjhani Barton did a great job in keeping her hair and makeup simple, natural and luminous.

LK Lily created floral pieces on site in order to incorporate pieces of flora she had gathered from the woodland floor. She sourced orchids with spotty toadstool patterns, created a beautiful mushroom laced hair garland and an enchanted woodland swing.

Special thanks to John and Susan for letting us loose on your enchanted land!

Location: Private Woodland in The New Forest

Model: Lily Parfett

Hair & Makeup: Adjhani Barton

Flowers: LK Lily

Jewellry: Rachel Helen’s Juniper Tree Collection

Luna, Larissa & Flora gowns by Claire Pettibone all supplied by Blackburn Bridal