Reflections on a Caribbean Photoshoot

Rene woke up and heard Maria knocking on the door. “Rene,” said Herb Ritts’ makeup artist, “you and Lucia are up in 20 minutes. You need to get ready. While stifling a yawn, Rene told Maria that she would be with them in about ten minutes.

After taking a quick shower, she joined Harry, Lucia, and Maria to get ready. “I’m sorry for being late,” said our exquisite Rene, “but I overslept.” Maria told her not to worry as she handed her a quick breakfast. Lucia and Rene collected their thoughts as they drank their coffee and ate their fruit cup. Lucia and Rene exchanged some ideas about who will appear on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue cover. They thought that likely candidates included Carol Alt or Christie Brinkley or Kim Alexis. They also talked about the latest music by Bon Jovi and Guns and Roses. 

Lucia and Rene also relished the location. They very much approved the venue choice for the photoshoot: Lovango Coy of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Gabe, who is Herb Ritts’ researcher and travel manager, booked the crew at the Lovango Resort and Beach Club. He read about the resort’s exquisite rooms and restaurant as well as the “breathtaking tropical atmosphere in one of [their] treetop accommodations or [their] exclusive villa” (quote came from https://www.lovangovi.com/accommodations/).  While Lucia and Rene chatted away, they enjoyed the early morning breeze on their cheeks. It was like Nirvana.  

 Rene blurted out, “I had another ‘Rene the Sleuth’ dream.” Everyone looked at Rene and smiled. Maria, who loves a good story, said, “Come on, Rene, tell us all about it.” Rene says that she does not remember all the details of the dream. What she does remember is that she plays a detective. Mademoiselle Fragonard hired her to find a stolen book by the French caricaturist Andre Gill. Inside that book, there were letters between Mademoiselle’s mom and Olga's father. Rene also said that she learned that Mademoiselle's mom and Olga's father had a daughter named Antoinette. “I am trying to get the book and letters from Olga,” Rene says to the others. She would tell the rest of the story later. (You can read our latest “Rene the Sleuth” story by going to our Instagram page @renerussofashion.)  

For the photoshoot, Lucia and Rene wore swimwear from the lovely worlds of Andi Bagus, Ivy Swimwear, Beach Bunny Swimwear. As Herb snapped away, Rene thought about her dream. She did not tell the others that Lucia was there to help her recover the Andre Gill book and letters. As they posed cheek to cheek for Herb, Rene remembered how lovely Lucia looked in her blouses and exquisite dresses from Lulus. The rest of the photoshoot was on the hotel beach. The water was wonderfully calm and soothing. There was an enchanting wind and the comforting warmth of the early morning sun. Lucia and Rene invited Maria to join them as they splashed away in the water. Fellow beach enthusiasts began to assemble around them for they were drawn to the music that Herb was playing for the photoshoot. Rene noticed a brunette wearing a one-piece swimsuit from Boston Proper. She smiled at Rene and then mysteriously disappeared. “My gosh,” said Rene, “was that Whitney?”

During the day, Rene talked to the group about her dream. She talked about the nefarious crowd that she encountered such as Antoinette and Olga. But she also talked about the lovely people that she met such as Mademoiselle Fragonard, Isabela, and Whitney. Isabella, who started out as the villain, ended up helping Rene retrieve the stolen items. Whitney, an art student at NYU, assisted the group by seeing Mademoiselle Fragonard and finding out any information that might be pertinent in their search. Rene remembered the beautiful bookstores and stately mansions. Her dream was a bittersweet one – sweet in that friendship is one of life’s intangibilities; bitter in that the dream came to an end.

We hope you enjoyed the blog post. 

Maria Emma and Gabriel