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 

A sexy photoshoot with Lucia Veríssimo and Felipe Camargo

November, 1988. 

Herb Ritts, Harry King and I were pleased to meet Lucia Verissimo and Felipe Camargo on Copacabana Palace, in Rio de Janeiro. After I sent some video tapes of both to Mr Ritts, he seemed so pleased to photograph both actors.

I told the general premise of this photoshoot to Lucia and Felipe: a mix of music video and editorial, but a bit more sexier. “Be more sexy and less pornographic, because it’s a photoshoot for Interview magazine,” I said.

Both actors agreed. All of us reserved a bedroom to get both ready. I did the makeup and styling of Lucia and Felipe, while Harry did the hair of both. 

The photoshoot started on the hallway, with Lucia with a trench coat and a beautiful black lingerie. And some gorgeous pumps.

Lúcia started with the hands on the lips, showing some seduction. Then came Felipe, shirtless, ready to kiss her, and while this happens, Lucia opened up her trench coat, wowing the photographer. 

       

On the next set of the photoshoot, Lucia changed her lingerie. A burgundy lingerie. And a businesswoman outfit: a black skirt, stockings, pumps, a white blouse and a striped blazer. 

We went down to the bar. Lucia asked the barman for a drink. While she waited and a few frames later, Felipe came in a very chic way and both changed some romantic secrets. 

The third and last part of the photoshoot was on the bedroom. Lucia was only in black outfits: black bikini, black leather jacket and black pants. 

Herb told the premise of this last part: “have you ever seen before a perfume ad on TV or magazine?”. Both of them said they’ve never seen it before. I passed some ripped pages of perfume ads for Lucia and Felipe. Both were amazed. 

Before this part of the photoshoot began, Lucia and Felipe lowered a bit their pants, to show some sex appeal. In all of the frames, it was between hugs and kisses between the actors. 

As the photoshoot ended, I took Lucia and Felipe to the bar closest to the hotel. 

Hope u like it.

Maria Emma

Lúcia and Rene rocking on a Herb Ritts photoshoot !

Rene and Lucia in action <3 

My friend Gabriel and I enjoy sharing fashion ideas by finding on our favorite fashion websites, including Boston Proper, Lulus and Venus. On Instagram, we have devoted to the actress and model Rene Russo. There we post fashion that we believe it would look great on her. 

A couple of years ago, Gabriel wrote a blog post on his blog, When Maria Met Rene. It talked about - among other things - Rene's relationship with legendary fashion photographer Francesco Scavullo. 

Hope you check it out: https://gabeaflie1234.blogspot.com/2019/09/when-maria-met-rene.html….

We also talk a great deal about Lúcia Veríssimo. We also talk a great deal about Lucia Verissimo. She was born in Rio de Janeiro on July 11, 1958. She is mainly known for doing great soap operas, such as “Champagne” (1983), “Roda de Fogo” (1986), “Mandala” (1987) and “O Salvador da patria” (1989) She also posed for Playboy twice, in January 1983 and April 1988. Lucia showed the world that she has sex appeal when she posed for Playboy. I have posted some gorgeous photos of Lucia on my Lucia fanclub Instagram account (fanclubluciaverissimo) from her acting and modeling days. Lucia’s fashion taste is impeccable.

Fashion models Helena Christensen, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, 
Christy Turlington and Stephanie Seymour for Herb Ritts.
Vogue Magazine. April 1993.

On my Blogspot blog, we write about Lucia and Rene in the “Perfect Photoshoot.” We find fashion that we believe would look exquisite in for a Harper’s Bazaar or a Vogue photo layout. Then I asked Gabriel this question recently: How would a Lucia and Rene photoshoot directed by Herb Ritts be like?

We love Herb for a couple of reasons. First, we like that he was an art history student in college. “I always enjoyed art history,” Herb once observed, “because, growing up in California, my exposure was limited, and it was a new experience. To learn the history of art opened up certain things to me, made me see. It intrigued me.” Like art, Herb believed that photography's “technical aspects” were secondary. 

The primary thing is to develop “a style that’s yours and experiment with it until you discover what makes sense to you especially. What I particularly liked was that, coming from California and not being involved in the New York scene, I developed my personal way, in my own way, at my own pace.” Finally, Herb said something else that intrigued us regarding his work: “It’s not the celebrity quality of the person that makes the photograph interesting. It’s letting the true person through that makes the photograph interesting and lasting.”

Some looks Rene & Lúcia wore on Herb Ritts photoshoot.

Gabriel and I can see a Lucia and Rene photoshoot at the beautiful Perry Hotel in Petoskey, Michigan. The hotel’s exquisite lobby and charming porch are ideal for a fashion show in the autumn or spring. I can imagine working with Herb and the hairstylist Harry King to prepare our two lovely models to pose in attire from the delightful world of Lulus. As a fashion blogger, Gabriel would like to keep a journal of the photoshoot. He would talk with Lucia and Rene to ascertain what they like (and do not like) from the Lulus collection. Gabriel would also ask Herb about how he intends to blend the hotel’s yesteryear ambiance with the Lulus’ modern look? 

We hope you like it. 

Sincerely, 

Maria and Gabriel