Magazine Blog

The October issue of Memphis is on newsstands all around town, and I gotta say, I've not heard this much buzz about an issue in a while. While I'd like to think that it's because of all the stellar journalism found within its magnificent pages, the realist in me knows the real reason: MODELS.

Not just one beautiful girl to gaze upon, but two. (And before you get too excited, I feel it is my moral and legal obligation to let you know that both of those beauties are underage. Just saying.) Grant, the brooding brunette, however, is 18. Good luck with that.

Our annual fashion issue has taken us from random alleys downtown to studios and houses across the city, even to Clarksdale, Mississippi, where we spent two hot, sticky days shooting in the Delta heat, fighting off fire ants. This year, we decided to forgo the "storyline" behind the shoot and just concentrate on this year's incredibly bright colors. Of course, we had to make it a little difficult on ourselves by choosing a location that was gracious enough to let us shoot there, but only after the store closed. So at 10 p.m., for two nights, we were ready and waiting with an arsenal of clothing, jewelry, accessories, makeup, lights, and all the stuff needed to pull off a shoot. We worked into the wee hours of the morning, and we never would have gotten it all done without the help of some very important people. First, the dynamic duo of stylist Alicia George and photographer Sean Bloemer, casting agent leah Bruce, our style volunteers Anna Joy Bearman and Maggie Bearden, photography assistants Ashle Bailey and Rico Heard. Our models, Graham Black, Donnell Landrum, and Kaitlyn Stoddard (and their parents for allowing us to keep their children out so late on school nights), and hair gurus Shawn McGhee and Scot Robinson from Pavo Salon. Special shout out to the owners of the Viet Hoa Food Market on Cleveland for letting us take over their store after-hours.

If you haven't checked out the issue, it's on newsstands now (look for a gorgeous girl leaning against a display of raw meat. It will make sense when you see the spread in its entirety.) to tide you over, a few behind-the-scenes shots of the prep work (steaming of clothing, curling of hair, and general vamping) that took place beforehand.

• Scot and Shawn: on a roll.

• Bearden and Bearman: hats off to you.

• Shoe taping: tedious but oh-so-neccessary.

• Maggie: steam heat.

And to see previous years' fashion shoots, visit Memphis magazine's fashion archives here.