"Leave a message in the Ritz Paris" - Part One
“How do you know me?” Mr. Mario Testino asked me, his green eyes sparkling, when I met him in the Lobby of Ritz Paris hotel. It was 6p.m. and Paris was still bathed in sunshine in the middle of a beautiful summer. He was incredibly punctual for the appointment that surprised me deeply; that he came alone was another surprise. When he asked me that question, it was the third surprise. It showed me how humble he was. I mean show me anybody who had read Vogue for the past 10 years who didn’t recognize him.
The very first, impressive fashion pictures of his that I had seen was the famous black and white portrait of The Princess of Wale published in British Vogue. Then I remember the Gucci campaign which famously drove the world crazy with the sex appeal golden splash. One day, I saw his picture in Vogue, along with some glamorous fashionable women. I can’t remember who she was, but I definitely remember it was the first time I saw his face. Seeing his face in a glossy fashion magazine became the norm, with Kate Moss, Carine Roitfeld, Anna Wintour, Gwyneth Paltrow… The world’s most powerful and famous women wanted to be photographed by Mario Testino, even Madonna who has a reputation for being challenging to work with.
He had made his name. Mario Testino is arguably the most famous fashion photographer in the world since Helmut Newton. He has formed very strong relationships with celebrities who have managed to get themselves photographed by him, which means that she or he is not only famous but also an A-lister.
This interview all began in the Christine Dior Haute Couture Show. It took an hour for the show to start because Dior Haute Couture Show is known for being the celebrity fashion party of the year. Celebrities usually like to play the last-minute-arrival game. With at least 30 celebrities going to the party, you can understand how the show could start so late. I was wandering around taking pictures of the fashion people there when I saw Mario Testino chatting with his friend in the VIP area. I pointed my small digital camera at him, he noticed and smiled. This terrific smile boosted my confidence to reach for the impossible.
I looked for him after the show in the VIP area but disappointingly he was gone. So I decided to leave the Horse Race (the show venue of the show, John Galliano magically had a big pumpkin shape carriage with two horses showing on the run way.). As I was leaving he suddenly appeared in front of me like a rainbow after the rain. My earlier feeling of disappointment convinced me not to miss out again. I do not know where the impulsive came from. I just stepped forward, tapped on his shoulder and introduced myself as a fashion editor from a Chinese fashion magazine who would like to have an interview with him to accomplish my mission impossible.
Amazingly he said, “But not now. Leave a message in the Ritz Paris”.
to be continue......
