In today’s visual landscape, fashion is often subject to a certain kind of framing and precision, representing an anxiety to assert itself through movement. The editorial ‘January Blue’, created by photographer Tristan Bangle, is instead an exploration of stasis as a space for negotiating identity. In collaboration with stylist Sierra Young, Bangle transforms the language of dance into a series of psychological ‘still images’. The model, Audrey Hamre, occupies the space with a bodily awareness that reveals her dance training, even though every muscle appears intentionally contracted in an act of non-action. In one of the shots, Audrey wears a dark leather jacket over a white skirt, a material contrast that symbolises the duality of the project. Here, the face is partially covered by a balaclava, an element that abstracts the individual to emphasise the archetype, converting the body into a pure plastic form. The title “January Blue” refers not only to a colour palette – evident in the cerulean tights paired with faux fur – but also to a state of mind. It evokes the coldness of reflection, the moment of suspension before the gesture begins.

Bangle’s eye, supported by assistant Spencer Foltz, focuses on details that break the perfection of the pose. The outdoor shots, among industrial bags and empty car parks, stylishly remove her idealised patina to place her in a context of authentic desolation. The sheen of the leather contrasts with the softness of the feathers on the black trousers, creating a visual rhythm that compensates for the absence of physical movement. Audrey Hamre does not simply pose; she observes the void or faces the camera with a direct gaze into her inner self. ‘January Blue’ reminds us that sometimes the most meaningful act a body can perform is to remain motionless, waiting to understand who it will become once it resumes its journey.