I’ve said from the beginning that ‘The Accidental Empress‘ isn’t your typical fairytale. Recognizing that Sisi is a one-of-a-kind leading lady and heroine, (albeit one with which many Americans are unfamiliar), we knew that the pre-launch would have to be unique, fun, and creative in order to draw contemporary readers into the uniquely rich and transportive backdrop of the Habsburg history.
With that in mind, we conceived of a fabulous photo campaign that would take Sisi’s glamour, allure, spirit, and love of high-fashion and show her story as a modern woman in a modern context. Think Wes Anderson (The Royal Tenenbuams? Grand Budapest Hotel?) meets a Chanel photo shoot meets a college dorm love triangle. The result is every bit as colorful and intriguing and fun as you would expect it to be.
Want a sneak peek right now? Here you go! Here are three of my favorites.
Here’s how it all happened: we brought in celebrity fashion photographer Sara Kerens; clothing designer and lifestyle celebrities Kiel James Patrick and Sarah Vickers to play Emperor Franz Joseph and his unlucky fiancee, Helene, respectively; international model Camille Birkhead to stun as Sisi; and renowned hair designer Annie Rush at Eva Scrivo Salons to get them all beautifully coiffed. The photo campaign was shot in and around New York City. The backdrops, almost as stunning as the models themselves…almost…are the iconic St. Paul’s Chapel and the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. And if you look closely, you will even discover a few personal touches. Those Hungarian medals that Franz Joseph is wearing? Those are family heirlooms!
The result is a beautiful collection of photos that translate the characters into modern styles and contexts. They are immediately relatable and emotionally connected. We hope that these photos will get you excited to Meet the Habsburgs.
We will be releasing these photos all over the web in the coming weeks via different social media outlets, Websites, blogs, and elsewhere. So stay tuned. But in the meantime, if you’d like to take a glimpse at a few more of our favorites, here you go.
Thanks to: Photography: Sara Kerens Creative and Art Direction: Lacy Lynch Styling: Annie Laurie Miller Hair and Makeup: Annie Rush at Eva Scrivo Salon Models: Camille Birkhead, Sarah Vickers and Kiel James Patrick Sash Designer: Izquierdo Studios Location: The Waldorf Astoria. Author: Allison Pataki.