by Alex Manfredini
“Gold doesn’t whisper — it declares itself.”
Confident, unapologetic, maybe a little arrogant. But pair it with navy blue — that deep, steady color that feels like twilight in a velvet jacket — and suddenly it’s majestic. The two don’t compete; they seduce attention together. That’s the heartbeat of this shoot.
Timing & Location
“Richmond blends serenity with sophistication — the perfect stage for Blue Label Dreams”
This all happened during our last trip to London in spring 2024 — a trip of late-night walks along the Thames, hunting for inspiration, and discovering locations steeped in history. We found our 1850s mansion just outside the city in Richmond, a riverside town of cobbled streets, ivy-covered walls, and hidden courtyards.
Before the shoot, Sharon and I met Beatrice Wren at The Churchill Arms, a cozy English pub in Kensington. Pints in hand, we discussed fabrics, lighting, and mood. Casual chatter that became the blueprint for the shoot — a rare moment of magic before the first frame.
The Space
“History hanging in the air like perfume.”
Inside, the sitting room was wrapped in Rubelli blue satin and broccato in accent walls and ceiling. Lobmeyr chandeliers overhead — the same as those in Schönbrunn Palace and the Vienna State Opera — cast a soft, regal glow. A 19th-century giltwood mirror loomed above the mantel, flanked by vintage Murano sconces.
A George II lounge chair with Lelièvre pillows, a FontanaArte cocktail table from 1932, and Jacques Quinet silk-blend sofachairs formed a quiet ensemble underfoot. A Persian rug from Isfahan tied the palette together — rich blues and golds whispering of nobility. Even the wall moldings wore gilded filigree like jewelry.
The Designer
“Fabric has memory. If you listen, it tells you how it wants to fall.” — Beatrice Wren
Beatrice Wren isn’t your typical British designer. A Central Saint Martins alum raised in a family of antique restorers, her work balances precision with imperfection. Her navy, gold, and ivory collection — which she calls “aristocratic melancholy” — is steeped in history, texture, and subtle emotion. Every adjustment, every hem, feels deliberate yet intuitive.
The Muse
“When you can’t see, you learn to feel.” — Lika
Then there’s Lika, our Ukrainian muse. Still water, deep current underneath. Between takes, she shared stories of sewing by candlelight during blackouts in Odessa. She didn’t just pose for the camera — she inhabited the space, moving instinctively, translating story and emotion into every frame.
Behind the Lens
The set had a rhythm: silk whispering, light shifting, Beatrice adjusting hems, Sharon coordinating quietly and polishing styling, Lika catching reflections in the gilt mirror. Gold reflected blue, shadows danced, and the room felt alive without a word.
The Moment
When the chandeliers dimmed and the last traces of daylight kissed the Persian rug, the mansion seemed suspended in time. Blue, gold, quiet. The Richmond river breeze drifted through open windows, carrying whispers of centuries past.
Moments like that are why I do this — fleeting, impossible to recreate, and gone before you even know it.
– Alex Manfredini
The Images
©2025 Copyright Alex Manfredini
