Photography Victoria Barrell
Fashion Jacob Levine
Words Sophie Sobol
Grooming Annabelle Miller
Model Charlie Merlin Reeves at Models 1
Where are the wild things? Teetering atop stony walls, tightrope walking the line between who you are and who you could be. What was it like in your bold boyhood? Back when you were still the wind and the sail? All big-eyed and becoming, all holding and hoping. Bound to this age-old place - of stories wound in willow bark, woven into the seabed, wrestled from the rocky beach - do you spy the foolish youth with a song in his heart?
In the hum of the English countryside, photographer Victoria Barrell brings us into his world. Under the warm sunset, over greener grasses and drying fields, model Charlie Merlin Reeves’ territory is vast and fully his own. He stomps, he jumps, he spins. Rushing forward at full speed, sidekicked only by a dog, a net, a football! Look out for the jester of belonging. Keep an eye on the outlaw of individual whim. Equal parts cheek and charm, could he be the crowned prince of childhood treasures?
Like a playful woodland elf with his metallic silver hood and yellow hat, he may have raided a tickle trunk. With a ragtag spirit, he is fashionably unkempt. Football jersey meets white button down, pleated pinstripe shirt mirrors brown blazer. With layers and layers of bunching and folding fabrics, he plays with levels of unravelling.
Sweet, like the laughing wind, and more beautiful for feeling brave. In pictures, he may appear alone. But don’t discount the sweeping fullness of a life at your own pace. And does he not dance with the daylight? Testing out the pavement that leads away from a faraway town. Are you the foolish boy with a windmill heart?
above left: Charlie wears trousers by Renata Brenha, top and jewellery are Stylists own
above right: Charlie wears Top by Hattie Crowther and Shirt by Ellis Routledge
above: Charlie wears trousers by Ellis Routledge
above right: Charlie wears skirt by Janny Tan, shirt by Samuel Leon, and shoes by Dr Martens
above left: Charlie wears jumper by Kartik Research x Baracuta
above right: Charlie wears jacket by Clothes for Idiots, dress by Renata Brenha, jewellery by 19RINGS and shoes are stylists own
above left: Charlie wears blazer, bottoms and tunic by Clothes for Idiots, top by Alec Rhys Bizby, shoes by GH Bass, hat and jewellery are stylists own
above right: Charlie wears jumper by Robyn Lynch
above right: Charlie wears shorts by Clothes for Idiots, and shoes by Birkenstock
above left: Charlie wears jumper by Miriam Griffiths, overalls by Rhiannon Chrisene, shoes by Dr Martens, hat by Late Checkout, necklace and rings by 19RINGS
above left: Charlie wears jacket by Clothes for Idiots
