Feature

LC JOURNAL vol.3

“PLAY ELEGANCE.”
LANVIN COLLECTION

LC JOURNAL

French Beauty,
Japan in the Moment

VOL.3

TOKYO, THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2026

Takayuki Oshima x Taro Hirano

「LANVIN COLLECTION」take a picture ofbeyond the point of view

SPECIAL DIALOGUE

A series of conversations between Creative Director Takayuki Oshima and people connected to the Lanvin Collection. This time, for the second time, we welcomed Taro Hirano, a photographer who will be shooting the lookbook for the 2025FW collection, for which the director was appointed.
The first meeting for a new shoot is always at a familiar coffee shop. The relationship between the two of them shares such a unique atmosphere. We talked about anecdotes that we didn't dare to talk about on set and behind-the-scenes aspects of production.

Takayuki OshimaTakayuki Oshima

director. He has built a career at department stores, select shops, and collection brands, and has directed and worked as a VM for domestic and international fashion brands. Established Cuatro LLC. in 2024.
Taro HiranoTaro Hirano

Photographer. Based on skateboarding culture, he is active in culture magazines and fashion magazines. From 2004 to 2019, he led the alternative space NO.12 GALLERY. His main books include ``POOL'' (Little More) and ``Boku to Senpai'' (Shobunsha).

Photographed using film and natural light,new worldview

“Taro takes pure photos.person taking pictures”Oshima

Please tell us how you asked Taro Hirano to photograph the lookbook.

Oshima

Originally, I had a very pure impression of Taro's photographs. It's a feeling of transparency and purity. Someone once said, ``If you master simplicity, you will become pure,'' and when I wanted to express that in the ``Lanvin Collection,'' I instinctively knew that I wanted Taro to take the photos.
I think there is the idea of simplicity, where you don't add anything, but I think it's simple to add everything, knead it, pick it up, knead it, shave it off, and as a result, get the corners.
At the first meeting, when I was asked to use film in natural light, I felt that about 80% of what I wanted was conveyed.

plain

Oshima-san is very verbal during meetings, but he doesn't say anything when filming. That's always impressive.

Oshima

I think that's my role. Can you tell me the concept and the reason, and how would you express it? I can't do everything myself, so I like to mix things up. At a restaurant, I would consider a course menu, but I would like to order each dish individually...

plain

There are many different types of directors. There are people who struggle until the very end in the field, hoping for something even better. But as a photographer, it's easier to shoot if things go smoothly on the day.

Oshima

I'm glad you said that. There are times when I find it interesting and times when I find it scary when something is different from what I imagined. However, I like the feel of the scene.
The other day, after the shoot had almost finished, I was looking at a photo of the stylist, Mr. Hayashi, wiping out a yellow flower, wondering what he was going to do with it, and thinking that it was an idea I didn't have.

plain

There are many different people on the scene, and everyone has their own ideas.

Oshima

I think improvisation is also interesting, and I feel like I'm the one having the most fun while filming.

“Somehow the finish was completed before shooting.I could imagine it”plain

This time we talked about shooting with film, but do you usually shoot with film?

plain

I think he used to shoot on film. But now it's mostly digital. When I heard about this story, I assigned Mr. Kosakai to be the art director, and I thought it would match his style. I thought that if I shot it on film and Mr. Kosakai directed it, a good worldview would be created. At that point, we hadn't even started shooting, but I could kind of imagine how it would turn out.
Mr. Oshima requested it, so it's paper, right? Please confirm. I remember saying that if a designer was going to come in, I would like to discuss the final outcome before the shoot begins.

Oshima

If you want Mr. Hirano to express something, I think it's best to have him work in the method and environment that is most convenient for him, so we discuss what kind of team to form as we proceed.

plain

I'm not a fashion photographer, so I prefer to leave styling and clothing matters to stylists. However, when it comes to books and pages, I like them, and I also make booklets myself, so I have my own preferences, so I have requested to work with this person.

Oshima

By the way, are there any plans to release the 5th issue of the fishing booklet?

plain

I had decided to release up to issue 5 of this, but I haven't been able to get it out yet... Last summer I did a special feature on Brutus, so I was pretty happy with that (lol) and nothing has happened yet.

Oshima

I thought it would be bad if I didn't notice the 5th issue and it was leaked. I'm glad to hear it now.

plain

I'm thinking about what to do since it's the last time, and I haven't quite figured out the image yet.
It first started during the coronavirus pandemic, when I didn't have anything to do, and I thought I could do fishing by myself. There aren't many people who have the first one.

Oshima

Is it true? Well, once I've completed the 5th issue, I'll announce it somewhere.

plain

In the end, I would like to be able to make something like a box.

“For casual photosfeel the elegance”Oshima

The concept of the "Lanvin Collection" is "PLAY ELEGANCE." What does "elegance" mean to you, Mr. Hirano?

plain

I've never thought about "elegance"... I've lived my life far away from that kind of thing, so I don't really think about it, to be honest.
But Mr. Oshima didn't even say to me, ``Please shoot in an elegant way.''

Oshima

I don’t think I’ll say it again in the future (lol)

plain

So, if Oshima-san finds the photos elegant when I edit them and put them together, then I think that would be a good thing. I don't feel pressured to make it look elegant, and I get to do it.

Oshima

At first I thought I would do something modern. At that time, what is “current modern”? I think it's important to have the cutting edge, trends, and design, but also to feel that there is tradition, history, functional beauty, and the sense that modernity can also be found in nature. I feel that this feeling is also connected to Mr. Hirano's work.

plain

Mr. Oshima once said to me, ``Flexible and strong, pure and sharp.'' I have that image in hand. This is a theme that I can relate to not only in this photoshoot, but at any time, and it left an impression on me as a theme that I can empathize with both in my work and when creating a collection of my works.

Oshima

I had that feeling when I saw ``POOL.'' Furthermore, I feel elegance in the fishing photos that Hirano posts on Instagram.

plain

Ah, is that so?

Oshima

I wondered why they were so different even though they were taken with the same iPhone. I thought it was strange before (lol), but I guess it's just a matter of taste or something like that.

plain

Because that's something I don't understand... (lol)

“Customers who can sympathize withI hope it increases”Oshima

How is the cover determined?

plain

Let's take a picture of this on the cover! It's not that I'm saying that, but I'm choosing from the ones I could take.

Oshima

Generally, people think of it as a coat or heavy clothing. But don't wear knitwear with a shirt... I think it's interesting to see a team that thinks this is what they want to do, and I'm grateful for the support from the press and the company for their decisions. At the same time, I get the impression that understanding is deepening.

plain

The binding on this cover is completely removed and becomes a single page. That's amazing, isn't it?

Oshima

Mr. Kosakai suggested the French attire. I think it's very interesting.

plain

I expanded it all for the first time. I don't know how many customers are familiar with this kind of play.

Oshima

We are trying to share this concept and idea with these specifications. I believe that the brand can be conveyed through the accumulation of small details.

plain

It's not a flashy detail, but I feel like it's gradually working. That you're doing something like this.

Oshima

Digital is fast, lightweight, and has many convenient features, but I think that there are things that are good, but there are also things that are good. If I were to receive one of these, I would want to take it home without the corners being bent, and I hope more customers will empathize with that idea.

“valued balance1 book”Oshima

Please let us know if there are any cuts in this lookbook that you think were good.

Oshima

I like them all, but... I like this cut from the back. I can really imagine putting the logo here and making it into an advertisement.
In terms of styling, I think the orange color is crisp and gives it a Lanvin Collection feel.
I like the photo where the model is holding an apple because the model looks very relaxed and at ease, and it gives off a good feeling in many ways.

plain

I'm looking at the whole picture, so I don't think this photo was taken well... I'm interested in the balance of things like plants and apples. I'm glad this was included here. I think the things I took while consciously were successful. Last time there was no such cut.

Oshima

That's right. Last time I only wore clothes.

plain

If you were to ask me if I would do it like this every time, I wouldn't say so... I thought that a sense of balance was important this time, so I'm glad that the catalog came out well.

“Makes me want to see itI want to ask for something that intrigues me.”Oshima

Since it's clothing, the details are important, but I also want to focus on the atmosphere and the overall image. I want to create a world where there is purity no matter where you look at it, but where there is also some toxicity.

“An unwavering conceptto put inside yourself”plain

I guess it's like looking at each season's collections and incorporating the concepts into your own. I think we can have more fun while consulting with stylists and art directors, and if we can have fun together and do things like that, we can end up with something good.