"Let's travel at magnificent speeds around the Universe," reads the back cover of the current issue of Ligature magazine. The line, penned by rapper Rakim, is a perfect preview of what's on the inside of the three-year-old fashion bi-annual with a thing for poetry. In the newest issue of the London-based magazine, quotes from Anaïs Nin––the novelist and erotica pioneer who is a favorite of Ligature editor Sarah Michelle––are sprinkled amid editorials of models in canary Jacquemus pieces and still life photographs of twisted, beet-colored roots. (Ligature, by the way, means both a cord that tightly binds two things together and a composite letter like æ––both definitions which fit the magazine's commitment to fusing text and image.) But though Ligature is cerebral, splashes of color and beautiful imagery keep things playful. We spoke with Sarah about fashion and why poetry is her favorite medium.
Shop Ligature here.
Shannan Elinor Smith: Why is the magazine called Ligature?
Sarah Michelle: I liked the way the word sounded and the subversive element of the meaning.
Pick five words that describe Ligature.
Clean, pure, curious, cultivated, and organic.
How do the fashion editorials in Ligature differ from mainstream fashion editorials?
We are not so concerned about seasons or things like that. Colors are important and something emotive.
What do you believe makes a fashion editorial appealing?
Freedom... balance. I like balance in the styling and the poses. I think having a narrative is important too. I love getting the feeling of a character.
Can you talk about the titles of the fashion editorials? How do you pick them?
Most of them come from author Anaïs Nin, one of my heroes. The titles are collages comprised of lines from her work. I feel that something appropriate can always be found from her.
There is a lot of poetry sprinkled throughout the magazine. Why did you want to include poetry with fashion and drawing?
I love poetry; if I were smarter I would have been a poet. To write poetry you have to understand language so well. You can play with words and frame them, similar to how a photo of something mundane, [like] a plastic bag, can be really beautiful and make you rethink that object. Poetry can do that with words and give voice to your emotions. I just wanted to include work like that because it doesn't get into magazines with fashion often, and I admire it.
The drawings by Helena Lyons have a much grittier aesthetic than the rest of the magazine. Why did you choose these drawings?
I found them arresting and stunning. It adds mystery to the magazine. I want people to think, "Why?"
What are your favorite brands right now?
I like Tim Coppins, Ava Catherside, Sunsea, and Haider Ackermann.
Currently the magazine mainly focuses on art and fashion. Do you have any plans to expand?
I would like more features and factual content. I want to go more idiosyncratic and dynamic with the design and layout. We would also like to feature architecture, sculpture, and jewelry. For example, I love
Shop Ligature here.
Shannan Elinor Smith: Why is the magazine called Ligature?
Sarah Michelle: I liked the way the word sounded and the subversive element of the meaning.
Pick five words that describe Ligature.
Clean, pure, curious, cultivated, and organic.
How do the fashion editorials in Ligature differ from mainstream fashion editorials?
We are not so concerned about seasons or things like that. Colors are important and something emotive.
What do you believe makes a fashion editorial appealing?
Freedom... balance. I like balance in the styling and the poses. I think having a narrative is important too. I love getting the feeling of a character.
Can you talk about the titles of the fashion editorials? How do you pick them?
Most of them come from author Anaïs Nin, one of my heroes. The titles are collages comprised of lines from her work. I feel that something appropriate can always be found from her.
There is a lot of poetry sprinkled throughout the magazine. Why did you want to include poetry with fashion and drawing?
I love poetry; if I were smarter I would have been a poet. To write poetry you have to understand language so well. You can play with words and frame them, similar to how a photo of something mundane, [like] a plastic bag, can be really beautiful and make you rethink that object. Poetry can do that with words and give voice to your emotions. I just wanted to include work like that because it doesn't get into magazines with fashion often, and I admire it.
The drawings by Helena Lyons have a much grittier aesthetic than the rest of the magazine. Why did you choose these drawings?
I found them arresting and stunning. It adds mystery to the magazine. I want people to think, "Why?"
What are your favorite brands right now?
I like Tim Coppins, Ava Catherside, Sunsea, and Haider Ackermann.
Currently the magazine mainly focuses on art and fashion. Do you have any plans to expand?
I would like more features and factual content. I want to go more idiosyncratic and dynamic with the design and layout. We would also like to feature architecture, sculpture, and jewelry. For example, I love