Colour is in style director Louise Hilsz’s DNA. So a trip to Salvation Mountain to shoot our autumn fashion campaign for her was Nirvana. Here’s a colourful location like no other with clothes to match.
Salvation Mountain in Sonoran Desert, California.
The vision of a creative castaway, American artist Leonard Knight, spent almost 30 years building and painting this colourful mound in the searing heat of the Sonoran Desert in California. Two hours drive from Palm Springs. this is a sign and expression of his devotion to peace, love, and Jesus, the result a staggering, five-story high, 150-foot-wide art project known as Salvation Mountain. "God Is Love," is the message, painted in a folk-art tribute with a jumble of hearts, birds, flowers, and trees. The mountain is an adobe masterpiece, Knight used hay bales, and clay, along with donated paint, and an assortment of upcycled objects including tires, and car windows, to build his mountain-shaped shrine. It's an ingenious labyrinth of caves and crannies each with a biblical message that decorates the entire mound. It’s been the location for countless photoshoots (including ours) music videos and in 2007 it featured in the film Into the Wild, based on the Jon Krakauer book of the same name. Sadly the artist died in 2014 at age 82, but his mountain remains open daily from dawn until dusk. Volunteers maintain and man the mountain daily, which is starting to crumble from the punishing desert heat. While admission is free, donations and cans of colourful paint are always gratefully received.
Levi’s trucker jacket, $200. Levi’s 93 Straight jeans, $170. Karen Walker Hypatia sunglasses, $369.
Sills Stadium jacket, $409, Sills Sara Merino Tee, $289, Sills Coco skirt, $339, Karen Walker Filigree Heart Earrings, $45 and Tommy Hilfiger sneakers, $109.
Gorman Meshed Wrap top, $229. Gorman Meshed skirt, $249. Gorman Meshed headband, $39. Mi Piaci Enya sandal, $240. Karen Walker Hypatia sunglasses, $369. Karen Walker Mosaic Key Earrings, $45. Karen Walker Mosaic Key Necklace, $65.
Bella Purcell blouse, $POA. Coop On The Button Dress, $249. Mi Piaci Maize boot, $360.
Add to this look with colourful accessories, style director Louise Hilsz shares her picks.
Yu Mei Milly bag, $745. Louis Vuitton 1,1 Millionaires sunglasses, $1070. Puma Rider Play On sneakers, $140. Doodad+Fandango Hollywood earrings, $99.
Photographed on location at Salvation Mountain, in the Sonoran Desert, California. Model: Kate Valk at Freedom Models .Stylist: Louise Hilsz. Hair and makeup: Trudi Brewer.
The BeautyEQ team travelled to America with thanks to Fiji Airways and Booking.com