In a standout fashion editorial from 2013 titled Far, Far From Land, supermodel Kristen McMenamy embodies a modern mermaid in photographs by Tim Walker for W Magazine. The series imagines a mythic narrative rooted in both fantasy and emotion, capturing McMenamy in scenes that feel ethereal, glamorous, and quietly poignant.
Walker’s imagery places McMenamy in settings that evoke fairy tale waters and forgotten corners of imagination. Styled by Jacob K and photographed with a keen eye for atmosphere, the work blends couture and storytelling in ways that feel both poetic and uncanny. McMenamy is often shown submerged in water or draped across textured surfaces, her presence commanding yet vulnerable.
Clothing and accessories play a vital role in the narrative. High fashion pieces from designers like Alexander McQueen, Dior, and Marc Jacobs are woven into the scenes, giving the mermaid figure a sense of regal presence even in moments that feel desolate or abandoned. Hair and makeup further extend the ethereal feeling, with Julien d’Ys’s styling creating a flowing, almost elemental look.
What makes this editorial especially compelling is its balance of glamour and emotional depth. The model’s stillness and the richness of each image suggest a story of longing and endurance rather than simple spectacle. There is the sense of a being out of her element yet utterly at ease in her own immersion.
Tim Walker’s approach here reflects his long standing interest in combining fashion with fairy tale sensibility, while McMenamy’s performance anchors the work with presence and grace. The result is a series that feels timeless, beautifully haunting, and resonant with the idea that even mythical figures can carry weight and vulnerability.
