There is a new kind of fashion nostalgia on the rise, and it is not glossy or precious. It is messy, sexy, and charged with the louche confidence of the early 2010s. The editorial for ALL–IN N°8, shot by photographer Esther Theaker with styling by Makram Bitar, taps directly into that energy. The result is a visual time capsule that feels like a Tumblr page left open on a MacBook at 2 a.m. American Apparel basics, bed sheets turned into backdrops, and the joy of indie music humming in the background.
This is not the careful polish of luxury campaigns. It is the deliberate sleaziness that once defined “indie sleaze,” now reimagined for 2025. Candid, undone, a little sweaty, and absolutely alive. Theaker’s camera catches clothes mid-motion, as if someone just rolled off a mattress and straight into a flashbulb. Bitar’s styling leans into the textures of youth: mesh tank tops, slim trousers, denim with attitude, shirts left intentionally unbuttoned. The aesthetic channels American Apparel ads circa 2011 but with a self-aware wink, trading in irony and intimacy at once.
The bedroom setting feels crucial. It is not a polished studio but a space of play, a kind of Urban Outfitters-turned-runway backdrop. The candidness makes the clothes more human, more attainable, and more fun. This is indie sleaze without cynicism, more about joy than disillusionment. It celebrates the soundtracks of the 2010s, the sweaty basement shows and the nights that blurred into mornings.
The Creatives Behind the Shoot
- Esther Theaker (Photographer): Known for her candid, emotionally charged imagery, Theaker excels at turning fashion into lived-in storytelling. Her lens captures not just the clothes but the cultural mood they inhabit.
- Makram Bitar (Fashion Editor/Stylist): Bitar’s approach to styling is unapologetically playful, balancing precision with looseness. For ALL–IN, he brings sleazy charm into focus, pulling references from youth culture, music, and the offbeat corners of fashion history.
- Julia Lange (Casting Director): Lange’s work often highlights individuality, finding models who radiate energy rather than simply fit into molds. Here, she reinforces the indie spirit with a cast that feels raw and relatable.
- Beatrice Bonino (Set Designer): Bonino’s set design amplifies the bedroom candor of the editorial. Her touch transforms everyday spaces into stylish playgrounds, proving that a simple environment can still hum with narrative power.
Together, this team created more than an editorial. They delivered a Tumblr-era throwback that feels as stylish as it does nostalgic, proving that indie sleaze has not just returned — it has grown up, gotten clever, and learned how to play again.
