Only Yesterday
Only Yesterday is a project that relates the story of three sisters in a cinematic manner. The narrative is constructed from the emotional background that is emphasized through interactions between models. The void created via the contrast of individual and group portraits draws attention to the deeper mental states of the protagonists. The implications of the moments that characters spent together might be mutual growth and learning from a shared experience.
We speak with Alba Tudela, an Art Director and Stylist for the project, who explains that “Only Yesterday tells the story of three sisters who, due to circumstances, feel lost and overwhelmed by the rhythm of modern life.” The inspiration for the story was drawn from Sofia Coppola’s The Virgin Suicides, with a focus on the challenges related to the hectic life in fast-paced cities today. Shot mostly in the house of one of the models, the team decided to use natural light and minimalistic monochromatic colors so other elements, such as the emotional aspect and the narration, would dominate the story. In this conversation, we discuss the work on the concept and the way the project was developed. We speak about some challenges the team encountered on set and the vision that was a drive behind Only Yesterday.
Photography by Diana Cortés Styling and Art Direction by Alba Tudela Models Esther at Francina Models Polina at Two Management Barcelona Masha at The Vanguard Management
‘Only Yesterday tells the story of three sisters who, due to circumstances, feel lost and overwhelmed by the rhythm of modern life. Perhaps all of us have felt like that at some point, including myself.’
The project aims to recreate a delicate, minimalist, romantic, melancholic, and intimate atmosphere inspired by Sofia Coppola's The Virgin Suicides (1999). The director often portrays women in a moment of growth or transition, where they experience new environments, and as a result, they find themselves alone or alienated. Only Yesterday tells the story of three sisters who, due to circumstances, feel lost and overwhelmed by the rhythm of modern life. Perhaps all of us have felt like that at some point, including myself. The goal of this project was not only to create a beautiful outcome but also to convey a narrative that everyone could easily relate to. Diana Cortés and I felt the need to explain a story that is relevant to our generation.
‘Regarding the styling, I knew I wanted to recreate the kind of costumes typical of an American town in the seventies. Light colors, delicate fabrics, and typical prints were the main protagonists.’
The most important aspect for us when developing the concept was to remain loyal to Sofia's vision at all times. Breaking down the different details of the story — the art direction was the first to be developed and came together easily. I had the concept in mind for almost a year, but it never felt like the right moment to go for it. Once it was finished, the search for photographers began. This part was crucial to capture perfectly the delicate aesthetic that makes the film iconic. Diana was the perfect match for the task. Regarding the styling, I knew I wanted to recreate the kind of costumes typical of an American town in the seventies. Light colors, delicate fabrics, and typical prints were the main protagonists. Initially, we had planned to do makeup and hair, but after the casting, we felt that instead of adding, we were subtracting.
We encountered our first challenge during the casting process. The idea of being able to play with the composition during the shoot was something that attracted us, so we decided to cast three models to resemble the Lisbon girls. It was more difficult than we initially thought, as we were looking for a very specific profile, but we were able to make it happen.
Another aspect that presented some issues was the location. This was crucial as we were planning to use natural light, and we needed to set up some props. We had a location in mind, but due to circumstances, we had to cancel it. By chance, Diana came across a girl's house on Instagram, which turned out to be the perfect place.
The last issue we encountered was during the shoot. We had planned to take some pictures of the girls from the window facing the street, but we were unable to do so. However, we were able to improvise and capture other frames that we didn't originally have in mind, which worked out perfectly.
