The expression “It’s all smoke and mirrors” came to mind when I saw the photos from this year’s Fall Fashion shoot. Not because we were trying to disguise the truth, but quite the opposite. To achieve this year’s look, showing trends against a nature-rich backdrop, we traveled 65 miles north of Detroit to a woodland location, Acorn Lodge in Lapeer. This secluded 25-acre property (available on Airbnb) with dense woods and a winding river had just about everything we needed — except the fog. So we brought the “smoke” (fog machine). And, of course, there were mirrors.
Fashion shoots often conjure images of pristine studios — white walls, tile floors, and a perfectly controlled environment — and this was the opposite. We had mud (our associate art director had to carry the model on his back to the spot in the woods where she’d be photographed so the $2,200 Valentino boots that were on loan wouldn’t get dirty). We had pine needle-covered hills that caused folks to slip. We had lots of spilled coffee from bumpy golf cart rides. And that coffee was needed. The call time was 4:30 a.m. And while some of the team stayed over at the lodge the night before, our makeup artist opted to leave her home at 3 a.m. instead. Turn to page 40 to see the result of all their hard work. I think you’ll be enchanted.
Our September issue also is home to our annual Fall Arts Preview, where you’ll find recommendations for the best music, art, dance, theater, and film events to add to your calendar.
One feature that is not usually on our September lineup is a story on the Detroit Tigers. But seeing that the team not only is still relevant in early August (when we went to press) but has remained one of the best teams in the entire MLB for most of the season, we just had to do something. That something ended up being an interview with Oscar winner J.K. Simmons. We heard that the lifelong Tigers fan would be in town for some games in June, so we lined up an interview and photo shoot at Comerica Park. Hmm, seems like there was something magical about this as well.
This story originally appeared in the September 2025 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. To read more, pick up a copy of Hour Detroit at a local retail outlet. Click here to get our digital edition.
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