Allow me to paint a picture of in-office fashion editor life during fashion month. The team remained glued to their monitors, avidly scouring Getty Images for the slickest street style images from each fashion capital to whack into their meticulously curated ‘'best dressed’ digital galleries.
Inevitably, there are familiar faces among the crowd no matter the location. One of which is Leonie Hanne, the German muse who has long been a source of unmatched sartorial inspiration - so much so, that she has yielded nearly 5 million Instagram followers for her efforts.
Whether she’s graced your social media feed or, for us style scribes, sparked countless story ideas, there’s no denying Leonie has an unshakeable grip on the fashionscape. And today, the 38-year-old has something else to celebrate - a brand new partnership with GUESS resulting in the capsule collection of sequin-dotted dreams.
© Matteo Scazzosi for Guess“Working together on this collection felt incredibly natural because GUESS gave me the creative freedom to reinterpret their heritage through my own lens,” the stars say of the partnership. “It truly felt like a real collaboration because both GUESS and I genuinely fell in love with every single piece we created together.”
The collection is a hard lesson in quiet luxury. Buttery leather funnel neck jackets featuring moody chocolate palettes, slouchy tailoring cut in winter creams, vintage-inspired satin slips layered beneath cocooning faux furs, romantic crimson after-party staples, minimalist clutch accessories and ghostly licks of lace that radiate sensual glamour with girlish edge.
© Matteo Scazzosi for Guess“Authenticity is everything"
Despite the brand’s American heritage, the offering feels distinctly European - a mesh of East Coast elegance and Eurocentric flair. “There’s something incredibly timeless about Americana,” Leonie explains.” I love the confidence, the relaxed attitude and the idea that great style doesn’t have to feel overcomplicated.”
The influencer looked to the archives for inspiration when conjuring the drop, in addition to the collections she has witnessed on the runway from her front row seat. “The moment I commit to a project, I want it to feel natural for me and for my audience,” she explains. “Authenticity is everything…I’ve always tried to stay as authentic as possible. I could never say yes to something if I didn’t feel I could truly make it my own.”
© Matteo Scazzosi for Guess
© Matteo Scazzosi for GuessRemaining authentic in a chronically online world is something of a feat, especially for someone so visible. How does Leonie tow the line between creating aspirational content while being herself? “I definitely protect a lot of moments that are just for me. Spending time with my husband, my family and my close friends, going on long walks or doing pilates helps me switch off. Interestingly, those are the moments that rarely make it to Instagram.”
© Matteo Scazzosi for GuessYet, beneath the vintage Chanel beach dresses, Hermès purses, Missoni knits and tailored GUESS sets (her favourite pick from the collection), lies a savvy businesswoman. Before entering the world of content creation, Leonie earned several business degrees and cut her teeth in the corporate world, laying the groundwork for her career as a self-employed creator. “People often like to put labels on others, but I much prefer the word ‘talent’, the multi-hyphenate notes when asked about her job title. “Whether you’re a singer, an actor or a creator, everyone brings a different talent, background and perspective.”
© Matteo Scazzosi for Guess
© Matteo Scazzosi for GuessShe continues: “At the same time, this industry is so much more than posting photos. You’re running a business, building long-term relationships with brands, managing projects and, in my case, leading a team. You’re wearing many different hats every day. A lot of that work happens behind the scenes, so people don’t always realise how much goes into creating what they see online.”
Luckily, Leonie’s primary business partner is her husband, Alexander Galievsky. The two wed earlier this year in May, followed by a decadent bash at the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild on the French Riviera a month later.
"We learned to be incredibly honest with each other..."
© Matteo Scazzosi for GuessWhile living and working together would be enough to drive most couples to the point of insanity, Leonie and Alexander somehow make it work. Naturally, I want to know how. “Communication really is everything,” the blonde beauty explains. “We learned to be incredibly honest with each other and to separate work conversations from our relationship. Respecting each other’s opinions while remembering we’re on the same team has been so important.”
The pair also draw a clear line between their public and private lives, ensuring that many moments of intimacy are strictly kept offline: “People see beautiful moments, but there are so many conversations, memories and experiences that remain just ours. Keeping parts of our relationship private makes those moments even more meaningful.”
© Matteo Scazzosi for Guess
© Matteo Scazzosi for GuessLooking to the future (and the chaotic unfurling of fashion month) what is Leonie most excited for? The clothes, duh. “I’m excited to see fashion becoming more personal again. Trends will always exist, but I think people are increasingly investing in timeless wardrobes and expressing their own individuality instead of simply following what’s trending.”
Slotting in was never part of the equation for the creative, who continues to disrupt our idea of luxury one feather, crystal and polka dot at a time. “I hope people remember that I’ve always been a dreamer,” she says, rounding things off with a wholesome parting note. “That I wasn’t afraid to step outside my comfort zone, work hard for my dreams and hopefully inspire others to believe that they can do the same.”
