SS26 Menswear - Pushing Through The Lens with NOAH SAPON

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Pushing Through The Lens with Noah Sapon

written CHIDOZIE OBASI

Rising creative Noah Sapon became captivated by filmography the moment he acquired his first camera for his ninth birthday. But I cannot help but wonder: what has happened since then? “I’ve lived almost every day with one on me,” he enthuses, the moment we settle into our conversation.

Noah wears blazer by VALENTINO, shirt by CELINE, pants by PAUL SMITH, shoes by CHURCH’S and tie by FERRAGAMO

“I grew up as a big history nerd, and spent a lot of time outdoors,” he says, explaining how he spends lots of time in nature, where he draws the majority of his creative understanding and drive from. “As I’ve matured into a better understanding of myself and what I want to explore as an artist, these have been my biggest driving forces for my practice, while understanding the spiritual effect these elements have on society,” he explains. “I moved around a lot growing up and attended multiple schools, and I think this is where my adaptive nature was born.”

Sapon loves switching environments; throughout his life, he moved from the South of England’s countryside to a small mountain town in Spain, and then to a larger coastal one; since then, he’s been all over the world. Film has always been the director of his life. “No matter what it is, I see it through a lens,” he explains. “I studied film as one of my college A levels when I moved back to the UK in 2016, assuming I’d continue on to it at school or undertake a film degree of some sorts, but I hated it,” he says. Throughout the course, Sapon felt a feeling of unease and otherness from the tutors, and wasn’t allowed to experiment with a wealth of mediums. “Everything was so rigid, so it forced me to reconsider,” he says. At the time, Sapon had just been scouted as a model, and he was starting to experience the fashion industry from the other side of the camera. “I already had an interest in fashion, but I didn’t really understand how any of it worked,” he says. Below, Sapon unpacks early stints, pinch-me moments and future hopes with LE MILE’s Fashion Market Director. You’re welcome.

Noah wears a total look by VALENTINO

Chidozie Obasi
When did you begin to venture into the creative sphere, and what was the moment that made you realise you wanted to pursue this professionally?

Noah Sapon
I was scouted as a model when I was seventeen. I did one show and then signed to SUPA in London, which helped me a lot. Charlie, the founder, was always really supportive of my filmmaking, and he used to book out models to do video tests with; when I was casting, I would always tell the team that I was also a videographer and that if they wanted to book me for that instead they could. I always brought a small camera with me everywhere I went, even on set. I remember having a shoot with the late Brian Griffin for Wallpaper Magazine, and shot a behind the scene film while on set as a model. That’s how it started for me, as I’d get booked to be on both sides of the camera, but I always felt so awkward in front of the lens, and so at-home behind it. Things quite quickly progressed, and by 2019 I was shooting a few small videos a month for magazines, artists and musicians. As soon as it overtook my modelling career financially, I was able to properly dedicate myself to it. Then Covid hit, and I was pretty isolated from London, in the countryside with my family. That was when the natural world became a bigger theme in my approach. I shot an eight spread editorial series with my younger brother, Jethro, for Boys By Girls, about it being the truest constant for humans, and we worked together on another couple of films at home during that time. It wasn’t really until covid fully ended in 2022 that I felt that my career started. Before 2022 I was really just understanding how the industry worked, but then as travel opened up again that’s when things really changed, and I really felt like wow this is actually going to be my life now. I said in an interview when I was sixteen that my five-year plan was to ‘travel the world freely and work with people that inspire me,’ and it really happened.

Could you unpack why you transitioned from modeling to film?

Modelling was never for me. I never worked that much as a model, and I didn’t understand the industry well enough to set goals or intentions. I like organisation and order,and even though my life is quite chaotic, I know what’s going on. I never felt like I knew how to have any control of my own life as a model, and I actually think that is kind of part of the job. I’m so grateful that I got to do it though: I worked with some of my favourite magazines and brands, and it was my first proper, albeit naive, peek into the fashion industry. Film has been my dream for as long as I can remember. When I was really young (after wanting to be a cowboy, knight or pirate), I used to say I wanted to be an architect, and that was the first job I for some reason thought was for me. I liked the idea of creativity with a real-world objective, and something that can be ‘correct’. After that, I wanted to make films, so it was always where I wanted to transition to no matter what.

Noah wears pants and shorts by DOLCE&GABBANA and hat by LORO PIANA

Noah wears a total look by LORO PIANA

Biggest pinch-me moments?

I’ve had a lot of pinch me moments, really luckily very often. I don’t know what would be the biggest. I think the best ones are when I’m in the process of shooting something that really feels like a big checkpoint on track to where I want to be. This is one, as we’ve known each other since 2019! Quite full circle, and it was so much fun on set.

What downturns have you encountered during your path?

I’m really a very optimistic person. I don’t really register moments as ‘downturns’, I like to process these moments quite quickly and learn the lessons. However, I suppose my biggest downturns happen just when I feel conflicted about how to do well, and when an experience might go against what I believe in. But being a curious person, I always want to learn from the experience.

What’s next for you?

Well, what’s next is very exciting. 2026 has been such a great year so far. I’m equally focused on my documentaries as my fashion work which is awesome. I have two docs currently in the editing phases, one with me and one with an editor. I’ve got a few covers coming out with some really epic talent. I don’t like to overshare plans and goals, but I’m also in the process of working with an amazing friend and philanthropist, Mauro Monarris, on a lot of beautiful charity work. I turned 26 this year, and intentionality has become key. The next few years will involve a lot of large-scale positive impact on the world, be it through my personal work, or work I align with, and this makes me really happy. I’m feeling really grateful.

Noah wears overshirt by PAUL SMITH, sweater by AVANT-TOI, shirt by JACOB COHËN, pants by CANALI and RANDOM IDENTITIES by Stefano Pilati and shoes by AQVA ALTA

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seen COSIMO BUCCOLIERI via STUDIO REPOSSI
fashion market director + stylist CHIDOZIE OBASI
head of production JESSICA LOVATO
fashion coordinator EDWARD PUSCA
make up DIANA DJURDJEVSKI via STUDIO REPOSSI
hair FUJIWARA TAKAHASHI
model NOAH SAPON
photography assistant ANTONIO CROTTI
fashion assistants DAIANA EDOSA + ALICE PELATI + LUDOVICA IEMMOLO + ALESSIA GUALTIERI

credits
all Images (c) LE MILE
and Cosimo Buccolieri

SS26 Womenswear - REBEL SOUL with Brydie Cleveringa

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REBEL SOUL
*with Brydie Cleveringa

written CHIDOZIE OBASI

The hallmarks of painstaking tailoring include, but are not limited to a slimline silhouette, soft volumes and, usually, the addition of contrast accents found in sartorial textures. Designer brands were the initial catalysts for this trend, but it has since been fuelled by iterations from premium wear giants and high-street counterparts, too.

Brydie wears a total look by MCQUEEN

Emerging designers are also faithful adopters, and released their iterations throughout years of innovation. True to form, tailoring is very much in-keeping with the pared-back identity luxury has become known for, and pairs well with the puddling hemlines of the cosy separates seen across mainline collections. (The model’s shots on this story, styled by LE MILE’s very own Fashion Market Director, exemplify the multiple styling possibilities of these offerings.) Proof that they’ve been a hit? Wear-anywhere tailoring is available in several styles, as well as classic cuts that stand the test of a lifetime. As is the case with any cult high-street product, many Italians have welcomed these staples into their everyday wardrobes. I’ve seen them on the Tube, in pub gardens – and now that they’re included in the designer’s seasonal proposals, I expect they’ll become even more popular in no time.

Brydie wears blazers and pants by DOLCE&GABBANA, shirt by TAGLIATORE

Brydie wears a total look by FERRAGAMO

Brydie wears a total look by VALENTINO

Brydie wears blazer and white shirt by MICHAEL KORS, striped shirt by ARTHUR ARBESSER, skirt by MEIMEIJ, shoes by APEPAZZA

photography COSIMO BUCCOLIERI via STUDIO REPOSSI
fashion director and stylist CHIDOZIE OBASI
head of production JESSICA LOVATO
fashion coordination ALBERTO MICHISANTI + EDWARD PUSCA
make up DIANA DJURDJEVSKI via STUDIO REPOSSI
hair AMERICO TURTORO via MKS MILANO
model BRYDIE CLEVERINGA via D MANAGEMENT GROUP
photography assistant ANTONIO CROTTI
fashion assistants SIMONA VERNAZZA + ANGELINA PERSIANI + SOFIA FARINA + CHARISSE ORDINARIA + LUIZA ANGELOVA + CHIARA DE BONIS

credits
all Images (c) LE MILE
and Cosimo Buccolieri

SS26 Menswear - DANCING TIDES with Simone Emili

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DANCING TIDES
*with Simone Emili

written CHIDOZIE OBASI

Simone Emili’s first approach to dance was quite unusual, and came almost by chance. “I was about ten years old, a very hyperactive kid, and I felt the need to practice a sport, but I couldn’t really find one that I saw myself in,” he tells LE MILE’s Fashion Director, Chidozie Obasi. “There was one thing, however, that came naturally to me: in every sport I tried, in moments of rest, I always ended up dancing.”

Simone wears a vest by FEDERICO CINA and pants by ISSEY MIYAKE MEN

Simone wears a cardigan by FIVEFOURFIVE, a tank top by SANDRO, a skirt by ACT N1, and pants by SETCHU

From then on, he never stopped: at first, it was simply a hobby, something that spontaneously became a part of his daily routine. Then, during adolescence, he began to understand that it could become much more. “I completely changed my mindset and approach: dance became a tool for transforming my body, my mind, and, ultimately, the person I am today.”

Emili believes that today, the relationship between fashion, expression, and dance is at its peak. “There’s an increasingly perceptible mutual contamination between these worlds, which now communicate naturally and continuously,” he reflects. “It’s as if they were a single form of expression: one doesn’t exclude the other, but rather complements it. Where there’s fashion, there’s also movement; and movement, ultimately, is the very essence of dance. Fashion, in my opinion, is a form of dance: it communicates through the body, lines, and attitude. Likewise, dance embodies an aesthetic, a sense of style and expression that deeply resonates with the language of fashion.”

The emotions Emili felt during the shoot were bountiful, but what struck him most was the stark contrast between them. “Wearing six different looks, I felt like I was experiencing six distinct emotional states,” he says. “Each outfit transported me to a different atmosphere, almost a new environment, capable of evoking specific sensations: from harmony to elegance, even a kind of anger,” he explains. “All these emotions then became part of my performance in front of the camera. It was precisely this emotional journey that allowed me to face a long and intense day with energy and awareness. My goal was to create a contrast between the looks: not just an outfit change, but a transformation of my entire personality time after time.”

Simone wears a cardigan by FIVEFOURFIVE, a shirt by CANAKU, shorts by HED MAYNER, and shoes by AQVA ALTA

Simone wears a cardigan by TOMMY HILFIGER, a shirt by BOSS, pants by MOSCHINO, shoes by SEBAGO, and jewellery by N21

Simone wears a sweater by MORDECAI, a shirt by MANUEL RITZ, pants by ACT N1, and shoes by BEPOSITIVE

Simone wears a total look by MOSCHINO

Simone wears a cardigan by TOMMY HILFIGER, a shirt by BOSS, pants by MOSCHINO, shoes by SEBAGO, and jewellery by N21

photography COSIMO BUCCOLIERI via STUDIO REPOSSI
fashion director and stylist CHIDOZIE OBASI
head of production JESSICA LOVATO
fashion coordination ALBERTO MICHISANTI + EDWARD PUSCA
make up DIANA DJURDJEVSKI via STUDIO REPOSSI
makeup assistant ANGELA CAMMALLERI
hair AMERICO TURTORO via MKS MILANO
model SIMONE EMILI
photography assistant ANTONIO CROTTI
fashion assistants ANGELINA PERSIANI + CHARISSE ORDINARIA + SIMONA VERNAZZA + SOFIA FARINA + VALENTINA INVERARDI + VINCENZO VITELLO + THEA OLOFSSON ROWCLIFFE

credits
all Images (c) LE MILE
and Cosimo Buccolieri

SS26 Menswear - SOFT PROJECTION with Matteo Guerrieri

.digital
SOFT PROJECTION
*with Matteo Guerrieri

written CHIDOZIE OBASI

Wear-anywhere separates are something of a paradox. Whether you choose breezy numbers or a style that stretches, something in neutral shades or a more tempered hue, their practical aesthetic can appear effortless – see Matteo Guerrieri’s proposal for the taking – however, the flipside is that for all their daily effortlessness, they require significantly more upkeep than their structured counterparts.

Matteo wears a blazer by CANALI, a bomber and scarf by ETRO, a shirt by BOSS, pants by RANDOM IDENTITIES by Stefano Pilati, and shoes by CHURCH’S

Quite simply, they deliver something different to classic true staples, which is why 24/7 wearers of soft tailoring will always have an ample range in their rotation. I own many: blazers, sweats and cardigans styles from both the high street and premium houses, which have a subtle aesthetic that teams nicely over sneakers or formal footwear. They serve different purposes, as you can probably tell by their shapes, but, crucially, both deliver polish in a mode that’s easy and undone.

They could pretty much be styled with any toppers, from a chunky knit by day to a long-sleeved cotton offering by night. (I also love a shirt-meet-sweat moment, although that might be too much for a night out.) My only note would be to score on the low-effort proposals, as the key is not overdoing it. Minimal layers, a quiet necktie and comfortable shoes – a lived-in Church’s loafer or a funky trainer, such as BEPOSITIVE – are the way to go. All that is left to do now is finding your staple of choice, and you’ll become the embodiment of Spring in no time. You’re welcome.

Matteo wears a polo sweater by FERRAGAMO, a knit T shirt by AGNONA, pants by FIVEFOURFIVE, and shoes by FERRAGAMO

Matteo wears a total look by VALENTINO

Matteo wears a total look by DIOR HOMME

Matteo wears a tank top by ISABEL MARANT, a vest by LUCA LARENZA, a shirt by LABO.ART, pants by ZEGNA, and shoes by CHURCH’S

Matteo wears a cardigan by EXTREME CASHMERE, a shirt by MORDECAI, pants by INSTITUTION, shorts by LUCA LARENZA, and shoes by BEPOSITIVE

photography COSIMO BUCCOLIERI via STUDIO REPOSSI
fashion director and stylist CHIDOZIE OBASI
head of production JESSICA LOVATO
fashion coordination ALBERTO MICHISANTI + EDWARD PUSCA
make up DIANA DJURD JEVSKI via STUDIO REPOSSI
makeup assistant ANGELA CAMMALLERI
hair AMERICO TURTORO via MKS MILANO
model MATTEO GUERRIERI via MASC AGENCY
photography assistant ANTONIO CROTTI
fashion assistants ANGELINA PERSIANI + CHARISSE ORDINARIA + SIMONA VERNAZZA + SOFIA FARINA + VALENTINA INVERARDI + VINCENZO VITELLO + THEA OLOFSSON ROWCLIFFE

credits
all Images (c) LE MILE
and Cosimo Buccolieri