#MASKON

Photography by Justin Anantawan
Styled and Modeled by JP Michaels
​May 2020

"Social
Distancing"
is the new
"Personal
Space"

Give or take a foot or two.

I wanted to do this photoshoot to heighten pre-existing social distancing behaviours long before covid came along.
And the two pre-existing social practices that are tactics, if you will, for social distancing are dog walking and carrying a full-flighted umbrella. If you have ever tried to pass someone on a sidewalk, walking a dog with one of those dog leashes that allow the dog to run up ahead 20 feet away and drop a load just so you have one more element to add to the mix, you understand what I'm saying when I say this is a tactic to isolate. 

And when it comes to umbrellas, I say, "go big or go home". It is fascinating to watch the punctuated calliope-action of a sea of opened umbrellas navigate a rain-slick city sidewalk. 
So I thought about combining walking dogs and umbrellas into some kind of a seasonal covid from-a-distance, outdoor, hello over there kind of spring rain fashion photoshoot. And I am so blessed and fortunate to have the experience of working with the super talented photographer @ryangotsa, to help capture these moments of being alone in the rain but not being boring. 

It's raining it's pouring but this ole man ain't snoring, and this ole man isn't boring when it comes to rain. I may have to rework my motto, "to have my entrances anticipated with as much unbridled enthusiasm and delight as that of the first float in a  parade". Now more than ever,  we must dress for ourselves.

​When you think about it these times while we, as individuals, have been covid self-isolating, our come-to-expect social conventions, for those of us who aspire to such,  have been ripped out from underneath us. It isn't that we have not exercised "social distancing" in the years "BC" (Before Covid), it's just that we didn't call it by such. "Social distancing" is the new "personal space" give or take a foot or two.

by
JP Michaels
@jp.michaels

with photography
by Ryan Ohare
​@ryangotsa
​

Credits:
Photo:@ryangotsa
Stylist @jp.michaels
Model @jp.michaels
Beret: @lauhere_france
Striped Rain Overcoat: @junyawatanabeofficial
Gold Rain Overcoat: @greinewyork
Round glasses: @haveitallhakim
Bronze silk velvet scarf: @callandresponseclothing
Signature Scarf "Between History and Fiction": @suziroher
Signature Scarf "All Roher and No Bite" a.k.a. "Mr Roar": @suziroher
Flame pattern rain jacket: @thenorthface
Solid raspberry rain jacket: @uniqulocanada
Tangerine Turtleneck shell @envelopstudio
Stretch Jean: #secondyogajeans
Blue hunting boots: @hunterboots

#thestarthatyouare

March 2, 2020

Even apart we shine together.
Directed by Kyle Kofsky everyoneisanartist.ca
Photography by Franklin Lau
Clothing by Call and Response Clothing
Hair and Makeup by Amy Harper
Assisted by Jesus Maza, Jason Li, Aziz Vivant, Celina B 

---

GMARO Magazine
March 2020

At Home with Fashion Icon JP Michaels
Photography by Michele Taras
​for GMARO Magazine March 2020 Issue No. 4