I saw someone else do it once

shop | summer vintage

I named this collection ‘I saw someone else do it once’. I can’t remember if this was an original thought or something I overheard in passing. Either way, I like it, and I have seen someone else do it once. I think we all have, and it has given us the courage to keep going, for better or worse.

I love the idea of feeling empowered or emboldened by other people’s actions, especially confident, fearless women. Lately, I’ve been really drawn to pop stars in between editing my insanely large personal selects (because I am a Gemini moon and can’t make a decision about what makes a good image; I always change my mind when I look back three years later, so I just want a record of them all, ok!).

I’ve been thinking about how all these pop stars on my current radar, like Dua Lipa, Charli XCX, Olivia Rodrigo, and Addison Rae, are lifting each other up. I love Dua’s optimism, Charli’s fearlessness, Olivia’s vulnerability, and Addison is making being hot fun again. Maybe I am a closeted pop star. I really like this seeing this solidarity rise between creative women. It feels more mainstream than the Lilith Fair’s of the past. Maybe, it is possible for more than one of us to succeed (in the same field! shocking!), and maybe there is something incredibly powerful in that.

I hate to admit how much time I spend on Instagram recently, but I’m watching what these girls are doing and cheering them on from my bed. As someone who secretly adored Britney Spears as a teenager but wanted to appear more alt, detached, and like I couldn’t care less, I never admitted this to anyone until I became a grown woman. (And I will never stop trying to learn the choreo for “I’m a Slave 4 U.”)

Have you ever seen someone you admire act in a way you never thought you could, and it gave you a push or hope to be more? Mentors are great, I wish I could find one, but for now, the pop stars have enchanted me. Either way, I would love to direct a pop star music video. It seems like so much fun, and these women could use a woman’s voice behind the lens, at least for some of their videos.

On a side note: I curated a summer vintage collection that I love and photographed with the best team I could dream of. I’m in a Phoebe + Stella Chloe state of mind. I like pink and sequins and smudgy eyeliner. Also it seems old Prada campaigns are permanently seared into my brain.

A friendly reminder that buying my vintage helps support these shoots and upcoming mini films for Magda :) I’m getting the website going again, so you can find everything at www.magdaspiro.com or shop in person at Seven Wonders Collective in the LES (319 Grand Street).

Side side note: You can now view my films as a paid subscriber! You can also watch them on Vimeo for free but if you are a paid subscriber you are official a patron of female filmmaking. What a noble cause. Thank you for reading and looking. Nx

creative direction + photography NICOLE STERIOVSKI
styling BILLIE ROSE OWEN
model STEPHANIE DEEB
hair TAKAO HAYASHI
make up NATSUMI
lighting JOHN ATENCIO
production KUKLA PRODUCTION