Supermodel Adut Akech returns ‘home’ to Vogue Australia’s June 2022 issue. The South Sudan to Adelaide to Vogue Australia and then rocketing into global domination Black beauty takes us to Memphis, USA in ‘On Beale Street’. Photographer Charles Dennington [IG] captures the fashion story, styled by Catherine Martin./ Hair by Alan White; makeup by Victoria Baron

Aussie Baz Luhrmann, the director of ‘Elvis’ — a movie that topped $100 million at the domestic USA box office Friday without superheroes or dinosaurs running wild — guest edits both Vogue Australia June and also Vogue Living July/August to promote the new film and its Black-beauty-infused glamour.

Accompanying him in the effort is Catherine Martin, his life and work partner — and also partner in the making of ‘Elvis’, a movie heavily reliant on Martin’s ability to create memorable costumes.

Luhrmann has also directed ‘Australia’ and ‘The Great Gadsby’. Variety writes that ‘Elvis’ is tracking to become the director’s second-grossing film, taking out ‘Australia’ and there’s always number one Gadsby at $355.6 million.

AOC thinks that would be a symbolic toppling in this challenging, American culture moment — Elvis and Memphis’ Beale Street takes out The Great Gadsby’. We approve.

Vogue Australia writes:

The year is 1955. Memphis’ Beale Street—America’s home of blues—is alive with the energy of self-expression and a spirit of rebellion. The street is a hub of African American culture, an intersection of music, fashion, and creativity.
A young, charismatic musician, drawn to the street’s vibrancy and flamboyance, spends his days perusing the street’s stores, sitting in its bars, dancing in its clubs—immersing himself in the inimitable energy of Beale Street. This musician came to be known as the King of Rock and Roll, and the influence of Memphis’ famous thoroughfare remained inherent to Elvis’ music, style, and stage persona.

“Lansky’s on Beale Street was the store where many Black artists that Elvis revered went to buy their clothes,” Martin explains. “These iconic looks shaped Elvis’ sartorial world view.”

The fashion shoot itself takes place at Beale Street’s Club Handy — a place where the lights are low, the music is loud and the clothes are spectacular. Vogue Australia invests mightily in sharing all the story particulars and fashion references, so check it out.