The cowboy boot is a classic and iconic piece of Americana. But for McCandliss & Campbell’s Footwear Plus magazine editorial “Rhinestone Cowgirl,” photographer Trevett McCandliss wanted to take that symbol and spin it into something dreamier, glamorous, a little strange, and unapologetically fun. Working with partner and creative director Nancy Campbell, what started as a fashion assignment quickly evolved into a collage-driven story full of glittery outfits, curious birds, and cowgirl attitude dialed all the way up. From styling to set design to final layout, every detail was crafted to surprise and delight, reimagining the Western aesthetic through a fresh, expressive lens.

By: Trevett McCandliss, Photographer, & Nancy Campbell, Creative Director, McCandliss & Campbell

Our assignment was to showcase western boots for a fashion editorial story, and we wanted to do it in a way that felt fresh, playful, and unexpected. We decided on collage: layered, expressive, and visually dynamic.

Trevett photographed the model in our studio, choosing a young woman with striking, expressive features and a cascade of thick, rockstar hair. Fashion stylist Mariah Walker created the looks, bringing in a mix of sparkly, colorful, and offbeat pieces that added glam and quirk to the cowgirl vibe. 

We mapped out a list of specific poses in advance, knowing that the final layouts would include surreal elements—like floating boots and perched birds—interacting with the model in imaginative ways. To give the illusion of boots flying through the air, Trevett photographed each boot from multiple angles on a white background. Everything, including the model shots, was silhouetted for collage flexibility.

We researched vintage and contemporary collage art for inspiration—flipping through our own library and scouring Pinterest and other image archives. To assemble the collages, we gathered photos and vintage illustrations of birds, cactus, wildlife, and other western-related objects. We had far more imagery than we needed, so we had room to play. We also made black line drawings to add to the collages.

The collages came together gradually, over a couple of days, adding, subtracting, shifting until each page found its energy and rhythm. We created a soft, dusty color palette that tied all the pages together and gave the story a subtly campy, vintage feel. The editorial layout was paced to keep the reader’s eye moving, with dynamic shifts in scale, pose, and composition. 

We titled the story “Rhinestone Cowgirl,” and built a bold, rhinestone-studded typographic opener to set the tone. The final piece was a hit, praised for its originality and humor. It was a true collaboration from start to finish, and one of our favorite projects to date.

McCandliss & Campbell is an art direction and design team that creates award-winning designs by combining innovative typography and conceptually driven fashion photography. Their clients include brands and fashion magazines.

They have received over 400 design and photography awards from Graphis, the Society of Publication Designers, the Type Directors Club, Print, How, Communication Arts, Creative Quarterly, and a German Design Award for Excellence in Communication Design. McCandliss & Campbell are honored to be included in the elite circle of Graphis Masters in both the design and photography categories.

Trevett McCandliss received his BFA in fine arts from Syracuse University. He studied painting at the New York Studio School and graphic design and photography at the School of Visual Arts. Trevett recently served as the vice president of the Society of Publication Designers. McCandliss & Campbell teach typography and editorial design at Kean University.

Nancy Campbell is a School of Visual Arts graduate with a BFA in graphic design. She has worked at numerous magazines, including Harper’s Bazaar, Mademoiselle, and YM.

McCandliss & Campbell have presented their work to students and professionals in the United States and Europe. They have served on design and photography juries for The Society of Publication Designers, Graphis, and Communication Arts. The duo has taught master classes to an international roster of professional art directors and designers.

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