Official Campaign Imagery by Jones Crow
Cara Santana x Nine West for Kohl’s
For the third collection, Kohl’s came back to Cara through Nine West for a fall 2021 launch. COVID was still shaping how everything was developed and produced, but Cara remained committed to creating fashion-forward, accessible pieces that could work for different women, bodies, and lifestyles.
Cara was very much leading the collection and campaign direction. I was closely involved as her right hand and sounding board- talking through ideas and samples with her, helping organize and communicate her feedback, photographing a working lookbook of the pieces we felt strongest about, supporting the campaign creative, and capturing social content and film.
Role: Collection + Campaign Support • Lookbook Photography • Social Content • Creative Handoff
SUPPORTING THE COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT
Cara took the lead throughout the development of the Nine West collection, and I was there to support her through the process. We talked through the samples, what felt right, what still needed work, and which pieces she felt most strongly about.
I helped her organize that feedback and communicate the larger direction she wanted to protect: keeping the collection elevated and fashion-forward while still making it wearable, accessible, and connected to the “For everyBODY” idea behind the previous seasons.
Digital Photography by Ashlyn Leon
PHOTOGRAPHING THE WORKING LOOKBOOK
As Cara reviewed the samples, there were certain pieces she really loved and wanted to advocate for. To support that process, I photographed her wearing those samples and created a working lookbook that showed how the pieces looked on the body and worked together as full outfits.
It wasn’t intended to be the final campaign. It was a practical creative tool that helped Cara communicate which pieces she believed in and why, while also giving us a library of more personal, social-first imagery.
SUPPORTING THE OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN
Cara also led the creative direction for the official campaign. I was involved in the conversations and brainstorms around it, talking through ideas with her and supporting the direction she wanted to take.
By the time the campaign was photographed, I had accepted a new role at The Right Now Agency and was beginning to transition off Cara’s team. I was still on set capturing behind-the-scenes social content and film while training my successor and bringing them into Cara’s creative and social process.
The handoff was about much more than transferring tasks. I wanted to make sure the person taking over understood Cara’s point of view, the history and intention behind the collections, how we approached content, and how to support Cara as she continued leading the work.
MY ROLE
• Supported Cara during the collection-development and feedback process
• Helped organize and communicate creative inspiration
• Participated in the pre-launch creative phase
• Photographed the complete digital fall lookbook featuring Cara
• Captured a range of full looks, product combinations, and detail imagery
• Delivered a cohesive library of digital and social-first assets
Digital photography by Ashlyn Leon.
COLLECTION CONTEXT
The Cara Santana x Nine West collection launched nationally in Kohl’s stores and online in fall 2021, continuing Cara’s multi-season partnership with the retailer.
My involvement concluded during the pre-launch phase, after the collection development and lookbook shoot and before the official retail rollout.
BTS Film Photography by Ashlyn Leon