April 22, 2013, 11:23 a.m.
Zoomed In: Epilogue
T - Words: 529 - Last Updated: Apr 22, 2013 Story: Complete - Chapters: 41/41 - Created: Jan 06, 2013 - Updated: Apr 22, 2013 145 0 0 0 1
Vogue presents: BDA - behind the scenes
They're like any other happy couple you'd see on the streets of New York City: they smile a lot, they have the glow of "we're still only falling and don't want to stop" about them, they hold hands like it's the most miraculous thing they've experienced, they make you smile just because you looked at them.
"We never tried to hide," says Blaine Anderson to me when I ask why this interview and why now, after the headlines of him and his boyfriend dancing and kissing in a club hit the front pages, "but it was still early days… it still is early days in our relationship and we didn't want it all over the media too much. But now that it's already out there…"
I had the pleasure to be invited to the couple's homes, for the interview itself and for the walk through the photo shoot accompanying it. "As I said to Blaine," Kurt Hummel, the art director of the photoshoots for the BDA line including this one, tells me when I query their decision to invite a reporter into their personal space, "I've expected a level of privacy loss. It's worth it, at the end." By that, he means being a part of the couple that's been setting the gossip blogs alight with speculation since they were photographed together for the first time.
"It was a mutual decision," Blaine explains, "But mostly, I want Kurt to get the acknowledgment he deserves for the work he put into every photoshoot."
Indeed, the vision behind the BDA line's promotion was entirely Kurt's, though he does insist on mentioning the input of not only his right hand, Eric Martens, who shot most of the behind-the-scenes photos this time, but also the make-up and wardrobe team, all listed in the credits at the end. What didn't show in the initial, breathtaking yet utterly professional photos for the official lines is the personal touch and glimpse into the private bubble between Kurt and Blaine. The darkroom process photographed by none other than Blaine himself ("I'm not a photographer, I only tried to capture Kurt as I see him," he insists) and the moments captured during the set ups and between shots show two people having a bond most of us dream to find.
"I'm not a celebrity," Kurt says to me towards the end our interview, "And I'm not trying to just bask in Blaine's spotlight. I'm just here to help him with his unfortunate fashion sense." "Don't say that, my fans think that's all me," Blaine replies with a laugh, both of them slipping into easy banter. "You and I both know that's not true. They're all grateful you have a fashion guru to guide you now." "Nowhere near as grateful as I am."
Sometimes it's true, even those who seem to be on a different level, unreachable due to their celebrity status, are just like any other person behind all the glitz and glamour. For Kurt and Blaine, a line of clothing led to them finding something special and we got to be the lucky spectators to a love story that's one to remember.
-The End-