British GQ

Oct 2025

British GQ presents 'What's So Great About Britain?', an expansive editorial feature that interrogates national identity through a series of surreal, highly stylized portraits. Photographer Charlotte Rutherford and fashion editor Rose Forde anchor the project, utilizing a blend of natural light and meticulous set design to construct a playful, constructed version of British urban life. The series leans into a distinct aesthetic, incorporating analogue film techniques and vivid, saturated compositions to create a sense of heightened reality. Set designer Rory Mullen crafts immersive environments—from traditional red telephone boxes and fish and chip shops to abstract studio landscapes—providing a textured backdrop for an array of talent including Emma Thompson, Andrew Garfield, and Anthony Joshua. Technically refined through the collaboration of hair stylist Yoshitaka Miyazaki, makeup artist Bea Sweet, and movement director Anders Hayward, the imagery balances earthy, raw editorial tones with a polished, graphic sensibility.