In the latest issue of L’Officiel Hommes Italia, model Braien Vaiksaar becomes the centerpiece of a new editorial entitled “Masterclass in Monochrome.” Shot by Portuguese photographer Frederico Martins (8 Artist Management), the story becomes a study in tonal clarity, distilling the essence of white and its kindred shades through contemporary silhouettes and measured light play.
Stylist Paolo Turina takes a studied approach to the wardrobe, assembling pieces that walk the line between futurism and classic formality. Braien wears pleated trousers, elegant shirts, and tailored outerwear from brands like Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Tod’s, and LOEWE.
Rui Rocha’s grooming choice—a stark platinum blonde—casts Braien in a new light, sharpening the contrast between skin, cloth, and backdrop. The hair feels almost surgical, an homage to Bowie’s Thin White Duke era, updated for post-minimalist luxury.
The setting fluctuates between soft gradients and severe geometry. One moment, Braien appears ghostlike in sheer pleats; the next, he stands framed by concrete slabs and slashes of sunlight. Martins’ lens draws out the textures—the cotton’s grain, the skin’s cool tone, the density of fabric.
Here, the monochrome invites the eye to look longer, deeper, and more precisely, much like a gallery wall invites a viewer to reconsider what white space really means.
