Chains of Thorns | Fashion Editorial in Artells Magazine

September 14, 2026

Chains of Thorns — a fashion editorial published in Artells Magazine’s September 2026 issue, Fantasy.
Photography & Creative Direction by Maria Poleshchuk

“

Maria!

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for yesterday. The six-hour photo and video shoot was truly magical, and I’m still so impressed by the whole experience.

It’s incredible to see how much talent, energy and heart everyone involved put into this project. You both worked with such dedication, attention to every detail and incredible professionalism that the atmosphere on set was truly special. Everyone gave it 100%, and that really means a lot.

I feel like we created something truly beautiful, and I can’t wait to see the final results. I already want to work together again on new shoots, and I know my whole team feels the same way.

Thank you again for your talent, hard work and for helping bring this idea to life!

Alexandra Rybakova,www.instagram.com/kalyuzhnayas/?hl=ru

Combining gothic romance, sculptural jewellery and medieval influences, the series explores the contrast between delicate beauty and inner strength. Metallic textures, crystal embellishments, black styling and the symbolism of the sword come together to create a dark, cinematic fashion story.

Gothic fashion moodboard with swords, thorn branches, dark landscapes and stone arches.

Behind the Concept

The creative direction for Chains of Thorns began with an exploration of gothic architecture, thorn-like forms, medieval weaponry and dramatic, atmospheric landscapes.

I wanted to create a visual world that felt mysterious and timeless, balancing feminine elegance with a stronger, almost armour-like presence. Rather than recreating a historical period, the idea was to reinterpret these influences through a contemporary fashion lens.

The moodboard brought together ruined gothic arches, stormy landscapes, sculptural details, dark fabrics and contrasting textures. These references helped establish the atmosphere and visual direction before the shoot.

Jewellery as Armour

Pieces from Chains of Thorns, with their intricate metalwork, chainmail-inspired details and striking crystal embellishments, introduced a sense of strength and protection. The reflective surfaces of the accessories contrasted with the softness of the model’s features and hair, creating tension between delicacy and power.

The styling moodboard focused on silver metal, sparkling crystals, black textures and subtle red accents. These elements helped shape the visual language of the shoot, turning the jewellery into more than decoration — an essential part of the character and narrative.

Jewellery moodboard featuring silver chainmail, thorn-inspired accessories and sparkling crystals.

Light, Texture & Contrast

The photographic approach centred on the interplay of light and shadow, reflective surfaces and softer textures.

Close-up portraits reveal the intricate jewellery and delicate beauty details, while wider compositions introduce the sword as a strong visual element. The contrast between the dark accessories, pale tones and controlled lighting gives the images their distinctive atmosphere.

Moving between intimate portraits and more sculptural poses allowed the series to explore different expressions of the same character — ethereal yet powerful, vulnerable yet defiant.

Chains of Thorns | Fashion Editorial in Artells Magazine

Chains of Thorns fashion editorial by Maria Poleshchuk, published in Artells Magazine, featuring a model in crystal-embellished black gloves and a silver chainmail headpiece.

Creative fashion portrait of a platinum blonde model raising her arms in crystal-embellished black gloves, with soft light and reflections, photographed by Maria Poleshchuk.

Gothic fashion editorial portrait of a blonde model seated with a sword, wearing black styling and sparkling crystal cuffs, photographed by Maria Poleshchuk.

Fashion editorial portrait of a platinum blonde model holding a sword, wearing black gloves with crystal embellishments, published in Artells Magazine.

Close-up beauty portrait featuring a silver chainmail headpiece, red crystal detail and sparkling embellished black glove in the Chains of Thorns editorial for Artells Magazine.

Fashion editorial photograph of a blonde model in a black outfit holding a sword, wearing crystal-embellished opera gloves, for Artells Magazine.

Published in Artells Magazine

This project brought together fashion photography, creative direction, styling and beauty to translate an initial visual concept into a complete editorial story.

Thank you to the entire team for their talent, dedication and collaboration in bringing the project to life!

Creative Team & Credits

Editorial: Chains of Thorns
Publication: Artells Magazine — Fantasy, September issue
Concept, Creative Direction & Photography: Maria Poleshchuk
Model: Alexandra Rybakova @kalyuzhnayas
Make-up: Iullia — @iullia.mua
Hair: Alena — @alena_braider
Videography: Victor Hawk @victorhawkart
Dress: BODYCON Collection
Shoes: Jimmy Choo
Headpiece: Chains of Thorns @chainsofthorns
Gloves: Black Crystal Opera Gloves