A Certain Restraint

There is something compelling about clothes that reveal themselves slowly. In A Certain Restraint, Greg Adamski photographs Anastasia Leanavets in a wardrobe of fitted corsetry, delicate lace and sheer layers, where the interest lies in the interplay of construction and exposure. Against bare walls and cool grey light, every fastening, gathered fold and glimpse of skin becomes part of the composition.

An ivory corset, its contours traced by rows of fastenings and lacing, lends structure to a translucent long-sleeved top and pale shorts. Elsewhere, a simple white vest meets a textured skirt with a voluminous gathered waist, bringing an unexpected proportion to an otherwise understated pairing. A black blouse introduces a darker register above a sheer, lace-edged skirt, its transparency giving the silhouette a particular lightness. White, cream and smoky grey keep the focus on the clothes’ surfaces and shapes.

The beauty follows the same considered approach: hair swept close to the head, defined eyes and a muted lip. Adamski moves between intimate portraits and studies of the silhouette, allowing small details to hold the frame. A raised collar, a fine strap, the edge of a corset: the story’s allure resides in how closely it asks us to look.