Yearning [ˈjəːnɪŋ] - From The Editor
Noun: a feeling of intense longing for something
Lately, I have been preoccupied with how a single idea takes root in the culture before it snowballs. A few months ago, the concept of "yearning" appeared to me as a small seedling of a thought; now, whether it be the collective zeitgeist or the algorithm, I am seeing it everywhere.
I’m not necessarily suggesting that Emerald Fennell should add a third Australian to her payroll just yet - though the cinematic parallels are hard to ignore - but I am fascinated by our current, collective draw toward fervour. We are in a season of craving and of unabashed desire. We seem tired of the mild; we are hungry for the heavy, the haunting, and the high-stakes.
When it came to directing this month’s cover, we were guided entirely by these flavours: real emotion, bold contrasts, epic landscapes and the untamed elements. Ireland was the backdrop that made sense. Working with an all-Irish team, we set out to capture a tone that defines this entire curation.
Because yearning isn't merely a lack or a void. It is an active state. Of dreaming, of reaching, of rawness. It is the act of acknowledging our own desires and allowing them to churn within us, finding a home in that electric space "in-between."
In the pages that follow, from the poetic and the thought-provoking to the decidedly spicy, I’ve come to see yearning as a profound positive. It is the engine of the soul. It propels us toward action, encourages necessary fantasy, and invites a certain "feral-ness" that keeps us feeling alive.
My hope is that this Edition inspires a little (or let’s be honest, a lot) of that beautiful ache in you.
Con Amore,
Lex Duff
Editor-in-Chief, The Epicurean Dispatch
Below: Model wears Torin Designs
Model wears Fia Tulle skirt, Kerrigan Latex Skirt and Elspeth Paintcoat from Clodagh Leavy,
Model wears Dolce & Gabbana Jacket, Mango Shirt, Kookai Pants, Bared Footwear Boots. Earrings by 9Rosso.
Model wears ByGrace Designs Wool Top and Coat.
Above: Model wears Dress by Torin Designs
Cover look: Lex Duff wears Fia Tulle skirt, Kerrigan Latex Skirt and Elspeth Paintcoat from Clodagh Leavy,
Cover Art: Betty Soldi & Cover Graphic Design: Boo Bruce-Smith
Photographer: Alex Hutchison, Photography Assistant: Jimmy Hawkshaw, Styling: Roisin Kelly