The “Towel Series”

If you have an Instagram account, you have probably stumbled upon photographs of beautiful men and women sporting only a towel, which is sometimes accompanied by a robe. This movement has been coined the “Towel Series” and is shot by the famous photographer, Mario Testino. These ‘behind-the-scenes’ portraits were not a planned project, Testino told, VOGUE.

“When I first began using Instagram, I was at a shoot with Kate Moss and I saw her in her dressing room after a shower—she was in a robe and a towel on her head and I just decided to capture that moment and post it,” says Testino.

After the first unplanned shot of the iconic Kate Moss, Testino has added many other famous models to what is now known as the “Towel Series.”

The “Towel Series” is a very exclusive project Testino explains to VOGUE, “The ‘Towel Series’ is a private club,” says Testino.

“I choose very carefully who I photograph for it—it is only my point of view, no one else has a say in it.”

Testino views his project as a ‘liberating lens in the industry’: “I think girls and guys feel this freedom at being able to express themselves. There is no predetermined way of how you put the towel on,” says Testino. “You can do anything you want—wear it however you want. I have always treasured this kind of freedom: it’s rare.”

Some of the famous models Testino has photographed for the project include Naomi Campbell, Gisele Bundchen, Candice Swanepoel, Cara Delevingne, Lily Aldridge, Irina Shayk, Kendall Jenner, Jourdan Dunn, Karlie Kloss, and Marlon Teixeira.

The “Towel Series” is not limited to just models; Testino had also shot Miley Cyrus, soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, actress Kierra Knightly and actor Ansel Elgort for the project.

Testino is now up to the 70^th addition of the “Towel Series” portraits which features Justin Bieber. Before Bieber, Testino marked a huge milestone for his project when he shot his first couple for the series which featured supermodel Gigi Hadid and her beau, Cody Simpson. It is ironically the 69^th addition to the “Towel Series.”