Text and Photos by Izzy El Nems & Julian Jackson
When we began taking photos, we weren’t looking for a particular style. There was no method to it—just an inability to do it any other way. If we had any goal, it was to capture a piece of truth in an era that seems to have lost it, to find something raw in a world that no longer allows for it, a world consumed by illusions where beauty ideals have no place beyond the screens of the post-digital age. A time when nothing matters, yet everything feels overwhelmingly important—the age of algorithms.
Art is the closest you can get to perfection without being trapped by the word itself.
Another European tour: from Stockholm to Antwerp by train, then to Paris, and finally to an island in Sweden. Our film got damaged by multiple X-ray machines, with no time for a hand inspection. There were laughs and tears, but mostly laughs. The water was cold, but everything else felt intensely warm. Stockholm offered great beer and decent wine, and perhaps the best duck ragu I’ve ever tasted. We spent 24 hours in Antwerp at a bed & breakfast but missed breakfast, toured the Dries office, and enjoyed more decent wine. We took the train to Paris on the hottest day of the year there and still managed to have escargot. Love you, Emma. A small plane took us back to Sweden with turbulence all the way. A ferry ride through the archipelago brought us to Angsö, an island with no roads or cars, just more decent wine.
We wore full Dries Van Noten: an embellished beaded skirt, top, and open-toe red leather mules, with red Agent Provocateur sleepover panties.
We stood there smoking for hours, as if we were all that mattered—and in a way, we were. We mattered to ourselves, and the air was thick with the scent of Dries perfume, opium, and sweat, filled with the boldness of becoming. We didn’t know who we were or who we wanted to be, but in that natural, silly, unspoken confidence, we were the people of our time.
Another European tour: Stockholm to Antwerp by train, then Paris, and ending on a Swedish island. Film ruined by X-rays, no time for hand checks. Laughter and tears, mostly laughter; the water was cold, but everything else was hot. Stockholm had great beer and decent wine, and possibly the best duck ragu ever. A day in Antwerp at a B&B, missed breakfast, visited the Dries office, and drank more decent wine. Train to Paris on their hottest day, still ate escargot. Love you, Emma. A bumpy flight back to Sweden, then a ferry to Angsö—an island with no roads or cars, just more decent wine.
Wearing Dries Van Noten SS25 silver jeans from his final show before returning, and our new favorite Dsquared2 corduroy cap from the 2004 runway.
Another European…Another European tour began in Stockholm, where I enjoyed great beer, decent wine, and perhaps the best duck ragu I’ve ever tasted. From there, I took a train to Antwerp for a 24-hour stay at a bed & breakfast, though I missed breakfast. I visited the Dries office and savored more decent wine.
Next, a train ride to Paris on the hottest day of the year didn’t stop me from indulging in escargot. Love you, Emma. A small plane brought me back to Sweden, with turbulence as our companion, followed by a ferry through the archipelago to dock at Angsö—an island with no roads or cars, just more decent wine.
My film suffered from multiple X-ray machines, with no time for a hand check. The journey was filled with laughs and tears, mostly laughs; the water was cold, but everything else felt incredibly warm.
The idea of a moment has always been linked to photography—take a picture, and it lasts longer. We see photos as records of time, existing in a liminal space between past and present. When you capture an image, there’s nothing left to wait for; it’s already there and already gone. A fragment of time and place that only returns in the past tense, it can be a depiction of reality or an impression of a dream. But who really cares?
The moment itself exists only in imagination, at the instant the shutter clicks. Its meaning varies among the photographer, subject, and viewer—like the good shepherd, the sorrowful virgin, or the joyful Mary, we all perceive it differently. Yet, the truth of the moment resides within the image itself.
Along the way, I wore a full Dries Van Noten outfit with an embellished beaded skirt, top, and open-toe red leather mules, as well as a Missoni tank top, silk pants, and Vibram FiveFinger shoes.Another European tour took me from Stockholm to Antwerp by train, then on to Paris, and finally back to an island in Sweden. My film got fried passing through multiple X-ray machines—never enough time for a hand check. There were laughs and tears, but mostly laughs; the water was cold, though everything else felt so warm. In Stockholm, I enjoyed great beer and decent wine, along with what might have been the best duck ragu I’ve ever tasted.
I spent 24 hours in Antwerp at a bed & breakfast but missed the breakfast. Instead, I toured the Dries office and savored more decent wine. The train ride into Paris happened on the hottest day of their year, yet I still managed to have escargot. Love you, Emma. A small plane brought me back to Sweden, with turbulence as our companion. A ferry then carried me through the archipelago, docking at Angsö—an island with no roads, no cars, and just more decent wine.
To capture a moment and then leave it behind, only to revisit it later, is like chasing a dream. Thoughts are tied to dialogue, and images to thoughts. I often wonder how to give the viewer a specific experience, one that feels like reading a person’s mind. Each individual is a subject living in their own world, at the center of it all.
In art, events come to life through representation. Plato, through Socrates, spoke of the couch: God creates its true form, the carpenter builds it, and the painter imitates the carpenter. Each step moves further from the truth. And with fashion, when style is mere imitation, disconnected from the self, what does it become? A depiction of reality or a trace of a dream? Who really cares?
To me, the worst fashion mistake might be just that—looking in the mirror and not recognizing yourself. I hope these images make you feel the opposite.
—To my new-age engineers.Another European adventure: from Stockholm to Antwerp by train, then on to Paris, and finally back to an island in Sweden. My film got fried going through multiple X-ray machines—never enough time for a hand check. There were laughs and tears, but mostly laughs. The water was cold, yet everything else felt so warm.
In Stockholm, I enjoyed great beer and decent wine, along with what might have been the best duck ragu I’ve ever tasted. A 24-hour stop in Antwerp meant staying at a bed & breakfast, though I missed breakfast. I toured the Dries office and had some more decent wine.
The train to Paris arrived on the hottest day of the year there, but I still managed to have escargot. Love you, Emma. A small plane took us back to Sweden, with turbulence as our companion. Then, a ferry ride through the archipelago brought us to Angsö, an island with no roads or cars—just more decent wine.
My outfit: Dries Van Noten jeans, vintage Jimmy Choo high-heel leather boots with a bow on the back, and an H&M t-shirt I’ve had for seven years and probably should throw out.
Also, Dries Van Noten SS25 silver jeans from his last show before stepping back, and our new favorite Dsquared2 corduroy cap from the 2004 runway, worn by Julian and me.
And a vintage 1920s sailor dress, passed down to me a couple of years ago by a dear friend of my mom’s (no label), worn barefoot.My bags went through multiple X-ray machines, never with enough time for a hand check. There were laughs and tears, but mostly laughs. The water was cold, yet everything else felt so hot. Stockholm served great beer and decent wine, and perhaps the best duck ragu I’ve ever tasted. We spent 24 hours in Antwerp at a bed & breakfast but missed the breakfast. We toured the Dries office and enjoyed some more decent wine. Then we took a train into Paris on the hottest day of the year there, but still managed to have escargot. Love you, Emma. A small plane brought us back to Sweden with turbulence as our companion. A ferry took us through the archipelago, docking on Angsö—an island with no roads or cars, just more decent wine.
About the artists: “Our work is created entirely by us—just the two of us. It’s a journey, an opportunity to witness and experience the raw beauty of everyday life through the eyes of two artists. The connection between director and photographer imbues every image with a sense of story and location.” — Izzy El Nems, Julian Jackson
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of helpful FAQs about Hitting the Road AgainPart 2 by Izzy El Nems and Julian Jackson written in a natural conversational tone
General Beginner Questions
1 What is Hitting the Road AgainPart 2 about
Its the second part of a series likely continuing the story of a road trip or travel adventure focusing on new destinations challenges and personal discoveries along the way
2 Do I need to read Part 1 first
Its highly recommended Part 2 will directly continue the journey and character arcs so reading Part 1 will give you the full context and a much richer experience
3 Is this a travel guide or a story
Its primarily a narrative story or memoir about a travel experience but it will likely include practical tips and insights you can apply to your own trips
4 What kind of tone can I expect
Based on the authors you can expect an engaging personal and probably humorous tone blending adventure with relatable reflections
Content Themes
5 What new places are explored in this part
Without specific spoilers Part 2 typically explores destinations further along the route from Part 1 potentially delving into more remote areas or cultures that present new challenges
6 What are the main themes in this installment
Common themes in travel sequels include perseverance adapting to the unexpected the deepening of friendships and the personal growth that comes from pushing your boundaries
7 Are there any new characters introduced
Its very common for sequels to introduce new interesting people the travelers meet on the road adding new dynamics and perspectives to the story
Practical Tips Application
8 Whats the biggest lesson from this part of the journey
A key lesson is often that the journey itself is more important than the destination highlighting the value of resilience and staying open to unplanned experiences
9 Whats one practical travel tip I can take from this book
A great tip is to always have a flexible plan Overplanning can make you miss spontaneous opportunities which are often the most memorable parts of any trip
10 How do the authors handle conflict or problems on the road
They likely demonstrate problemsolving on the go showing how communication a positive attitude and resourcefulness are essential for