Diana Bartlett is a Chinese-American photographer based between New York and Paris. After attending Parsons School of Design, she began working on personal and commissioned assignments around the globe, leading to her first published book of photographs in 2022 named L’Altra Gloria, encompassing images from Italy’s Le Marche region.
Whitewall joined Bartlett during Paris Fashion Week as she prepared for the Chanel Fall-Winter 2025 show to hear how fashion influences her work behind the camera, what first Chanel item she treasured, and what items fuel her fashion week schedule.
In Paris with Diana Bartlett
Diana Bartlett, portrait by Jules Lelievres.
Diana Bartlett, portrait by Jules Lelievres.
WHITEWALL: You studied at Parsons and have a strong background in fashion. How did you become interested in photography, and how does fashion influence your creative work?
DIANA BARTLETT: I became obsessed with immortalizing a moment from a young age. Fashion influences my creative work as it builds the identity of the character within the image and the identity is everything.
WW: As a photographer, you often work at the intersection of art and fashion. How do you see these industries influencing and enriching each other in your work?
DB: It’s less about influencing and more about endless connection. As a photographer, I don’t see a division between art and fashion. They exist within the same thread, constantly enriching each other in different ways image by image.
“I don’t see a division between art and fashion,”
Diana Bartlett
WW: What is your favorite series or campaign you’ve shot to date?
DB: I’m shooting my second book at the moment, which focuses on intimacy, youth culture, and vulnerability. The project I’m currently working on is always my favorite.
A Closer Look at Diana Bartlett’s Book
Courtesy of and © Chanel.
WW: You published your first book in 2022, which you describe as a “love letter to the Le Marche region in Italy.” Can you tell us more about the book and your experience making it? What was your creative process like?
DB: My experience making it was like being thrown into a world I had to capture and create something out of it. I spent a lot of the summer of 2022 there, in a small village called Torre di Palme. It was a commissioned project by an Italian fashion family. The constraint in the region was helpful in limiting where my vision could go, as well as portraying the region authentically and respectfully. I casted 75 percent from the region, got in a car with one assist (who was also driving), and we made our way with no roadmap or direction. I was just exploring and restrictions assisted in the creative process.
An Appreciation for Chanel
Courtesy of Chanel.
WW: What do you think makes Chanel so special and enduring in the world of fashion? How does the brand maintain its relevance across different generations?
DB: Chanel created the blueprint for chic, iconic, and strong women, and that’s what makes it enduring. Chanel pieces are timeless, passed down through generations. The brand stays relevant by evolving with the times, adapting while staying true to its heritage. I’m excited to see what Mattieu brings to the house and how he continues this legacy.
“Chanel pieces are timeless,”
Diana Bartlett
WW: What defines the modern Chanel woman, and how does that resonate with you personally?
DB: The modern Chanel woman is curious, she might wear black and white but she’s not afraid of exploring the grey areas. She resonates with me personally as my foundation is there and I will never stop evolving and expanding much like the fashion house.
WW: Can you share a memorable moment or experience from past Chanel shows or Paris Fashion Weeks that has stuck with you?
DB: I went to Hangzhou for the Métiers d’art 2024-25 show, and as someone who is Chinese American, it was a truly life-changing experience.
Diana Bartlett’s First Chanel Item
Photo by Jules Lelievres.
Diana Bartlett, portrait by Jules Lelievres.
WW: What was the first Chanel item you owned, and what influence has it had on the evolution of your personal style?
DB: The medium classic flap bag. It was the first and only luxury handbag I owned for ten years. It allowed me to have freedom in the evolution of my personal style as no matter how crazy things got, the bag anchored and punctuated it with elegance.
WW: What is one Chanel beauty product you cannot live without?
DB: The baume essentiel in transparent.
WW: Do you have any fashion icons or designers who have inspired you over the years? How has that influenced your approach to style and design?
DB: People who are unapologetically themselves and living their truth inspire me. The limitless ones. It’s inspired my approach to style and design by creating without bounds, constraints, or predefined definitions of what’s achievable.
Paris and Other “Global Taste” Cities
Diana Bartlett, portrait by Jules Lelievres.
Diana Bartlett, portrait by Jules Lelievres.
WW: Given Paris’ status as the fashion capital of the world, how do you think street style here contributes to cultural expression? In what ways does Paris Fashion Week reflect the city’s unique blend of personal identity and global influence?
DB: Paris has long been regarded as the fashion capital of the world, but in 2025, we live in a world of “global taste,” shaped by not only Paris, but many cities. The environment plays into 50 percent of the equation and Paris commands respect for its grandness. There’s an elegance here that’s hard to replicate anywhere else. It’s in the history, the architecture, and the light. While the same people go to different fashion weeks, the atmosphere and dialogue of Paris is unmistakable. Paris is a feeling and an instinct that may be suited better in black, lace, leather, and velvet!
“Paris commands respect for its grandness,”
Diana Bartlett
WW: PFW is intense. Do you have a PFW survival guide or any tips?
DB: Mezcal, cuddles, and proper meals.
