Mario Testino editorial in Peru

I was sitting in the cigarette scented internet room at Loki Hostel in Cusco, recovering from a three-day trek to Machu Picchu that has left me too traumatised to attend spin class (only go downhill mountain biking in Peru if you have a death wish), when my stepdad emailed through this Mario Testino editorial featuring his homeland.

Shot back in March 2008 for Vogue UK, this colourful cultural masterpiece starring Lily Donaldson and Daria Werbowy couldn’t have come through at a better time. I had set aside the morning to hit up Cusco’s markets before jumping on an afternoon flight to Chile, but after seeing some of the local handicrafts paraded around the hostel by backpackers wearing knitted jumpers covered in Llama silhouettes, my expectations were low.

Well that was until I spotted the Peruvian accessories mixed in amongst the high-end fashion throughout this adeptly titled ‘Trail Blazers’ editorial. Colourful tassels, striped duffle bags and beaded bracelets were quickly added to my shopping list which I am pleased to report did not include a Llama jumper.