Long before she became one of fashion’s most photographed front-row personalities, Leonie Hanne was building a very different future. Trained in business, fashion, and textile management in Hamburg, she began her professional life as a strategy consultant, following a path defined by structure, discipline, and predictability. Yet somewhere beneath the spreadsheets and corporate ambitions, another version of herself was waiting to emerge.
More than a decade ago, Hanne made the decision that would change everything. Together with her partner Alexander Galievsky, she left the corporate world behind and launched Ohh Couture, a platform that would eventually evolve into one of the most influential voices in luxury fashion. Looking back today, she does not describe that leap as a pursuit of fame or success. Instead, it was something far more personal.
Freedom, Before Fame
“I don’t think I was searching for success itself”, she says. “I was searching for freedom. Freedom to create, freedom to build something of my own, and freedom to live a life that felt aligned with who I was”.
That desire for freedom remains at the heart of everything she does. While her business background gave her a sharp understanding of the industry, it is creativity that continues to drive her forward. “The corporate world taught me discipline and strategy”, she reflects, “but I always felt there was a more creative version of myself waiting to be explored”.
Today, Hanne occupies a unique position within fashion. She belongs to the first generation of digital creators who successfully bridged the gap between influencer culture and traditional luxury fashion, transforming social media from a personal diary into a powerful storytelling platform. Yet despite the rapid evolution of the industry, her belief in fashion’s emotional power remains unchanged.
“In fact, I think instinct and emotion have become even more valuable”, she says. “Data, algorithms and trends can tell us what people are engaging with, but they cannot create magic”.
Leonie Hanne: The Architecture of Glamour
For Hanne, fashion has never been solely about clothes. It is about emotion, identity and narrative. After years of attending fashion weeks across Paris, Milan, London and New York, what continues to move her most is not spectacle for its own sake, but originality. “When I see a collection that feels personal, courageous and unexpected”, she explains, “it reminds me why I fell in love with fashion in the first place”.
That passion is reflected in a personal style that has become instantly recognisable. Known for her fearless use of colour, dramatic silhouettes and unapologetic glamour, Hanne stands apart in an era increasingly defined by minimalism and quiet luxury. Yet she sees no contradiction between elegance and fantasy.
“More than ever”, she says, “I believe in fashion as fantasy. Fashion allows us to dream”.
“FASHION can transport us,
TELL STORIES and
help us BECOME
different versions of OURSELVES”
To her, fashion should never be limited by practicality alone. Some of her most memorable moments have come from wearing pieces that felt larger than life, garments capable of transporting both wearer and audience into another world. “Fashion can tell stories”, she says. “It can help us become different versions of ourselves”.
The same commitment to storytelling shapes her work behind the camera. While she began by documenting outfits and everyday moments, she now approaches every project with the mindset of a creative director. “Every project starts with a story,” she explains. Emotion, atmosphere, location, styling, and casting all become elements of a carefully constructed visual narrative.
It is perhaps this attention to detail that has allowed Hanne’s content to retain a sense of polish and longevity in a digital culture increasingly driven by speed. “I care deeply about quality and storytelling,” she says. “Trends come and go, but beautiful imagery and meaningful stories have longevity”.
A Life Measured in Moments
Yet beyond the glamour, there is another side to Leonie Hanne, one rooted in reflection, mindfulness and personal connection. Despite living much of her life in public, she has become increasingly protective of what remains private.
Together with Alexander, she has built not only a successful creative business but also a relationship that remains the foundation of her world. “Alex is my partner first and my business partner second”, she says. “Protecting that relationship has always been our priority”.
Her daily rituals offer another glimpse into the woman behind the image. Pilates, journaling, morning walks and quiet moments with coffee have become essential anchors amid an otherwise fast-moving lifestyle. “Those rituals help me reconnect with myself”, she says.
Perhaps it is no surprise, then, that her definition of luxury has evolved over time. After years surrounded by couture, fine jewellery and extraordinary travel experiences, true luxury is no longer something material. “Time”, she says simply. “Time with the people I love, time to be present, and time to enjoy a moment without rushing to the next thing”.
As fashion continues to search for new voices and perspectives, Hanne remains particularly interested in emerging designers and independent labels. Curiosity and originality, she believes, are often found beyond the traditional fashion capitals.
Among the young brands that have recently caught her attention is Montsand, a label she admires for its strong identity and distinctive point of view.
“In a crowded industry, it’s increasingly rare to see a young label with such a clear aesthetic perspective”, she says. What resonates most is the brand’s balance between modernity and timelessness, as well as its ambition to become globally relevant while remaining true to its roots. For Hanne, these are the qualities that define the future of fashion: authenticity, vision, and the courage to create something entirely your own.
*** Team Credit ***
Starring: Leonie Hanne @leoniehanne.
Creative Director: Giuseppe Vitariello.
Fashion Director: montsand_official.
Fashion: Montsand @montsand_official.
Words: Jasmin @queen__huong.
Jewellery: Boucheron @boucheron and Susan Caplan @susancaplan.
Shoes: Aquazzura @aquazzura.
Hats: Merve Bayindir @mervebayindirofficial.
Gloves: Sermoneta Gloves @sermonetagloves.
Photographer: Giuseppe Vitariello @giuseppe_vitariello.
Photo Assistant: Macky Mann @macky.mann.
Videographer: Francesco Uva @francesco_uva_fm.
Makeup Artist: Kelvin Nguyen @kelparrynguyen, used 111SKIN @111skin, Clé de Peau Beauté @cledepeaubeaute.
Makeup Assistant: Shannay Lindsay.
Hair Stylist: Joshua Michael Aspell @joshaspellhair.
Stylist: Vincenzo Palatiello @vpalatiello.
Stylist Assistant: Amber Cox @amber.cox.
Flowers: @bloominghaus.
Producer: @glimeye.
Location: Big Sky Studios, London @bigskystudios.
Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam
