Bold statement up front: slowing down isn’t laziness—it’s a deliberate shift that reveals what really matters, and this is exactly what Harry Styles learned in the summer of 2024. If you’re curious how a global star redefines pace and purpose, this piece follows his quiet, meaningful transition and the photographs that captured it. And this is the part most people miss: choosing stillness can be just as expressive as touring the world.
Harry Styles: I’ve learned how to slow down
In mid-2024, after a 22-month world tour and just after turning 30, Styles stepped back from the relentless pace of fame. He spent the summer at a house outside Rome with his friend Alessandro Michele, the former Gucci creative director. There, he invited Martin Parr, the renowned British photographer and Sunday Times contributor, to photograph him at home and off duty.
Parr died in December at 73. These are the first photos from that session to be published.
Ahead of his fourth solo album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally, Styles met with Harry Lambert, his longtime friend and stylist, to discuss Parr, marathon running, returning home, deleting Instagram, and becoming an uncle. What follows is an edited transcription of their conversation.
Harry Styles in Italy, Summer 2024, photographed by Martin Parr
MARTIN PARR / DMB
Harry Lambert: Let’s start with how you connected with Martin Parr. How did these images come about?
Harry Styles: Martin has long been someone I hoped to collaborate with. He’s a British icon, and his photography brings a sense of humor that often gets lost in the realm of so-called high art. I love his lens—the way he captures the quieter shades of British life and finds something special in them. He tends to shoot what’s happening on the sidelines of fashion, and he consistently sees value where others overlook it.
The shoot happened during my summer in Italy in 2024. It marked a pivotal, transitional moment for me—an opportunity to pause work and settle somewhere for a while. I was beginning to understand how crucial that period would be, and photographing it with Martin felt like a playful, meaningful opportunity.
The images were never intended for public release. Yet when Martin shared them, I fell in love with what he captured, and he was keen to publish them. Before his passing, we discussed offering them to The Sunday Times Magazine, a publication Martin cherished.
- Martin Parr obituary: photographer who revealed British life (https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/martin-parr-obituary-photographer-who-revealed-british-life-lgxfkzqzt)
Parr joins Styles and friends for dinner, Summer 2024
COURTESY OF HARRY STYLES
When we started working together, you weren’t comfortable letting people shoot in your private space. How did it feel to open up your inner world to Martin, including meeting Alessandro?
This shoot happened at a moment when I was actively trying to preserve privacy. Yet I’m really glad we did it. Watching Martin work was incredibly inspiring. A lot of people don’t get to love what they do this deeply. His curiosity, his exploratory approach—that was contagious for me.
When I heard that Martin had passed, I was sent a photo of him from just three days earlier, in the mountains, lying on a snowmobile with his camera and eyes closed. It struck me that he lived fully in the moment, right up until the end. He truly walked the walk.
- Martin Parr: My biggest regret — and the secret of a great photo (https://www.thetimes.com/culture/art/article/martin-parr-interview-2025-npxs9hrr7)
Styles in Italy with Alessandro Michele, the former Gucci creative director, now at Valentino
MARTIN PARR / DMB
I’m curious: how did we actually meet? I’d love to hear your memory of it.
When I moved to London, I encountered a lot of different people and styles. It was a revelation—seeing how dramatically people dressed differently. I was 19 and realized there was a whole world I wanted to explore. I learned that dressing up can be fun; I enjoy wearing a suit and trying new looks. I still remember walking back to my hometown after my first meeting with you, wearing Chelsea boots in place of football trainers, and being teased for it. From that firstpub meeting in 2014, when you showed me the clothes you’d brought, I sensed you didn’t take it all too seriously—and that refreshingly pushed me to experiment more.
Styles and Lambert on a Vogue photoshoot, 2020
INSTAGRAM / HARRY LAMBERT
With Lambert at the Grammys in Los Angeles, February 1
STELLA BLACKMON
I recall your solo breakthrough and watching one of your early performances. You seemed scared, vulnerable, and a little nervous. Was it the pressure of stepping out on your own? Did it feel like starting over?
When you’re in a band with four other people, there’s room to hide. Besides, there’s a limit to how much weight you can bear. The first few performances after One Direction made me confront the question: what do I do with my hands? I felt suddenly isolated. I was grateful for the opportunities and the faith people showed in me, but I also felt a pull to get it right, not disappoint.
Styles, left, with One Direction in 2011
ALAMY
Iconic moments: Britney’s schoolgirl look, Elvis in a white jumpsuit, Madonna’s pointy bra… which look would you want to define you most?
For me, it was the red-heart jumpsuit and white T-shirt I wore at Wembley. When you move that fast, you wonder if you’re enjoying it enough. During that show, the fear melted away. I watched my parents dancing together, and during the encore as we played Sign of the Times, it started to rain in a moment that felt almost preordained. I remember thinking, how could I experience more joy than this? It felt like I was flying.
Wearing a Gucci outfit on stage at Wembley in the rain, 2022
After Love on Tour—the tour from September 2021 to July 2023—you stepped away for a genuine break, the first in more than a decade. How has life been since?
Ending the tour felt almost surreal at first. I wasn’t sure I could stop. But I knew it was the right moment—finishing the run in July, and turning 30 in February, it felt like the time to pause and focus on other parts of my life.
Italy became a sanctuary for me over the years. I drove from London to Rome during the Covid lockdown, an era when travel restrictions loosened enough to allow it. I’d spent years touring with little downtime, so when the opportunity arose, I chose to savor the journey rather than race to the destination. In Rome, the city taught me to slow down. The simple act of sitting in a café and savoring a coffee felt revelatory. It wasn’t just refueling; it was about fully inhabiting the moment. The Romans embody this approach beautifully, and their pace taught me something essential.
During this time, my sister Gemma had a baby. Being present for my niece’s growth made clear what really matters. It was obvious I wanted to be there for those moments.
- Harry Styles net worth — Sunday Times Rich List 2025 (https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list/profile/article/harry-styles-net-worth-sunday-times-rich-list-gcp6wlc2d)
MARTIN PARR / DMB
Snapshots of Italian life, captured by Martin Parr in 2024
MARTIN PARR / DMB
I ran into you in a London street last year, and you felt lighter. Has something changed?
I’d always believed I didn’t rely on the dopamine of this job, but I hadn’t truly stepped away to test that belief. It’s hard to shake the fear that life could fray if I didn’t keep chasing. Living with real freedom—without constant social media input—has been transformative for me. I’m not immune to this, but taking a break has let me interrogate my relationship with the world anew.
I’ve made small but meaningful changes, like removing Instagram from my phone. I feel healthier in how I relate to the world I’m re-entering.
Styles at the piano in Italy
MARTIN PARR / DMB
Running and rhythm: has marathon running become a core part of this chapter?
Since my teens, I’ve thrived on structure. This period wasn’t about abandoning purpose but about finding a healthier balance—doing something challenging that isn’t work. I wanted a form of achievement that felt real, but not exhausting. I’d tried running marathons before, but my body wasn’t ready; this time I approached it differently as I approached my 30th birthday. It wasn’t about competing to be perfect or the fastest—it was about proving to myself that I could do hard things alone. It’s been incredibly rewarding.
Berlin Marathon, sub-three hours, September
REUTERS
That brings us back to Martin Parr capturing this phase of your life. What did he preserve for you?
Martin captured a chapter I’ll always treasure: the act of learning to slow down. These photographs and the accompanying album—an audio diary—are meaningful records of those years. I’m excited for the tour ahead, but even if it were just two shows with my sister and niece watching, that would be enough. Listening back, I can hear that I was genuinely enjoying myself. Creating something you’re proud of brings its own deep fulfillment.
MARTIN PARR / DMB
Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally is released on March 6. The Last Resort 40 Years On, an exhibition of Martin Parr’s photographs from New Brighton, opens at the Martin Parr Foundation in Bristol on February 20.
