Have you been framed?

What really influences the clothes you see in your favourite fashion magazine?

Blogger's Comeback

Givenchy Haute Cuture by Ricardo Tisci dress.

I’ve neglected my blog. It’s awfully flakey, I know, but I’ve been quite busy. My internship at ELLE combined with my work at VARSITY (UCT’s Official Student Newspaper) as both Features Editor and the Editor in Chief of the digital style supplement going live in April left blogging quite low on the priority list.

And then it was announced that the second-year media students need to be blogging. After a frustrating week attempting to make Wordpress meet my visual needs, I’m back here.

I do love a good comeback (see Beyoncé by Patrick Demarchelier for VOGUE’s March 2013 issue) and I intend on making this one highly epic.

My new thoughts of fashion will be more fashion news related (Pappa needs those marks higher than a Minaj Starship) and less ohmygoshIlovethisVoguecover. And in case it wasn’t clear, I will not be covering fashion month in the same detail as I used to. Where my old posts were dedicated to showcasing the best of the fashion world, my new posts will combine that showcase with an investigation of these dynamic artworks came to be. A behind-the-outfit account, if you like.

So, strap in your Alexander Wang SS13 gladiator sandals. Like Queen B, I’ve had my baby (another digital magazine), taken my time off from public performance (this blog), and gotten myself back into tip top shape. Now it’s time to continue the quest for running the (fashion) world.

Mark Jacobs ruffle dress; Givenchy by Ricardo Tisci rings.

Beyoncé for US VOGUE March 2013 by Patrick Demarchelier. Fashion editor: Camilla Nickerson.

Organza dress, poplin-collar shirt, woll trousers, heels, all Givenchy by Ricardo Tisci.

 

50 Shades Of Fashion

So here's the latest style buzz.

Lady Gaga released a new image for her perfume campaign which I'm really enjoying. I love the whole Zorro feel... That said, if you're an American Horror Story fan, this is actually a little scary.

 

A label by the name of Marc New York Andrew Marc (which I've never heard of and has nothing to do with Marc Jacobs) have opted for a 50 Shades Of Grey theme for their fall campaign. You have to hand it to them, it's a smart way to get press exposure. The whole thing got me thinking about which designers should reference which films in their campaigns. Here are some ideas:

Prada: The Hobbit.

Alexander McQueen: The Dark Knight Rises.

Meadham Kirchhoff: Any Afrikaans movie.

Dior: Black Swan

Dolce & Gabbana: My Big Fat Greek Wedding

 

Stop the press! Victoria Beckham is guest editing the September issue of American Glamour (note: this sounds great when said out loud.) I don't usually (read: ever) buy Glamour, but queen V may prove impossible to resist...

 

This next one (my favourite) she tweeted exclusively to her fans yesterday...

 

 

But the Beckhams didn't stop there! David makes his return to mens magazines with the September cover of UK Esquire. If I had a Prada shoe for every Beckham cover this year...

 

 

And finally: US ELLE revealed their decision to put Katy Perry on their September cover yesterday. They're up against the biggest Vogue ever (with a yet-to-be-revealed Gaga cover) and the Viccy Glamour... But this is one of the least boring covers I've seen from them in a while. Nice work.

 

So what does all this magazine mania mean, you may ask... Well, it means I will soon be bankrupt.

 

Model Covers. September Is Here!

It's the most exciting time of the year for magazines! That's right, the September Issues are strutting their way to the newsstands and I can't wait to get my hands on them. As usual, the british covers are released first and it looks like both the powers that be have chosen to opt for a September model cover. I love this trend!

Model slash actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is dressed in Dolce and Gabbana's finest on the cover of UK ELLE. This is one of those rare instances where I like the newsstand cover (above) and the subscriber cover (below) equally.

 

 

And over at UK VOGUE we have Karlie Kloss looking fabulously retro on the cover of 'their biggest issue ever.'

VOGUE really isn't playing around this month, the US edition (with Gaga on the cover) will be their biggest issue yet as well. They've even got fans guessing the golden number on Facebook with the closest guesses winning a signed copy. I'm secretly hoping the number has four digits - now that would be iconic!

 

Adele’s Definition Of Power

On a hunt for Victoria, Victoria Beckham pictures (stay tuned) I came across this behind-the-scenes video of Adele’s cover shoot for the March issue of Vogue. Not just another random behind-the-scenes video, this one really shows Adele’s personality and views on what power is. We all know her music, but I this video gives a nice intro to the real woman behind it all. I must say, I think she’s fantastic.

 “I define power now by having the confidence to make your own decisions.” Adele.

Watch the video HERE.

Adele Covers March US VOGUE!

It’s finally here! The March 2012 Power Issue of US VOGUE is covered by the one and only Adele! I haven’t been able to find details on what she’s wearing or who took her picture just yet, but I think it looks great: I’ve never seen Adele look so blatantly sexy before. It’s like she’s really owning her look and feeling comfortable in her body.

A worthy successor to last year’s March Gaga cover, I can’t wait to add this to my collection. I’ll try to wait patiently. (For a whole two months. That’s how long it takes to get to SA. Yes, Exclusive Books, that’s a massive hint!)

Image: http://twitpic.com/8ivork

Who Copied The Copy?

The March Fashion Issue covers have been revealed. British Vogue and Elle picked two very different cover stars this month: Vogue making a unconventional move by picking the very fresh music star Lana Del Rey, and ELLE choosing British fashion obsession Alexa Chung… which will sell.

The differences end there. Both girls are wearing Louis Vuitton (last month both were wearing Prada) and then there’s the copy: OH SO PRETTY is largely proclaimed on both covers. Coincidence? Probably. I don’t think it’s anything to worry about… since both magazines have a wonderful knack of ignoring the other’s existence.  

US ELLE dressed cover star Blake Lively in Victoria Beckham. She looks fresh, sporty, and pretty. But maybe not oh so pretty.

Now we wait with baited breath to see who US VOGUE chose to front their power issue… stay tuned.

Images sources:  UK VOGUE and ELLE from the magazine’s facebook pages. US ELLE from justjared.com