When I saw the September cover of Vogue, which reunited the supermodels from Peter Lindbergh’s famous 1990 picture, my first reaction was a pang of envy.
This is exactly what I had wanted to achieve so many times during my time as editor of the magazine, but it was always too difficult logistically and, above all, too expensive to get everyone in the same place at the same time.
So kudos to the team for literally aligning Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista.
Unfortunately, the fifth member of this legendary quintet, the deceased Tatjana Patitz, is missing.
Now that I’ve appreciated the performance, I’d like to add a few more points.
So kudos to the team for literally aligning Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista
Unfortunately, the fifth member of this legendary quintet, the deceased Tatjana Patitz, is missing
These women are really beautiful. In their young selves, they inspired a generation of women to dream that they could do a little emulation. Now in their 50s, they really are the stuff of middle-aged women’s sweetest dreams – most of them can only wish for the boning, long lean limbs and defined waists that not only this foursome on the Vogue Cover shows, but also own in real life. You are still awesome.
So why on earth did they have to be turned into a plasticized version of themselves, dressed in somber black widow outfits, and subjected to computer retouching to become a cartoon version of what a glamorous older woman might be?
That’s particularly odd given that Vogue has recently positioned itself around the idea of inclusivity, rejecting the notion that conventional definitions of beauty are relevant to cover choice.
From this it can be concluded that although these models do not look like other women, a strange line and softer skin can still be seen. But as the headline of Vanessa Friedman’s New York Times article on the subject goes: Do supermodels age or just airbrushed?
The answer most likely lies in a spaghetti mix of different goals for all the different constituencies. Vogue wants to advertise (and it has it in abundance), as does the upcoming Apple TV series promoted on this cover. Most importantly, the models wanted to be presented in a way that they were comfortable with.
VOGUE 1990: Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Tatyana Patitz, Christy Turlington and Cindy Crawford
Emma Sjoberg, Tatjana Patitz, Heather Stewart Whyte, Fabienne Terwinghe and Naomi Campbell in the anti-fur campaign poster for PETA – 1994
These are not live dolls. That’s not the way to get a successful, wealthy, and experienced group of women together and take a few snaps without their input.
Any outfit and makeup style is approved. Every pose perfected.
I can only imagine the scene as they gathered around a computer monitor in the studio as the images appeared on the screen. Naomi orders that she would not allow such a thing, Linda contradicts another. Meanwhile, the hair, makeup and fashion teams formed a cheering Greek chorus, repeating how gorgeous they all looked. And no doubt lots of laughs too.
These women’s careers are based on their looks and it’s hard to imagine that they don’t want to be in control. Therefore we can only assume that you are satisfied with the result.
Personally, I would have loved to see her styled by a woman – because her overall look strikes me as a very masculine fashion look. They could have seemed more real, less stock.
And perhaps a different photographer, like the older names Vogue has previously worked with like Lindbergh, Mario Testino and Patrick Demarchelier, would have been able to highlight a warmth and easy beauty rather than Rafael Pavarotti’s more demure offering.
But god knows I made enough magazine covers in my day when things weren’t going the way I wanted and the criticism piled up. So I’m aware that being sharp-tongued from the sidelines is a lot easier than putting together the perfect cover.
The bright sparks that ministers want
When I got my first job as an editor at GQ magazine, my mother, a veteran journalist, reminded me – not exactly encouragingly – that there was no such thing as a new idea.
Back in 2014, then Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt asked a former M&S boss, Sir Stuart Rose, for advice on improving the NHS. Despite its constant difficulties, M&S is clearly viewed by the government as a successful model
That’s what came to mind when I heard that Health Secretary Steve Barclay had hired a former M&S boss to look at waste and spending in the NHS.
Back in 2014, then Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt asked a former M&S boss, Sir Stuart Rose, for advice on improving the NHS. Despite its constant difficulties, M&S is clearly viewed by the government as a successful model. Less so with Rose’s fellow dealer and sparring partner Sir Philip Green of Topshop.
Green’s collection of boys’ toys, such as superyachts and private jets, was a source of pride and a symbol of his financial prowess. He taunted Rose, who hadn’t gotten that rich: “And you don’t even know how to spell ‘Jet’!”
Somehow, the NHS is unlikely to claim Philip Green’s leadership any time soon.
Harry is ripe for the fantasy world
After reading Wendy Holden’s new book, The Princess, a hilariously entertaining fictional life of young Princess Diana, it’s clear that Prince Harry is a perfect subject for similar treatment.
The novel is a mixture of well-documented facts interwoven with imaginary scenes and dialogue. It’s hard to separate fact from fiction – which means Harry’s autobiographical spare would be a rich source of original research material to play with.
Only we could create a Covid class system
The current rules on Covid are completely unclear.
I just took a test to see if I had the virus because a friend I recently visited made it clear to me that he had Covid afterwards.
Had he not told me, and since I was only showing symptoms of mild pneumonia, I would have spent this week going about my life as normal and no doubt infecting others instead of being stuck in my bedroom bothering friends and family with phone calls.
My boredom is so great that I’ve noticed which people pronounce the wretched thing with the same long “o” pronunciation as Co-op, and a minority adopting the more fancy, dated-sounding “Covid” – with a short ” O”. , as in cough or even coven.
Even Covid, it seems, is not immune to this country’s class system.