September Covers 2012: The Good and The Meh

It's that time of the year again, and as always I like to have a rundown of the September Issue covers. This year, it seems that the industry editors have somewhat lost their creative genius. Or rather, most may have hit an artistic wal because some of these covers look rather amateur-ish and lacklustre considering it's the most important issue of the year. As you know, the September Issue heralds the return of the Fall- my favourite season and one that requires the most style and creativity of your wardrobe. However with some of these covers, some look like they need a pinch more imagination. Take a look!

THE GOOD

Gwen Stefani for Harper's Bazaar US- Shot by Terry Richardson, rock princess Gwen Stefani looks pretty in pink. It's fierce, it's fashion...I'm speechless. This cover is currently my bar for the rest. 

Victoria Beckham for Glamour- Channeling her inner Holly Golightly, Posh finally gives us a cover that isn't too somber or too predictable. My favourite Spice Girl has long been criticised for her lack of human emotion but this cover is fun and whimsical- and that tiara is nothing if not appropriate because of her success with her fashion line. 

Keira Knightley for Harper's Bazaar UK- Photographed by one of my favourites, Ellen von Unwerth, Keira is looking gothically romantic in this cover. The tone is perfectly attuned to the coming season and her upcoming role as Anna Karenina. She's so beautiful too, and truly one of the few actresses I don't mind seeing in the cover of a fashion magazine. 

Candace Swanepoel for Numéro Tokyo- This cover was photographed by Alexi Lubomirski and its nice and modern. The overall look is very cosmopolitan but with a touch of classic pretty- just how the Japanese and I like it.

Karlie Kloss for Vogue Nippon: Another wonderful Japanese cover, birthday girl Karlie poses as a futuristic fashion-bot on the cover of Vogue Nippon. Captured by Mikael Jansson, the image is simple and to the point but with an added touch of cyber polish- almost like a great 3D anime shot. 

The Girls of Downton Abbey for LOVE Magazine- I am dying for these covers! LOVE + Mert & Marcus = GENIUS. It's dark, it's romantic and it's art. That is all. 

Cindy Crawford for Tatler- It's the 90s again! The supermodel never looked better and this cover suits her. It's fun and glam and full of big hurr. It's quite autumnal as well with this great maple yellow and gold palette. Gorgeous!

Cara Delevigne for Russh- I love this cover for most of the reasons already mentioned but most of all, I adore this because Cara looks like an Olsen twin. Enough said.

The Mystery of Kristen Stewart

I generally don't like to rant on here unless its over La Aguilera or Mao Asada, but it's only May, and already I have seen way to much of Kristen Stewart on the covers of fashion magazines (yes ELLE, I am looking directly at you) for my liking. I'm pretty sure that like me, most people have the tendency to judge a magazine by its cover- and why not? I'm spending a good fiver on it, instead of buying myself food for the week. For me, covers have to encapsulate the seasonal mood of la mode. They have to be provocative enough to grab and sustain its demographic's attention, and mostly importantly, they need to possess that certain je ne sais quoi- that fantasy that often times make fashion exciting. Having said that, one must ask who the hell keeps giving K-Stew these covers?

ELLE US, June 2012, via AmyGrindhouse

ELLE UK, June 2012, via Lunionsuite

The June issues are out on the stands already and the Twilight actress (if you can call her that) graced not one, but two ELLE covers- both US and the UK editions. Both publications feature her mug and her signature emotional-void of an expression, and I am not impressed. There is nothing ethereal, or fantastical about her- unless of course the mags were going for pedestrian and brutish (kidding!.. -.-). But then again who am I to judge right? I am only a mere consumer, but nevertheless, if I wasn't buying the mags for its contents I wouldn't even stop to think about looking at them. They are just so blah, and I don't understand why the fash world is so enamoured with this sour puss. Did you see her at the MET Gala? How does THAT dishevelled thing end up on coveted covers? From an artistic stand point, I can understand why photographers and editors might be fascinated by her. What with that mixture of Jolie-esque angst and Gia Carangi's sauvage aesthetic- it's easy to see why somebody like Mario Testino would be happy to shoot. It's like trying to catch that elusive fashion unicorn (*cough* donkey *cough*). 

Here are some more of her covers early this year. 

GQ South Africa, Feb 2012 (How is THAT not awkward to look at?), via Twilightish

GLAMOUR South Africa, Feb 2012, via BreakingDawnMovie

JALOUSE, May 2012 (with Garrett Hedlund), via StyleIte

But if we were going for interesting and avante-garde actresses to put on the covers, aren't there a lot more better choices than one-dimensional K-Stew? There's Lily Collins, Mia Wasikowska, Jennifer Lawrence...to name a few who are considerably more engaging than K-Stew. As far as models go, I would rather have a dozen more Giselle or Kate covers. K-Stew is basically just as bland as her portrayal of Bella Swan (the role that defines her career, and not in the best of lights), and it seems to be the massive pink elephant in the room. If anything, I would give kudos to her team for working extra hard on keeping her relevant. She's not a bad actress (*cough*), but she's not a very good one either. I just don't get the fuss. 

Will you be running out of the house, in nothing but PJs and a beanie to buy her cover? Are they even selling?

Best and Worst Magazine Covers of 2011

WORST: Apparently, Justin Bieber's February cover was the magazine's third worst cover since Graydon Carter
took over the magazine in 1992, according to WWD. Not only that, but as a highly respected journalistic
magazine, can you blame the readers for not wanting the taint of Bieber-fever? It's a joke. 

UNFORTUNATE: It's a shame that Michelle Williams doesn't get the credit she deserves when it comes to magazine covers.
She is an Oscar nominated actress, yet her October Vogue cover was the second worst performer of the year.
It goes to show that today's generation favour the glamour of the celebrity and not the seasoned star. 

I TOLD YOU SO: Speaking of which, Lady Gaga's October Bazaar cover was the third worst performer of the year for the magazine. It's funny that her March cover was the second best magazine cover for Vogue but seven months later she fails to pull in the numbers. Is the world getting tired of her 'act' or do they just prefer her as Gaga and not Stefanie? You know, she wasn't
'Born that way'.

NEXT!: Gwyneth's January issue was one of InStyle's worst covers. Obviously, everybody clocked in on the amateur
editing and bad photoshopping. Also, they probably realised that she's a very overrated actress who is on her
way to sinking into irrelevance. Anybody who thinks otherwise is deluded. She's as bland as her shade of blond. 

BYE, BYE, BYE!: Justin Timberlake (and Amanda Seyfried)'s W cover only sold 15,000 copies. Ouch! He really should just
go back to singing with his top off. Is anybody even buying his bid at 'acting'? As for Amanda, well maybe had
she opted out of that horrid 'Red Riding Hood' film, maybe she could have sold more copies. 

FIERCE: Mila Kunis's March W cover performed extremely well. So did her Cosmo and Elle covers. As it appears, eating out
Natalie Portman in a demented ballerina film has its perk. Not to mention, she can smize like crazy and she can sell sex
to a prostitute, Complete with an impressive editorial, Kunis is proving to be one of fashion's fast becoming favourite. 

GRANNY-CHIC: Carrie Bradshaw's January cover for Elle came out on top. Personally, I don't think it's all that, but then
again, everybody seems to be clinging on to their favourite SATC star and the shadow of her younger, more
unrealistic persona. The Adobe overdose just creeps me out! Plus, she has pulled that pose since the dawn of time.

GOLDEN GIRL: Finally, there's Rachel Greene. She comes out on top with both her Elle and Marie Claire covers being in the top
two of both publications for the year. She can just sell! The magic that is FRIENDS and being an ex-Pitt obviously
still works. Also, let's not forget that she is America's sweetheart. Who can resist a bit of Jen every now and again?

...and here are some of my personal faves for the year...

(judged solely on their aesthetic not financial performance)

DELECTABLE: Nigella Lawson, December for Stylist Magazine. The TV vixen as a human, toffee apple. How can you fault that?

SULTRY: Anne Hathaway's September cover for Interview magazine was dark, sexy and decadent. It's one of the edgiest
editorials I have seen from her. 

INSPIRING: Some of the Orient's finest faces sporting Gucci's A/W 2011 dresses for Vogue China's September Issue. Asians rock!

...FINALLY...

DIVA: Christina Aguilera's July cover for W Magazine. I can't fault it. It's just perfect. 

H-ELLE-Oh Kitty!

It was only a matter of time before Sanrio's very own leading lady snagged her own fashion bible cover. Hot on the heels of Miss Piggy, and Smurfette, Hello Kitty has now graced Elle Taiwan for its 20th Anniversary Issue with not just one but two, couture covers. Some say its a bit creepy, but when you have a blue imp-ette and a blonde-wigged pig covering magazines to rave reviews, why not a cat? I absolutely adore these covers! I remember watching Kitty and her sister Mimi in their Sunday daytime cartoon series when I was litte. Well, she's since conquered the world in an insurmountable amount of merchandise and now, the fashion bible itself. We've come a long way haven't we?

Kawaii!!!

xoxo

The September Issue: Which Ones Did You Like Best?

Vogue China; Fei Fei Sun, Du Juan, Sui He, Ming Xi, Liu Wen, and Shu Pei Qin in Gucci A/W 2011 by Inez and Vinoodh