Those who are up-to-date on the fashion front will know for the fact that Vogue and controversies go hand in hand. Recently, the magazine faced flak for its February issue cover featuring Madam Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris. Both critics and netizens pointed out the washed out background and the poor choice of styling did not reflect the power of position that Kamala will hold. Many of them expressed their disappointment to Vogue for such an ordinary cover to the first Black woman and first South Asian American woman who is on the verge of making history.
However, there were some who stood by the publication for the representation of its cover. Vogue’s former editor André Leon Talley, who worked with the magazine for over three decades came in support of the glossy. Putting forth some strong points, he shared his thoughts on the controversial cover.
Sharing the cover in question on his social media account, André said, “It’s GREAT. JUST GREAT! GREAT.” He also mentioned that she selected her personal wardrobe choices that could set a trend for all young women all over the world. “Not everyone evolves wishing to be a screen star, or a music vixen, or a Kardashian beauty empress. There are girls who will see in this cover, something wonderful,” read an excerpt from his caption.
He also appreciated photographer Tyler Mitchell and his evolved vision. “His work must be seen through the prism of 2021. We are after all dealing with serious issues: the global Pandemic, the sudden horror of domestic terrorism. Both the digital and the print covers are superb,” he continued. The editor also reminisced about the time when Vogue featured the then African-American First lady, Michelle Obama. “For months, the Vogue team took every moment of organizing the shoot with gravitas. Tonne Goodman styled the cover and the shoot. I wrote the piece.”
Sharing that ‘knitting controversy is utterly ridiculous,’ he also shared that fashion has been changed since the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. “After all, no one is wearing a stiletto every day during COVID. Madame Vice-President-elect has a lot of work to do. And she is not thinking every day about how she is looking. Her mere strength, her determination and her goals to work for all Americans is foremost. A simple black jacket, a tee-shirt, a simple strand of pearls, and her beautiful hair, her smile, her warmth suggests all the elegance one desires. Everyone is trashing that pink and green background. It is symbolic that Tyler Mitchell would use that to express her Madam vice president admiration for her sorors of the AKA at Howard U.”
Plain Jane or symbolic, how did you find the Vogue’s issue cover?
(Source- Instagram)
