when i first read that tyra banks was going to be on the cover of september’s bazaar, i was beyond excited. i have not been thrilled with the recent covers, but with tyra, bazaar had a model and an african-american, and with all of the industry talk, it was a win-win situation. then i read that she was going to be playing michelle obama in the editorial. hmmm, i thought, it was online and could be a rumour…in fact, i hope it’s a rumour.
then the pictures surfaced. then the video. and then, i was slightly ill.
so why have tyra portraying someone else in her first non-modeling cover? apparently the magazine couldn’t get the real mrs. obama (she turned down the cover as no to appear too fashion-forward), and she approved the use of banks in the ed. and banks played right along. but why? tyra is a beautiful woman and a top model. so top in fact that steven meisel shot her for vogue italia’s all black issue. she has two hit tv shows (a new season of antm starts september 3) and stylista starting soon after. using a tyraism, she’s fierce. too bad she couldn’t use this platform to show off that fierceness.
thank goodness bazaar always steps it up with inventive editorials, like this month’s redoing of the royal tenenbaums featuring the ronsons. interesting that charlotte is dressed as richie, especially based on samantha’s current relationship…
stylist extraordinare (depending on who you ask) rachel zoe gets photoshopped to a size 8. of her new curves, she says, “i immediately worked my body differently. as soon as i had curves, i was like, i want to stick my butt out, show my cleavage. i immediately felt sexy. i don’t feel sexy on a daily basis. in fact, i never feel sexy.” i can understand why.
the best ed is by karl lagerfeld, called “what’s chic now,” (even with more modern editorials, bazaar still hasn’t figured out how to come up with more inventive titles for them). styled by brana wolf, lagerfeld has assembled jessica stam, hilary rhoda, angela lindvall and heidi mount in a softly lit backstage where the girls are primping and preening for their next performance. the model casting is ingenious and karl manages to bring out the best in each girl while meshing them together beautifully. lindvall also has the solo-girl “luxe looks” shot by camilla akrans (who also shoots anna maria jagodzinska in “the new shapes”)
glen luchford’s beautiful “what’s next,” stars freja beja erichsen in a twenties meets 80s ed where she channels sheena easton and robert palmer’s fem-bots with a dash of helmut newton. it’s nice to see her take a risk and not rest on her androgynous features…the inspired ed raises her star to a whole new level.
arlenis sosa continues her hot streak netting her first bazaar ed in “brilliant buys” by greg kadel. it certainly doesn’t show her off to the best of her abilities (some of the shots are a little too posed) and it is a studio shot, but she still shines…hopefully this is the first of more to come.
what would fashion designers do if they weren’t designing? peter lindbergh answers that question in “designer’s costume drama” where giorgio armani, karl lagerfeld, alessandra facchinetti, michael kors and others answer the age old question “what if?” who knew karl wanted to rap, that giorgio dreamed of fred astaire, and that donatella versace had dreams of being a princess?
the other eds are:
– “best black dresses” by solve sundsbo (lily donaldson)
– “red hot” by richard burbridge (masha novoselova)
– “perfect pieces” by nathaniel goldberg (suvi koponen)
– “bright ideas” by alexi lubomirski (coco rocha)
with all these eds, plus their usual stellar shopping coverage and articles, bazaar takes the cake from rival vogue this september. now if they could just lay off the cheesy covers…
scans by luxx at thefashionspot; arlenis pics from models.com
