It's rare that a mainstream fashion magazine cover deserves a second glance, but British Elle's December cover made me sigh with pleasure. It ticks all the boxes: fashion forward and arresting without being unduly provocative, and incredibly pleasing to the eye in its layout and colouring.
Most surprising of all, it features a celebrity whose styling is so immaculately unexpected and such a delicious departure from her norm that it makes us immediately consider our perception of her image, and therefore want to buy the magazine to find out more.
It's really no surprise that Elle's Creative Director Marissa Bourke wins so many awards. To me, this is the absolute exemplar of what a 21st century high circulation newsstand magazine cover selling to an increasingly fashion literate audience should look like.
Three cheers to editor Lorraine Candy for running with this.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
British Elle December: Kate Hudson cover
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19 Opinions:
What a truly fabulous cover. I have been so, so very sick of the insipid celebrity glamour shots that pass for magazine covers these days (W being the only notable exception) and I tend to find Kate Hudson uninteresting and a bit pointless. Yet, just as you say, this cover makes me want to learn all about her and probably be her. Or at least start wearing dramatic eyeliner again.
I concur entirely. UK Elle is my fave mag. I love the way it looks. And Kate Hudson is almost undetectable under that great makeup. I am very unimpressed with that hippie thing they've always got her doing in magazines.
You're so right. This cover makes Kate Hudson look hip; it truly redefines her & yes I agree with Lolly, I'll be working the dramatic eyeliner.
xx Miss W
ps Thank God for slebs that take risks, btw (so many don't, won't...ever)
Very amazing cover. Good eye. Seriously, I hate buying a magazine with a celebrity on the cover, it's always the same eye-rolling force-fed crap. But this looks chic and different!
It's such a terrific cover, and so unexpected. It's great to see British ELLE return to its fashion roots, & start leading once more. It feels so much more confident, like it's suddenly remembered it's the world's biggest fashion magazine
Lolly darling: I'm with you on the eyeliner. let's practice next week! And not put the results on here.
K Line: God that hippy thing is soooo flippin dull. Completely with you.
Miss W: well, you should know my dear, given yr years at the LA coalface! Isn't it refreshing to see someone go for it?
Mrs T: Leading is so the right word. It's gonna trample the competition.
I have to say I'm not an avid reader of Elle. But if I saw this on the newstand I would definitely do a double take. Hell, I might even push the boat out and buy a copy today!
It is a great cover and Kate Husdson looks amazing. Lovely to see her a little edgy and sophisticated I always see her as bubbly and wholesome. Its great.
I thought the whole issue was fab actually, and loved their feature inside the 'book' about how they achieved some of their best covers this year. Even made me think about subscribing (the subscribers' covers are even better) although I haven't - yet.
The blue & black are marvellous. I probably won't buy as I've hit my financial limit for mags this month(already), so thanks for posting this. I'll try to resist temptation at the newsstand.
BTW. The eyeliner. I taught some neophytes & a French makeup artist friend the following. (I'm inordinately proud of it as otherwise I'm an idiot about this sort of thing. Or so says my makeup artist mother.)
Take a pile of your leftover business cards. I use the 5 million from a particular publisher I worked for...
Keep in bathroom or on vanity. Angle the business card in such a way as to use as a guide. You can even cut a little indentation (as much as you like)with some nail scissors that you have laying there. (That's just how this happened.)
Apply liner or pencil as you like it. By the time you've used up the damn cards (into paper recycle bin), say to yourself, "I will have another job.." (or contract, whatever it is.)
The end.
Have a great week...
Kate Hudson looks amazing on the cover and in her magazine layout. However, her interview...lol well it's still Kate Hudson.
It's fierce- and she looks fantastic. I love magazines- there is nothing like holding one and turning the pages- I love online, I love your blog, my blog, lots of blogs there are times when it just has to be a magazine. If they keep being well edited and gorgeous to look at hopefully we will all keep buying them.
Indeed this is a good cover. Love the clean image, the intelligent font, the uncrowded page.
Agreed on all counts. Usually, I dismiss Kate Hudson. Not this time.
I love the color, the type, and the framing.
Lovely cover...the US mags should do more of this
With Kate Hudson being a true spiritual hippy with her I Conjure Candles and Buddhist chanting and understated street style, I think this cover suits her style fantastically. It shows her as a glamorous independent woman who has her own sense of style.
Like Madonna she looks severely out of place when she dresses meekly.
She does look fantastic, but I couldn't believe the sentence where she talks about her weight.
"I'm 'pretty solid actually. I'm not, like, 110lbs. But I'm probably heading towards that."
Which the journalist points out, is only seven-and-a-half stone.
Yeah ... pretty hefty, Kate! Sadly, just another Hollywood airhead it seems.
How truly fabulous. I have to admit, I didn't recognise her at first. Must buy a copy. Now.
I agree completely. With the exception of their somewhat questionable taste in cover girls (but no worse than any other title on the newsstands), I've been surprised by how much I've been enjoying UK Elle this year. It's the perfect mix of fantasy and accessibility and relevance to the average working woman.
(have been reading your blog for ages, have always enjoyed your commentary on all things fashion, and more :))
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