Kate Moss – Has Anna Wintour Lost It?

Anna Wintour choose Kate Moss to be September’s cover girl and I’m beyond disappointed.

Isn’t US Vogue supposed to be aspirational? Isn’t it supposed to be the cutting edge, the ever defining nowness factor of fashion?

Anna was recently quoted, “…who can understand that being talented is obviously important, but that you also have to have a sense of business and being creative and commercial are two words that can work together.”

I would argue that putting Kate Moss on the cover of the September issue is leaning way too far into the commercial category.

I understand the need to consider economics when selling creative images but I beg of you to please stop putting business decisions on the cover of the world’s most powerful fashion magazines.  Anna Wintour may think we see a fashionable newly wed and therefore relevant Kate Moss but what I see is an attempt to steer the magazine back towards fashion by using a risk-free, based on name recognition, model.

If Anna is correct in her decision, it’s even more disappointing that the best, the most current and exciting model today is Kate Moss.  Although Moss remains fairly quiet in the press, her image is one of tabloid fodder and controversy.  It’s a fashionable over done yawn.

I used to sneak Vogue into my house so I could see who was behind the powerful covers.  I didn’t know who the models were on the covers but the images were so compelling I had to possess them.  Now when I look at Vogue I see the same ingénues and starlets lit in the exact same way; pretty virginal faces and smart outfits.  Inside I find a glorified yellow pages.

I used to read Vogue to be informed about what was current and cutting the edge of fashion.  Now I find out which socialite is having marriage, drug or boyfriend problems and what to do with my cellulite and fine lines.  The fashion spreads are no better.  It’s the same hair, the same makeup, the same pose every issue.

What happened to the most powerful magazine in fashion?

Vogue seems to have forgotten it’s position. It is first chair but acts as if it’s still auditioning to get into the orchestra.  I don’t understand why Anna Wintour, arguably the most powerful woman in fashion, is not willing to take more creative risks. It’s frustrating because if Anna decided to shift direction and trust the creative decision makers, everyone in the business would follow.

We look to US Vogue to guide fashion.  We look to the September issue to set the tone for the coming year.

It would seem Vogue is pointing us in the direction of the proverbial lamb this year.

1. create images as universally appealing as possible

2. take zero risk in an unstable economy

3. cross fingers and hope no one notices that we’ve seen this done

I bought the magazine because it’s Vogue not because of who was on the cover and I still believe Vogue is much more powerful than any celebrity out there.

How about using Abbey Lee Kershaw on the cover?

Or Mia Carla Boscono?

How about Joan Smalls?

On a positive note, Mario Testino has taken a beautiful photograph. He is the master of pretty and Kate his muse.