Predicaments of a Fashion Lover: What's Going On At Vogue?

Vogue is the most iconic fashion magazine, ever. With countless celebrities and models gracing the covers, ad’s filling in between the latest know-how of the elusive fashion world and the clothes we drool over as we eat our Sunday brunch. Yet, there’s something going on at Vogue.

What’s happening to Vogue magazine?

Anna Wintour (she’s the Editor-in-Chief fyi) is having a bit of a secret moment. I say secret, but that article on ELLE America really isn’t much of a secret. Have you read it? Pretty interesting read and I think it reinforces the changes in the fashion industry we’ve been seeing.

Since the rise of Instagram taking over our social media lives; the increase in FOMO, paid ads which now HAVE to say #ad (advertising rules), social media stars and models means we’ve been getting a lot more in our face about how to live, dress and act. The use of social media in modelling is taking over those who are talented, just not social media savvy. The best example?

Kendall Jenner getting an entire Vogue to herself.

That’s a whole magazine of JUST Kendall Jenner. On a hoverboard. ~~Looking like a H&M ad.~~

And then after digesting this, a spread of Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik for Vogue magazine is ‘leaked’ – a couple who have been ‘dating’ for just over 2 months. The spread was shot by Mario Testino, one of the most famous photographers in the world yet it looked... bland. Boring. Something we see more cheesy advertisements then a glossy fashion magazine (below someone actually did turn it into advertisements). So what’s going on at Vogue? It seems almost every issue either has Gigi Hadid or Kendall Jenner somewhere, or both. Why is it the same models over and over again, and why should we give a damn about a young couple who are arguably in a PR relationship. Where’s the talent? The inspirational spreads? Where’s the originality for crying out loud?

This is VOGUE MAGAZINE. Not the Daily Mail or The Sun; this is a reputable magazine that’s shaped the very face of fashion. Anna Wintour changed the way we saw magazines by putting celebrities on the cover – so why has it all suddenly become very vanilla?

Where’s the level of inspiration like Naomi Campbell on the cover of the September issue? Is it because social media models are the new generation supermodels with only a few years of modelling behind them, but millions of followers on Instagram, so this makes them more talented at modelling? Is it the fast fashion pace where everything must be done as soon as possible to keep in the rat race, so there’s the constant need for ‘on point’ covers and spreads? Could Vogue be burning out?

Fast Fashion has taken a turn for the worst with our instant gratification needs; you see those Raf Simons Dior boots and want them? Public Desire do a cheaper version you can buy now! Want a Chanel jacket? Zara are doing ones similar? YSL buckle boots? Haven’t you seen Topshop – they’re doing them for forty quid! It’s CONSTANT and never ending, but it feels like something has got to give to keep the fashion industry, the part that’s actually fashion and not advertisement, alive.

Many people are calling for a change when it concerns modelling such as @IMONATION with this piece. It appears not everyone is happy with the way things are going on and how instead of making trends, Vogue is following them. But what can change? We cannot reverse the effects social media, just like we cant get over our Monday FOMO with a fancy treat-yo-self coffee. Maybe instead it’s time to see a fight, a fashion revolution. After all, the waves of change are being felt across the industry, as Gucci is set to unify male and female clothing in 2017 (I wrote a thing previously on unisex clothing, see here). But as I sit here, I long for something more. Something bigger and extravagant, something mind-blowingly genius I will talk about for years later, rather than the rest of the week. I want to see something that goes beyond a hashtag, something that lasts. I don’t know what it is, but I can feel it starting. There’s a whisper, a tremble, the beginning of a wave and it’s coming. Soon.

Until then I’ll roll my eyes at every poor spread Vogue come up with and wonder where our saviour is, tucking away my observations until I can form a full, articulate post. Maybe it’s you as you read this, nodding along. Perhaps, but as it stands all I can wonder is why British Vogue struggles so much and puts Kate Moss on the cover when it appears they’re fresh out of ideas. Why Kate discussing The Rolling Stones and not the Stones themselves, dressed in a flurry of Gucci, Saint Laurent Paris and Marc Jacobs? Imagine the sort of imagery we could have with Mick Jagger mimicking his younger self, but in Gucci. Or Keith Richards jumping around in Saint Laurent, skinny scarfs wrapped around his neck and head. Ronnie Wood causing a ruckus in between takes, smearing kohl eyeliner across Keith and stealing the custom suit jackets. Charlie Watts dressed in subtle Givenchy suits, rolling his eyes at it all before getting stuck in, leather jacket in hand. Kate is an icon, there’s no doubt about it. And yet, it feels like a safety blanket. It’s what we see time and time again.

The Rolling Stones in an editorial is something so appealing, so powerful than what we've recently been seeing.

I understand Insta-models are becoming the new curve, but the level of nepotism at Vogue magazine is becoming boring. Where’s my fight? Where’s the creativity, instead of the mediocre? Where are the rebels like Alexander McQueen? All I can think is how much businesses are falling into the trap of gossipy click-bait, turning more Cosmopolitan by the day. Shouldn’t something still stand as pure and unapologetically what it is; high fashion.

But instead, money leads the charge. After all Esteé Lauder are the sole advertisers in the Kendall Jenner issue, who funnily enough is the face of Esteé Lauder currently.

Strange how those things work in coincidence isn’t it?

That’s my two cents.

After all, we are allowed to be negative about the things we've previously adored. As a young girl, I picked up my cousins Vogue in wonder of the beauty of it all, the luxuriousness and craftsmanship, the genus behind each piece. Now I can predict the next issue with a sigh.