While I get that Blake is out there a lot right now, with the Taylor Swift adjacency factoring in it likely helped sell covers and advertising. I think after the Dr. Jill Biden coverage last month having Kamala Harris this month wouldn't have hit as big as a hopefully cover maybe with an inaguration or at a slightly later point. And Olympics I would love to see a cover with a bunch of them all at once in a large spread - maybe being photographed now in Paris...hopefully. These athletes are amazing! I think we'll see a lot of the athletes at the Fashion Shows this fall
Great point re: Taylor adjacency, which probably resonated with advertisers. And probably all the buzz around Blake helped sell ads too. I’m not a Swiftie (lol) but I’m guessing that Swifties follow the pack and support Taylor’s friends projects. And agreed - would love to see a group cover with all the winning ladies from the Olympics!
I think this is right on target. Articles like this help pull back the curtain and remind us that Condé Nast/Vogue is a corporation, and ultimately their goal is to sell ad space. It all just becomes so obvious with moves like Lively on the cover. This was such a sharp take, Kristen!
Thank you so much Kira! I didn’t really want to write a “hit piece” on magazines (because ultimately, I still love them), but I just think the consumer is so savvy these days, and like any media - magazine, social or otherwise - they can see right through it when they’re being hit by the marketing machine.
wholeheartedly agree. blake lively feels like a relic and she’s only been back in the public eye the past two weeks to promote & sell products. it’s feels very contrived, much like the media (for the past 15 years) trying to convince us that blake lively is some fashion icon/it girl. it’s all very bland & unseasoned
I thought the Vogue September cover, celebrity-wise, was reserved for Taylor Swift or Billie Eilish-level or Charli XCX brat-era relevance, like if Taylor herself was on that cover I would actually get it, same goes for Kim Kardashian (not a fan but they have that level of name recognition and recent relevance in their fields) or the Hadid sisters.
but apparently 'is Taylor Swift's friend' can be a substitute for 'has done a movie the audience she's flogging shampoos to can actually name without looking at wiki'
(but seriously - her? In 2024? I really want to know what went through Anna's mind because it's well known that Blake's past Vogue covers have been notably poor sellers)
But aren’t magazine covers scheduled months in advance? The magazine itself probably went to press well before Biden dropped out. And Blake’s cover was timed for her movie and hair care line release, so there was no moving it anyway.
This was a very good read! I agree that here definitely should have been someone more inspiring (in the true sense of the word) on the September issue, so thank you for highlighting this and sharing your thoughts
Evidently we share all the same feelings about the Blake onslaught lol. Given your mag experience, I’d love to know what you think about the cover’s color grading; it’s a gorgeous photo with beautiful glam but her hair looks so ashy and almost grey. It’s far cry from that enviable shade of blonde we know so well – or am I missing something? xx
I agree - the colour looks “off.” But then again, I find the colouring of Vogue photo shoots to be generally off. On another note, I loved the concept of the mock-film storyline and directed by Baz. But if they were going for a Hitchcock-inspired, I would have gone with a slightly retro look and feel. Not too on the nose, but would have given this shoot more personality.
While I get that Blake is out there a lot right now, with the Taylor Swift adjacency factoring in it likely helped sell covers and advertising. I think after the Dr. Jill Biden coverage last month having Kamala Harris this month wouldn't have hit as big as a hopefully cover maybe with an inaguration or at a slightly later point. And Olympics I would love to see a cover with a bunch of them all at once in a large spread - maybe being photographed now in Paris...hopefully. These athletes are amazing! I think we'll see a lot of the athletes at the Fashion Shows this fall
Great point re: Taylor adjacency, which probably resonated with advertisers. And probably all the buzz around Blake helped sell ads too. I’m not a Swiftie (lol) but I’m guessing that Swifties follow the pack and support Taylor’s friends projects. And agreed - would love to see a group cover with all the winning ladies from the Olympics!
I think this is right on target. Articles like this help pull back the curtain and remind us that Condé Nast/Vogue is a corporation, and ultimately their goal is to sell ad space. It all just becomes so obvious with moves like Lively on the cover. This was such a sharp take, Kristen!
Thank you so much Kira! I didn’t really want to write a “hit piece” on magazines (because ultimately, I still love them), but I just think the consumer is so savvy these days, and like any media - magazine, social or otherwise - they can see right through it when they’re being hit by the marketing machine.
wholeheartedly agree. blake lively feels like a relic and she’s only been back in the public eye the past two weeks to promote & sell products. it’s feels very contrived, much like the media (for the past 15 years) trying to convince us that blake lively is some fashion icon/it girl. it’s all very bland & unseasoned
totally agree that it was kind of an obvious choice that should’ve pushed the envelope given where we are at culturally!!
I thought the Vogue September cover, celebrity-wise, was reserved for Taylor Swift or Billie Eilish-level or Charli XCX brat-era relevance, like if Taylor herself was on that cover I would actually get it, same goes for Kim Kardashian (not a fan but they have that level of name recognition and recent relevance in their fields) or the Hadid sisters.
but apparently 'is Taylor Swift's friend' can be a substitute for 'has done a movie the audience she's flogging shampoos to can actually name without looking at wiki'
(but seriously - her? In 2024? I really want to know what went through Anna's mind because it's well known that Blake's past Vogue covers have been notably poor sellers)
Great article. You made me click on Skims...meh. But, I love the through line and all points well considered. Great writing.
But aren’t magazine covers scheduled months in advance? The magazine itself probably went to press well before Biden dropped out. And Blake’s cover was timed for her movie and hair care line release, so there was no moving it anyway.
This was a very good read! I agree that here definitely should have been someone more inspiring (in the true sense of the word) on the September issue, so thank you for highlighting this and sharing your thoughts
Evidently we share all the same feelings about the Blake onslaught lol. Given your mag experience, I’d love to know what you think about the cover’s color grading; it’s a gorgeous photo with beautiful glam but her hair looks so ashy and almost grey. It’s far cry from that enviable shade of blonde we know so well – or am I missing something? xx
I agree - the colour looks “off.” But then again, I find the colouring of Vogue photo shoots to be generally off. On another note, I loved the concept of the mock-film storyline and directed by Baz. But if they were going for a Hitchcock-inspired, I would have gone with a slightly retro look and feel. Not too on the nose, but would have given this shoot more personality.