A Day of Mourning

It was the cover seen around the world. And the one that completely destroyed Vogue's prestige. 

Anna Wintour's decision to put Kim Kardashian on the April cover (thanks to her beloved rapper fiance Kanye West) shook the fashion world today and resulted in humorous backlash. While the puns and slams have been funny to watch, it's hard to ignore the sadness of realizing Vogue just lost a ton of respect. By allowing a reality TV star, who rose to fame from her sex tape, be on the cover of a magazine that once prided itself in credibility and class, the magazine isn't just being controversial - it's being tasteless. 

Like many, I've always looked to Vogue as the ultimate bible and Anna as an iconic fashion influence (who could forget her first American cover with the bejeweled cross jacket and jeans combo?!) but this is easily a game changer for the worst. In the past, Vogue's notable transitions to combine classic and modern has been admirable. I've loved anxiously awaiting fresh copies of the magazine in the mail so I could frame covers, mark pages, and overall adore the latest trends. Now my mailbox will be stuffed with an issue that promotes a Kardashian as influential and does so by using a hashtag...seriously? There's no better setting for change than the fashion world. But there's also many better settings for this specific public figure that should not include Vogue. 

Side note: An amazing/redeeming comeback would include finally giving Victoria Beckham an American Vogue cover. And let Annie Leibovitz shoot it...she deserves some happiness after this mess. 

The September Issue : Redefining Cover Girl

Bless September. The fashion holy month that delivers us with the latest version of the bible - AKA, Vogue's September Issue. This year's 902 page magazine spoiled us with the most fashion ads and articles we've seen since the recession. The latest issue was also my personal favorite September issue since Kate Moss' wedding coverage in 2011. The profile on Jennifer Lawrence was extremely refreshing with its awareness and genuineness. Titled "Star Quality", the cover story examined Lawrence's rise to fame and how despite her movie star power, she's stayed down to earth.

The hyped up September issue is all about the revamped fall wardrobe and the start of new trends that will truly impact the rest of the year. With Jennifer Lawrence on the cover, Vogue is turning a new page on what it means to have star quality in today's age. Gone are the days of the media adoring the idea of the tailored to perfection actresses like Julia Roberts or Gwyneth Paltrow. With Lawrence, it goes beyond liking the relatable girl who can additionally rock designer flocks. This is the girl who won an Oscar then tripped in Dior and flirted with Jack Nicholson in the most fangirl manner. She's sincere, and in an industry where stars don't have the most fortunate fate, that revamps the ideal cover girl. The September issue is the blockbuster issue and Jennifer Lawrence is most definitely redefining what it means to be a blockbuster star.

(Sidenote: "Cinderella Story" is another stand out piece totally worth checking out!)

"I'm still getting used to everything. It makes me a little emotional, just to see how quickly everything changes." 
-Jennifer Lawrence

EXTRA EXTRA: Fashion Dominates the Magazine Industry!

I was beyond happy to hear Ad Age recently named Vogue Magazine  the "Magazine of the Year"! As someone who has always dreamed of working in the fashion industry, I've been forced to get used to the judgmental statements from people who stereotype fashion. After a while, it's gets a little tiring hearing the usual assumptions like, "they never eat", "they're mean girls", and "it's not even a real job". It's unfortunate that when a business is dominated by women, people automatically think the worst. If a woman is powerful like Anna Wintour, she's supposedly ice cold. However, if a man is powerful, he's successful and respected. I'm not trying to sound like a crazy feminist, I swear! I just hate how our society undermines feminine aspects, especially fashion.

Yes, if you want to go into the fashion industry you do actually need a degree. In fact, fashion is one of the most stressful occupations. Don't believe me? Check out the Tumblrs' for OscarPRGirl and DKNYPRGirl. Those ladies are never not working. Sure, we're not saving lives but this business redefines the arts. Fashion reflects how we identify ourselves and is a huge creativity outlet.

So to all those people who claimed magazines were pointless, fashion was meaningless, and ever dared to insult Anna Wintour...time to bite your tongue. Looks like Ms. Wintour will continue to run the halls of Conde Nast and be the deciding factor of fashion's top styles for quite a while. Vogue is the fashion bible. Hence, why it's my dream job and I worship the magazine so much!

"When I die I want to go to Vogue."

-David Bailey

Fashion Icon: Emma Watson

This summer Harry Potter may be coming to an end, but Emma Watson seems to be just getting started. In the striking new issue of Vogue, Emma reveals what's up next now that the franchise is over. The British actress certainly won't be taking a break from making movies anytime soon. She's already worked on two very buzz worthy films. So young yet so busy! What's not to love about Emma? She's adorable, down to earth, and a huge fashion icon. In anticipation for Emma's upcoming promo events, let's take a look back at some of her most memorable looks.