4 Unusual Fashion Magazines Spring Covers: KimYe, Vivienne Westwood, Kim Basinger, Nigella

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The unusual, the controversial, the gossip magnets, the questionable and the influencer have earned their fashion magazine covers this Spring! There’s nothing like the boost of nature’s rebirth to wake up the popular energy!

And the absolute tongue-waggling crown goes to:

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West Vogue US April 2014 Shape Issue cover

Photographed by Annie Leibovitz with an associated cover story written by the grand Hamish Bowles, the cover models choice had to be defended by Anna Wintour in her editorial letter.

unusual cover stars Spring Fashion Magazines

Kim Kardashian Kanye West Vogue April 2014 cover

People’s reaction was interesting, to say the least: from Vogue’s Facebook page where the cover posting has hit over 2,000 comments, to tFS forum topic where it went north to 28 pages in just a couple of days (at one point, there were nearly 300 people reading the topic simultaneously) and to Buffy, Sarah Michelle Gellar, tweeting about cancelling her Vogue subscription.

reactions at Vogue Kimye cover

See also: Kim and Kanye’s first official fashion magazine cover!

Nigella Lawson Vogue UK April 2014 cover

In comparison with Kimye’s, Nigella’s topic only got as far as 5 pages on tFS. Photographed by Nathaniel Goldberg, the trendiest chef of the moment, Nigella, looked less controversial and, honestly, her rise to fame was by cooking and writing cookbooks not releasing the kind of video tapes that increased the volume of both her bank accounts and of certain parts of the male human anatomy.

Nigella Lawson Vogue UK April 2014

Nigella Lawson was styled by Kate Phelan with hair by Like Hersheson, makeup by Sally Branka and manicure by Jenny Longworth. On the cover, there’s a lovely lace Burberry dress and for the inside pictorial, she’s wearing body hugging dresses from Victoria Beckham and Antonio Berardi, making up for the lack of makeup with a generous cleavage.

Nigella Lawson Vogue April 2014

See also: Kate Moss, a regular UK Vogue covergirl delivers magical issues!

Nigella Lawson Vogue UK pictorial

Kim Basinger Interview Russia April 2014 cover

A wonderful black and white example of flawless portraiture from Craig McDean, Kim Basinger has perfect features and the image is playful and provocative. The bright pink works just right with the black and white palette.

Kim Basinger Interview Russia April 2014

Vivienne Westwood The Gentlewoman #9 Spring / Summer 2014

The Amazing Grand Dame of Fashion, Vivienne Westwood is perfect for ‘the gentlewoman’ profiling as she graces the Spring / Summer 2014 issue photographed by Alasdair McClellan.

Vivienne Westwood the Gentlewoman Spring Summer 2014 cover

Profiling the extraordinary drive keeping Vivienne Westwood always relevant, always present on the fashion scene, always militating and fighting for the good cause falls right in the gentlewoman’s alley following legendary covers such as Phoebe Philo (for the first issue), Inez Lamsveerde (for the 2nd issue) or Christy Turlington (the 5th issue) and Beyonce (the 7th issue).

Vivienne Westwood the Gentlewoman

Vivienne Westwood the Gentlewoman Spring Summer 2014 pictorial

the Gentlewoman covers

13 comments

#1 Ana on 03.25.14 at 5:29 am

I feel betrayed by Vogue. Mine, was a relationship from more than 20 years ago. I canceled my suscription as well and I will send the cover back to Anna Wintour.
You may think it is an exageration, but I promise, for me a real fashion lover, a part of that dream is dead. I realized that indeed an era has ended .

#2 kpriss on 03.25.14 at 8:27 am

Hm… I do think your decision was justified. As many others felt betrayed by the ‘red carpet / gossip’ direction in which Anna is driving this magazine.

This leaves us with one, hardly simple, question: if not Vogue, then what?

#3 Ana on 03.25.14 at 1:11 pm

Well girl, I will have to learn to live without it then. I was faithful for 20 years. I accepted a lot, but this was the last straw. Perhaps I occasionally buy some issue at the stand ( 11€ for issue, mind you !! ) if it interests me very very much.. But for now is total boycott.
It is not only because KK. It is also his ugly ,obnoxious , nauseating face there , trying too hard to be interesting.
So let’s not call his sweat pants business casual and please we better just stay away from adding any kind of false legitimacy to one of the most self involved, irritating couples to roam this planet.
Let’s see for how long Kim and Kanye’s fans will be loyal to Vogue.
And next, who ? Snooky ? Real House Wives ?

#4 kpriss on 03.26.14 at 7:06 am

I have issues with them as well. But it’s interesting how Kim is struggling to become something so different than what she was before. At least in the eyes of the press. She’s almost trying too hard all of a sudden…

just wondering.. in what’s Kim any different than, say, Rihanna? as cover-girl choice?

#5 Ana on 03.26.14 at 3:16 pm

Rihana didnt make a po*nog*afic movie to launch her career …
If momentum in media and over exposure is only what counts tell me how Paris Hilton was not on the Vogue cover at her heyday, when even CNN and all TV channels in Europe interrupted their programm to announce she had fell from a horse … I mean, they are pretty much the same talentless famous for being famous.

#6 jac on 03.27.14 at 4:02 am

It is a sad state of affairs when high fashion is Kimye – Vogue catering to the lowest common denominator instead of elevation of the soul! I don’t understand why Vogue continues to just focus on one demographic & then alienate all the other generations that like to read; dream; spend; plan; learn; gossip etc from magazines. Why not multi covers – encapsulating & reaching out to people from 12 – 112!?

Nigella’s dress is divine but she looks very tired.

Loving Vivienne Westwood’s cover – this is what I want from creative / artistic outlets like fashion magazines.

#7 kpriss on 03.27.14 at 11:22 am

Ana: you’re right about the Paris Hilton observation – sauf que she was born with the silver spoon whereas the KKs weren’t (were they?) even so , that doesn’t make them Vogue material. Neither is Rihanna, in my fashion perspective – she may not have kickstarted her career like Kim, but she sure added plenty of the same spice in the fame sauce along the way!

oh, jac! <3

I thought I was the only one thinking that Nigella looks a bit off... Reminded me of Kate Winslet, a tired, frightened Kate Winslet... As relevant as Vogue US might've been for the fashion individuals, many turn their preferences away from the mainstream and the cliche that's been turned into. I still have all my bets on Franca's Vogue Italia. How about you, jac? where's your newsstand loyalty? :)

#8 Appollonia on 03.27.14 at 2:00 pm

Interested in my newstand loyality? I lost my loyalty a decade ago. I buy a magazine when it’s interesting, with substantial content. That’s hard to find these days. Saves lot of €-s.
I do not feel betrayed by Anna Wintour. Watch ‘The September Issue” again and you know what I am saying and see the covers of Vogue and other magazines……sighs……no. I tried to make my point on the article with the Kimey photo shoot.

Vogue Italia? Too often racist until my disappointment.
Totally love Vivienne’s cover and shoot. Yes, listen when an older lady speaks ;) :P Gosh, I love Dame Vivienne still faithful to her beliefs! I take a bow for this woman, look at her……what a way to get older. :) <3

#9 kpriss on 03.27.14 at 2:46 pm

Appollonia, thank you! <3 I'm with you on that substantial content motivation: I still treasure my Kate Moss Testino Vogue Spain issue! I feel vain for only buying the highlights, but ... such is life. I had to toughen up to keep up...

I like Franca's perspective on fashion although she sometimes seems like a child: unconscious and ecstatic but not seeing all the angles.

If anything, I'm happy we're all on the same page, loving Dame Viv <3

#10 Ellington on 03.29.14 at 1:06 pm

Love Dame Vivienne’s cover!! LOVE HER!!
I even like Nigella’s cover, she does look a tad weary but she has been through a lot of late but she looks real and stylish.
It is nice to see Kim Basinger, her daughter Ireland looks like her and she is lovely.
Forget Kimye!
As for the Paris H and Kim K comparison they both had p*rn videos and they both came from money, albeit Paris’ money is a tad older but she would have been considered Nouveau Riche when compared to the Rockerfellas , Astors and Vanderbilts., the Hiltons were upstart hotel merchants. ; )
Rihanna’s talent is her singing, her being on the cover does not bother me as much for it is the same as when they put an actor on the cover, but this Kimye stuff is the last straw for me. No Vogue for this chica.

#11 Adriana V on 05.15.14 at 3:53 pm

Just on time I bought the ‘the gentlewoman’ because I love Vivienne and to remind myself that with getting older I can say what I want, I can be who I want to be, I can dress the way I like until the end of time. Such a great reminder.
It’s a bit late, I almost forgot but thanks for posting this cover and photo’s of the Dame. This purchase made my day. :)

#12 kpriss on 05.16.14 at 9:08 am

Oh, thank you! your confession made my day <3

#13 Adriana V on 05.21.14 at 1:19 pm

OMG!! I must haven’t paid toThe Gentlewoman Inez with beard cover! I googled the issue and its Autumn/Winter 2010 issue, lol! Only funny for Eurovision Song Contest watchers. Oh well, I find it funny. ;) :D

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