Flying the flag for ‘real’ women Vogue’s new issue is a model-free zone
Vogue are keeping it real this month [Photo: Instagram/@britishvogue via @josholins]
While it would be true to say the fashion industry has long been dominated by super slim, willowy models, diversity has been having a moment of late and women representative of various different body shapes have been slowly clawing their way onto the catwalks and into the pages of glossy magazines. And hurrah for that!
Doing their bit for diversity this month is style bible Vogue. For the first time ever their next issue, which goes on sale on Thursday, is going to be a ‘model-free zone.’ Instead the issue will feature ‘real’ women modelling the high-end togs in its fashion spreads and features.
Explaining what inspired the concept, editor Alexandra Shulman told GMB’s Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid: “I had the idea when a colleague was telling me about the problems they were having trying to get clothes for actresses - who are real people. I thought it was insane.
"Then I thought to myself, wouldn’t it be interesting if we didn’t used models for an entire issue. So that’s what we did.”
The issue will include businesswoman and academics rather than models, explore what ‘real’ beauty is and how successful women dress at work. Tetraplegic journalist Melanie Reid, architectural historian Shumi Bose, ice-cream entrepreneur Kitty Travers and Unruly Media co-founder Sarah Wood are all set to make an appearance in the style bible’s pages.
[Photo: Instagram/@britishvogue via @josholins]
Meanwhile the cover role has fallen to The Girl on the Train actress Emily Blunt who was reportedly chosen for being one of Hollywood’s most relatable stars.
“Who better to cover British Vogue’s first Real Issue than Emily Blunt?” Vogue’s Instagram post explained. “Famous for carving out a reputation in her career for playing relatable women, the actress has a candid real-life attitude to match.”
Speaking on GMB this morning Alexandra Shulman was keen to stress that though the issue wanted to reflect ‘real’ woman, the magazine isn’t making a purely size-based statement.
“This has nothing to do with size,” she told the presenters. “The fashion industry isn’t interested in lending to a diversity of people. I’m not just talking about size.
"We are trying to show that people of all ages, shapes and sizes and can put on clothes and look great.”
Vogue’s editor Alexandra Schulman [Photo: Getty]
This isn’t the first time that Alexandra Shulman has flown the fashion flag for diversity. Known for her progressive approach to body image, in 2009 she spoke out about her desire for leading designers to widen the size range of samples they produce to lend to magazines and models, claiming some were so small they encouraged models to be unhealthily thin.
What do you think of the concept of Vogue’s real issue? Let us know @YahooStyleUK
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