La Belle Americane

Every so often there is an editorial that just gets under your skin - something that stands out in your memory as being completely flawless in its execution. La Belle Americane is one such edit for me. Shot for Vogue Paris by Patrick Demarchelier and styled by Carine Roitfeld, it really doesn't get much better in terms of creative talent. Add to this the fact that it showcases Ms. Crystal Renn, looking fierce in the hottest designer looks and you've got a recipe for perfection. If there were a high fashion plus sized monthly (and lets cross our fingers that one day there is) I would hope that this is what some of the content would look like. Until then I have my old issues of Vogue Paris and a big dream.


Thanks to Kasper & West Mags from tFS for the scans

Food for thought : I feel like I've seen more plus sized models in Vogue Paris per capita than I've ever seen in US Vogue with the noted exception of the shape issue and even then... Anyone else notice this? Whenever I can find a great edit featuring a plus model I'll post for inspiration but I feel as though (at least based on what I've seen) the majority of these pictures are in European magazines as opposed to American ones.

Jennifer Hudson, Vogue Covergirl

From WWD:

Jennifer Hudson is clearly the woman of the hour. After securing an Oscar nomination, a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild award for best supporting actress for her role in "Dreamgirls," the "American Idol" runner-up has landed the March Power cover of Vogue. Hudson was photographed by Annie Leibovitz at the Apollo Theater as part of a seven-page photo essay inside, but the chances of one of those photos ending up on the cover were high even before Hudson won a Globe late last month. But, presumably, her win helped seal the deal. Vogue has featured only two African-Americans on its cover since December 2002 — Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry and model Liya Kebede.

This is HUGE. For plus sized women, for minority women, for all women. I can only imagine how refreshing it will be to open up the worlds most celebrated fashion magazine and see a woman outside the standard magazine comfort zone represented as beautiful, sexy and fashionable. I can't wait till it hits newstands!

Fingers crossed they don't airbrush her into oblivion.

Kate Dillon in Vogue Paris

Vogue Paris is in my opinion the world's premiere fashion magazine. They trump everyone else on the planet in terms of fresh viewpoints, daring ideas and exciting concepts. As such it is only fitting that they have embraced a plus model within their cutting edge pages. In their Tango Des Passions editorial they showcase the beauty of our favorite supermodel, Kate Dillon.

The editorial, show by the world renowned photographer Mario Testino is beautiful. I don't think I have ever seen a plus size model depicted in such a sexy and sensual manner. Not to mention the fact that these photos are elegant and artistic. I think this is an important editorial as it features models of different shapes together, presented as equally alluring. I'd like to see more of that in fashion magazines.