LeBron's No Andre J, But We Love Him Anyway

Mar 14, 2008 @ 2:55pm

Our initial reaction to the news that Gisele "The Legs" Bündchen would share a Vogue cover with NBA powerhouse LeBron James: "Hold up! A black, male, athlete, and a model? Way to go Anna!"

But then we saw the cover, and we're a little miffed.

It shows personality, sure, but the whole "Me, Tarzan. You, Jane," vibe doesn't sit well with the french fries we had for lunch.

We would have loved a tipoff with LeBron vs. Gisele. Or even a statuesque depiction of their exquisite physiques a la The David meets Aphrodite. After all, it is the Shape Issue.

And when you compare it to the stately presentation of George Clooney and Richard Gere on previous covers, well, where's the fashion?

It is semi-refreshing. Or different, at the least.

-- JAZZI McGILBERT

posted by syako

Mar 14, 2008 3:04PM

me tarzan, that's awesome. And so spot on. vogue + shape issue = ??? Why would I turn to Vogue about any type of shape/fitness/health information? That baffles me. Anyway, I would have loved to see gisele in a full on NBA uniform complete with platform tennis shoes. Woo woo!

posted by kimair

Mar 14, 2008 3:15PM

syako...it's not so much fitness issues as it is dressing for different sizes and body shapes. in the past they've done tall, thin, petite, pregnant, athletic, etc.

after seeing a list of the other model/athlete pairings in this issue, my pick would have been for a shaun white/daria werbowy cover.

posted by syako

Mar 14, 2008 3:34PM

got it. makes more sense.

posted by FWD

Mar 14, 2008 3:35PM

Ergh. Somewhere out there John Fiske is making slides of this as we speak.

posted by guest

Mar 14, 2008 3:35PM

i'm sure lebron isn't very comfortable modeling, he's still very young and probably only felt comfortable if he was depicting what he does every day. he's an extremely shy guy.

posted by iloveyou

Mar 14, 2008 4:13PM

ooh i would of loved a cristiano ronaldo/coco rocha or hilary rhoda cover

posted by zapatosnuevos

Mar 14, 2008 4:15PM

I donno. Once again showing males and masculine and females as passive. She's not showing her bod off at all. It doesn't even look voguey, which I guess is refreshing. But Gisele is a bad ass. Come on.

posted by guest

Mar 14, 2008 4:38PM

Well, cudos to Vogue for having a black male on the cover...however, Lebron is a pretty stylish guy and it is Vogue. Would have preferred much more to see him making a fashion statement, like Clooney and Gere's previous Vogue covers. I agree with the writer, where's the fashion?

posted by guest

Mar 14, 2008 5:00PM

does the lack of african-americans on the cover of these fashion magazines not bother anyone? this is why i am only interested in fashion for the clothes, not the people who model them. and this cover just proved why french vogue and other fringe fashion magazines are better.

posted by Lacroix

Mar 14, 2008 5:10PM

I love US Vogue's Shape issue and the play on Athletic ( sports and modelesque) shape.
On a side note, the last time I saw someone's mouth wide open on the cover of US Vogue was Jennifer Hudson.. is that the new cover "le mou"?

posted by Jac

Mar 14, 2008 8:30PM

Forgive me for being a little bit, eh, politically incorrect, but I too havea problem with the lack of black/hispanic models. It's certainly not because these races (ethnicitiy?) lack beautitful, striking women. You think fashion, with its desire to be edgy, would want to have more diversity.

posted by guest

Mar 14, 2008 8:51PM

i've never made a comment on here before but had to add something this time.

first i think this probably is the most unique cover US Vogue has done in a LOoooong time.

second is anyone sick of all the hollywood celebs that typically don the cover?

third US Vogue is starting to be really boring. even though i'm definitely starting to take inspiration from foreign publications much more these days.

posted by chowmeng

Mar 14, 2008 9:02PM

I don't hate the cover...but it's just not Vogue. It should have been more fashion-y. I seriously don't get Anna. If people want athletics, they can buy Self or Fitness (& I think both covers look more appealing).

posted by ModestoT

Mar 14, 2008 9:45PM

i hate american vogue sometimes.

posted by enicke_

Mar 14, 2008 10:57PM

It's not growing on me...

posted by curlytop

Mar 15, 2008 6:51AM

err...the cover isn't working for me too. =(

posted by Lala

Mar 15, 2008 1:38PM

I agree nice change but not liking the final result, this could have been better done.

posted by guest

Mar 15, 2008 6:38PM

i don't mind lebron.

it's gisele that bothers me.

it looks very "seventeen" to me.

posted by crod

Mar 15, 2008 9:49PM

no maybe its not all VOGUE
but its a little diferent..
I LOVE IT
it looks like fun makes the Magazine more interesting
for people to buy...great
cover!!! Gisele Looks Great like always
and that NBA player Smokin'

LOL

posted by guest

Mar 16, 2008 11:06AM

Why is it that for the "shape issue" they are going to cover male athletes and female models? There are female athletes too! And they have way hotter bodies than models.

posted by syako

Mar 16, 2008 6:03PM

guest @ 11:06 - so true! Show me some female muscle!

posted by guest

Mar 16, 2008 9:49PM

would've liked to see beckham instead of lebron. but that's just me.

posted by guest

Mar 20, 2008 1:07PM

That dude's feet are hugh ; )

posted by guest

Mar 27, 2008 12:42PM

but if beckham was there, than that'd be one less chance for a black person to appear in a fashion magazine, so kudos for choosing him, I think the shot could've been better orchestrated..

posted by guest

Mar 28, 2008 10:11PM

Maybe it is just Anna's way of mocking the cover of French Vogue cover with Andre J.