“You have to do a lot of tweaking and airbrushing to get the same from a celebrity that you would get from a model. A lot of celebrities — I’m gonna tell you right now — they’re not 5’11”; they’re not a size 2 to fit into these designer dresses.” —Tyson Beckford’s cold hard truth on celebrities stealing magazine covers from models.
5
posted by guest
Mar 18, 2009 6:47PM
Totally disagree with one and two.
I don't care at all about how 'celebrities' look in clothes.
I don't read the damn star.
I read fashion magazines for FASHION, and that includes models.
Isn't there plenty of mainstream crap like 'In Style' for people who care about that garbage?
10
posted by hipstersdontlie
Mar 18, 2009 8:28PM
celebrities are usually cheaper to use than models.
11
posted by guest
Mar 18, 2009 10:33PM
# 5: Well said.
The whole model body or "ideal" crap is so overdone. They look good in the clothes, they work it, they pose well, it's ART.
I don't care about them as people really, it's fashion. That's what I'm reading FASHION magazines for... not a blatant and blaring social or political experience (even though fashion does sometimes reflect both, in a way... just not in such an extreme way, more subtle and unassuming).
12
posted by guest
Mar 18, 2009 11:28PM
Agree with Tyson. As a professional high-end retoucher, I can tell you that a LOT MORE work goes into celebrities than models.
As for those saying models are overrated compared to celebs, I ask... Then why is it that celebs are made to look like models? You think the actresses on these covers look that way naturally? They're retouched to look as long, as slim, lean, and beautiful as models. It's not easy, it takes a lot of work, but that's what people expect when they pick up a fashion magazine. Remember Kate Hudson in that W spread? Retouched within an inch of her life to look like a high-fashion edgy model. Nicole Kidman in any Vogue issue, Keira Knightely, Eva Mendes, etc. These actresses do NOT look like models before Photoshop. (Only exception is Kate Bosworth.)
Models definitely have their place in these mags and are a huge influence, moreso than people seem to realize. Their beauty is unparalleled.
16
posted by guest
Mar 19, 2009 5:30AM
I completely agree with him. Vogue US needs to wake up.
- Amanda
http://laceandtea.blogspot.com
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posted by guest
Mar 19, 2009 7:53AM
no3, i agree that people who read vogue dont buy it because of the celebs on the cover. but i believe it makes people who normally wouldnt buy the mag buy it. i dont have any figues to back that up with but from what i understand, it makes the numbers go up.
while i dont buy a mag because of the celeb on the cover (but id buy claudia on vogue any day HA!), i also find tysons attitude a bit childish and he is taking himself and his job to serious. people resist change, no one wants anything taken away from them. maybe models could change the stereotypical perception of models when they stop thinking in stereotypes themselves.
20
posted by guest
Mar 19, 2009 8:42AM
It's MTV's fault. When they played videos, models were cast and got famous. Cindy, Linda, Naomi, Helena, Tyra, Kate, etc, all made appearances in music videos and other MTV shows in the '90s, and became celebrities in their own right. MTV stopped playing videos, so now no one asks, "Who's that girl in so-and-so's video?" anymore. If a model's on a cover now, she might as well be in a catalog. If an actor is, we see her before we even see which magazine she's on. I don't see Glamour, I see Drew Barrymore, then Glamour.
22
posted by guest
Mar 19, 2009 10:46AM
I don't understand why the people who like models on mag covers fancy themselves so superior to those who prefer celebrities. I personally do not care who is wearing the clothes, as long as the clothes are hot. Actually, I would prefer if fashion magazines never had profiles of anyone. I don't even want to know the names of the models. Whatever. I just want clothes. Size 0 or size 10.
24
posted by guest
Mar 19, 2009 2:59PM
The magazines know what sells. A lot of people seeing Beyonce or Nicole Kidman on the cover might will take a second look, and might buy the magazine just because their favorite celebrity is on the cover. Not too many people in the general public will think, "Ooooh, it's Agyness! I have to get that!"
And while Cindy, Christy, Naomi, Kate, Heidi and others became celebrities in their own right, most people probably can't even name a model under the age of 30. It's a different era now.
BTW, where did the word "stealing" come from? Did Beckford say that word, or is that someone else's interpretation? The jobs don't belong to the models, so there's nothing to steal!
25
posted by guest
Mar 19, 2009 4:39PM
The cold, hard truth is that outside of the fashion industry, NO ONE cares about models. If you only want fashionistas and industry people reading your mag, then fill it with models. If you want anyone else to even give you a second glance, you have to catch their attention with something else, ie: celebrities. Models are by definition the best at what they do: standing in front of a camera and looking pretty. But if you want content that's going to interest anyone outside of the industry, you have to turn to celebrities.
30
posted by guest
Mar 22, 2009 3:30PM
i appreciate actors and models. i like to see a model in the cover of bazaar and vogue because it s fashion related. i don t like an interview about kate hudson' s divorce, family issues etc.. there is cosmo for that... everything has to be so commercial. i am not saying it has to be a model. put an editor , an intern or whatever, just fashion related...
posted by guest
Mar 18, 2009 4:31PM
BFD! i think people prefer personality and talent over nameless, 5'11 size 2 mannequins. the thing is, if agyness deyn or ikeliene stange gained about 20 pounds, and were featured on the cover of the magazine, i wouldn't hesitate to buy it! why shove beauty into such small standards? variety is one of the principles of art and beauty!