US Elle actually offers a platform for a huge variety of new/rare photographers each month (probably the biggest for any of the mainstream US titles). And I love that about them. But you'd think that at least once they'd hit the jackpot with a stunning edit, but no. It's always overstyled, overcasted, overposed, or the location is overbearing. It's almost as if they're trying to compensate for the fact that it's not a Meisel edit. They need to tone it down.
There is a nice thematic flow with these features though - you have the obnoxious California-style looks, and the more classy NY variety. Kudos for contrasting those so well.