US Vogue September 2020 by Jordan Casteel & Kerry James Marshall

[aracic]

It took me about 15 minutes of looking through fan art of Naomi on Google Images to spot at least 10 artworks that would've been better covers than the original. So, so many beautiful paintings and illustrations by various artists across the world and they commissioned this one. Pity... Anyway, here's my ten imaginary covers with the last one being my personal favorite - that would've been an instant classic and a must-have! Such a stunning painting, it's the treatment Naomi deserved.

Artists in order: Oliver Sin, Ferida Mamedova, uncredited, Michael Mahaffey, Sergey Orlov, David Downton, Thierry Perez, Emmanuel Baliyanga, Thierry Perez, Larissa Abtova​

 

[KoV]

I don’t like this painting at all as a magazine cover, certainly not for the September Issue of Vogue, but I’m a little shocked at the vitriol concerning the quality of the painting itself. The style isn’t entirely my cup of tea, it has a bit of a caricature quality that I don’t love. But to me it’s not a bad painting, it’s New York and the blue dress is.... fashion-ish. It’s stylized, and I’d prefer something either photorealistic or a more conventional fashion illustration. But within the context of the soul-crushing awfulness that has been the past several months (fashion magazines included), I find this... inoffensive. I’d certainly take this any day over some of the British Vogue “reset” photos, the Italian Vogue children’s scribbles, and whatever that sh!t is on the cover of Korean Vogue this month.


That said, for once in my life, I’m really really hoping for a multi-cover. And some fashion photography please!

 

[dodencebt]

I am 99.9 percent sure that this is Aurora James. That is her balcony, and I recognize at least one vase from her Instagram posts.

 

[aracic]

I am 99.9 percent sure that this is Aurora James. That is her balcony, and I recognize at least one vase from her Instagram posts.

Huh, looks like you're right. I'm not personally familiar with Aurora, but this sure is the balcony and view from the cover.

 

[KoV]

I think the artist is Jordan Casteel.

 

[Summer Day]

This is huge for Aurora if this is indeed her. I guess this is one way for Vogue to throw their support behind black designers. Hopefully there is an actual photographed cover that shows her face.

 

[BSE]

Based on the balcony and her looks, this is definitely Aurora James.

 

[Fiercification]

I sort of get what they were doing with all the elements on the cover, although I think it's a somewhat trite depiction of black culture with the downtown/Brooklyn bridge style apartment blocks in the background. I suppose the backdrop could be perceived as authentic by some though.

As far as the actual execution is concerned - well I'll just say it doesn't belong on the cover of a fashion magazine, at least to my eye. I would really hope this isn't the final product because even with my disdain, or at best, heightened ambivalence towards Anna's work at US Vogue, this seems like a desperate attempt at being far-reaching.

 

[KoV]

I sort of get what they were doing with all the elements on the cover, although I think it's a somewhat trite depiction of black culture with the downtown/Brooklyn bridge style apartment blocks in the background. I suppose the backdrop could be perceived as authentic by some though.

It would seem that's actually Aurora's rooftop/balcony, though, since it's on her instagram from over a year ago. I don't think it's a staged/inauthentic setting. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I'd question whether it's fair to call this painting of Aurora, in her own home/neighborhood, a trite depiction of Black culture. The artist, if I've ID'd correctly and it's Jordan Casteel, is a Black woman known for her portraits of Black New Yorkers.

 

[Mercury6181]

Oh my god I hope this isn’t the actual cover, it’s so bad! I’m all for cover illustrations but when they are pretty and done right, not done tacky and looking like they should be in a children’s book. This isn’t even a cover that embodies fashion or glamour or anything!

 

[Handbag Queen]

I'm sorry but this subscriber's cover has absolutely nothing to do with fall fashion. I really hope the newsstand cover is a infinitely better but I'm not holding my breath.

I've been subscribing to US Vogue magazine since the early 1980's, and that's when it was about fashion, models etc - the glory days. It's never been as lousy as it's been this past few years.

They really need to fire Anna Wintour, she's destroying this magazine singlehandedly. She's taking away the fashion angle and replacing it with politics. We have Time and Newsweek and many other mags for that.

 

[Handbag Queen]

Sorry but this looks bad and shouldn't be on the cover, it should accompany a story as one of those small pictures in the last pages of the magazine. The fashion industry needs to admit that social causes are not for them, let them focus on their pretentious glamorous charities.

I agree with you 110%.....Anna should be canned for once and for all. She's no longer a visionary - she's a pathetic hack.

 

[Handbag Queen]

Maybe it’s Aurora James? It also looks like a very familiar actress to me but I can’t think of a name

Whoever it is, couldn't they have afforded to photograph her and not had some picture painted? This is insanely ridiculous.

 

[Handbag Queen]

Hope? More like Nope.

This is abysmal. Wintour should have left over a decade ago, but her gigantic ego will not let that happen ofcourse. Another nail in the coffin of US Vogue.

Perfectly put....definitely the case. This magazine is a mess. Get rid of Anna. There are many other fashion visionaries available that would do a much much much better job. Anna needs to retire.

 

[conspicuousconsumer]

Perfectly put....definitely the case. This magazine is a mess. Get rid of Anna. There are many other fashion visionaries available that would do a much much much better job. Anna needs to retire.

I agree with you at a 75% level on getting rid of Anna. She is definitely not the visionary of fashion that she once was (although visionary title is questionable maybe more like brilliant business woman) but the only reason I’m so hesitant to wish her completely gone is because if she goes I fear the magazine industry will be even worse without her. Only because she is literally the last superstar editor that can attract media attention from all aspects. The only other editor who can attract a very minuscule attention that Anna does is Nina Garcia and that was because she was on Project Runway. Anna’s succession into Vogue was covered by countless newspapers, magazines, Liz Smith and other television news channels at the time. And even before her coronation at Vogue she was talked about for years. I just feel like magazines and in particular Condé Nast needs her more than ever right now. Although don’t get me started on how stupidly that entire company is being ran these days, so many things they could do to be more profitable and healthier and it wouldn’t even require digital expansion to do it.
I digress. Also I hope I have replied to you correctly. I know some people use ^ symbol when commenting so let me know if that’s what I should do.

 

[Benn98]

Huh, looks like you're right. I'm not personally familiar with Aurora, but this sure is the balcony and view from the cover.

Yes, the setting does look identical. No idea who she is though, so I hope there will be more covers otherwise this will be a tough sell for their 'most important issue of the year'.

 

[Deleted member 1957]

It took me about 15 minutes of looking through fan art of Naomi on Google Images to spot at least 10 artworks that would've been better covers than the original. So, so many beautiful paintings and illustrations by various artists across the world and they commissioned this one. Pity... Anyway, here's my ten imaginary covers with the last one being my personal favorite - that would've been an instant classic and a must-have! Such a stunning painting, it's the treatment Naomi deserved.

Artists in order: Oliver Sin, Ferida Mamedova, uncredited, Michael Mahaffey, Sergey Orlov, David Downton, Thierry Perez, Emmanuel Baliyanga, Thierry Perez, Larissa Abtova​

I've never been a fan of sketches as covers but all these are awesome and would be a win for a September cover.

 

[YohjiAddict]

^From what I gather she's the founder of an indie brand called Brother Vellies with a sustainable and socially responsible ethos. Product wise is close to what Jacquemus or any number of insta-brands offer. Her personal account shows that she lives a very instagrammable life and is some sort of activist.

Isn't the September issue reserved to the biggest stars in the world? In such an unstable year one would think we'd see a safe option from Anna. A real headscratcher, in a way it's interesting to have designers on the cover but they should earn it by merit of their career, not because they're behind the cause du jour, particularly weird since designers who have monograpic exhibitions at the MET don't receive this honor...you get atrocities like Katy Perry in CDG.

P.S: If Farnetti chooses a black person for VI September issue, Will it be the first time all four main editions feature black individuals in the cover of the same month? Very predictable but I guess it's what makes sense for now...almost wondering if CN had to force them in that direction.

 

[Deleted member 1957]

Huh, looks like you're right. I'm not personally familiar with Aurora, but this sure is the balcony and view from the cover.

Most definitely her going by the view and similarity to the sketch. Could be a multi cover issue all sketched by the same or different artists also the cover text '100 future voices of fashion' she's what the fashion industry seems to be pushing as the future with her brand of activism, big name friends and insta appeal

 

[kasper!]

Just put Kamala Harris on the cover and that's hope (at least for me lol)