Rattling with Nurofen, I ventured outside this morning – for the first time in a week – to gather oranges, the October issue of Vogue, and a gargantuan bar of Dairy Milk. I have the flu, you see* – not a sudden case of agoraphobia – and these artefacts are vital to my recovery.
Yes, even the chocolate.
Seeing Adele on the cover – a young Sophia Loren, incarnate – I smiled. Witty and gifted with a voice to rouse every and all emotion, it is a percipient celebration for Vogue to make. In this woman, after all, we have a valid female icon to remind that beauty can come in body and song – not simply the bones of a model.
Returned home to the quiet company of my death bed, I looked again. More closely, this time.
The portrait of Adele is beautiful in print, but it is – and let’s not coat this with sugar – predictable, even a little patronising, to be offered another head shot/decapitation in which her body is obliterated from view. A large, curled tendril of incarnadine hair goes further, seemingly positioned to obscure her lower face, and – well, what exactly? – the potential shadow of a double chin?
The strapline ‘Adoring Adele’ should perhaps then, more accurately, read Adoring ‘Some of’ Adele.
It is timely and commercial for Vogue to feature Adele, because – from the music to her laugh, surely the dirtiest this side of a Carry On film – there is, indeed, much to adore. Through her, there was opportunity to do something genuinely democratic – to celebrate and garland a new body silhouette.
So why the cynical effort to dismember and reduce everything that Adele, literally, embodies?
Use the woman. Use all of her, or do not use her at all.
—————–
* ‘Tis true. I have the flu. In summer. My immune system is that good.
Style Souk 
Nicely said. She is truly a great woman throughout. Love the blog! So glad I found it via met mum! x LondonZest
Bravo I couldn’t have said it better myself! Beautifully articulated. Can majorly empathise on the summer flu issue – housemate is a primary school teacher aka the perfect carrier to their tiny germ incubating bodies…
If you think this is bad you clearly haven’t seen glamour from july or august
I wrote about it here http://www.monpolkadotcheri.co.uk/2011/06/glamour-airbrushing-adele.html
I hate that they’ve airbrushed someone who is so comfortable with her weight
Dairy Milk cures EVERYTHING in my book.
I haven’t thought about it, also because I still have to get my Vogue UK copy, but I see your point about the cover (and you wrote it beautifully). Everybody has its own style and shape and it would be interesting to see more of this ‘body democracy’ translated into a fashion magazine.
Hope you’ll get well soon.
http://notjustaprettydress.blogspot.com
I haven’t thought about it, also because I still have to get my copy of Vogue UK, but I do see your point (and you wrote it beautifully). Everybody has a different style and shape, and this is the reason why fashion is such a creative environment. It would be interesting to see this ‘democracy’ truly reflected in the pages of fashion magazined.
http://notjustaprettydress.blogspot.com/
OUCH, IM WITH YOU I DONT LIKE VERY VERY COLD WEATHER, THAT’S WHY I MOVED FROM MONTREAL TO BARCELONA ;-)!!
XX
It feels like this moment of banality and diminished value might steep a bit longer but something seditious will creep out of this dullness and blind the world with creativity.
It’s too homogenized and too yes yes, of course, oh that girl and that photographer.
Bittersweet Droste pastilles, heaven .. really.
and thank you for your words, yes yes yes.
oops, signing up for emails, didn’t see this earlier
Thank you, Madeleine.
I update this blog with glorious infrequency and, as such, there is little worry of my emails cluttering your inbox – amongst the interminable Living Social ones you abhor so well.
bravo, bravo, bravo.
I couldn’t agree more. I love vogue but sometimes they have it all wrong. Who do they think they are fooling.
Ah, another face shot of a cover model who is of a bigger size. Typical.
So sad and unfortunately, so common.
Just came off the Neurofen – the flu lasted me two weeks this time. Should have resorted to Cadbury’s much earlier!
Feel better soon, Deborah… x
i love Adele on the cover. her smizing eyes are insanely fierce and stunning. her lips are luscious.
Amen, sista…preach on!
I am SO annoyed with how photoshopped (what little we can see of) her face is! It looks like a painting of Adele. I know that witty lady has some smile lines. She just has to, but where did Vogue put them?!
i like her too..
I love the weird curl of hair. So awkward and contrived.
Thanks for your words. Amen, Amen.
I adore Adele. She is a beautiful woman, and I think Vogue was wrong to do a headshot that covers her lower face. Adele is famous for her music and personality and heart, and I think that her size does not matter. Yes, models are skinny, but Adele is not a model, she’s a singer (and an amazing one). Vogue should realize that. Anyway, I will definitely look for the issue on news stands, even if the cover doesn’t perfectly portray Adele. 🙂
I deffo think Vogue needs to relax a bit and go with the average population. The average dress size of a woman in Britain is size 14, which is far from the models of size zero which shouldn’t even be allowed to be that skinny. Adele just proves its not all about the dress size, but about talent and natural beauty. This isn’t a dig at Vogue, I love the magazine, I just think they need a bit of a reality check.
I agree that Adele is talented but I can understand why Vogue did what they did. They have a standard to upload. I’m not saying that it’s my standard or even the right standard but it’s their standard.
I disagree with your assessment that size zero is unhealthy. People often argue that size doesn’t matter and all sizes can be healthy but for some reason skinny people are seen as less healthy. My cousin’s girlfriend is half Asian and extremely tiny. She’s not unhealthy; people from her culture are just thinner than most.
It’s true that the average woman is bigger now but that isn’t a good thing.
P.S. If you’d like to flame me, please visit me on my blog so I can get the views and we don’t spam this comment feed. 😉
I agree with you completely, a million times over. Adele is great.
“Use the woman. Use all of her, or do not use her at all.” ~ Best line of your entire post. Preach, woman! 😉
First, I hope you feel better: Summer flu sucks.
Second, I’m so glad you posted this. Absolutely brilliant… There is such a double standard in our society, and it’s hypocritical to “adore” her musically — and yet to not allow us to see the real her.
So, quick question: Did any of the interior shots (that ran with the story) include a full-body view?
YOU ARE SO RIGHT!
For the sake of a quiet life, my (unfortunate and long-suffering) fiancé tells me this often.
I also have the flu. Boo.
I disagree about the cover, I think it’s gorgeous and choose not take it as Vogue solving the problem of a larger celebrity but instead celebrating the beauty of a woman whose music has spoken to millions.
A celebration of Adele’s ‘beauty’ – a true, bona fide celebration – would encompass more than merely her head and neck, surely?
Get well soon, x
I love your attitude!!
People need to start realizing that there are different colors and sizes and shapes of people. Like we learned in kindergarden!
I agree with you. I think Adele is absolutely stunning. She’s very classy and elegant. I’m really tired of tabloids comparing her to Amy Winehouse. Winehouse was a drug addict hack who died a predictable death. Where as Adele is someone successful with no public addictions or tabloid mockeries, full of sophistication and grace. It’s time society started putting other things besides anorexic appearances and celebrity tragedies in the spotlight.
Oh meant to say…I saw your tweet in hmm… I read about 30 newspapers and mags every week but you’ll probably know the one!
Curiouser and curiouser, I hope not Woman’s Own…
Agreed, she’s beautiful the way she is. It’s a little too much although stunning at the same time.
Beautifully said!
I completely agree. I love Adele, but I don’t agree with airbrushing her into something she’s not. Did you see her hair recently at the MTV VMA’s……shocking! I much prefer the cuddly jumpers Adele to the blow dried Adele!
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=adele+mtv+vma%27s+2011&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&rlz=1R2PCTC_enGB372&tbm=isch&tbnid=ESy04njMbAGwAM:&imgrefurl=http://www.hitfix.com/articles/complete-list-of-the-2011-mtv-vma-winners&docid=yv_AnJtbR8zX9M&w=326&h=217&ei=7DdyTs2jGdG88gO22IiXCg&zoom=1&biw=1280&bih=775&iact=rc&dur=109&page=1&tbnh=122&tbnw=155&start=0&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:23,s:0&tx=96&ty=56
awesome post.. 😀
Nice post. I agree that they should use all of her. People know what she looks like, it’s not like she suddenly changed when shooting the cover!
We have the same needs when we have the flu! I think Adele looks great on the cover but do agree they could have used a full body shot to promote a healthy body image to women – but then again thats Vogue!:-) Jen xoxo http://mystylisticlife.wordpress.com
If there were more ‘Adeles’ in the media then maybe we as women would not feel the pressure to be overly skinny. I agree that Vogue should use all of her. This post is one that could help changeoursociety! Love it!
I think this shot was chosen not merely because it covers her certain features but because it was the best shot she had. We cannot demand so much on media much more to Vogue magazine. The fact that she was on the cover is already enough. At least for me 🙂
Respectfully, I would disagree.
Vogue occupies a position of prominence and has enormous influence within the fashion media.
As such, they have a responsibility to represent and encourage a greater range of body sizes – not the wince-makingly thin, exclusively.
This will not change unless, and until, we demand better.
I love this and I couldn’t agree more. I’ve found that with a lot of heavy set women, we completely ignore their bodies. It simply doesn’t make sense. Just because they are not stick thin, doesn’t mean we can show them in all their glory. I do think this was a beautiful shot of her though – she is so pretty.
I agree, completely.
In ignoring the plurality of body shapes, magazine’s like Vogue (wrongly!) suggest that beauty – the glory, of which you mention – can only be found in the skinny and sharp-boned.
omgoodness we love Adele! Awesome blog!
Love Love Adele..Great Blog!
Great topic! And what a coincidence, today has been all about Adele for me. I woke up and got in the car to drop off my mom at work and that was the first song they played, i was cutting some coupons and I had her Youtube channel playing, I was cooking and washing dishes and they were playing her on the radio. I love her. Truly a singer after everything that we hear now. And who cares if she has a double chin? We care about the words in her songs and the power she shows. Go Adele!
Sounds like a good day, to me… x
Haha, indeed.
Well said!
I couldn’t agree more with everything you just said!
And on another note, I too have a cold 😛
Sick with the flu or not, you hit the nail on the head. Great analysis!
Can it be true – the cocktail of Nurofen and Calpol hasn’t impeded my acuity, after all?
Good point! great blog!
I agree! I adore Adele and I think the most enchanting and inspiring thing about her is how real she is. Her songs have strong emotions and truths in them, and her physical appearance speaks volumes as well. She is a real woman who is sexy, and feminine, and just beautiful…and she doesn’t need to be a size 2.
I wish they’d just let wonderful women like this be who they are!
This is such a beautiful and eloquent comment, x
Agreed, use all of her! Nice point.
Beautifully written 🙂
Emma
🙂
http://www.doesmybumlookbiginthis.wordpress.com
Thank you, Emma.
And no…
Your bum most certainly does not look big in this.
Here here! I agree with you completely. Use all of the woman, already. ALL.
Even Adele doesn’t seem happy about it…
Decapitation rarely brings a smile to the face, x
Agreed! And people wonder why celebrities and the every day people alike are having issues with eating disorders…
I never thought about it like that, but so true! Great blog.
I love the cover, absolutely love it! One of the best from British Vogue in a long time. I haven’t seen the editorial yet so I cannot say whether they’ve simply chosen the best image (in my opinion) or are trying to avoid showing a less model-like figure. Are there any full body shots? I think so much focus on her weight is unnecessary and detracts from her achievements. In the world of fashion, size does define you. In the real world, we have the choice to define ourselves. I won’t be defined by my size.
What I will say is that like all fashion magazines, image is important and I don’t think British Vogue have done anything unusual here. Unless doing some sort plus-size special, this is quite a standard way to feature a larger lady. They want to appeal to a wide audience without alienating potential readers.
The average size in the UK in 2010 was a 16, yet a model that size will be referred to as “plus size”. Rather interesting to me. Everyone is up in arms about skinny models, all whilst on a diet… Even more interesting.
Vogue is a magazine of dreams – dream clothes, dream beauty, dream travel and dare I say it, dream bodies. Nobody wants to wake up from a good dream…
Nicely done! I probably wouldn’t have thought of it that way… yet it is interestingly true. And for those who claim that “well she’s on Vogue so…”.. she’s on Vogue because Vogue doesn’t want to miss the boat, not because they’re so generous as to want to include a “+ size” girl…
I really like your blog!!!!!! I hope you feel better. Please go to my blog stylesassy.wordpress.com
Do not “use” women. Period. (DM, good)
Agree!
Thank you for writing about this. It is insanely frustrating to me that fashion magazines don’t picture women how they actually look. There’s always something that could be “fixed.” To be honest, I would probably subscribe to Vogue if I knew that the women I was looking at were real women.
Beautifully said. It’s a shame, and I’m glad you spoke up about it.
very well said!
Agreed! I love Adele’s voice and the way she represents curvy women =) Vogue should be honored to have her on their cover and truly illustrate that by showing her whole body.
Who’s surprised? This is Vogue after all. If any top mag would feature a ‘true woman’, it would be them.. although they would also be the least likely to do so.
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
I suspect that one some level, agoraphobia is AWESOME. I don’t think I’d get board watching movies for a long time.
I think Adele is naturally beautiful… due to the way they photographed her I glanced at the cover and recognized a beautiful woman, but did not realize it was Adele until I started reading your article. What a shame.
You have beautifully and rightly emphasized that there is too much emphasis of Adele’s image, and too little on all that is astoundingly her, and uniquely her. Even though I am a petite size, I loathe how the hegemonic culture industry fixates upon the emaciated, infantile female figure. It makes me feel irrationally, at times, that I am a nobody if I cannot even maintain my genetic thinness (and there are times when I reach for chocolates by the half-dozen).
Adele’s cleft, rounded chin and those apple cheeks are such the cutest. I almost can’t recognize her on the Vogue cover if not for the caption with her name (hyperbolic, but the caption does redirect attention away from the concerning image). It doesn’t match the real image of the woman at all, who doesn’t want to take medication to take the edge off of anxiety of a major performance for fear that she’d become reliant.
Beautifully said. Though I am one to take both sides into consideration. From a creative and photographic point of view there is the question of simple beauty which can be captured through a lens without the intent to hide anything. It’s a great shot regardless of what they may or may not be intentionally hiding.
I realize that magazines are out to sell and I can get equally furious with how these ‘perfect’ images affect us. Its lousy.
You write most eloquently, I’ll be back to read more of your commentary.
Her eyes are so beautiful that it almost overshadows the a fact she’s only a head on this magazine. Still, you’re right…she’s got more than a pretty face. Viva la regular sized gal!
i don’t know, i think its a pretty stunning picture….
i can’t agree more! she’s a beautiful and talented woman, and should be acknowledged as such completely!!
I would prefer if it was a head and torso shot on the cover and then a both a body and head shot on her feature pages.
It’s a disheartening thing to learn that we have gone to such lengths to accept our physical appearances and in the process of learning to love our own physique, massive publications are imposing their idea of beauty…which looks to me like a typical magazine cover; airbrushed and cropped. Great Post, I’m glad you write it the way you see it.
Totally agree but I love the look so much! Adele is beautiful because she is REAL.
She is so pretty and talented and her weight is normal – what a sad world to make it an issue or try to hide that she doesn’t look starved. Great post!
Love the voice, so authentic. Interesting presentation.
This post is very true and well written. I deeply respect what you’re saying, and it’s especially relevant here in the US on the tail end of New York’s fashion week, a celebration of all things vain. The amount of press it got made me think… when are we going to snap out of it? Such a heavy emphasis on the manipulation of the female form makes me want to break my mirror and at the same time stare into it, examining all my flaws (more specifically, it stimulates two very unhealthy reactions)
In the case of this Vogue, not only are they hiding Adele’s figure, she’s also been transformed into someone “suitable” for a cover of a fashion magazine: completely made up, hair colored and styled, porcelain smooth skin, and lots of photoshopping. To me this makes Adele less adorable and more plastic…. Nothing like the rest of us. You’re right, this is all very unfortunate.
Also, congrats on being freshly pressed!
Well said! It’s so boring that they aren’t getting it. Wake up Vogue and the rest of the fashion world!
true. it looks like A is a bit slimmer than reality. i like the way she IS.
Adele is stunning. She sure resembles Sophia Loren when she was young… nicely written piece of article.
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I love Adele! I respect her voice, music, lyrics and classy style. She is beautiful and it should have been captured. Curvy women are hot. But we never know, maybe it was her choice for just a head shot.
This is a valid point.
Perhaps these images do come at the behest of Adele or those managing her?
Sadly, I am cynical enough to think otherwise.
Amen! totally agree with you
Congrats on being featured on WordPress home page!!! Great post too, and i very so much agree with what you say =)
It is pretty sad and shallow how they only featured Adele’s face (with part of her chin missing due to her hair!!!)!!! Just feature her for who she is peeps!
Btw, great blog!!!
Cinz
http://cinzee.wordpress.com
Very well said. It’s a pity that publishers don’t share the opinion that many of us still hold on what is considered a woman. With all imperfections she is still amazing. Show what she is. But for Vogue they have a status to withhold, whether wrong or right. They give their readers what they want to see and they don’t want to change that now….
Congrats on FP. Feel better. I hope someday people will be less vain.
Well put. Adele is amazing the way she is. =)
Adele is very pretty. And she is actually doing Vogue a favor for doing this cover and not the other way around. I admire real women (and men) like her. Thanks for this article! 😉
Agreed, I didn’t even think of this till I saw your post
When I heard she was going on the cover I was thrilled as she is a normal sized girl and it beats the usual stick insects they put on covers, shame they have covered up her curves but maybe she had a part in that, we won’t know. I’m still pleased to see her there and it shows her lovely face. I guess it’s some progress!
I hear you, good post. Adele doesn’t exactly “fit” into the Vogue criteria of skinny-minnie models and actresses who work out more than they actually work! But she is a beauty as a whole – let’s not just hide the fact that she’s a big girl, embrace it. But I have to say that I’m starting to yawn a little. Adele is e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e. She was on the radio 5 times in one hour. I don’t deny that she’s got mega talent….but give us a break?!
That’s the point, isn’t it.
With such extraordinary success and exposure, Adele is riding a wave. It makes business sense for Vogue to want to capitalise on this – to generate readers, and thus revenue, from her popularity.
Nevertheless…
There is something duplicitous – and cowardly – in taking commercial benefit from a girl whilst transmitting the message that she is not slim or pretty enough to be shown in her true, full self.
Thank you for commenting, x
Nicely written.
The same thing crossed my mind when I saw this photo before, that they decided to use an image which had a curl of hair ‘slimming down’ the look of her face. So unnecessary. Adele is incredibly beautiful.
Congrats on being freshly pressed 🙂
Instead of having a separate curvy vogue version, magazines should start recognizing curvy as normal and use appropriate images and pictures.
Adele is gorgeous because of her talent and that comes with whatever figure she has.
Thank you for such kind congratulations.
I have spent much of the day (1) Screaming, and (2) Running laps of celebration around my sitting room.
I agree with your points, entirely.
Concise and nicely put! Plus I’m a fan of Adele, so good job on this blog!
I love this!!
Damn, did you not see it? I should have emailed you at the time, hmm at a guess I think it might have been The Telegraph, it was your opinion on…. something to do with women… maybe younger men? I have a brain like a sieve.
Well put. What about the photos inside? Is it all close-ups and shadow-masking there too?
– Laura
Meh the face that we can see that isn’t obscured by hair is probably photoshopped as well. Don’t look to any form of media for any source of role model or inspiration if you want something true. Simple.
So true!
Its going to be a constant battle for everyone to accept women for what they are. Physically and otherwise. Maybe we want to be loved for all the wrong reasons. Men are much simpler beings. I’ve faced the same judgement, having been at every weight known to women… from 55kgs to 75. I can only assume that the others would relate. But unless you’re clear about what you want from yourself, and accept it, you will continue to buy only those magazines that have bones on them and not body and song. 😦
I concur! As a slave to fashion myself I’m right there with you. Look at previous covers of Vogue, if the feature person is SJP thin, they show her from the waist up (as I recall not too many issues ago). This is outrageous, talk about the nucleus of female insecurity!
Unfortunately I feel this has something to say about society and how we perceive not only women and beauty but how we perceive humanity. It is slowly becoming the case that instead of celebrating being human, being real and being everything we are without compromise and apology, we shun the (wo)man on the street in preference of an ideal that is very rarely acheived.
Personally, Adele’s music speaks to me. I feel she has taken every tear, every emotion and turned it into a lyric that is heart-breakingly beautiful.
I concur! As a slave to fashion myself I’m right there with you. Look at previous covers of Vogue, if the feature person is SJP thin, they show her from the waist up (www.fashionbiz2u.com ). This is outrageous, talk about the nucleus of female insecurity!
It’s interesting that you said that because I didn’t even realize it was Adele until I took a second look. This proves your point to be beyond accurate. I love her, her voice, everything she embodies, and you are 100% right that she should have had a photo represent ALL of her, not just her face.
Nicely said.
I think vogue is scared to take the plunge to be honest, and are too worried about sales than making a healthy difference for women.
Yup!
VERY well written. You’re exactly right. When I, along with my fellow workers saw the cover with Adelle on it, we all gasped at her beauty, and the exact conversation that immediately followed was about how thin she looked. We couldnt believe how small she appeared.
So this was dead on! Great post.
xoxo
bB
Please stop by for some creative smiles.
http://www.itsybitsybrianna.wordpress.com
very well written. This is a very big step for vogue, as well for Adele. She is a true beauty, inside and out, and she deserved this opportunity.
Good point, well said. Vogue seems to be making Adele work for them, rather than working to show her off on their magazine cover. Beautiful shot of her, but why does she only get a close-up when stick thin Gwyneth’s and GaGa’s get full body shots?
Absolutely.
It is Adele, but on Vogue ‘terms’.
I do not think it a coincidence that her celebrity cohorts are depicted in their entirety – though only where they are thin.
Thank you for reading, x
Great blog. Agree 100%.
Its a shame Vogue is like that, not just with Adele, but with all celebrities with fuller figures! Quite frankly, I dont like Vogue, I never have. I always buy Elle, Tatler or Harpers Bazaar, they are much better when it comes to portraying celebrities in a more worthy way!
I love the way this is written, and your words couldn’t have been truer. I love Adele and everything that she is. I want to see HER, not some of her.
This is such a kind and generous thing to say. Thank you, x
You are simply a wonderful writer.
Adele is a beauty‘full’ woman. When I saw her for the first time, I said ‘finally someone who is sooo beautiful and looks like she is not starving herself to get known. I absolutely fell in love with her image. I agree that there are too many pictures of her that hide her full body.. where she should only be celebrated in her beauty.
You speak the truth!
Germs and viruses still travel in summer.. Sorry to hear you are sick.. hope you get well soon. 🙂
*lots of fluids!!* says my mother..:)
This made me smile.
Adele is, indeed, a beauty‘full’ woman.
It is an apt moniker for someone able to inspire body confidence and, importantly, self-acceptance within so many of us – no matter the size of our thighs!
Thank you for such a heartfelt and lovely comment, x
awesome post – totally agree although not surprised by Vogue. The fashion industrie will never change in their love for the “dying-ly” skinny. (Is “dying-ly” a word? If not it should be)
Ohhh .. I love her so much. Nice entry!!!
Nicely said!
I totally agree! I read an article on Adele and one of the comments at the bottom stated “Adele should spend less time on rolling in the deep and more time on losing weight.” I was sickened to read that comment! So, what this judgy-judgerson was saying is that he only likes his celebrities to be skinny? Only thin people can be successful and talented? It’s refreshing to see Adele, all of her, and I would love to join her for lunch and eat a cheeseburger, hold the salad.
We’ve seen it countless times, but after reading this post I got more curious when it came to Adele herself.
If you use Google Images and type in Adele… you’ll notice a few things, firstly that every image of her that was posted for a magazine/article/etc the angles are mostly from the side, with her looking back and that there is always something against that side of her face to “hide” her perfect imperfections. Sometimes it’s a jacket, sometimes her chin is now resting on her shoulder, and in one it’s the shoulder of her dress.
And whether she’s lost weight from her initial stardom or not, you’ll also notice that her face seems to lose some of her natural roundness in most of those photos due to photoshop. She loses her cherub cheeks, and becomes the airbrush proto-type of what the artist thinks she should look like.
Vogue really messed up this time around, as they often do.
Brilliant post, brilliantly said.
love how you put it… perfectly!
I completely agree. I love Adele, and this cover is beautiful. But it would have made a statement if Vogue, the fashion bible, published an issue with the face and the body of somebody above a size 6 on the cover.
Fashion isn’t just for skinny bitches…it’s for awesome bitches everywhere!
Clara
http://lovehateandinbetween.wordpress.com/
It is very true. They portray her with the “perfect body” but I saw a live performance of her on youtube and it was far from the truth. I didn’t know beforehand. It’s only one more example of society pushing an image upon us as to what we should look like.
I absolutely think Vogue should have used a full body shot of Adele. If the article is truly about celebrating Adele as an artist then it should be no problem having a full shot of her. I think if Vogue did do that, women everywhere would rejoice in the fact that a high end magazine seems to understand that true beauty is on the inside, and that this idea should be celebrated. The publicity would probably also bring them new readers!
Agreed, this was a perfect – though, now, wasted – opportunity to give fashion confidence to women of all sizes.
Thank you for commenting, x
I don’t know if I would have noticed the lack of body, so to speak, but you are right – she should be all there. I may have a peak in a copy and see if the inner pages reveal the beautiful woman as she is. Without any ‘Winsletting’. Btw, sorry about the flu stuff. I’ve got a terrifically useful juice on my blog that can help boost immune function generally (I’m a cancer nutritionist). Here’s the bitly link (shameless plug) http://bit.ly/lD54pX. Hope you are back to full health soon.
Amazing artist!
I’m too short! Connie
http://7thandvine.wordpress.com/
Good point.
I’m actually quite curious to see the photos they used for the article. Normally there’s always a slew of arty model shots, so having bought the magazine, did they simply use different angles of her face? Or opt to show off her fuller figure.
If they did, then I’m genuinely quite proud of Adele for gracing the pages of Vogue, her body and all, however if they didn’t, then I guess shame on them for not being able to appreciate larger-than-a-size-0 beauty.
The interview was accompanied by four pictures. Sadly, none were full body shots.
Thank you for visiting, Emily x
Use the woman. Use all of her, or do not use her at all. great!
Good note and good sound of Adele
I just went through your same reaction- immediately happy that they put her on the cover and then, wondering why it was off. Why they don’t even show any of her!! That is what’s off. Baby steps, but just celebrate the woman already. In ALL her glory.
True. All of it.
Great post. Adele is beautiful and Vogue had a chance to do something big and make a huge statement. Well said 🙂
Too true and so sad. But as terrible as this sounds, at least her talent is genuine, considering she has a huge following – and isn’t simply adored for what she looks like 🙂
You’re such a keen observer!!
I would have bought the magazine, thought “oh look, Adele is the secret daughter of Loren” and… period. My brain goes a bit Homer Simpson sometimes.
You couldn’t have made a better, sharp point with such concise and elegant writing… Many people (me included) risk to sound polemic when they speak about these kind of issues, but you didn’t at all. Chapeau.
Kisses
Al
-The Red Dot-
Great article. I wish they had used all of her, her body as well as face, it truly felt like something was being hidden, which is sad.
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Fabulous article. Totally agree with all you’ve said.
Hope you’ve gathered up those brownie points from your sister!
@pocketguidesoph
Oh I think she’s absolutely beautiful and so gifted. Sad thing is that blowing up her photo so only her face is on the cover makes her look even bigger. A full body shot would’ve been so much better and classier.
Wow. I saw the cover and didn’t think anything of it. This analysis of it makes sense though. It’s rare you see a head shot of someone on the cover of Vogue magazine. It’s sad that they’re still not willing to accept people of different sizes.
Thanks for that! I had to google her to see what she really looked like.
Spot on and exquisitely written. Wonderful acerbic wit and astute observations. Grateful.
Sadly this is the way of the world, and the industry she is in. We may love her and her records, but she will always be ‘accepted’ as a larger lady rather than embraced for it.
love adele & your blog.
To be honest, I wouldn’t have expected anything different for the cover of Vogue. They have their own vision of beauty and fashion, and even if they include someone who is not a supermodel, they will nonetheless make her abide by the same framework.
Wow, that was an awesome blog post about Adele. I totally agree. Please keep sharing your thoughts with us!
I never see it like that but is true why not to show off her body on the cover. She still beautiful thou and her voice is unique I really can picture her dead skinny because her full figure is just hers. I hope she doesn’t lose a lot of weight like most celebrities do, a curvy body is more appreciated than an ill skinny one.
I like your blog, get well soon! =)
Agree 🙂
FACT!!
well said.
x
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Good Point.. good Blog…
Thanks for Sharing.
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Cool
http://ccrandom.wordpress.com/
yes, it’s true. First of all, I’d like to share your sickness, because I have flu as well, after a super busy LFW…nothing better than a cuppa tea with honey and lime…Secondly, fashion is all about beauty and skinny models! They would never allow Adele in Vogue looking fat or ugly…That’s the miracle of photoshop and other edition softwares!!! Without them fashion and style icons would never exist!! XX
I wish I could like comments… ugh. Anyways, I agree with some of you that Adele looks painted on the cover. Usually Vogue doesn’t pack on the makeup and edit like crazy with Photoshop in their cover shots, so I’m surprised with this cover. Adele is beautiful with or without makeup and I don’t think they should have covered that with makeup or photoshop.
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Great post
shes not ashamed of who she is. its such a shame that fashion magazines still try to put us in size boxes
I couldn’t agree more! I love Adele because she represents everything WOMAN. Her emotions, honesty, character, and god knows-body image! None of us are perfect because it doesn’t exist. I wish they would’ve used a full image instead of a head shot, but this is how our society defines beauty, and this is how it sells. Of course, we BUY into it all!
There needs to be more people like Adele out there. She gives me a reason to still believe I can accomplish my dreams even though I’m “Curvy”.
Awesome post and I couldn’t agree with you more! Adele is a wonderfully talented woman and very beautiful! She should be celebrated for all of who she is…not just a part of her. If they had taken a full shot of Adele maybe it would have sent a message to teenage girls…that beautiful comes in all sizes and they should be proud of who they are!
Absolutely beautiful photo. She deserves every ounce of success that comes to her.
xx, Jacqueline
http://painfullychic.wordpress.com/
I noticed the same thing. Beautiful photo none the less however why does this bigger woman get an Allure face shot while others get a full body or at least half body photos on the cover in an amazing outfit or dress.
Great post, this is a beautiful photo of Adele, but it’s obvious why Vogue put a headshot of her on the cover. I’m a fan of your blog! Check mine out and let me know what you think pioneeringself.wordpress.com
“Use all of her, or do not use her at all.”
Well said. Fashion is still so afraid of real bodies. Assume you saw the recent American Apparel debacle surrounding the plus-size model comp?
I gather the fashion industry is still run by gay men – whom I have nothing against – but they just want interesting coat hangers/objects for women. Their idea of feminine beauty is to use them as artistic elements in fashion; the photography and presentation of – they have little other use for women, or interest in whether they appear real or not. I don’t think they should be setting the bar for feminine beauty. Guess there are a few women involved too, but mostly gay men . . . just sayin’
This attitude should stay where it began, in the fashion world only. Somewhere along the line it started influencing everything else and should be tempered by someone, but who? Who will dare to say its too much, to step out of toeing the line? Perhaps Anna Wintour should?
Pauline, I feel compelled to say that I really do not agree with you. While the fashion industry may be dominated by gay men (and I don’t even know if that’s true) they are not the only ones that want women to look like coat hangers. There are heterosexual men involved in the industry. There are a decent amount of women involved. The fashion industry is a massive organization (for lack of a better word) where all the people working in it have bought into hegemonic patriarchy.