Vogue is slammed by readers for ‘dreadful representation’ of ‘women in their prime’ after airbrushing supermodels for cover – as former editor says there was ‘no need’

Vogue magazine fans have slammed the magazine for featuring airbrushed models including Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington on the cover.

The big names of the 90s came together for a joint cover of the September issue of Vogue and British Vogue, which first delighted fashion lovers when it was announced on Friday.

However, Alexandra Shulman, who edited British Vogue from 1992 to 2017, argued in the Mail on Sunday that the publication had turned the stars into “drawn versions” of themselves.

She wrote: ‘Why the hell did they have to be turned into a plasticized version of themselves, dressed in dark black widow outfits and computer edited to appear like a cartoon version of what a glamorous older woman?”

Meanwhile, many on social media were quick to agree with her, with one person commenting on Instagram: ‘I think quite an appalling portrayal of these beautiful women in their prime and what a sorry excuse not to show them in all their middle-aged glory. Let’s be honest, Vogue isn’t half as ambitious as it used to be!”

The big names of the 90s came together for a joint September cover for Vogue and British Vogue in a recreation of that 1990 issue

Another wrote: “When I saw this cover it was a bit clinical and cold. It would have been nice to see them shown as a bit more natural and relatable, a bit more human.

A third added: ‘This is yet another example of stupidity on the part of fashion. There is nothing wrong with being older.

‘Nothing wrong with imperfection. Everyone is perfectly imperfect and everyone has to accept imperfection.

“If we were all perfect, what would the world be like? I’d be curious to know what people think of it.

‘Surely they had to accept being presented like that? It’s madness and it’s symptomatic of the magazine’s decline.

One commented, “I agree they are so naturally beautiful, but the article would have been so much more inspiring without the photoshop.”

Elsewhere in her post, Alexandra wrote: “This is particularly odd given that Vogue has recently positioned itself around the idea of ​​inclusivity, rejecting the idea that conventional definitions of beauty are relevant to fashion choices. blanket.”

“These women are really beautiful. In their youth, they inspired a generation of women to dream that they could imitate them in a tiny way.

“Now in their 50s, they really are the stuff of middle-aged women’s sweetest dreams – most of whom can only wish for the bony structure, long, slender limbs and defined waistline that not only does this quartet display on the cover of Vogue but also own in real life. They are always great.

The cover was published months after it was announced that British Vogue editor Edward Enninful would quit his role, amid rumors of a split with Anna Wintour.

The 51-year-old, who is British Vogue’s first male and first black editor, told magazine staff he would take on a new global role at publisher Conde Nast.

Mr Enninful made sweeping changes to British Vogue and under his watch the magazine featured its first transgender cover model.

He also oversaw the magazine’s first male cover star – Oscar-nominated actor Timothee Chalamet, while disability activist Sinead Burke became the first visibly disabled person on the cover.

When the September cover was released, many criticized the creative direction chosen for the covers – which saw the famous stars wearing dark colors against a silver gray background.

However, Alexandra Shulman, who edited British Vogue from 1992 to 2017, argued in the Mail on Sunday that the publication had turned the stars into “cartoon versions” of themselves.

Despite the ‘Greatest of All Time’ label, many fans have taken to social media to lament their lack of enthusiasm for the image.

One Twitter user wrote: “Creatively they could have done anything, and all black standing in a corner with s**t lighting is what they came up with.” is this a shitty funeral.

Another wrote: “It should have been amazing, this cover should gag us all, but somehow it’s flat and it’s such a shame.”

“This latest Vogue US cover isn’t the best I’ve ever been, I’m afraid,” one fan said simply.

Another tweeted: “Not you here making supermodels look like housewives in a September issue… The disrespect is too much.”

“Certainly could have done better on this cover,” another commented. ‘Four of the greatest models the world has ever known and that was the cover choice? WASTEFUL.’

Meanwhile, many on social media were quick to agree with her, with one person commenting on Instagram that it was an “appalling portrayal of women in their prime”.

One fan commented, “Fabulous models who know how to serve, so this cover is a choice.”

Another added: “This September vogue issue looks abysmal, sorry.”

‘All those icons and you couldn’t have found something a little more interesting????’ one Twitter user lamented.

“It’s almost disrespectful with the captions being so… blah,” one frustrated wrote.

Another fan wrote: ‘This cover does their legacy a disservice omg. Just lazy.’

Elsewhere, fans commented on Instagram: ‘NOW IT’S A COVER I love all these models!!! but you didn’t pose them all well lol!’

“The pose is weird. It’s like they all did their shots individually and then photoshopped them together,” one fan said.

Allegations of Photoshop use were also a complaint as some felt that Cindy Crawford’s famous face looked very different in the image.

One fan wrote: ‘Didn’t recognize Cindy Crawford here given the stern expression and lifeless hair. Honestly, I thought she was Julia Roberts after a bad accident.

Despite the ‘Greatest of All Time’ label, many fans took to social media to lament their lack of enthusiasm for the image.

Many were quick to criticize the creative direction chosen for the cover, saying the end result failed to impress.

Another added: ‘Wait…. THIS IS Cindy Crawford??? What did she do to herself? If you hadn’t named her, I would have NO idea it was her.

‘What did they do to Cindy Crawford’s face?’ another asked.

Elsewhere, others shared their joy at having such iconic models in the limelight for the September issue as one person tweeted: “Finally Vogue has decided to go back to iconic covers and stop to flatter the Kardashians.” These are blankets.

Another added: ‘With the return of 90s models in this year’s September issue as well as the big return of Karen Elson’s Vogue cover later this year, it made me realize that no matter way Insta-girls took over the modeling industry a few years ago, these legends are still unmatched.

“The quirky models showing the girls how it’s done for their Vogue issue,” one elated fan wrote.

The cover shoot, directed by photographer Rafael Pavarotti, was done to promote the model group’s upcoming Apple TV+ docuseries, The Super Models, which will premiere September 20.

Iconic models were part of the crowd of ‘it’ models of the 80s and 90s; seen with other Vogue cover models in 1992

The women will share their stories in new Apple TV+ docu-series The Supermodels

The four-part show focuses on top models from the 1990s.

The series is directed by Oscar winner Roger Ross Williams and Larissa Bills, while it was produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Documentaries.

The supermodels will take fans back to the 1980s at the start of their modeling careers and document how the four women came together from around the world and collectively achieved notoriety that transcended the entire industry.

The four-part series will also examine women’s work today, not just in the fashion industry, but also in activism, philanthropy and business, and how the quartet has paved the way for the next generation. .