How and why Kim Kardashian hit the cover of Vogue
Two years ago, Anna Wintour said worse than Kim Kardashian can only be socks with sandals. However, two years later, socks with sandals were recognized as a successful fashion idea, and Kim got on the cover of the April issue of Vogue. And not alone, but in a pair with her man Kanye West, and also in a wedding dress. "How did it happen?" - the world groaned together. For a start it is worth remembering who, in fact, is Kim Kardashian. Everyone seems to know about her — her face and body on glossy covers all over the world, but it’s not customary to talk about her. In addition, the figure of her man is so odious that for many now Kim looks like an attachment to Kanye West (there are those who, by analogy, consider her a singer). For Americans, she is the subject of both jokes and pride - she is the embodiment of modern pop culture and ideal female happiness. But, it feels the heart, it is even closer and clearer to Russians than to American women.
Kim Kardashian is the daughter of a rich American lawyer and Armenian businessman Robert Kardashian. She is from the category of stars, about which they say "famous for being famous" ("popular because it is popular"). The connotations of this term are, of course, negative: fame of a certain kind can be achieved without talent and special abilities simply by being adventurous and slightly illegible. That is how Kim became famous - a girl from a rich family, with a registration in Beverly Hills and cameras spread throughout the house. The reality show "Keeping Up with the Kardashians", which is produced by her beautiful and decisive hand, Kim's mom, is watched with the same ecstasy and enviable consistency, as in Russia - Dom-2: the program is being broadcast on the American entertainment channel E! already 8 years without losing ratings. All this time 3-4 million people follow the broadcast of the image of a rich (in all senses) life of a large friendly family. For comparison, the audience of the series "Mad Men" is two times less. In addition, the show has two more spin-offs - about Kim's sisters and their adventures.
Anna Wintour refused to cover many, including Jennifer Lopez and Miley Cyrus. Even Rihanna got on the cover with difficulty
With such input data, it is logical that the photos of Kim Kardashian for a long time hung on one honor / disgrace board with Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie - it girls, also known for their fame. They really have a lot in common: Kim also hung out a lot, wore bandage pink dresses, posed nude for the Playboy number in December, made a dubious collection for Bebe, opened several DASH boutiques with glamorous outfits (in New York, Los Angeles and Miami) and indiscriminately starred in the campaigns of mass brands. For example, in the advertisement of Bongo Jeans, which seems blatant in terms of good taste and fashion, but ideally hits the target audience. In the middle of this journey, Kim, of course, released her own perfume (sweet). Hardly anyone warned her that the two letters K in their logo merge into the Russian letter G. Well, that's right: Kim is a Woman with a capital letter. There was also a mandatory episode with a home video that hit the net - sex-shooting Kim with her then boyfriend, r & b-singer Ray Jay, also added world popularity to her. So much so that since 2010, the wax figure of Kim Kardashian stands in Madame Tussauds in New York. And here is the crown of creation: in 2014 she appears on the cover of the most authoritative fashion magazine, which has always meticulously retouched a picture of the world. Prior to that, one of the most influential women in the fashion world, Anna Wintour refused to cover many: Jennifer Lopez, Miley Cyrus (yes, Rihanna even got to the cover with difficulty). Most often, Anna’s verdict sounded simple: “Too vulgar!” Did Kim, with her geek-to-chic and trash-to-class, turn out to be too much? Maybe the Wintour plank fell? Or maybe just the world has changed?
The easiest thing to do is to blame everything on Kanye West - he is the main thing in this story, and this certainly appeals to him. He is not inferior in popularity and influence of Anna Wintour, if not ahead of her (if you take T-shirts with your face in the assortment of the mass market giant H & M for 100% popularity). It seems that everything that Kanye West undertakes is obtained from him. Kanye decided - Kanye did: “Kim is as good as Michelle Obama. She should be on the cover of Vogue,” and he achieved his goal. And that's how it happened.
The New York Metropolitan Museum each year hosts the ball The Costume Institute Gala, known as Met Gala, the level and scale of which is often compared to the Oscar ceremony. Two years ago, when Kim and Kanye only declared themselves a couple, he came to the ball alone. Kim was not called, because an invitation to such a rout cannot be bought with money. One of those who categorically objected to the admission of Kardashian to the privileged circle was Anna Wintour. And there is a suspicion that it was then, at the ball in 2012, where Kanye came alone, he began his subversive work. By and large, he defended his right to come to the main ball of the world with a girl he chose in defiance of ridicule and public opinion (for example, it was seriously discussed that he first bought Kim new clothes). But this, as we now see, was only the beginning. Simultaneously with hints of Anne Wintour about the cover of American Vogue, Kanye begins negotiations with American Harper's Bazaar and Vanity Fair.
And exactly one year later, a landmark event occurs. Kim goes to the red carpet of Met Gala, and not just like that, but deeply pregnant and in the most awkward outfit in the entire history of the event - in a Givenchy dress on the floor with roses and a slit from the thigh. Obviously, the girl loves flowers - Kim added shoes and gloves with exactly the same print to the dress, thanks to which the Kim-meme meme was born. But the first step is the hardest.
It can be seen how Kim is changing under the influence of West: first she changed into Max Mara's coat to match Kanye. Bandage dresses with deep cleavage, draperies and prints are a thing of the past, and they are being replaced by the world of high fashion - now Kim is increasingly choosing something from Céline or Lanvin. Kanye gives the bride a bag of Hermès Birkin with a print of a picture of his beloved American beat artist George Condo, a close friend of Warhol and Burroughs. Changes her social circle: now Kim attends dinners with Ricardo Tishi, Marina Abramovich and is friends with supermodel Carly Closs. Kanye West is obviously a feminist. He protects Kim, protects her rights and is sincerely proud of her. That is why in 2014 it is impossible to talk about them in isolation from each other, and that is why the designation “Kimye” appears, as almost ten years ago - “Brangeline”. That is why the American Vogue placed a couple on the cover of the April issue, accompanying their photo with the removal of #mosttalkedaboutcouple. In an interview with the April Vogue, Kanye explains everything with one sentence: "Kim is a dream girl. And I think that a dream girl should live in an ideal world."
For a million girls, Kim is a personal style icon: sexy, relaxed, smiling, in heels and with a neckline
In this story, Kanye’s sincerely gentlemanly behavior is remarkable, and the moment, let's say, cultural. On their example, we once again observe how the elitist culture comes closer to the mass. Kim and Kanye on the cover of Vogue is a gesture of the magazine, embodying the obvious course of democracy, normality, rapprochement with reality, and not denial of its gloss. The snobbery that has accompanied fashion lately has disappeared like aspirin - and the headache has passed. Vogue takes a pop culture that is impossible to ignore and ignore. Moreover, this shooting is not a sign that Vogue felt and recognized the spirit of the time, but on the contrary, that Vogue exactly fell into the spirit of the time, which West and Kardashian are now personifying. Well, and besides, the magazine advocates family values - the main theme of the April cover story was made preparations for the wedding.
On the one hand, it is obvious that the story of the growth of this woman is her own merit, the natural way of trial and error (raise your hand for those who did not wear pink blouses). On the other - the merit of a man who was next to her at the right time. However, Kim was supposed to appear on the cover of Vogue for several reasons. First, for a million girls, Kim is a personal style icon: sexy, relaxed, smiling, in heels and with a neckline. Her image is simple and international, her sexuality is understandable in any language of the world. Secondly, she is not shy of herself and accepts what she is. Kim carries the new beauty of the body. Kim is the Body. In addition, judging by the shooting of Terry Richardson, with a sense of humor she is all right. Kim fulfills his image to the maximum, but at the same time knows how to stop a millimeter from unconditional vulgarity. Louboutin stilettos, lace and leopard are few who can wear so organically; even harder is to stay nice. Third, Kim is the face of the diaspora, she personifies the national minority and brings its beauty to the world, and this is already the American dream. Fourthly, Kim is a mature woman of almost 34 years old who looks great and is not shy about her forms and desires. Kim wanted an elephant (Vogue) - she got it. If this is not a joke, Burger King will present her to Kanye's wedding. Because it is fun and tasty - and why not?