Fashion victim

Haute haunts me!
I begin my mornings with style.com and thoroughly enjoy the fashion forums where fashionistas post their takes on the world of haute couture. Even the fashion blog on the New York Times makes a fab reading. That day I was quite fascinated by a deluge of posts on the choice of the latest Vogue, US cover. Is Brit Sienna Miller worth being on Vogue's anniversary issue cover, considered the fashion bible by many? Some felt that being a Brit she is a complete non-entity in US. Some even disliked her to an extent of calling her a "home breaker" (Jude Law's ex). Most felt that Anna Wintour, hallowed editor of US Vogue had set the bad precedent by putting celebs like Kiera Knightly issue after issue to sell the mag and generate add revenue. Some felt that the issue was even bigger than their bags-running into 840 pages which had more to do with ads than edit stuff.
I felt that cover was no great shakes though I quite like Sienna Miller. Though she doesn't look like Kate Moss and Giselle Bundchen, she is stylish in her own way. I would call her a baby doll boho chic. Besides I quite liked the feathery off-shoulder Marchesa dress she is wearing with a cinched belt. Though it looks more like an Elle cover.
Many feel that Brit and French Vogues are way serious than their American counterpart which is run on Anna' whims and fancies who favours designers whom she likes- Proenza Schouler, Marc Jacobs, Alaia and Marc Jacobs. Nothing wrong with that! I guess we all have our favourites.
I personally enjoy browsing through the glossy ad campaigns especially from Dolce Gabbanna for their in-your-face glamour and brazen sex appeal. And for any fashion reader, an ad matters as much as the editorial.
I think Indian magazines really need to work their socks off to rustle up a new level of interest from readers. According to me L'Officiel and Elle are the only two magazines which claim for good fashion reportage and lovely pictures.
Few months back, I just fell in love with Elle cover which had featured model Ujjwala Raut in a Rajesh Pratap Singh creation. She had a never seen before expression of whimsy on her face and the dazzling dress embellished with metallic purple sequins made it oh-so-adorable.
Coming to L'Officiel, I really liked Shilpa Shetty in Louis Vuitton finery. She has a fabulous body and looks like zillion bucks before camera. I also liked Karan Johar for the first time in Lacoste. He still looked like mama's little boy though looked dapper and dashing at the same time. I think Karan's understanding of high-fashion makes him all the more camera friendly as you can fathom that sensibility on his face.
Even the current issue of L'officiel was good with Carol and Bruna. Though It reminded me of Atul Kasbekar's Kingfisher calendar picture featuring Deepika Padukone in a golden bikini posing under water.
Carol in Tarun Tahiliani bikini and Bruna in a buberry swimsuit looked fab offsetting each other's complexion.
All in all a good issue though it leaves a lot to be desired on many counts.