Anna Wintour defends Kamala Harris’ controversial Vogue cover

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Written by Jacqui Palumbo, CNN

Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour has broken her silence on the February cover of the magazine with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, which caused controversy when it leaked prematurely over the weekend.

Pictured, filmed by photographer Tyler Mitchell, Harris stands in front of pink and green curtains (a gesture with the colors of her Alpha Kappa Alpha brotherhood) wearing her Converse high-top sneakers along with a pair of pants. black and a white T-shirt. Critics pointed to the lighting and styling, calling the image a “wash” and claiming that the casual dress was not suitable for the cover of a historical magazine of the first woman of color and woman chosen. as Vice President of the United States. A source familiar with the discussions said Harris’ team believed the cover would present a different image, presenting it by wearing a light blue dress on a gold background (this image was released as a digital cover and, above all, it was the only image Mitchell promoted on social media).
In a statement to the New York Times, Wintour said there was “no formal agreement” on the choice of cover, but stressed that “it was absolutely not our intention to diminish in any way the importance of the incredible victory of the elected vice president. “

According to Wintour, the magazine’s creative team considered the informal look to be the best option for the time being, establishing a connection to the country’s pandemic and tumultuous state. He did not comment on the lighting of the image.

“When the two images hit Vogue, we all felt very, very strong that the less formal portrait of the elected vice president really reflected the moment we were living in,” he said in the statement. “We are in the middle of … the most frightening pandemic that is taking lives every minute, and we seemed to reflect this tragic moment in global history, a much less formal image, something that was very, very accessible and accessible. and it really reflected the hallmark of the Biden-Harris campaign … “

“We want nothing more than to celebrate the stunning victory of Vice President-elect Harris and the important moment in the history of the United States, and in particular for women of color around the world,” Wintour said in a statement to New York Times. Credit: Edward Berthelot / Getty Images

Wintour is not the only one defending the choice of cover. André Leon Talley, the former editor-in-chief of American Vogue, expressed his opinion on Tuesday in an Instagram post.

“The (Harris) work uniform with her ubiquitous Converse sneakers is aspirational. I predict it will set a trend for all young women around the world, she will dress like Kamala Harris,” she wrote. “The controversy over weaving is totally ridiculous.”

Kara Swisher, presenter of the podcast “Sway,” read Wintour’s statement to prelude an interview she had done on the cover days before it leaked. In the interview that followed, Wintour said Harris chose his own outfit for the cover image, explaining that he has “a very assured sense of style.” He was optimistic about the next cover, calling it “cheerful and optimistic.”

“I can’t imagine anyone really finding that cover more than that, and positive,” he said. “(It’s) an image of a woman who controls her life that will bring us … leadership, which we so desperately need. And for me, it’s just a very important but positive statement about the women and women of power “.

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