As EIC of British ELLE, Kenya Hunt continues to steer the magazine in a whole new direction. Hunt’s latest accomplishment is reinstating the ELLE Style Awards, and delivers us a corresponding style issue for October 2023. This year’s winners are also this month’s cover stars, which sees actress Florence Pugh posing on cover one before the lens of Danny Kasirye wearing Valentino. Shot by Petros, a Wales Bonner-clad Ncuti Gatwa fronts the second cover while Gemma Chan (also photographed by Petros) fronts cover number three decked out in Louis Vuitton. Singer and songwriter Tems fronts cover four via the lens of Ekua King dressed in Vivienne Westwood, while the fifth and final cover features Suki Waterhouse modeling a look from Prada and photographed by Danny Kasirye.
British ELLE‘s latest ignited debate amongst members of our forums, immediately. “I love Suki, always lovely to see her get a cover,” praised callmejaeden.
“My favorite cover out of the five is Florench Pugh’s, I kinda like the boldness of it and the overall composition. Gemma Chan’s cover is also rather nice but doesn’t blow me away. Suki Waterhouse’s is the absolute worst! She looks half-asleep and caught mid-pose. Not even sure how such a cover made it to print,” expressed vogue28.
“NOPE, lol, not a single good cover and are they kidding with that expression on Suki’s cover? A yawn? And then people in the industry have the nerve to ask ‘why aren’t people buying magazines anymore?'” commented an unamused Bertrando3.
“The color grading and the over-saturation make my eyes burn. Some photographers have such a heavy hand on their retouching. These cover feel very amateur” GivenchyAddict chimed in.
Also far from overjoyed was forum member WAVES: “Five covers and not a single good one.”
KINGofVERSAILLES declared: “Standards have left the building, the country, and the planet at this point.”
Which cover do you prefer – if any? Share your thoughts and join the conversation, here.