May 2019 was an interesting month for glossy magazine covers. There were lots of fresh and unexpected faces, like Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh and a number of classic supermodel shots (think Kate Moss, Claudia Schiffer and Doutzen Kroes). That’s not to say that all of those aforementioned covers were standouts (more on that in the slideshow). There was limited racial diversity, discluding anomalies like Adut Akech and Yara Shahidi, but there was unfortunately even less in the way of body diversity. Especially as we inch towards summer and with that, the peak of body awareness and insecurities among many women, let’s hope magazines have covers featuring the likes of Aidy Bryant (seriously, does anyone deserve a cover more than her right now?) in the works.
The best cover? Arguably, Jane Fonda, who gives timeless new meaning with every year that passes.
Click on to see some of this month’s standout glossy magazine covers, for better or worse.
[ Next: Rebel Wilson Suits Up in Ralph Lauren on InStyle’s Monochromatic May 2019 Cover ]
All the May 2019 Magazine Covers We Loved and Hated
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Vogue UK
Kate Moss appears on three covers, shot by three different photographers, for the magazine's 40th anniversary. The standout was this curly shot since we rarely see the model rocking this style.
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Allure
Wow! How refreshing to see something different and even memorable from Allure with this Adut Akech cover. This sure popped on this month's newsstands.
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Vogue Spain
This Valentino Haute Couture gown could make anyone want to play dress-up. Game of Thrones‘ Emilia Clarke pulls it off nicely with understated hair and makeup to match.
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Porter
While it's nice to see Yara Shahidi get the spotlight with this cover, this shot looks more catalog than the high fashion we've come to expect from anything associated with Net-a-Porter.
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Town and Country
What a gorgeous and dramatic shot of Jodie Comer.
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ELLE UK
This shot of Jodie Comer is far too reminiscent of photostock images.
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Vogue UK
Jane Fonda is the cover star for Vogue UK's ageless themed supplement. She's 81 — and obviously there couldn't be a better cover model choice.
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ELLE
Not only is the styling off for both of Dua Lipa's ELLE covers, her expressions are flat for both as well.
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Marie Claire
Sandra Oh, Thandie Newton and Elisabeth Moss all get their own covers this month and each one is as beautiful as the next.
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Vogue
The wet look appears painfully Photoshopped (those floating drops, come on!), but as far as a Kim Kardashian cover goes, this is about as tastefully on-brand as one can hope to get.
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Vogue China
Claudia Schiffer, Grace Elizabeth and Sasha Pivovarova pay tribute to Karl Lagerfeld and the result is truly spectacular.
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Vogue Czech
The only thing missing from this prairie-glam Gigi Hadid image, shot by Helena Christensen at Hadid's family farm, is a bicycle.
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Vogue Netherlands
To celebrate Vogue Netherlands’ 100th Anniversary, Doutzen Kroes was chosen as the cover model. Unfortunately, the cover looks more American Apparel than high fashion.
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Vogue Paris
This is a beautiful shot of Rianne van Rompaey, but giving her a second Vogue Paris cover in three months is overkill, no matter how gorgeous she may be. And they say there's no loyalty in fashion!
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Vogue Russia
The bold red lip really works to bring out Kendall Jenner's dark features, making for a nice cover shot — even if it would be nice to see some fresh models get some cover time over her.
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ELLE Canada
Michelle Williams always kills it with a mod, Twiggy-style look.
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Harper's Bazaar
This shot of Rihanna would have been better timed for Halloween...
