Written by Oscar Holland, CNN
Contributors Jasmine Wright, CNN
Kamala Harris’s next appearance in American Vogue drew criticism for looking casual and “
washed out, “with the vice president elected team surprised by the choice of the magazine cover.
The much debated image, which shows Harris in a black jacket and Converse sneakers, was not the one she expected to see on the cover of the print edition. A source familiar with the discussions said the Harris team believed the cover would show her posing in a light blue suit against a gold background.
An apparently leaked copy of the cover of the publication’s February issue, filmed in front of a pink and green background, began circulating online on Sunday. The photo instantly drew the ire of social media for looking poorly lit and stylized, while others suggested it was “
disrespectful“for the elected vice president.
With some Twitter users even questioning whether the image was falsified, Vogue
confirmed as genuine – but the confusion increased by revealing a second “digital” cover showing Harris in a light blue Michael Kors suit against a gold background. The CNN source said the Harris team had hoped that this outfit would be used as the main cover photo, with the more casual outfit appearing inside the magazine. The same source said the Harris team ordered a new cover, although the print version of the magazine was printed in mid-December.
Vogue unveiled a second “digital” cover featuring Harris in a blue suit. Credit: Tyler Mitchell / Vogue
A Vogue spokesman did not comment on the discussions between the magazine and the vice president-elect team, but said in an e-mailed statement that Vogue “loved the images Tyler Mitchell took and felt that the more informal image captured by Vice President-elect Harris is authentic, accessible in nature – which we consider one of the hallmarks of the Biden / Harris administration.
“To respond to the seriousness of this moment in history and the role it plays in the leadership of our country, we are celebrating both her images and digital covers.”
Both images were taken by Tyler Mitchell, who became famous for becoming the first black photographer to photograph an American Vogue cover when capturing Beyoncé for the September 2018 issue of the magazine. Mitchell posted just one of the covers on Instagram – that of Harris in a blue suit. Mitchell did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.
A ‘faded mess’
Explaining the influences behind the cover photo, Vogue said the apple green and salmon pink background was inspired by the colors of Howard University’s Alpha Kappa Alpha, the “first historically African American fraternity”. An attached article said that Mitchell wanted to “honor Harris’ college days and the powerful women who make up the ranks of fellowships like Alpha Kappa Alpha”.
The article also said that the vice president-elect’s style choices “were hers” and that the image “reflects Harris in his best casual style”.
The cover of the February 2021 issue of Vogue. Credit: Tyler Mitchell / Vogue
But critics said the photos made her skin look “faded” and were at odds with Vogue’s glamorous aesthetic. Playwright and lawyer Wajahat Ali
described as a “mess”, adding that Vogue’s chief editor, Anna Wintour “really shouldn’t have black friends and colleagues”.
Not everyone despised the casual style photo so much. “People are arguing about the photo chosen for the cover of VP Harris on Vogue, but here’s what’s important: it looks great, she’s being honored and the cover is driving Trump and Melania crazy.”
tweeted the novelist Paul Rudnick, an apparent reference to the outgoing president’s complaint that his wife has not yet appeared on the cover of a major fashion magazine as first lady.
Meanwhile, Washington Post senior critic Robin Givhan wrote that while “there is nothing inherently wrong with this image”, in selecting the more informal one as the cover, “Vogue stole Harris’ roses”.
“A little admiration would have served the magazine well in its cover decisions. Nothing on the cover said, ‘Wow’. And sometimes, that’s all black women want, a ‘wow’ of admiration and celebration for what they’ve achieved. “
The debate took place just over a week before Harris was sworn in as the first woman and first black and South Asian vice president. In a detailed profile, published online by Vogue on Sunday, Harris recalls the time when the election was called and his subsequent victory speech. She also talks about climate change and protests for racial justice.
Related video: Naomi Campbell on fashion diversity
“I always say this: I can be the first to do a lot of things – make sure I’m not the last,” Harris told journalist Alexis Okeowo. “I was thinking about my baby nieces, who will only know a world where a woman is vice president of the United States, a woman of color, a black woman, a woman with parents who were born outside the United States.”
In another part of the interview, she reiterated that Covid-19 will be the Biden-Harris government’s top priority during the first 100 days.
“The first line of approach should be to get control of this pandemic,” she said.
