Not So Bizarre

This month's Harper's Bazaar features a somewhat controversial - in fashion terms, that is - cover: Lily Allen, topless and sketched rather than photographed. Controversial in the sense that Harper's has, for no particular reason (i.e. Vogue Oz only did the sketch thing to celebrate its 50th birthday) eschewed the usual photoshopped, photographed, glamazon model in favour of small, visible boobs and pencils.



Edwina McCann took over editorial duties of Harper's late last year, which I believe has been a revelation for the magazine. Edwina basically epitomises the readership with her clear intellect and stylistic brilliance. McCann was style editor for the Weekend Australian Magazine for several years. I was obsesssed with her style advice column, as well as the weekly fashions she identified as trend setting. She combines forward-looking fashion sense with a stylish sensibility which, while somewhat restrained, is also boundary pushing. She translates high fashion into wearability, making sense of haute couture and finding a place for Chanel next to Country Road in our wardrobes that doesn't appear either showy or as though you are trying too hard. The articles in Harpers are far more readable and identifiable - familiar to our lives, yet still that dream world of fashion we like to get lost in every now and again.