We Need To Talk About Tilda
July 5, 2011 § Leave a Comment
My biggest gripe with American fashion magazines is their penchant for putting Hollywood actresses on their covers. Why? Actresses are boring. They’re what America’s Next Top Model judges would call “girlfriend cute” – pretty face but no edge.
Swinton's W cover (via W)
The only leading lady for whom this doesn’t apply is the off-beat Tilda Swinton, who graces the cover of W Magazine‘s August issue looking like a glamorous alien on their way to a high fashion ball. Her directional look – a black and white tux with a high, amish-influenced white hat – channels a sleek androgyny, and her 5’11″ frame and flat chest offer the model-esque proportions the outfit demands. The cover as well as the accompanying spread were styled by Swinton’s close friend, Frenchman Jerry Stafford, who drew inspiration from sources as disparate as “Arnold Genthe’s portraits of Greta Garbo, Ingmar Bergman’s Seventh Seal, and the work of French artist and provocateur Claude Cahun, famous in the Twenties for her explorations in gender role play.”
With her unconventional beauty, strong personal style, and willingness to look a little freaky, Swinton enhances the artistry of magazines like no other. Hopefully soon, other stars will follow suit.
You can see all of the W images and the accompanying interview here.
