Brüno's controversial GQ cover. Photo courtesy of Mark Seliger/GQ
Aside from making some readers mildly uncomfortable, what harm can Brüno's nude GQ cover do? One newsstand in Chicago isn't willing to find out. The New York Times reports that the newsstand used blinders (the black panels that often hide the covers of traditional nudie mags) to hide Brüno's body.
But what about Jennifer Aniston's naked cover last year, you ask? Well, although this particular Chicago newsstand left it out there for the world to see, another high-profile newsstand did not -- the main newsstand in Grand Central Terminal covered up Ms. Aniston's flawless figure.
Brüno in the buff. Photo courtesy of Mark Seliger/GQ
His movie hasn't even come out on our shores yet, but Sacha Baron Cohen's alter-ego, Brüno, is verging on overexposure -- and frankly, the entertainment value is so high, I don't mind.
On the cover of GQ's July issue (out on newsstands June 23), SBC's gay Austrian fashion journalist character poses in the buff, perhaps a not-so-subtle allusion to the magazine's recent (and mildly scandalous) cover featuring Jennifer Aniston.
Earlier this week, online media outlets published excerpts from Harper's Bazaar's July cover story about Angelina Jolie. What they failed to acknowledge is how the legendary fashion bible pulled an image from a wire service for its cover, and never actually interviewed the star. Instead it featured a topical essay by Naomi Wolf on Angelina's mythical allure.
This is rather unheard of for a publication of Bazaar's stature and is definitely a sign of the struggling economy. (Voguers would probably sell off their first born before letting this happen.)
The typical process for fashion magazine cover stories involves an exclusive shoot and interview, but as first reported on New York Mag's site, this was not the case. The recycled image was pulled from last December's Los Angeles premiere of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." And Wolf's feature doesn't have a single quote from Jolie.
Heidi Klum's in nothing but her birthday suit for the March issue of German GQ. Fortunately her hubby Seal isn't the jealous type -- according to Heidi he's seen the photos and "loves them."
GQ
Kate Hudson recently revealed that she loves posing for provocative photo shoots -- but the sultry starlet certainly isn't the only celeb who's willing to bare all for a magazine cover.
InStyle
Jennifer Aniston for GQ Was her ultra-revealing cover stunning or sad? Find out!
GQ
Eva Mendes for Jane The actress isn't bashful about showing a little skin (just look at these steamy Calvin Klein ads!).
Jane
Britney Spears for Bazaar Showing off her hot pregnant bod, back when we thought there might be hope for her and K-Fed.
Bazaar
Britney Spears for Rolling Stone But of course, Brit was happy to bare all before she was ready to bare children.
Rolling Stone
Christina Aguilera They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Marie Claire
Demi Moore for Vanity Fair And before Britney and Christina were competing with pregnant poses in their birthday suits, Demi Moore graced the cover of Vanity Fair in nothing but her wedding ring (and some nice earrings!).
Vanity Fair
Lindsay Lohan for Entertainment magazine Back when it was plausible that she might turn out sane.
Entertainment
Mariah Carey for Interview Still looking great at 38!
Interview
Claudia Schiffer might be nearly 40 years old (well, she's 38), but she has a body that many women half her age would envy. What, you're not jealous? You will be when you hear this -- in an interview with Vogue, she says that it's hard for her to even keep this much weight on, and she "can't miss a single meal."
Celebrity magazines have been reporting that Justin Gaston, Miley Cyrus's 20-year-old model boyfriend, has moved into the Cyrus family home so that dad Billy Ray can "keep an eye on him." But it seems the young fella has been slipping out of the compound.
Michelle Obama is on the March cover of Vogue! The magazine generally relegates first ladies to inside spreads (though they did feature Hillary Clinton on the cover while Bill was in office), but Mrs. Obama's stunning designer dresses and sensibly chic J Crew ensembles have captured the public's attention -- so it's really no surprise that she's gracing the cover of the fashion bible.
The photos were taken by Annie Leibovitz at the Hay Adams hotel in Washington DC, when the Obama family was staying there in January, before the Inauguration.
She claims she's not a natural-born politician. But, when it comes to fashion, America's next new Lady, Michelle Obama, seems to have a strategist's instincts for what will play in Peoria. Her secret lies in knowing how to mix high and low (and we don't just mean her heels). She wears dresses from pricey designers like Isabel Toledo (left), Thakoon and Narciso Rodriguez, whose pieces carry four-figure tabs and are sold in stores like -- yep -- Neiman-Marcus, Barneys and Saks. But she also showed up on the campaign trail wearing designs like the $148 White House-Black Market dress that she chose for "The View" last summer and the J. Crew sweater and skirt that she wore on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," insisting in her best every woman voice, "You can get some good stuff online."
AP
Michelle Obama looked cool and casual at the Kids' Inaugural concert the night before her husband took the oath of office. Her daughters met their favorite musicians (The Jonas Brothers) and the soon-to-be First Lady pulled out one of her favorite labels: J Crew.
What will the Obama administration be like? Well, Mrs. O has demonstrated a loyal streak when it comes to her choice of designer duds. Although she was criticized in many corners for the Narcisco Rodriguez dress she wore on Election Night, she wore him again at another high-profile event, the 'We Are One' concert at the Lincoln Memorial on January 18, 2009. This time, the reaction was uniformly positive.
Before her move to Washington, Michelle O was a loyal client of a boutique called Ikram, on Chicago's Gold Coast. Store owner Ikram Goldman helped the new First Lady with her Inaugural wardrobe, including the bright purple Maria Cornejo jacket she wore on the Whistle Stop train tour from Philly to DC on January 17.
On the night of the election Michelle Obama made fashion waves in this red and black Narciso Rodriguez dress (left). The designer proved to be a campaign trail favorite and will in all likelihood show up again and again during Obama's time in the White House.
Joe Raedle, Getty Images
The other big winner: Narciso Rodriguez, whose red-and-black confetti-print dress was Mrs. Obama's choice for her Election Night debut. It's hard to imagine it was anything but warm in Grant Park -- where the President-elect addressed an estimated 100,000 fans -- but Mrs. O added a short black cardigan to the tank dress, which came straight from Rodriguez's Spring '09 runway.
Randy Brooke, WireImage.com
Sure she has a law degree, a high-powered job and two adorable daughters. But to fashionista fans, Michelle Obama's most striking accomplishment during the presidential campaign has been channeling Jackie Kennedy -- the trademark flip, the simple '60s sheaths, the no-nonsense strand of pearls. She wore a tangerine version of the look last spring at a primary rally in North Carolina.
AFP / Getty Images
While Barack Obama boasts that he owns five of the same suit -- a dark two-button by Hartmarx -- Mrs. Obama is far more adventurous, especially when it comes to color. Usually, she favors bold shades -- blues, oranges, purples -- but she chose a soft, cantaloupe-colored dress earlier this fall for her husband's acceptance of the Harold Washington Award.
AFP / Getty Images
Their fist-bump got the most attention at the Minnesota rally on the night that Barack Obama cinched the Democratic nomination. Second-most-talked about: Michelle Obama's purple dress by her long-time designer and friend, Chicago's Maria Pinto.
Scott Olson, Getty Images
At the first joint appearance of the Obama-Biden families last summer, Michelle wore a purple and grey shirtwaist -- just the sort of thing Donna Reed would have chosen. And, to ensure that she didn't tower over just about everyone at the Springfield, Ill. rally, the 5-foot-11 Mrs. Obama slipped on silver ballet flats.
AFP / Getty Images
On the cover, Michelle wears a magenta Jason Wu dress -- as everyone probably remembers, he designed her white Inauguration dress. A photo inside shows Michelle at a desk, wearing a black Narciso Rodriguez dress. Michelle received criticism when she paired a black sweater over a dress by the designer on election night, but she told Vogue, "I also have to be practical. In the end, someone will always not like what you wear--people just have different tastes. Some will think that a sweater was horrible, [but] I was cold; I needed that sweater."
The significance of the Vogue cover is multi-faceted, particularly because Michelle is a curvy, African-American woman. In the past year there have been many public debates about race and size in fashion, including the All-Black issue of Italian Vogue.
And, while we love the fact that she's on the cover, we also like what she had to say within:
"I was proud as a wife, amazed as a citizen. I felt a sense of relief, a sense of calm, that the country I lived in was the country I thought I lived in," she said of election night to writer Andre Leon Talley who chronicles -- aboard the Obama Express, front-and-center at the Inauguration Ceremony and the Obama Home States Ball -- the hopes, ambitions, and American dreams of Mrs. Obama.
"We learned in our household that there was nothing you couldn't talk about and that you found humor in even the toughest of times. I want to bring that spirit of warmth, openness, and stability to my task," she said in the interview that stretched into entertaining, motherhood, art, and of course, fashion: "I love clothes ... First and foremost, I wear what I love. That's what women have to focus on: what makes them feel good about themselves and have fun with fashion."
Our new First Lady, just by being herself, is single-handedly taking those discussions to the next level. She is a mother, professional woman, fashion icon, and role model. And she looks darned good doing it all, which is why she is now also a Vogue cover model!
ScarJo has to be the hardest working 24 year old celebrity spokesmodel in Hollywood. She already starred in ad campaigns for Calvin Klein, L'Oreal and Louis Vuitton. Now she's the star of a campaign for the new Dolce & Gabbana makeup line.
Bar Rafaeli, Leonardo DiCaprio's stunning model girlfriend, is the face of British retailer Marks & Spencer's new lingerie line.
Marks & Spencer
Pam Anderson's new campaign for Vivienne Westwood is surprisingly hot. The blonde bombshell and her heaving, inflated bosoms aren't usually found in fashion mags -- but the quirky combo of Playboy centerfold and designer threads seems to work.
Photo courtesy of Vivienne Westwood
Scarlett Johansson for Dolce & Gobbana. A sizzling Marilyn Monroe impression that's sure to sell some makeup.
Dolce & Gobbana
Fergie for M.A.C.'s VIVA GLAM collection Fabulous, feathered, and just a little airbrushed.
MAC Cosmetics
Katie and Posh's Dueling Ads We know it's tough to tell the difference, but that's Katie Holmes on the left for Miu Miu and Victoria Beckham baring (nearly) all for Giorgio Armani. The campaigns launched within days of one another -- so the question is: who's hotter?
Miu Miu/Armani
Madonna for Louis Vuitton Anyone else tired of the trademark Madonna crotch shot?
Louis Vuitton
Kirsten Dunst for Miu Miu We prefer Katie Holmes, hands down.
Miu Miu
Heidi Klum for Jordache The jean company was apparently trying to target the "hot mom" demographic.
Jordache
Kate Moss for Agent Provocateur Arguably the iconic lingerie maker's most famous star.
Kate Moss
Liv Tyler for Gap The actress helped boost the fledgling brand as it tried to overhaul its image.
Liv Tyler
The ads features Scarlett looking just like Marilyn Monroe (because Christina Aguilera and the late, great Anna Nicole Smith haven't quite squeezed every last bit out of that look yet) lying on a suggestively rumpled bed, in a very D&G corset. Clichéd, but very sexy.
Scarlett will be promoting He's Just Not That Into You, and then taking a few months off before her next movie starts. You have to admit, if you were married to Men's Health cover boy Ryan Reynolds, you'd want to hang around the house and wait for him to get out of the shower, too.
Kate Hudson recently revealed that she loves posing for provocative photo shoots -- but the sultry starlet certainly isn't the only celeb who's willing to bare all a magazine cover.
Jennifer Aniston for GQ Was her ultra-revealing cover stunning or sad? Find out!
Eva Mendes for Jane The actress isn't bashful about showing a little skin (just look at these steamy Calvin Klein ads!).
Britney Spears for Bazaar Showing off her hot pregnant bod, back when we thought there might be hope for her and K-Fed.
Britney Spears for Rolling Stone But of course, Brit was happy to bare all before she was ready to bare children.
Christina Aguilera They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Demi Moore for Vanity Fair And before Britney and Christina were competing with pregnant poses in their birthday suits, Demi Moore graced the cover of Vanity Fair in nothing but her wedding ring (and some nice earrings!).
Lindsay Lohan for Entertainment magazine Back when it was plausible that she might turn out sane.
Mariah Carey for Interview Still looking great at 38!
Rose McGowan and Marley Shelton for Rolling Stone This certainly added to the hype surrounding the actresses' blockbuster movie, "Grindhouse."
Not that we're complaining -- we love celebrity nudity as much as the next person -- but what's with stars going naked on the covers of fashion magazines?
Kate Hudson is one of the most frequent skin flashing offenders, and according to The Sun, that's not going to stop any time soon. She loves doing it, and she plans more.
Not that she's an exhibitionist. No, when Kate bares all on the cover of InStyle, it's because of her love of the arts. Sure it is, Kate.
Golly, that reminds us of how Jennifer Aniston was on the cover of December's GQ wearing only a tie (which you can win, btw!), justbecause she's creative and free like that. Also, we hear she's deliriously happy and not desperate at all.
Oh -- their movies coming out at the same time as their magazine covers? Just delightful coincidences!
Dita redefines the word "Hot" in her spread for the new issue of German Playboy. In addition to her suggestive cover pose, inside the magazine Dita appears topless, (SO not safe for work) wearing a corset and surrounded by provocative props.
November's W magazine cover will feature a breastfeeding Angelina Jolie, just imagine what kind of revealing pics are inside. Actually, we heard that the article and images are pretty tame -- so don't get too worked up. The photos were apparently snapped by Brad in August, as the couple took a break from the paparazzi at their French chateau. Honestly, we think Brad takes a pretty good picture -- though it can't be hard with a subject like Angie showing some skin.
Vogue's "Black Issue," literally flew off the shelves. It was sold out around the world in a matter of days after it's release, and the company actually reprinted more issues in order to meet the demand. The message to the fashion world was sent loud and clear -- we want more diversity and we are ready for it, now!
Threesome or topless? More than 3/4 of you think the CK campaign 'Threesome' campaign was more risque than Wrangler's topless models. Get the full story here.
Inzemove and Fred & Farid
Do these ads belong in the U.S.? StyleList readers were nearly evenly divided on this, with 52% thinking that they should run in the States, and 48% finding them inappropriate. Get the full story here.
Inzemove and Fred & Farid
Curly or Straight? While 30% of you think she's so beautiful that her hair doesn't even matter, 49% of you prefer her curls. Get the full story here.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images | Jon Furniss, WireImage
Offensive or artistic? Just over 50% of StyleList readers said they weren't offended by this shirt, but didn't know if it was totally appropriate to wear in public. Unfortunately, that wasn't the opinion in Dubai. Get the full story here.
Strapless dresses on 13-year-olds StyleList readers think strapless dresses should be saved for older girls -- 41% of you think the look is too mature. Get the full story here.
Getty Images
Is Megan the new Angelina? Half of you think Megan needs to get her own identity and quit copying Angie, but more than a quarter said Jolie doesn't stand a chance against this Fox. Get the full story here.
Getty Images
Did Calvin Klein respond to public's outcry? The controversial "threesome" billboard in Soho has been replaced with this one, but 51% of you believe it was just to keep people talking about the brand, not because CK caved. Get the full story here.
Rachel Been, AOL
Calvin Klein's Racy Ad Is it art or practically pornography? About 40% of StyleList readers found this billboard obscene. Get the full story.
Maggie Coughlan, AOL
Palin's Pedi Do you think Sarah Palin's funky pedicure was appropriate? If so, you're in good company -- 68% of you said it was fun and fabulous. Get the full story.
Getty Images
Bright, Light, or Dark as Night? How do you like your toenails painted? Over half of StyleList readers prefer their piggies with bright, perky polish. Get the full story.