Kate Upton: The WOW Factor
Vogue features director Sarah Harris writes about Upton in the January issue: "Standing at 5ft 10in, with her outsize bosoms and long slender legs, Kate Upton has a body that belongs to the supermodel era of modeling. Growing up, she idolised Cindy Crawford, Tyra Banks, and Heido Klum. In the flesh, this all-American beauty resembles a young Anna Nicole Smith or Marilyn Monroe."
The unusual leap that Kate Upton has made from the cover of Sports Illustrated to Vogue UK really does emphasise her previously doubted versatility. Few models with such proportions and possess the curves necessary to become swimsuit models are ever able to make the huge leap into high fashion and Kate Upton has defied that taboo. In fact throughout the whole spread, it is difficult to see how she could only be viewed as a swimsuit model when she looks so at home within the pages of such a prestigious magazine!
Personally, the shoot appears glamourous and sophisticated whilst still paying homage to Kate's bountiful curves that she works with so very well; allowing her to show off what thrust her into the limelight to begin with! Throughout the spread, the styling is extremely clever as although Kate is petite in real life, many of her proportions do differ to that of traditional models (a term I prefer to use lightly). As a result, the stylist hasn't attempted to dress her in outfits that others may wear, thank god!
Now, it is absolutely refreshing to see someone as unique as Kate Upton grace the cover of my issue of January Vogue, especially as she is a role model for young girls who have been bestowed with gifts similar to Kate's and believe them to be unable to model. This most interesting aspect of the feature does provide a new outlook on what the definition a model is, whether they have to be a size zero to be successful; only time will tell. I am almost waiting for a scathing comment from Karl Lagerfield anyday soon, scolding Alexander Shulman for a bad decision. I hope not.
As an individual, I am actually finding it tricky to persuade myself to spend money on fashion magazines such as Vogue of even Elle simply because it has been an actress on the cover, however with Kate Upton covering the issue, I couldn't refuse!