Magazine fashion images: fantasy or insulting?

by Mia Freedman January 7, 2011

Australian Harpers Bazaar

As my holiday winds down, I couldn’t help but be aware of the shitstorm around the French Vogue photo shoot of girls as young as 6 dressed like, well, not 6 year old girls. You can see the images below and come up with your own words. Then yesterday, someone sent me some shots from the new Harpers Bazaar which features a fashion shoot of a ‘mother’ with her kids at Bondi. Pram, sky-scraper heels and all.

Co-incidentally, I roll just like that when I’m with my kids.

Fashion and magazine people would say that’s exactly the point. It’s IRONY. It’s GLAMOUR. It’s FANTASY. But is it? Or is it an insidious recalibration of what’s normal that infects us and makes us feel like crap?

We’ve spoken before about magazines here at Mamamia. Oh so many times (for example here, here and here). You’ve heard my views about it endlessly so I thought I’d ask MM site co-ordinator and journalism graduate Nicky Champ for her take on it.

Nicky writes:

What do you think, do you find magazines pure fantasy or insulting?

More images from the legacy of French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld:

V Magazine, November 2009

British Vogue

British Vogue, December 2008

V Magazine , 2010

UK Vogue, March 2009

Vogue Portugal, 2012

Vogue Italia, 2011

British Vogue, 2011

Vogue

Vogue Paris, 2009

Vogue Paris

Vogue India was heavily criticised for running this spread which featured an image of an impoverished child wearing a Fendi bib

Dutch model, Lara Stone in blackface makeup in French Vogue

Retailer, H&M have been criticised for its use of a model said to be so thin she looks 'corpse-like' and 'ready to collapse' in the Marni for H&M lookbook.

Amber Valletta in a truck stop bathroom for Italian Vogue

Steven Meisel's 'Dogging' photo shoot was originally shot for Italian Vogue, but then turned down for being too risque - it was later picked up and ran by V magazine (2009).