Anja Rubik runway Balmain fall 2010
Cindy Crawford for Vogue India, October 2010
Toni Garrn for Vogue Espana, November 2010
Abbey Lee for Vogue Deutsch, August 2010
Anna Dello Russo for 10 Magazine, Winter 2011
Claudia Schiffer for Zeit Magazin, October 2010
In what we have to imagine is an unprecedented coup, that sparkly gold Balmain dress has landed a seventh cover. Yes, count it: seven. The same dress that Natalia Vodianova infamously wore sans smooth legs is now also on the cover of December’s British Elle, worn by Anne Hathaway. Did we mention this is the dress’s seventh cover appearance? (That’s almost double the amount of covers that appliqued Miu Miu number had!) Like we said, unprecedented.
Anja Rubik wore the dress down the runway during Balmain’s fall 2010 show, and clearly made an impression on quite a few editors. And just how much does such an intricate stunner cost? The Daily Mail reports you can buy the shorter version of the dress for around $31,000 or the longer version for $34,800.
Our first thought was, “Um, how did this happen? Isn’t this the magazine equivalent of two stars wearing the same dress on the red carpet?” A spokeswoman for Balmain told the Daily Mail: “None of the magazines asked for cover exclusivity. The first cover came out in June so other magazines had seen it. No one has complained, so there is no drama at all.” Hmmmm. While the other magazines may have seen it, magazine cover production happens several months in advance, so there is likely nothing they could do.
Said Elle editor Lorraine Candy: “It’s unusual because most of the time the fashion press offices make sure you don’t get sent the same things as someone else. It’s in the interest of the fashion house to make sure we all get something exclusive. This is just luck.” So basically, Balmain wanted the exposure and the mags didn’t think to ask if anyone else was using the same glitzy Balmain frock. There’s probably some editors who are pretty pissed right about now.
which cover is the best? what do you think?