The much anticipated April issue of ELLE magazine is out and features gorgeous Sundanese supermodel Alek Wek on the cover. What’s interesting about this cover, is although Wek is a world-famous international superstar, the cover was shot in South Africa, exclusively for ELLE magazine, and by none other than world-renowned Italian photographer Oliviero Toscani.
I was so looking forward to this issue of ELLE because I couldn’t wait to get my grubby (perfectly manicured) little paws on the YSL inspired shoe bag, but this issue is a gem in so may ways.
Apart from Alek Wek – ALEK WEK people – featured on the cover, being shot in South Africa, wearing South African designers…..it’s all in celebration of ELLE’s 14th Birthday.
Gosh, I still remember reading my very first issue of ELLE on holiday in Durban, with Georgina Grenville on the cover. I was an excited 15 year old with my very first “fashion” magazine, hoping that I’d be one of the lucky subscribers to get the limited edition subscription bonus – a shiny (and at the time) very sexy PVC mini-back-pack styled bag. If you’re in your late twenties, you know exactly what I’m talking about – it was hot news back then (cringe). Sadly, I never got my PVC bag, but my love affair with ELLE magazine had officially started!
I may be wrong here, but I’m 99.9% sure that this issue of ELLE magazine is only thier second, locally shot magazine cover. The first one being with Vanessa Haywood, of which I was privileged enough to attend the behind the scenes.
April’s Supermodel Wek started her modelling career over 15 years ago, and in this shoot she’s styled with a fantastic combination of strong, statement pieces combined with simple basics. Very SJP! ELLE editor, the fabulous and uber stylish Jackie Burger says “this outfit makes a strong statement for style democracy and Wek’s vibrant smile captures the optimism and high spirits that ELLE magazine epitomises going forward into its second seven-year South African cycle.” On the cover Alek is wearing a gorgeous sequin heart t-shirt that was created especially for this ELLE shoot by Christopher Strong designer Olive du Plessis.
If you want a piece of this cover, the limited edition embellished T-shirt is going on sale at Woolworths March 24th 2010.
