Taylor Swift Fierce And Fearless In Elle

by Ruthie Friedlander | 10:33 am, March 16th, 2010

This month marks Elle’s Work and Power issue, and many will wonder why the magazine opted for a just-out-of-her-teens superstar. While Taylor Swift is undeniably popular, would it not have made more sense to put someone a little, well, older on the cover? Maybe someone who could, at the very least, legally have a happy-hour cocktail?

Had it been anyone else, it would be a different story. After all, every time a major fashion magazine features a tweeny-bopper on the cover, one wonders whether the editor in chief was a) trying to look cool in front of his or her kids or b) trying to trick a younger generation of subscribers into purchasing the issue. But since it’s Taylor, and we love Taylor, we applaud Robbie Myers for celebrating the superstar’s hard work. Her most recent album Fearless, was last year’s best-selling album and stayed on Billboard’s Top 200 for longer than any other album in the last ten years. She received four Grammy awards (and eight nominations) this year, and last month, she began the second leg of her tour which takes Swift to over 30 cities, playing 37 shows across North America. And thanks to the brilliant styling of creative director Joe Zee, readers get to see Swift dressed to kill and — take a deep breath here — with straight hair.

Anyone who follows Swift is used to seeing her in sparkly princess dresses. But the cover, which shows Taylor in a rockstar-chic Michael Kors leather jacket and Balmain T-shirt, gives the first hint that this is not what’s to come. The first image of the spread has Taylor looking a lot like Mischa Barton did in her O.C. days. In a peach lace Jason Wu dress and clear-crystal Prada sandals, Swift appears understated and appropriately sexy, playing with her rarely-straightened hair. She looks powerful. She looks confident. But thankfully, she also looks her age.

The next spread features her dancing around (as she is wont to do) in a Ralph Lauren Collection organza vest and tunic, followed by her in Oscar de la Renta Chanel-esque shorts, lace top, and a fabulous Patricia Underwood braided fedora. A Valentino feather-trimmed prairie dress, Sonia Rykiel studded sandals, and classic Chloe dress are right behind. The looks are significantly more mature — fashionably speaking — than what we’re used to seeing Taylor wear, but she seems to be confident in the clothes. Is Taylor moving on from the endearing glitter glam that we know and love her for?

Compared to her celebrity peers, those whom we’ve salaciously watch fly off the handle, Swift seems to have gotten it right. She is poised yet playful; a teenager who is able to gracefully alternate between loving glitter and making major decisions about her unimaginably successful career.

So if we think about it like that — which seems to be what Elle did — and ponder how many people’s careers rest on one barely legal girl, Swift seems the perfect choice for their Work and Power Issue. She certainly deserves a cocktail.

Balmain Chloe Cover Girls Elle Jason Wu Joe Zee Magazine Michael Kors Mischa Barton Oscar de la Renta Prada Ralph Lauren Robbie Myers Sonia Rykiel Taylor Swift Valentino

kathy kitt

I disagree. Seeing Taylor Swift on the cover of one of the better fashion magazines made me think twice about buying the issue. I knos Taylor Swift has been everywhere and done everything (concerts, award shows, all of the tabloid magazines), she is definiately an industry as are most teen stars. Much of what she has done seems to be predicated on the fact that she is a nice and pretty girl who photographs well with minimal talent; her cringe worthy duet at the Grammy’s was evidence of that.

Her appearance on the cover of Elle based on her accomplishments really doesn’t have anything to do with fashion. She is definitely a beautiful girl who dresses well and I’v not seen her make any mistakes on the red carpet. But she should not be on the cover of Elle Work and Power Issue. To derserve that cover she needs to have accomplished something in the Fashion Arena. To get the cover you should be some sort of fashion icon and Taylor Swift is not. She may be oe day when she is a little older and has come up wiath her own adult style.

This is not an age problem, the Girls from Gossip Girl understood immeadiatley and made Icons of both the boys and girls Blairs style seems to resemble Madeline meets the upper east side. She has a style and goes with it. I never think of Blair without her headband (Used to funny effect during the season episode where Serea and Blair got in the cat fight and Serena pull one out of blairs hair and had a diatribe about the headbans. We see Serena outfits an walking the streets in little outfits that I would have spent the entire day to pu together. I get them together aned I look good but it’s work and it won’t end up on the cover of a magazine but Blair and Leeighton Meester will both be on the cover because she is an icon. The others in the cast are the same wasys Serena’s character just crawls out of bed , with a hagover and actually look cover ready. She is always remains the best dressed on all the magazine govers. And Young Jenny, Taylor Momsen name can’t be mentioned without mentioning her black rimmed eyes (which I Like). She’s 16 years old and is alwasysspoken out for fashion choices. These girls alone are more icon than Taylor Swift.
Kami0587

I agree with Kathy Kitt’s previous comment.

dont get me wrong, I loveeee Taylor and think she is an AMAZING singer (her song writing is less than amazing though) but I just don’t see how she fits to this issue of work and power. I would have loved to see someone who takes more fashion risks ALL the time, and has truly been successful in fashion and other industries.

I believe Ashley Olsen would have been a great choice for the cover of this issue.
She has a couple different clothing lines that she, and her sister, Mary-Kate actively manage. They have been successful since 9 months old and are some of the biggest fashion icons in the world.

I don’t know if I’ll pick up this issue.. Personally, I think more thought so have gone into who should have been on this particular cover.

Thanks,

~Kameran

Taylor Swift Fierce And Fearless In Elle

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