Kamala Harris stars in her second Vogue cover — and the two couldn’t be more different.

A relaxed-looking Vice President Kamala Harris was photographed wearing her own mocha-colored Gabriela Hearst suit and Tiffany jewelry.  Annie Leibovitz/Vogue

A lot can change in three years. At least that seems to be the message — both symbolically and stylistically — embedded in Kamala Harris’ second ever Vogue cover. Less than a month away from the US presidential election, Harris has been unveiled as the magazine’s digital cover star.

Dressed in a mocha-colored sharp lapelled suit (a Gabriela Hearst piece from her own collection, according to Vogue) and a plum satin blouse, Harris assumes a relaxed yet considered power pose. Pictured sitting poised in a chair upholstered in a complimentary shade of baby blue, Harris is cross-legged with one hand in her lap and another on the armrest. She stares straight into the camera, her signature wry smile just cracking the surface of her face.

The magazine's digital cover for October was shot by fashion photographer Annie Leibovitz. It's the vice president's second cover for the title.  Annie Leibovitz/Vogue

The image, by fashion photographer Annie Leibovitz, is a far cry from Harris’ first Vogue cover back in November 2021. Then a freshly elected vice president, Harris was photographed standing, somewhat awkwardly, caught in what looked like mid-laughter (who knew that her effervescent laugh would later be used by her opponents as a means to criticize her). She wore a dark Donald Deal jacket, black, ankle-grazing skinny jeans and a pair of low-rise Converse. The New York Times called the picture “decidedly unfancy,” while the Hollywood Reporter wrote that Harris’ team was “blindsided” by the image entirely. A source familiar with discussions said Harris’ team believed the cover would feature her posing in a light blue suit against a gold background, an image that was ultimately used within the magazine.

Controversy ensued as the image of Harris in her Chucks circulated on social media. “She deserves a cover, but a much better cover than this,” wrote one user on X. “Has this printed yet? Can we redo this?” added another. Vogue released a statement shortly after, stating: “The team at Vogue loved the images Tyler Mitchell shot and felt the more informal image captured Vice President-elect Harris’s authentic, approachable nature — which we feel is one of the hallmarks of the Biden/Harris administration.”

Vice President Harris, photographed by the magazine at the Redford Fire Department in Michigan, a state that is widely seen as key to an Electoral College victory.  Annie Leibovitz/Vogue

This time around, though, neither Vogue nor Harris’ team seemed concerned with signposting her authenticity and approachability (Harris’ viral meme-ridden campaign seems to have handled that). Instead, the latest cover is formal yet warm. The viewer is placed in the shoes of a visiting official about to greet Harris — your mind’s eye could even fill in the next scene: Harris standing, shaking hands, sitting back down to discuss foreign policy. Looking at Leibovitz’s image one wonders, in how many chairs in how many important rooms must Harris have sat exactly like this, and how many more if she wins in November?

But not everyone is convinced. “I do wish you would give these opportunities to the many amazing Black women photographers out there,” wrote Nigerian-British photographer Misan Harriman in the comments below Vogue’s post on Instagram. In recent years, Leibovitz has come under fire for her photographic portrayal of Black and Brown sitters. Her Vogue shoot featuring Zendaya in April drew negative headlines for what critics deemed lackluster lighting, with some arguing that the model’s skin tone appeared gray and washed out.

 

But for most Harris’ fans, the second Vogue cover is something of a full circle moment — righting the perceived “wrongs” of the first. Now she is being taken seriously, at least sartorially: Suited, booted and without a Chuck Taylor in sight.

Kamala Harris stars in her second Vogue cover — and the two couldn’t be more different | CNN

Kamala Harris stars in her second Vogue cover — and the two couldn’t be more different | CNN

 

'캐주얼' 벗어 던진 해리스…'파워 포즈'로 보그 표지 장식

해리스 부통령 보그 표지 장식

미국 민주당 대선후보인 카멀라 해리스 부통령이 대선을 약 한 달여 앞두고 11일(현지시간) 미 패션잡지 보그의 표지를 장식했다.

이날 보그 홈페이지에 공개된 보그 10월호 디지털 표지에서 해리스 부통령은 짙은 밤색 정장에 자주색 새틴 블라우스를 받쳐 입고 등장했다.

한쪽 팔을 팔걸이에 걸친 채 다리를 꼬고 하늘색 의자에 앉은 해리스 부통령은 입가엔 옅은 미소를 띈 채로 카메라를 똑바로 응시하는 모습이었다.

대선일이 한 달도 채 남지 않은 시점에서 공개된 이번 화보는 카리스마 넘치는 리더이자 강력한 대통령 후보로서의 이미지를 유권자들에게 각인시키려는 의도로 풀이된다.

미 CNN 방송은 해리스 부통령이 화보에서 "편안하면서도 미리 생각된 '파워 포즈'(power pose·자신감 넘치는 자세)"를 취하고 있다면서 화보를 본 이들에게 해리스가 지금까지 앉았을, 그리고 대선에 승리할 경우 앞으로 앉게 될 "중요한 자리"에서의 모습을 연상시킨다고 짚었다.

이날 표지 사진에서 해리스 부통령이 입은 정장은 남미 우루과이 출신의 디자이너 가브리엘라 허스트의 제품으로, 해리스 부통령이 개인 소장한 것이라고 보그는 전했다.

3년 전 해리스 부통령의 보그 표지

해리스 부통령의 이번 보그 표지 사진은 3년 전 공개됐던 해리스 부통령의 첫 보그 표지 속 이미지와 '180도' 달라진 이미지로도 눈길을 끈다.

2021년 1월 해리스 부통령이 미국 첫 여성 부통령으로 당선된 후 공개된 표지에서 그는 발목이 드러나는 검은색 스키니진을 입고 캔버스화를 신은 캐주얼한 모습을 연출했다.

똑바로 선 채 부드러운 미소를 지으며 찍은 이 사진은 당시 일부 민주당 지지자들 사이에서 부통령 직위에 맞지 않는 지나치게 캐주얼한 착장이라는 비난을 사기도 했다.

온라인에서 논란이 이어지자 보그 측은 해당 사진이 "격식을 차리지 않는 편안한 이미지가 해리스 (당시) 부통령 당선인의 진정성 있고 다가가기 쉬운 성격을 포착했다고 생각했다"는 해명문을 내놓기도 했다.

'캐주얼' 벗어 던진 해리스…'파워 포즈'로 보그 표지 장식 | 연합뉴스 (yna.co.kr)

'캐주얼' 벗어 던진 해리스…'파워 포즈'로 보그 표지 장식 | 연합뉴스