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Karlie Kloss in the Italian Vogue shoot by Steven Meisel © Vogue Italia

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The New Body

Lauren Milligan

02 December 2011

4 comments

KARLIE KLOSS' coming of age is complete this month as she appears baring (almost... actually very, very nearly) all in the December issue of Italian Vogue - where the magazine anoints her "the (new) body".

SEE KARLIE'S MANY CATWALK LOOKS

Shot by Italian Vogue's cover photographer Steven Meisel, the Body By Kloss images see the American model showing off her muscular stomach and almost unbelievable legs in an eclectic mix of skintight dresses, jeans and swimwear.

The 19-year-old tops off a sterling year - in which she became a Victoria's Secret model and was the spring/summer 2012 shows' most sought-after model - with the Vogue shoot; her ninth Vogue cover, although she's yet to secure a British or US Vogue cover appearance.

See the entire shoot on VOGUE.IT.

YOU SHOULD SEE: Why we said months ago she was the new Gisele…

YOU SHOULD SEE:  Karlie's amazing season…

YOU SHOULD SEE:  Karlie's Victoria's Secret debut...

Comments

  1. I am writing because I feel utterly compelled to. My step daughter is currently in hospital fighting with anorexia. She is close to death. This woman Karlie Kloss is, by being put forward as 'the new body' perpetuating the myth that women are supposed to look like this. She is clearly underweight if not outright ill. This is not an image i would wish for our children to see as the image of a healthy woman. I find it offensive that it is being put forward as an image of beauty, when because of images like this I am watching a beautiful, bright girl die from lack of self worth in the face of this belief. When is the fashion industry going to do something truely outragious and expose the real power of a healthy woman, with a real body? Could vogue ever step out of its fear of being judged to do that?....suspect not. I have hope that one day it will.

    susie
    5 Dec 2011

    1. In reply to susie

      Susie, I'm sorry to hear about your step-daughter. Someone very close to me suffered from anorexia and, while i understand the sadness and frustration the disease causes in those close to a sufferer, i think it's important to acknowledge the difference between "anorexic" and "thin". Karlie Kloss is one of the world's most famous models because, like Gisele or Elle Macpherson or Miranda Kerr, she is physically exceptional. She is the exception. Almost no one looks like her. It's unfair to assume that, because her body is very different from yours or mine, she is suffering from a mental illness. Anorexia is a disease - it's not the same as being thin - and it is unfair to all the thousands of people actually battling the disease to label Karlie Kloss as unwell. Until she says she is suffering from an illness - which i genuinely do not think she is - rather than just being an incredibly-shaped 19-year-old, i think it's best not to use such explosive and hurtful terms.

      Elinor
      5 Dec 2011

      1. In reply to Elinor

        I think perhaps you missed my point. it is not about the health of this woman (though I do find it questionable that she is fertile with organs that are not close to failure) It is about the health of those girls that through looking at this 'physically exceptional' woman believe they too ought to be physically exceptional and when they find they are not as thin step onto that horrific road to anorexia. If we are constantly bombarded with enough images of chronically thin people as the expected norm the social demands to be thin can take over and people die. I wonder how many young girls will die this year just because vogue has chosen a 'physically exceptional' role model? I think in choosing someone so exceptional as 'the body' that we all ought to aspire to vogue needs to take some of the responsibility for the deaths of young girls whose self esteem has been destroyed. I think this is frankly criminal when money making means more than life.

        susie
        5 Dec 2011

  2. ELINOR,you took the words right out of my mouth.Amazing.There are many women who are naturally thin,including my best friend.It is sad to label them as "anorexia" without knowing or talking them. This word is so harsh.

    NANNA
    5 Dec 2011

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