Seventeen issues into her tenure as editor of British ELLE, and Kenya Hunt continues to steer the magazine in the right direction. Mayowa Nicholas, Rosemary Ferguson, Lashana Lynch and Naomi Campbell have been secured by Hunt as cover stars over recent months, and now it’s Margaret Qualley’s turn as a British ELLE cover girl with the unveiling of the April 2024 installment. The American actress and undisputed favorite of Chanel’s Virginie Viard (having posed in a handful of advertising campaigns for the fabled French fashion house and even walked the haute couture show – twice) poses for photographer Tom Schirmacher. You’re right to assume stylist Patricia Villirillo selected a look from Chanel’s Spring 2024 collection for Qualley to wear in the fresh and nonchalant cover image – complete with Margaret wearing the Chanel ballet flats she wed Jack Antonoff in.
Read below the reactions of theFashionSpot’s forum members:
“Margaret Qualley’s more recent magazine shoots seem to be selling a casual ‘I didn’t even brush my hair for this’ image. Not a fan of ‘not giving a f*ck’ covers. When things are low-effort, why should I care? I’d say French ELLE does it better, except her French ELLE cover was just the same,” voiced tigerrouge.
“She’s always styled the same in the most boring Chanel pieces,” chimed in gunsnroses.
Not everyone, however, was left so dissatisfied with the outcome. “I love how fresh and simple the cover is. I’ll always prefer a cover with the subject just being there and looking pretty. Instead of an over-emphasized art direction that tries to send a message or tell some story,” reasoned Srdjan.
“Much prefer this over last month’s Naomi Campbell cover! This feels more quintessential ELLE. Perhaps because this reminds me of something ELLE France is capable of, is the reason I’m so into this. All of this works for me – the fact its Margaret Qualley, the Chanel, the layout, the use of the pale green,” said vogue28.
Are you a fan? Share your very own thoughts on British ELLE‘s Margaret Qualley cover, here.