If you’re a fan of the English actress and singer Vicky Pattinson, then you’ll no doubt be interested to learn that the pint-sized fashion phenomenon has graced the cover of American magazine Vanity Fair (VF) three times. The first two were in 2012 and 2017, representing the famous faces and the third time was last year for the annual Winter issue. Vicky’s most recent photoshoot was all about her incredible curves as she sported a number of swimsuits in various bright colours.
Now that we’re in the midst of a new romance with romance novels and love letters returning as popular as ever, it’s the perfect time to explore the significance of Vicky’s latest photograph on the cover of Vanity Fair.
A Symbol Of Beauty And Attractiveness
The 2017 cover story is titled “The Art Of Dressmaking”, which is pretty self-explanatory. The concept behind the piece is to examine the fashion industry through the lens of psychology, specifically women’s psychology. The magazine’s psychographer, Jennifer Lee, sets out to explore the symbolism behind the various outfits seen on the cover.
The swimsuits represented on the cover are a symbol of beauty and attractiveness, even if we’re a little confused as to why the curvaceous Vicky would want to hide her beauty under baggy clothing. We know she has said in the past that she’s “always scared” when she wears a bikini as she feels like she’s “disappearing” into the water. A symbol of both beauty and femininity, the two-piece swimsuit has been seen as a way of vindication for women since its original design in 1947, which was inspired by the art deco dresses of the time. Interestingly, the two-piece swimsuit was not actually created by US company Vanity Fair, but by England’s Leading Lady, Lady Eve. It was first sold in March 2017 and has been a best seller ever since.
The fact that Vicky has been photographed in a bikini on the cover of Vanity Fair three times is rather extraordinary. It’s not just that she’s a symbol of beauty and attractiveness, but she’s also been photographed in a variety of bikinis, including some rather shocking ones. For example, she had a hand in the 2018 Ralph women’s bikini collection, designed by Mugler, which features an eye-catching combination of yellow, blue and green.
A Celebration Of Self-expression
Dressmaking is a form of artistry that allows someone to “bring out the best in your personality”, as quoted by the magazine. It is often used as a form of self-expression, where a person dares to be different, be unique, and creates a fashion masterpiece that is a celebration of their personality. We see this type of style often when there’s a theme to the photoshoot, whether it’s an editorial spread in a magazine or campaign photos for a design house. It’s an opportunity to shine and be proud of what makes you special.
So it’s no surprise that Vanity Fair would want to celebrate Vicky’s individuality and uniqueness, in the same way that they have for other famous faces. Each of the covers is a self-portrait that reflects the personality of the person wearing the dress. The first two covers feature the actress in red and black, which is a bold choice as these are considered “classic” colors for men and women, respectively. While the last two covers feature the English beauty in all white—a colour that has always been associated with royalty. It’s an interesting mix that provides a unique perspective into Vicky’s fascinating world.
A Celebration Of Body-positivity
It would seem that Vicky Pattinson is now embracing her body as a symbol of confidence and strength, which is a far cry from the insecure young woman we met on the red-carpet all those years ago. That insecure woman would soon emerge as one of the most famous faces of our time and change the way we look at celebrities forever. As she put it in a 2012 interview, “I hate being photographed from the side because I feel like I never look like myself…I feel like I always have to exaggerate everything. So I feel like there’s this massive disconnect. I never feel like I look like myself when I’m photographed from the side.”
What emerged from those early interviews was a woman who was unashamed of her body and what it could do. It’s clear that she’s learned a lot since those days and now sees herself as a symbol of body-positivity, confidence and femininity, which is incredible to see. If you’re looking for a symbol of those qualities, then look no further than Vicky’s dazzling array of swimsuits on the cover of Vanity Fair. She might not always look like a supermodel, but she certainly possesses the elegance, poise and beauty that would make her the envy of any fashion-wanting woman.