A fan girl moment for ELLE UK and Gwen Stefani October 2012

I don't keep it a secret that ELLE UK is my absolute favourite magazine and that one of my life's ambitions is to see my name in its masthead. Reading through the latest October 2012 issue, which features the stunning Gwen Stefani on the cover, I was easily reminded why I allow archives of ELLE to take up the limited space in my flat. ELLE genuinely listen to their readers and are one of the very few glossy publications who truly work at breaking down the boundaries between the fashion industry and graduates, like myself, who are struggling to get a heel in the door to their dream. In a ground breaking move, the latest issue of ELLE has been edited entirely by a team of interns and the issue is packed full of advice from celebrities, the ELLE team and the interns themselves on their own experiences and the journey that has got them to where they are today. It's an incredibly valuable and rare chance to gain an insight into the backgrounds of people in the industry whom you admire, or whose shoes you wouldn't mind filling one day. I'm almost at the stage where I can make the big move to London for work and this has massively renewed both my enthusiasm and optimism for chasing my dream. 

Fangirl moment over, onto the cover itself...

The subscriber's issue landed on my doorstep a couple of days ago and features Gwen kicking up a McQ floral skirt paired with a Peter Pilotto top and a pair of vertiginous Nicholas Kirkwood stilettos. It's a brave combination, which I'm sure only works because Gwen's wearing it. The accompanying editorial, photographed by Matt Irwin, leaves no print untouched, but if this season's most eye-catching prints were made for anyone, it's Gwen Stefani.

 

I really like both the subscriber and news stand covers, but it still doesn't beat Gwen's cover for Harper's Bazaar. Take a look at the news stand cover (available September 5th) and a behind the scenes video at ELLE UK.

What do you think of Gwen's cover for ELLE UK? Are you a big fan of the magazine too?

Gwen Stefani Covers Harper's Bazaar US September 2012

Gwen Stefani looks stunning on the September 2012 cover of Harper's Bazaar US. Wearing the much coveted pink strapless dress from Raf Simon's final collection for Jil Sander and a matching, voluminous Alexis Mabille hat, the pink-themed editorial references a scene from one of my favourite Audrey Hepburn movies, Funny Face. 

The accompanying editorial photographed by Terry Richardson is equally as brilliant as the cover, with Gwen modelling designs from The Row, Alexander McQueen and Versace. Of course, the hype around Gwen has intensified since No Doubt reformed earlier this year, yet what really intrigues me is how she seems to have not aged a day since the band took a break back in 2004. She looks truly sensational!

Gwen on finding her signature look: 

"It was like I'd unlocked the key. I remember feeling like, 'I have arrived. This is me. Finally.'" The red lip came when her grandmother gave her a crimson lipstick when she was in high school. "I remember sitting in my ghetto, beat-up Honda Prelude and putting on that lipstick in the rearview mirror and being like, 'Uh-huh, I like that. That's the shit right there.' I never stopped after that."

      

You can see Gwen's full editorial at Harper's Bazaar US website now. 

What do you think of Gwen's cover and editorial? Will you buy this issue? I've never bought Harper's Bazaar US before, but I will for this!