If you haven’t been following the Elle ‘Women in Hollywood’ cover controversy last week, the internet was up in arms about Melissa McCarthy’s cover shoot.
It makes sense, if you look at it from the outside. McCarthy was among the likes of Reese Witherspoon, Penelope Cruz, and Shailene Woodley – and the only plus-sized actress. In past high-profile fashion magazines, plus-sized models are regulated to head shots as opposed to full-body shots (we can go back as recently as Elle’s previous ‘Women in Hollywood’ cover starring Octavia Spencer). Elle had done something remarkable by capturing McCarthy from the knee up but has stilled garnered many criticisms about covering the Bridesmaids actress in an oversized Martina Rinaldi wool cashmere coat.
Publications like Slate called McCarthy the issue’s “token plus-size cover girl.” Go Fug Yourself loved how glamorous she was but pointed out that “Next to these other covers — Shailene Woodley is in underwear; Cotillard, a sports bra — I kind of can’t believe they put the plus-size actress on their cover BURIED INSIDE A GIANT COAT.”
It sounded like one big fashion styling controversy in the making, proving that the fashion world still did not know what to do with full-figured women. People still weren’t buying it when Elle released a statement defending their styling choices, saying, “our stylists work with the stars to choose pieces they feel good in, and this is no different: Melissa loved this look, and is gorgeous on our cover.”
We personally were in love McCarthy’s styling in the cover. The November issue called for on-trend fall/winter wear, and really, McCarthy looked gorgeous and mysterious – something you would be shocked by if you were only familiar with her typical comedienne costumes in films like Bridesmaids and The Heat. But at last, McCarthy broken her silence on the debate in her interview with E! News.
What I found so bizarre is I picked the coat. I grabbed the coat. I covered up. I had a great black dress on but I thought, it comes out in November. I was so sick of summer. I live in Southern California. I was like, ‘Give me a big coat to wear. Give the girl some cashmere!
Sounds valid enough to us. Now can we all start talking about her plus-size clothing line? We want it to happen already.
What are your thoughts on the Melissa McCarthy cover shoot debate?
(h/t: Stylecaster)
