To our women friends and followers, it is time to move on and stay engaged and committed to the core principles that matter. With this in mind, we share the following musings and, as always, welcome comments:
Anna Wintour is one of the most powerful editors in the magazine world. As the long-time celebrity head of Vogue, her voice has tremendous import. While fashion is its primary raison, the publication also focuses on issues that affect women’s lives. With a print circulation of over 1.2 million, a digital version and an Instagram following of 50 million, Vogue wields a commanding influence.
However, the magazine may not be that ubiquitous. According to the New York Times fashion editor, Vanessa Friedman, “fashion may be a universal language but it does not translate well when it comes to politics.” Vogue chose Kamala Harris for its digital cover this past October as the Democratic nominee.
Prior to this, Ms. Harris appeared on the cover in 2021 as Vice President. Hindsight is everything and, in this case, here was a candidate who presented as someone who understood the “economic pains facing many Americans.” The problem in the messaging according to Ms. Friedman is “how do you believe someone is attuned to the rising price of milk when they are featured in a glossy that includes handbags that can cost more than some people’s monthly rent?” We hate to admit it but she does have a point. It is clear that voters, and in particular, women voters cared more about the cost of day-to-day living, like the cost of milk and eggs and bread, than a major economic plan. But, rather than second guess or dwell on the past, we choose to move on and leave you with these words of wisdom:
The divine feminine does not yell and stomp her feet. She is not angry like a child; she is outraged. She puts one hand on her hip and succinctly states, ‘No, this will not stand.’ Then she gathers her tribe and they get to work. It is time to gather our tribes yet again and get to work.
-Tori Michaels
(Special thanks to Melinda Moulton for passing this along.)
Ciao
Lucy and Claudia