Vogue magazine flew Annie Leibovitz, Angelina Jolie, and a fashion photo crew of 50 into the dry, tawny desert (somewhere between Los Angeles and Las Vegas), but sparks flew when stylists showed Jolie all the sleek, fancy, clothes they'd pulled for the photo shoot. She is, afterall, a compassionate, humanitarian engaged in aid for refugees, people for whom clothes and shelter are big issues. It seems admirable not to want to strut in the sand in a $4,000, gold lame evening dress when you're due in the camps next week.
Just as admirably, writer Jonathan Van Meter quotes Jolie in the text of the accompanying Vogue article.
"I'm not modeling," Jolie says. "It's me. I'm a person. And yet I'm selling clothes while trying to promote a movie. It's very odd. And yes, in our world today, it's been a very successful formula. It works. We play dress up. But it's not really us. We've lost all sense of portraiture, and that's too bad."
Of course, the credits in small print still read: Ralph Lauren Collection white linen suit, Gucci sunglasses, Carolina Herrera caviar wool dress and belt, etc.
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Why knock Angelina for making more money by modeling or however she wants. Look at all she has done and continues to do. That's just like critising Oprah for making too much money. Look at what she does with her money. And it's none of our business!
I'm so happy I live in a time when a woman like Aneglina Jolie exists. She is such a lightening rod for all our inhibitions and confusion about money, sex, power, gender, celebrity, politics and economics. She gets people talking, and that's a good thing. But as imperious (righteous?) as she sometimes appears, she's not without her own confusing, mixed messages. Like her reaction to modeling haute couture. Seems a bit disingenuous to me. This was, after all, a photo shoot. With Vogue. And Annie Leibowitz. What did she expect, Kathie Lee by WalMart?