Wow, someone at Elle UK kind of hates Lily Allen, right? This cover shot makes her look like a sleepy zombie. There’s something to be said for doing major fashion magazine covers with minimal makeup, but it literally looks like Lily just rolled out of bed and someone tossed a MiuMiu dress at her. Incidentally, we’ve already seen this MiuMiu on Lupita Nyong’o: who wore it better? You might also notice that Elle features a Tom Hiddleston coverline – that’s the interview that Elle UK promoted two weeks ago and everyone thought that Tommy was announcing an engagement and a baby.
Anyway, back to Lily. Elle hasn’t released much of their cover story, only to say that she talks a lot about “feminism, motherhood, Beyoncé, and the pressure on women to conform.” Considering the reaction to Lily’s grand feminist opus “Hard Out Here” was “wow, that’s kind of racist,” I am interested in seeing what she has to say about Beyonce in particular. Will it be flattering or will it be shade? Stay tuned. Here’s one passage that Elle released:
‘Of course I’d rather look like Kate Moss than look like myself,’ she admits. ‘I wish I didn’t feel like that, and I think the reason we feel like that is because of the imagery we’re fed all the time. Women are still expected, in some weird way, to kind of… Sit there and look pretty. And not talk.’
She’s not wrong about that. Many people expect women to just sit there and look pretty, especially in the entertainment industry. But is Lily the best person to take on this fight? Personally, I don’t think so, but a lot of you like her so I’ll bite my tongue.
Other Lily stories – her vintage shop, Lucy In Disguise, is closing down. Sort of. They’re going to do an online store I guess, but they’re also moving to a smaller shop. You can read more about it here. And the UK tabloids claim Lily is working out a lot to get in shape for her new tour.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Elle UK.
That shadow across her middle is so weird and fake-looking. I guess they shaved down her waist and then added the shadow?
I like her. Her lyrics tend to be quite clever and she writes her own songs.
Lily wore it better. Lupita is gorgeous, but I’ve never been blown away with her fashion sense.
I agree on Lily.
And Lupita. I love her, she is striking, but I don’t get the praise for her fashion.
Lily calm down. You’re loud as hell and the world loves it. I have never in my life felt like I have to just sit there and look pretty.
Same here. And she’s definitely not the one to speak on this.
The world shouldn’t love it, she’s basically a bully all she does it trash people unnecessarily and whines about them being mean when they say something back, her attitude outweighs her talents and it’s not because she’s woman but because she’s just a mean human being.
She’s kinda bitter in interviews huh
Hard to sit still and keep quiet when you’re on a continuous stream of cocain Lily.
While I ~have~ been not so much ‘made to feel’ as much as ‘outright told and tried to be forced’ to sit, look pretty, and keep my mouth shut, that was all family pressures not the world at large. Honestly, I have only ever rarely run into that mindset outside of family (All I’ll say here is I come from a place where the phrase “Keep Sweet” is used like a club, and leave it at that. Others who grew up in the same mess will understand, the rest… are lucky lucky wenches.) and when it has occurred out in the world, it almost always has gotten smacked down by others before I’ve had to do/say much to deal. I’m sure it is an issue still in many ways, but I don’t know if I really want/need Lily Allen to feel the need to speak for me. Or for anyone else beside’s herself. Isn’t that view of “they need ME to stand up for them” the same twisted up view she is claiming the world puts on all women? I don’t know.. need more caffeine I think
I have a girl crush on Lily Allen! And she’s not wrong it’s the same with acting I was part of a filmed round table meeting to be aired at a festvile for a super independent film group with no budgets the kind of work you don’t get paid for but get a fairly good showreel. During the round table meeting they sat me center focus between the host and the man who started the group when it came to the edited cut, they’d cut nearly everything I said out, I was literally there so I quote it “didn’t look like a boy club”. I was so angry that it had happened I tried to rationalise it by asking maybe my answers just weren’t good enough only to be told by a friend who was part of the filming that I had better answers than some of the other older men present, its depressing when your used as nothing more than window dressing.
I don’t think the cover is that bad. I rather like the layout (incorporating the pattern of the dress in the title letters, the white background etc.). The picture of Lily is a bit odd, but not that bad, IMO.
I think I’m the only one here… I find her voice annoying and she rubs me up the wrong way. There’s something about her I don’t like even if I know she’s been through a lot.
You’re not alone.
Some of her music is nice, but her personality is vile. You can speak your mind without being an asshole.
completely agree with you both.
Well, you may wish you looked like Kate Moss, Lily. I don’t. But I get where you’re coming from.
I’m starting to get over the whole ‘wanna look like someone else because they’re better’ thing. Not completely, but I’m working on it. I wanna look the best version of myself.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt like I was somewhere just to look pretty, BUT I have been in situations with other groups of friends, where I was allowed to be a ‘thinking woman’ because I was clearly the ugly member of the group. So…same thing?
I find her annoying but I do love her top in the first picture.
SHUT UP!
I don’t think that any woman anywhere is the WRONG person to stand up and voice their views about gender inequality.
Then you hold a very naive perspective on these matters. If a woman were to advocate female superiority and a subjugation of men or if she fought for women but only those she thought worthy, say white women, would she still be the right person to speak on it just because she has a clit between her legs? Lily Allen hasn’t shown herself to be a true advocate for women, she’s consistently trashed others and played the victim when someone clapped back. She’s reinforced blacksterotypes in her music (something I see quite often in her vrand of white middle class feminism) and she’s proven to be a bully.
Perhaps, dear, it’s you with the more narrow view of such matters. What I’m asking, is why should she muzzle herself when she has an opinion about how women are treated in society. SHE is a woman, yes, as you crudely pointed out, with a CLIT between her legs. And if you want to go there, yes that lovely detail matters… Because guess what? It means she is a woman living in our western beauty and youth obsessed culture. She is also a woman in the spotlight, who has done some controversial things yes, some things that may even seem hypocritical (but haven’t many of us who say we are feminist?) Does that somehow mean she shouldn’t reveal certain thoughts or opinions about an issue she believes has affected her? No, I think not.
Maybe YOU are being NARROW thinking that the women who should be “allowed” to speak up on gender equality have to first prove they are worthy. Doesn’t that just make you part of the problem?
Also, I am mixed race (African and white) and yes I thought her video was racist (whether that’s how she intended it I’m not sure). I’m no Lily Allen fan by any means. What I AM a fan of is letting people speak what they feel has been their experience, whether I agree or not.
And I’m through.
Thanks for missing the point Lily.
I don’t like her, but I agree with her on this, she’s absolutely right.
And I think the cover looks good, not everyone has to be dolled up and glamorous looking (a style I hate really), I prefer natural and simple.
I don’t think I ever felt that way in my entire life. Lily must be around some kind of arseholes.
I felt that way early on in my education… like I was expected to not have opinions and if I had them, I was expected to not express them. Now, all bets are off. I’m smarter, worldlier, and more confident. And I learned that the only person who can truly empower me is me. As women, we have to empower OURSELVES. No one else can empower us. No one else should, nor should we look towards anyone else to do that job. Most people end up being piss poor role models anyway.
Just commenting to say that I love this answer. It’s a lesson more people should hear, we are all capable of empowering ourselves!
very true words. – Lily always speaks her mind and i love it.