Kendall Jenner

Harper's Bazaar May 2015

Kendall Jenner is a pretty girl. Beautiful? Someday, maybe.

When the magazine showed up in my mailbox yesterday, the dress stunned me for a magical moment of color and imagination. Then, when I realized who the model was that is wearing it, I thought, "That's too bad."

I opened the cover of the magazine this morning, and on it was a Lancome advertisement with Penelope Cruz's face in it. Now that is a beautiful woman. And if she were posed in this gorgeously stunning Chanel dress, the visage and person would better compliment the couture.

Valentino! Beautiful

Jenner's stare is rather ... vacant. It isn't posed, it is empty. Is she meant to look so mannequined, lacquered? Who knows. But it doesn't do the art of the dress justice. Now, it would be easy for me to say that she is vacant because she's a part of the Kardashian machine of nothingness and the original vacancy, but she is only 18 years old. And one can hope, that she finds some kind of life of her own. Not something pretend, or manufactured, or only centered on what she is wearing and the selfie that she's sure to capture in every moment of her life. I realize that her appearance on the cover is a smart move. Millions are captivated by the train wreck that is her family's existence. I realize that many find them to be fascinating, beautiful, and everything that they are not, which is a sad commentary.

I visited NYC with some friends a few years back. I was unfamiliar with all aspects of the dynasty. We walked by a store, and a line of girls were in line for ... I don't know what? It was cold, so very, and we needed to jump inside of a store to warm up. I walked up to the door of the shop and was greeted by a burly security officer, who told me that the line was over there. What was this place? Why was there a line? Dash? What's that? Oh. And the line of girls ... this is what they came to see. Oh, dear.

Of course, the dresses are divine. In the end, it doesn't really matter who is wearing them. They are dress hangars for what is the true beauty. And the ones chosen for this editorial are stunning.

Again, this Spring collection is one of my favorites in years.