V152: FASHION STORIES WITH IMAN (25 YEARS OF V) by V Magazine

FASHION STORIES

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS WITH V MAGAZINE

IN CELEBRATION OF OUR QUARTER-CENTURY ANNIVERSARY, THE STYLE AND PHILANTHROPY ICON TAKES A LOOK BACK AT V’S PLACE IN POP CULTURE AND FASHION HISTORY, REFLECTING ON OUR HUMBLE BEGINNINGS IN HER OWN (OFTEN HILARIOUS) WORDS

There is perhaps no question more fun to ask a dear and long-time friend than “Do you remember when…?”. What is it about reflecting on the past that brings so much joy to the present? We’re not sure—V are a fashion magazine, not a psychology publication, after all.

But there is something about reminiscing that warms the heart and perhaps even inspires the hand, whether it’s snapping photos or applying concealer with a brush. And so, as we enter the new year and celebrate our 25th anniversary, we thought…who is someone we can ask: “Do you remember when?” about anything and everything since the very beginning of V?

Enter Iman, who in fact came into the proverbial picture at V’s very inception. The supermodel and philanthropist is not only a member of the V family, but truly one of the publication’s “godmothers.”

And so for our anniversary anthology, which celebrates and looks back on 25 years of V, we had the honor of not only photographing the global fashion icon but playing a round of “Do you remember?” with one of the only people on the Earth who can say, “Yes—I remember everything.”

“YOU COULD BE 100 YEARS OLD AND BE RELEVANT, OR YOU COULD BE 20 YEARS OLD AND IRRELEVANT, RIGHT?”

—IMAN

Makeup Keita Moore (The Only Agency) Hair Lacy Redway Manicure Arlene Hinckson (The Only Agency) Executive Producer Victoria Pavon (now open) Producer Ella Cepeda Digital Technician YC Dong Photography assistants Conor Monaghan, Astin Ferreras, David Eristavi Styling assistants Niambi Moore, Lucky Fischer, AJ Grove Production assistants Lyndsay Moretta, Joseph Ortiz Location Spring Studios

“THESE ARE STORIES YOU COULD NOT HAVE IN ANY OTHER CITY THAN NEW YORK.”

— IMAN

V MAGAZINE: Hello Iman!

IMAN: Can you see me? And can you hear me? Yes, okay, you’re having a meeting with me in bed. So it’s like joining Iman in bed.

V: In bed with Iman!

IMAN: My last cover was my only cover with V! It was called, “TAKE IT LIKE IMAN!”. And now, we are in bed with Iman!

V: That’s just a natural evolution.

IMAN: Exactly it is.

STEPHEN GAN: You know, Iman, I’ve wondered for years why you and David (Bowie) visited that first day, and why you took a liking to what we do. And that was 25 years ago! You invited me to your home to have a drink, and we were sitting on the balcony, and you said, “Do you want to come see (our daughter) Lexi? She’s in the crib.” And she was a newborn. And that was one year after we started V

IMAN: Yeah, she’s 24 now. But actually, Visionaire came before V, so I always bought Visionaire, and one day I showed David a copy. And the reason being is that for one of my birthdays, he bought me an original copy of a magazine from the 50s called Flair. And so when I showed him Visionaire, he said, “Oh, my God, this is like the birthday gift I gave you, that magazine Flair!” And Flair was around in the 1950s when art and fashion intersected. It was the first time that a magazine did that. Salvador Dali did covers for them. And, you know, it was really an amazing, amazing magazine. And so he said Visionaire reminded him of that because it is more than just fashion. And so I said to him, well, I know the three people who started it. I said, I think they have offices downtown. So I called you, Stephen, and I said, you know, David would like to meet you. And of course, everyone freaked out. I remember the (Visionaire 11) issue at the time was the “White” issue. Everything about it was white; the clothes were white, the cover, everything. So I told (you and your team) to just act normal. I bring David, and you’re all dressed in white. But he fell in love. He couldn’t believe these three young people created such a great magazine like Visionaire. And so obviously, when V came, he was a big supporter, he was all in.

SG: One thing that I cannot find, sadly, is a film you did for us that we put on our website. Do you remember that?

IMAN: Yes, yes, with our hands.

SG: It was like a symbolic blessing that we put on our website. It was literally those days when everyone was doing their first website. But I remember when you came over, David was talking about having a really big collection of old magazines. He said, “Do you know the surrealist magazines like Minotaure?” And names I’d never heard of. He was giving me the history of almost every independent artsy publication. And he said he had a secret passion for collecting those magazines. There must be a collection in your basement or in your storage room that has all of those copies.

IMAN: We don’t have basements or storage. We have archives.

SG: Oh yes, archives!

IMAN: David was an avid, avid reader. He was into theater and art and all that. He had so many books. I’ve donated like 50,000 books to a library in London, where there are more lower-income people, the majority of them Black, in an area called Brixton. I would donate the books to them as long as nobody knew it was his, so that, you know, nobody steals the books, right? It was really for the kids who lived in that neighborhood to be able to have access to books. He was never into houses or cars or this or that—he only collected art. So when he saw Visionaire, he just saw that you guys had something really great going on, and he really wanted to be supportive. Do you remember that he interviewed with a Black artist from the South?

SG: Michael Ray Charles.

IMAN: There you go. Michael Ray Charles. When we lived in SoHo, we would walk around the area and David would always stop at the street vendors. He would talk to them, and he’ll find things, and he’ll buy them sometimes, you know. But there was one that he bought because he loved it. And when we got home, you know, he was trying to figure out who the artist was. So when he wanted to do a piece or something on artists, he called him. He found out he was from the South and David was like, “Yeah, you know, would you come to New York? I’d like to interview you.” So the guy said, “Can I bring my wife?” They had never been to New York, and they came to our house, and so I met the family. It was the most lovely thing to see—this guy who could not believe that he was talking to David Bowie in New York for the first time, all because David bought something he painted that was from a street vendor. Not in a gallery— on the street. Now he was going to be in V Magazine. They stayed in contact through the years.

SG: Wow.

IMAN: These are stories you could not have in any other city than New York. New York is that place where intersections of people from different cultures,

different areas of expertise, or whatever, mingle and find each other in the weirdest way. You know, what are the chances that David would buy something from a street vendor, and then all of a sudden, the guy’s being interviewed? Never been to New York. He’s in our apartment, and he’s going to be in the magazine. It’s like, you can’t make it up.

SG: Incredible. I did not know that. Now you know you and I could go on for hours, but one last thing from me. I remember you telling me we when we were at the Mercer Kitchen, it was late at night.

IMAN: Yeah, Mercer Kitchen was like my living room.

SG: I rolled up to Mercer Kitchen, and Iman is sitting there with a glass of white, Chardonnay or something. She’d look at me and she’d be like, “It’s not about if you’re good or bad or in or out. It’s about relevance.”

IMAN: And it still is. You could be 100 years old and be relevant, and you could be 15 years old or 20 years old and irrelevant, right? At the end of the day, what do you bring to the table? That’s what makes you relevant. It’s like, are you contributing something, you know?

V: So let’s take a trip down memory lane between V and Iman. Here we have the famous “TAKE IT LIKE IMAN!” cover story for V21.

IMAN: Working with Mario Testino is always fun, and he is always looking for how to push the envelope, which is something V is known for, thank God! I was the “hot guy slash sexy girl” in that shoot…something sexy and yet crude. I’m inherently elegant as I was born that way…but too much elegance is vulgar, hence the crudeness in some of the photos!

V: Next we have “IMAN THE BEAUTIFUL,” by Inez and Vinoodh and makeup by James Kaliardos.

IMAN: I remember that because it was one of my favorites really, because it has simplicity, but it has all the colors. Modernity, so to speak, right? And I always like it when a makeup artist can see a new vision of you. And that’s why I always say, you know, I don’t have a signature look. People in cinema have a signature look when they are promoting something but models can always go outside the box.

I walked in with that necklace because a friend of mine gifted me that necklace. And I was like, this is one of the things I would never wear, but there you are. Now that has been replaced with a tiny necklace with the word “David” on it. It was sent to me a week after David passed away, and I’ve been wearing the same necklace for the past eight years.

V: Next, for your “HEROES” feature in V96 Fall Preview 2015, you did this interview with Bethann Hardison.

IMAN: Yes, my dearest and oldest friend. I met her literally the first week I arrived in New York in 1975 and we’re still so close. She was my maid of honor. I have a lot of history with her.

V: We love that. The piece actually finishes with you remarking on a comment you saw on Instagram. It says, “The other day on Instagram, somebody said on my picture, ‘She looks great for 70.’” And you responded saying, “Bitch, don’t fucking rush me.”

IMAN: I did! But, you know, I think what worked for you guys at V, was that you created something that was uniquely yours. You created something that was not either here or there. It was not a fashion magazine. It was not an art magazine. You could literally sense it. It was something new. It didn’t have ageism It was like the best of what New York culture would be if we put it in a magazine. But it also was high gloss. Everybody who was literally from the New York Times to Bill Cunningham loved what you guys were doing, right? Young people might not understand when you have approval like Bill Cunningham, that’s a lot. And we all respected Bill because he did not take sides. Whether somebody was known or not, you know, he always just liked what was new, what was happening, where the culture was, and he supported that. So Bill Cunningham said, ‘You have to know these guys at V.’

SG: I would go to shows in Paris and stand in the back next to Bill, and when I’d leave, I’d find like, like a $50 or $100 bill in my pocket. He was the old man with the camera who would just like slip money into my pocket to help me out.

IMAN: This was his way of saying you’re doing something great. Keep it up.

SG: And my reaction was always like, ‘That’s it?’

IMAN: (Laughs) Of course, it would be Stephen! “This is not even going to get me a Hermes bag.”

SG: Also, it’s like, you don’t do things for the reaction, right? You have to just do it. It’s like writing a song, putting out music. It becomes a message in a bottle; just send it out there and then see what happens.

IMAN: Oh, absolutely. Well, thank you to everyone for going back in time with me. Anytime young people have time for us old ones, I’m happy to be here.

V & SG: Thank you so much. Lots of love, Iman!

IMAN: Lots of love.

Photography Inez & Vinoodh for V5 Fall Preview 2000

Photography Mario Testino Fashion Beat Bolliger for V21 Spring Preview 2003

Photography Sølve Sundsbø for V68 Winter 2010

Photography Ben Hassett Fashion Gillian Wilkins for V96 Fall Preview 2015

Cover: Iman wears chiffon corset dress and accessories DOLCE & GABBANA ALTA MODA

First spread, left: Iman wears sequined double-headed cape and bodycon gown RAHUL MISHRA

Reflection de Cartier earrings and Coussin de Cartier ring CARTIER

Second spread, left to right: Iman wears cast metal shoulder drape gown GAURAV GUPTA Gold rounded earring PATRICIA VON MUSULIN

Iman wears hooded nylon puffer jacket LACOSTE Emerald geometric earrings CHOPARD

Photography Luke Gilford

Photography Willy Vanderperre

Makeup Peter Phillips Fashion Olivier Rizzo for V0 1999

Photography

Photography Mario Testino

Photography Tom Munro Fashion Carlyne Cerf De Dudzeele for V85 Fall 2013

Photography Richard Burbridge Fashion Patti Wilson for V129 Spring 2021

ANNE HATHAWAY

THE CINEMA SWEETHEART

When it comes to Anne Hathaway (or Annie as V has come to know her), it’s no secret that one of America’s sweethearts is familiar with the idea of transformation. Since her acting debut in the Disney film The Princess Diaries, starring alongside the legendary Julie Andrews, the world has seen her metamorphosis both on and off screen over the course of two decades. V finally got our chance to capture the supernova as she was set to star in the highly antici-

pated rom-com The Idea of You earlier this year. Gracing not one, but two gender-bending covers for V148, the actor pretty much broke the internet going full butch (and full femme) in her haute couture looks from the likes of Dolce&Gabbana Alta Moda, Maison Margiela Artisanal, Valentino, and Chanel— further proving her range is simply limitless.

(Throughout) Photography Chris Colls Fashion Gro Curtis for V148 Summer 2024

BEYONCÉ

THE WORLD-BUILDER

We know now that she was destined to rule the world, but in the fall of 2003, when Beyoncé first appeared as a solo artist on V’s cover, she was just one member of a chart-topping, Grammy-winning R&B group trying to stake her own claim in pop music. You can see that sense of radiant youth and determination in Mario Testino’s photos of the young megastar as she prepared to release what would become her record-breaking debut album, Dangerously in Love. This moment marked the beginning of Beyoncé’s ascent as a cultural icon, blending fierce ambition with a celebration of modern, sophisticated feminism. Just a few years later, in the spring of 2005, she again appeared on

the cover of V, this time with Destiny’s Child and shot by the incomparable Inez & Vinoodh. Fast forward to 2008, when she again appeared on the cover solo, this time as an established powerhouse. With I Am... Sasha Fierce under her belt, Beyoncé solidified her status as Queen Bee, navigating the complexities of fame with grace and grit. Her artistry was more than entertainment; it was a movement. Each cover captured her evolution as a relentless force that has wildly transformed the landscape of music and culture forever.

Photography Bruce Weber Fashion Deborah Watson for V56 Winter 2008

Photography Mario Testino Fashion Lori Goldstein for V25 Fall 2003

Photography Inez & Vinoodh Fashion Panos Yiapanis for V34 Spring 2005

Photography Inez & Vinoodh

Fashion Panos Yiapanis for V34 Spring 2005

BILLIE EILISH

THE PRODIGY TURNED POWERHOUSE

In 2019, as V celebrated our 20th anniversary, Billie Eilish was busy mounting a cultural revolution. Her debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? had just been released a few months earlier, transforming Eilish from an under-ground phenomenon into a global icon. Appearing on our magazine’s cover, shot by Inez & Vinoodh, Eilish represented a fresh incarnation of the iconoclastic spirit that is at the heart of everything V does–the voice of restless youth yearning for self-expression. And her rise signaled a seismic shift in the cultural landscape, where artistry was becoming intertwined with radical self-acceptance and self-love. Three short years later when she

appeared on V’s cover again in 2022, Eilish had become a multi-Grammy winning, Oscar nominated, superstar at only 20 years old. As reflected in the moody, complex, absolutely stunning images captured by Hedi Slimane for the cover of V135, keeping that commitment to self-love had become harder as Eilish confronted the conflict between her mega fame and her actual life, themes explored on her sophomore LP, Happier Than

As she has continued to do throughout her astonishing career, Eilish hasn’t merely pushed boundaries; she has reshaped pop music’s psyche, asserting that fearless selfexpression and a commitment to

Ever.

self-love is the path to power.

Photography Hedi Slimane Fashion Amanda Merten for V135 Spring 2022

Photography Inez & Vinoodh Fashion Alex White for V121 Fall 2019

Photography Hedi Slimane Fashion Amanda Merten for V135 Spring 2022

BRITNEY SPEARS

THE PRINCESS OF POP

Pop music was never the same after Britney Spears entered the fray in 1998 with her hit single “...Baby One More Time.” Now, the singer’s name is practically inextricable from pop, her career and music serving as an archetype that even today’s youngest stars respect and emulate. For Spring 2011, Mario Testino captured Ms. Spears in all her vivacious glory for the cover of our

Starpower Issue. Styled by Panos Yiapanis, the legendary icon discussed music, astrology, and her definition of a femme fatale. We had the honor of having Spears on our cover “one more time” for V100, a landmark issue for us celebrating 100 editions of V. To this day, these shoots remain in the canon of Spears visuals for her millions of dedicated global fans.

Photography Mario Testino Fashion Panos Yiapanis for V70 Spring 2011

Photography Mario Testino Fashion Robbie Spence for V100 Spring 2016

CHARLI XCX, GRIMES, SKY FERREIRA

POP’S HOLY TRINITY

It should come as no surprise to anyone that V know a star when we see one. Around the 2010s, an era in pop culture history that created effects that continue to be felt a decade later, a constellation of burgeoning stars were crossing before our eyes with the arrival of three genre-breaking musicians by the names of Charli XCX, Grimes, and Sky Ferreira. As this trio of musical maestros in their own right were busy creating their own little worlds where they reigned supreme, V managed to get the girls together for the cover of V78, an issue that has gone on to become one of our most covetable (and most

demanded for a part two.) With Charli painting the world brat green this year, Sky finally breaking free from previous restrictions and releasing music that already is highly buzzed about—both of whom returned to V exactly ten years after the trio cover for their solo covers of our V137 issue (pretty in pink, of course)—and Grimes continuing to be lightyears ahead with her sonic style and even becoming a mother, V will always be ready to witness in wonder what else they have up their sleeves.

Photography Richard Burbridge Fashion Nicola Formichetti for V137 Fall Preview 2022

Photography Sebastian Faena Fashion Carine Roitfield for V78 Fall Preview 2012

CHRISTY TURLINGTON

THE PHILANTHROPIC BEAUTY

The word that comes to mind when we think of Christy Turlington is “loyalty”. Having been ushered into the world of V back in 2002, photographed by Inez & Vinoodh (then painted by artist Richard Phillips) for the cover of V19, that moment has gone on to become part of fashion photography history (even serving as the backdrop for Turlington’s recent Marc Jacobs campaign). Going on to cover V48 and V55, also lensed by the Dutch duo, the supermodel with a philanthropic heart of gold (with her long-standing involvement as the founder

of the organization Every Mother Counts) has, through her relationship with V, embodied the phrase “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” In fact, Turlington has paid us many visits throughout the years; from recently interviewing cover star

Kloss to participating in our “V is for Vote” series, and even her daughter Grace Burns and nephew James Turlington following in her modeling footsteps for our pages. Keeping it in the V family is the name of the game!

Karlie

Photgraphy Inez & Vinoodh Fashion Joe McKenna for V48 Fall Preview 2007

Photography Inez & Vinoodh for V19 Fall 2002

Photography Inez & Vinoodh, Fashion Joe McKenna for V55 Fall 2008

DAVID BOWIE

You could say David Bowie and Iman are the spiritual fairy godparents of V From the very inception of the magazine, they were tireless supporters, key sources of inspiration, and generous cover stars. David Bowie’s V18 cover from 2002 appeared just as he released Heathen, Bowie’s first studio album in more than a decade. Shot by Mario Testino, these images captured the artist at a moment when nostalgia and futurism collided—his iconic persona, as magnetic and enigmatic as ever, now infused with a timeless wisdom that

resonated deeply in the post-9/11 world. Bowie, forever the chameleon, was not just reflecting the times but actively shaping them, exploring themes of loss, identity, and resilience. As he embraced the digital age, beginning a new era of astonishing musical output, Bowie showed once again that while he was undeniably one of the greatest rock stars to ever live, he was also a cultural sage: an artist driven by unwavering curiosity, empathy, and a profound sense of shared humanity.

DOJA CAT

THE SHAPESHIFTER

Doja Cat is the kind of artist who redefines perceptions of pop music and pop stardom. V have been into her since she was a V Girl back in 2019. From the very beginning, Doja was staking her claim as the poster child for a new generation of boundary-blurring, internet-savvy stars. When she first appeared on our V129 cover in the spring of 2021, dressed as a living breathing AI fever dream for the lens of Steven Klein, she cemented her status as one of V’s most inventive and unconventional faces. She’s a shapeshifter—one minute a meme queen, the next a fashion-forward provocateur, then a genre-defying rappersinger who can effortlessly glide between trap beats and glossy pop hooks.

She’s playful but also deadly serious, turning social media into her own performance art space, trolling her audience while also giving them exactly what they desire. By 2023, when she again appeared on the V143 cover captured by Hedi Slimane — this time physically transformed into an IRL version of the bald headed baddie she’d inhabited on our first cover

Doja had officially established herself as a rising icon, redefining what it means

a pop star, embodying the chaotic, hyper-real energy

her while preserving

over her

—

to be

of the digital age that birthed

total control

image like an old-fashioned movie star.

Photography Hedi Slimane for V143 Fall Preview 2023

Photography Steven Klein Artwork Jason Ebeyer Fashion Patti Wilson for V129 Spring 2021

Photography Hedi Slimane for V143 Fall Preview 2023

ETHEL CAIN

THE PUNISHER

With her debut album Preacher’s Daughter, V were instantly hooked on Ethel Cain. Her uniquely pop-goth sound was something we had to put on display, and our Spring 2023 issue was a more than perfect opportunity to get a first-hand scoop on all things Ethel. Photographed by Steven Klein, the “Reign of Ethel Cain” was inspired by the paintings of Diego Velázquez and is one of our favorite covers to date. In an exclusive interview with Florence Welch

(of Florence and the Machine), the cover story is chock-full of hot gossip, from LSD psychosis, to religion and interesting kinks. A thrilling bonus comes from the styling by Patti Wilson, putting Cain in ensembles fit for punk royalty. With new music on the horizon, including the release of “Punish” in November, the future is looking bright for one of our most exciting stars on the rise.

(Throughout)

Photography Steven Klein Fashion Patti Wilson for V141 Spring 2023

THE FORCE OF NATURE

One of V’s long-standing muses, our relationship with Gigi Hadid is the stuff of fairytales. Since appearing in V88 at the age of 18 for an editorial that served as one of her first (ever!), V knew from the very beginning that the girl with curly blonde hair and a smize to slay was destined for supermodel stardom. So much was our confidence in Hadid that V has given her five covers across the span of one incredible decade, including creative projects such as

GIGI HADID

The Gigi Journal, where Gigi had her turn to play editor (and photographer). From posing in lingerie and Louboutins alongside sister

(which happens to be one of the few

to this day) to cruising on the waves of

the

have

Bella for Steven Klein

times

sisters

ever shot together

Miami riding a Fendi jet ski and traipsing

Balenciaga on

West Side Highway in Manhattan for Mario Sorrenti, V have put our relationship to the test—and the results speak for themselves.

Photography Steven Klein Fashion Patti Wilson for V96 Fall Preview 2016

Photography Adrienne Raquel Fashion Gro Curtis For V139 Winter 2022

Photography Mario Sorrenti Fashion George Cortina for V114 Fall Preview 2018

Photography Mario Sorrenti Fashion George Cortina for V134 Spring 2023

Photography Inez & Vinoodh for V150 Fall 2024

Photography Mario Sorrenti Fashion George Cortina for V134 Spring 2023

Photography Mario Sorrenti Fashion George Cortina for V114 Fall Preview 2018

Photography Sebastian Faena Fashion Julia Von Boehm for V88 Spring 2014

GISELE BÜNDCHEN

If you *literally* look up the term “supermodel” on Google, the first image you’ll find is of Gisele Bündchen. A mainstay since her industry-shattering debut in the late ‘90s, the bombshell (or “bomba” as they say in Portuguese) has made a splash across a trifecta of covers for V—not including a special cover for our once-upona-time Spanish sister publication, V Spain, by photographer Hedi Slimane—and has since been spotted in many memorable editorials across the years. Who can forget

her V54 cover, where stylist Nicola Formichetti ripped up some

into a cheeky little thong? Or when photographer Mario Testino captured the Brazilian powerhouse in the open back trunk of a Mercedes for our V59 summer swimsuit issue in 2009? And, most recently, her return to supermodeldom for V136 when she was 43 years old? Make no mistake, Gisele is our girl.

Guess denim shorts

Photography Mario Testino Fashion Nicola Formichetti for V54 Fall Preview 2008

Photography Mario Testino

Nicola Formichetti for V54 Fall Preview 2008

Photography Mario Testino for V59 Summer 2009

Photography Blair Getz Mezibov Fashion Gro Curtis for V136 Summer 2022

When

JANET JACKSON

began—prompting her second cover in

all you

V first captured the one and only Janet Jackson, the musician was fresh off of her controversial Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime performance (you know the one) and was ready to usher in a new musical chapter (and alter ego) with Damita Jo, the icon’s eighth studio album. Gracing the cover of V28 back in 2004, photographed by Inez and Vinoodh, our love affair with Miss Jackson

2007 with Jean-Paul Goude, creating two memorable moments in our history. Ones that seemingly pulled a page out of the Kate Moss for Calvin Klein handbook—proving the notion yet again that sometimes

need is a good pair of well-fitting jeans (and a superhuman level of star power) to create legendary moments in fashion history.

Photography Inez & Vinoodh Fashion Beat Bolliger for V28 Spring 2004

Photography Jean-Paul Goude Fashion Panos Yiapanis for V45 Spring Preview 2007

KATE MOSS

THE INDIVIDUALISTIC ICON

Few people casually have four covers with a single publication—including one with Rihanna—but Kate Moss is an anomalous model. For her first cover, which hit stands in January of 2004, the icon donned Burberry and even had the V logo stylized with the brand’s iconic tartan. Only a year and a half later, Moss threw on a beard for Inez and Vinoodh, the former of which wrote her cover story. It concluded with this inquisition on the Brit, “Could Kate’s desirability make us forget about war, money,

power, and other catastrophes? I fucking hope so.” For V40, a beachy blonde issue, Moss styled herself and named Anita Pallenberg as her personal style icon. Later in 2009, she posed for our swimsuit issue in that iconic hair coat by Martin Margiela, part of a series that also included Naomi and Gisele. In every appearance Moss has made in our glossy pages, she’s managed to present a wildly different version of herself, while still delivering that special, cheeky quality only she carries.

Photography Mario Testino for V45 Spring Preview 2007

Photography Mario Testino Fahion Melanie Ward for V82 Spring 2013

Photography Mario Testino Fahion Tabitha Simmons for V26 Winter 2003

Photography David Sims for V40 Spring 2006

Photography Inez & Vinoodh

for V35

Photography Mick Rock Fashion Avena Gallaghe for V11 Summer 2001

Photography Iain McKell Fashion Karen Langley for V61 Fall 2009

THE ETERNAL MUSE

Lady Gaga (aka Mother Monster) has graced the covers of seven V issues, including V99, a publication with 16 individual covers entirely guest-edited by the pop legend. That one in particular was an ode to Gaga’s Fashion Guard—the photographers, stylists, designers, artists, and personalities that helped helm a rapidly thriving career. Gaga’s unequivocal genius is one we had to be first in line to explore in our fall fashion issue back in 2009, when “Just Dance” was all anyone could hum. V67 cast Gaga as Lady Liberty alongside Marc Jacobs for

LADY GAGA

our New York Issue, spectacularly lensed by Mario Testino, the issue united

and fashion in a very V way! V71 captures a three-headed Gaga in conversation with Elton John, while V85 features Gaga salaciously captured by Inez & Vinoodh in her Artpop era. Our Fall 2017 music issue spotlights

widespread, as commemorated with a V cover each step of

way. As one of our most loyal and inspiring collaborators, we’re honored to have played such a role in Gaga’s exploration of fashion and beyond.

art

Gaga’s

the

Photography Mario Testino Fashion Nicola Formichetti for V67 Fall 2010

Photography Inez & Vinoodh Fashion Brandon Maxwell for V99 Spring Preview 2016

Photography Inez & Vinood Fashion Nicola Formichetti for V71 Summer 2011

Photography Hedi Slimane Fashion Nicola Formichetti for Vmagazine.com Fall 2022

Photography Inez & Vinoodh Fashion Brandon Maxwell for V85 Summer 2009

Photography Jean-Paul Goude

Fashion Alex Aikiu for V118 Spring 2019

Photography Steven Klein Fashion Patti Wilson for V99 Spring Preview 2016

Photography Chadwick Tyler Fashion Anna Trevelyan for V99 Spring Preview 2016

Photography Hedi Slimane for V109 Fall 2017

Photography Mario Testino Fashion nicola Formichetti for V61 Fall 2009

LANA DEL REY

THE VISIONARY

In 2017, our enigmatic soft-rock pop princess gave us the much-anticipated follow-up to her chart-topping album, Honeymoon, with the ever-so heartwrenching “Lust for Life” and reminded us how lucky we are to be graced with the stunningly haunting voice of LDR. The one and only Stevie Nicks sat down with our 108th cover star to chat about sad songs, living in the Hollywood sign (a reference to Del Rey’s latest music video at the time), and the escape that songwriters feel

they owe to their listeners. Shot by Steven Klein and styled by Robbie Spencer,

shoot very much pulled on Del Rey’s self-created nostalgic

through a very V lens. This is one of our favorite types of artists to work with; those who are so committed to their unique and mesmerizing vision, but also ready to play and create alongside our teams.

the

aesthetics, captured

Photography Karim Sadli Fashion Jay Massacret for V75 Spring Preview 2012

Photography Steven Klein Fashion Mel Ottenberg for V97 Fall 2015

Photography Steven Klein Fashion Robbie Spencer for V108 Fall Preview 2017

LINDA EVANGELISTA

THE CHAMELEON

Since first appearing in V in the early years of the new millennium, the chameleon of fashion has proven herself worthy of that title time and time again, over many decades in the business. Having been a supermodel for now forty years (a feat that deserves a celebration of its own) and being on an estimated 700+ magazine covers, Evangelista has graced three of our issues— V14 in 2001, V27 in 2004, and most recently in V146, just last year. With each

cover came a new Linda Evangelista that V has welcomed with open arms. Whether it was Evangelista

her early

be a V girl

aughts style era (from newsboy caps to bronze lamé tops)

going full-on Bond girl as V gilded her in gold for her comeback cover with photographer Steven Klein, Ms. Evangelista will always

at heart.

Photography Inez & Vinoodh Fashion Joe McKenna for V27 Spring Preview 2004

Photography Mario Testino Fashion Benjamin Galopin for V14 Winter 2001

Photography Steven Klein Fashion Patti Wilson for V146 Spring Preview 2024

Photography Sebastian Faena Fashion Sofia Achaval for V61 Fall 2009

Lisa Manobal (also known singularly as Lisa) graced her first cover of V Magazine only months after breaking YouTube records with her solo debut. Of course, the shoot for our Fall 2022 cover further solidified the global superstar’s career outside of her fame within BLACKPINK, one of the biggest pop music acts of the last several decades and the forerunner of female K-Pop bands. Although a bit tongue-in-

cheek, the cover story pointed out that Lisa’s fame has perhaps surpassed that of even the Mona Lisa as the pop star’s prowess continued to grow in the Western world, far from where she started her career. And then of course, for the issue within which this anthology lives, Lisa embodies the four seasons, as shot by Inez & Vinoodh, celebrating Earth’s rotation around the sun for the coming year.

MADONNA

THE HIGH PRIESTESS OF POP

Appearing first with fellow pop goddess Katy Perry on the cover of V89 in 2014, then again on the cover of V133 in 2021, both shot by Steven Klein–Madonna’s V moments have been testaments to her evolving artistry and unmatched influence. The queen of pop has always stood as a fierce example of the power of resilience and reinvention, but she’s never been more radiant or inspiring than in her “Madonna Forever” solo cover, conceived as an homage to the glamor and tragedy of Marilyn Monroe’s final shoot as captured by photographer Bert Stern in his legendary book “The Last Sitting.” The shoot

coincided with the release of Madonna’s concert documentary, Madame X, which chronicled the singer’s record-breaking world tour in support of her 14th studio album of the same name. The Madame X period was particularly rich, as Madonna explored familiar themes of identity, rebellion, and empowerment from a new vantage point, pushing against the constraints of genre and expectations about how pop stars should age. Madonna’s enduring commitment to creativity and unapologetic authenticity continue to inspire, proving that the relentless pursuit of artistic expression can be the quest of a lifetime.

Photography Steven Klein Fashion Arianne Philipps for V89 Summer 2014

Photography Steven Klein Fashion B. Åkerlund for V133 Winter 2021

MARIAH CAREY

THE ULTIMATE DIVA

“V BELONG TOGETHER!” reads the cover line for Mariah Carey’s first V cover story, shot by Karl Lagerfeld and published in January of 2006. The V logo on V39 was composed of none other than Bvlgari bling, with the divine diva totally dripping in diamonds throughout her story, in which she’s quoted: “A lot of people take it seriously when I’m making a diva comment. But my mom’s an opera diva. I grew up in the most dramatic place ever.” Over the years, the powerhouse splashed her sparkling smile across three different V covers. In 2018, Carey and V’s EIC Stephen Gan chatted over a glass of wine

about her shoot at the Ritz Paris with Mario Testino for V112. This was a year after she performed at a V dinner for Lagerfeld, resulting in that iconic photo in which the designer is seen kissing the hand of the music doyenne. (Fun fact: That photo is hanging up at the V offices today). In 2020, Carey came home to pose for Inez and Vinoodh for our “V Is For Vote” series and waxed

about the importance of participating in democracy. It’s never

when it comes to Carey; in fact, she’ll always be our baby.

lyrical

“Bye Bye”

Photography Inez & Vinoodh for V127 Winter 2020

Photography Karl Lagerfeld

Fashion Brian Molloy for V39 Spring Preview 2006

Photography Karl Lagerfeld Fashion Brian Molloy for V39 Spring Preview 2006

Photography Mario Testino Fashion Nicola Formichetti for V112 Spring 2018

THE POP PROVOCATEUR

The summer of 2013, Miley Cyrus took a wrecking ball to her squeaky clean Disney persona. That same season, she starred on the cover of V83. Her story was appropriately titled: “The Emancipation of Miley,” and featured an interview between Cyrus and Pharrell Williams. In it, Cyrus is at her boldest—the perfect time for a V cover—wearing barely anything except for briefs, studded cuffs, and the occasional leather jacket, sans bra. When she’s in pants, naturally, they’re unzipped or pulled down to her cheeks. It goes without saying, this is the

MILEY CYRUS

salacious result of Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele and Mario Testino putting their heads together. A year later, the pop provocateur blessed our cover a second time, also styled by Cerf de Dudzeele, and shot and interviewed by none other than Karl Lagerfeld, one of V’s many godparents. Lagerfeld’s opener? “I think, in fact, you are a very decent girl and well educated, you just like to provoke. What is more fun than to shock the bourgeois anyway?”

Photography Mario Testino Fashion Carlyne Cerf de Duzdeele for V83 Summer 2013

Photography Karl Lagerfeld Fashion Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele for V91 Fall 2014

NAOMI CAMPBELL

THE QUEEN OF THE CATWALK

For V151, Naomi Campbell celebrated her fifth time fronting an issue of V Magazine. Indisputably one of the biggest names in fashion, Campbell’s V covers are some of our most iconic, and having the world-renowned face on the cover preceding this very special issue is only appropriate given our longstanding relationship with her. Having worked with top photographers like Mario Sorrenti, Inez & Vinoodh, Nick Knight, and Sølve Sundsbo, each moment

on this page encapsulates the synergy and creativity that happens when Naomi is on set for a V shoot. At 54, Campbell demonstrates that age is, of course, just a number. Her celebrated beauty has continued

enchant every

she’s graced for 38 years, and V have no doubt she will continue to stand at the vanguard of this ever-changing industry.

catwalk

Photography Karl Lagerfeld Fashion Maria Chaix for

Photography Mario Testino for V59 Summer 2009

Photography Sølve Sundsbø Fashion Gro Curtis for V151 Winter 2024

Photography Mario Sorrenti Fashion George Cortina for V130 Summer 2021

Photography Inez & Vinoodh for V55 Fall 2008

Photography Daniele + Iango Fashion Joanne Blades for V76 Spring 2012

Photography Mario Sorrenti Fashion Jane How for V54 Fall Preview 2008

Photography Nick Knight Fashion Jonathan Kaye for V47 Summer 2007

NICKI MINAJ

THE RAPTUROUS RHYMER

It’s no secret that V are Barbs. In between the success of “Super Bass” and “Starships”, Nicki Minaj posed for her first V cover, shot by Inez & Vinoodh and styled by George Cortina. The story, titled “The Rise and Rise of Nicki Minaj,” totally met the moment. At the time, Barbie and Roman, Minaj’s alter egos, were evolving into their proudest forms. And we got a peek into that Minaj-a-trois in a tastefully disheveled, high-concept shoot in which the Grammy-nominated

rapper hits us with her iconic pink-lipped scowl, crazed cat eyes, and painted body-ody-ody. Since then, she starred in V92, a cover story we can only describe as Barbie, if Barbie were a goddess in the Pantheon of rap. Most recently, the pink princess herself covered the first edition of our iconic Gigi Journal series. A testament to how V keep it in the family.

Photography Mario Testino Fashion Robbie Spencer for V96 Winter 2014

Photography Inez & Vinoodh Fashion George Cortina for V69 Spring Preview 2011

Photography Gigi Hadid for The Gigi Journal: Part One Summer 2017

PENÉ LOPE CRUZ

THE ACTOR’S ACTOR

In the thirteen years between Penélope Cruz’s first V cover in 2011 and her most recent one just last year, we are proud to report that the Spanish powerhouse hasn’t really changed much. Cruz’s authenticity and raw talent are what make her such a beloved part of V’s history—and the Oscar-winning actor hasn’t lost a shred of those qualities. “Everything else that is happening is an extra that I never asked for,” Cruz said in her V147 interview, echoing the gratitude

expressed in her V72 interview, when she said, “I feel like an actress who is very fortunate to get work with continuity, to make a living from the job that I

much.” Cruz’s recent return to V serves as a testament of our

collaborators, especially because Dua

had her V cover debut six years ago and came back to interview her pal. That’s familia!

love so

loyalty to V’s

Lipa

Photography Jack Bridgland Fashion Gro Curtis for V147 Spring 2024

Photography Inez & Vinoodh Fashion Joe McKenna for V43 Fall 2006

Photography Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott Fashion Arianne Philipps for V72 Fall Preview 2011

Photography Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott

Fashion Arianne Philipps for V72 Fall Preview 2011

PRINCE

THE MASTERMIND

The master of mystery and reinvention, when he appeared on the cover of V’s Fall Preview issue in 2013, shot on tour by Inez & Vinoodh in one of the artist’s last ever portraits, Prince was deep into his latest transformation, as elusive and uncompromising as ever. He’d spent the previous decade refining his image as both a musical genius and a self-contained industry. After breaking free from major label control, Prince was now fully in charge of his output, releasing albums on his own terms, experimenting with distribution models, and playing

intimate, guerrilla-style concerts that felt like personal sermons. In a world obsessed with digital downloads and streaming, he still preached the gospel of the album, insisting on the sanctity of the full, immersive experience. His Minneapolis compound, Paisley Park, had become a mythic fortress of creativity, and he guarded it like a 21st-century wizard. Prince was a legend beyond time, an artist refusing to be tamed by trends or technology, always working, always reimagining what it meant to be truly free.

(Throughout) Photography Inez & Vinoodh Fashion Melanie Ward for V84 Fall Preview 2013

RIHANNA

THE FOREVER BAD GIRL

V have been lucky enough to see mononym and music royalty, Rihanna, on two covers of our magazine—both outdo each other when it comes to being scandalously good. For Rihanna’s first V cover, V82, she shared the spotlight with none other than Kate Moss. Organized on the fly—or, one could argue, in the heat of the moment—Mario Testino captured these two beauties in a sapphic, voyeuristic shoot titled, “The Only Girls in the World.” For her second

cover, Rihanna hit the gas pump in a blonde rage, as photographer Steven Klein and stylist Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele reunited for the songstress after not having collaborated on a shoot in 20 years. Of the shoot’s results, Cerf de Dudzeele said, “Sublime. Her nonchalance plus her attitude plus her cat eyes plus her voice—to die for—equals perfection!”

Photography Steven Klein Fashion Carlyne Cerf de Dudzelle for V95 Summer 2015

Photography Mario Testino Fashion Melanie Ward for V82 Spring 2013

Photography Mario Testino

Fashion Melanie Ward for V82 Spring 2013

Photography Steven Klein Fashion Carlyne Cerf de Dudzelle for V95 Summer 2015