Kimye Covers Vogue's April (Fools?) Issue

Hide your kids and stop them presses, folks, because it has happened. Kanye West got Anna Wintour bound (2) the Kimye Vogue cover promise of which has spawned many a-thought piece — us included — regarding its merit in the Vogue-o-sphere. And, well, here it is in all its betrothed glory. 

First things: Kim Kardashian is in a wedding dress. Kanye West is gazing longingly at her. And, there's the longest hash tag known to digital man plastered across the publication. The Earth, as we know it, is still spinning. Are we being trolled by the now power-trio? Is this one big April Fools joke on us all? Does it hurt so good? 

Yes, yes to it all. Are we now officially living in Kanye West's Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy? Affirmative, again. This is the Vogue for the Internet age, the one that boasts hash tagged headlines and a reality star on its cover.

Here's video proof of what went down — complete with a Kanye West soundtrack and North West cameo. Because, if Vogue is going to go over the top, they are gonna go in full Riccardo Tisci glory, Nori included. 

The Leibovitz-lensed (who else?) shoot has the entire family for what appears to be a practice wedding picture. Kim's massive ring takes center stage as the bodies attached to it pose in a lovely garden. But, it isn't all family time; Kim and Kanye get a little freaky on a car, reenact the famous "Bound" video, and kiss (but not really) on a private plane. 

Oh, also, if you look closely, you may catch Kanye smiling (which is worth a watch in and of itself). This looks like the fanciest homecoming Vogue-coming, ever. (Vogue) 

Should Kim K. Be On Vogue?

Every once in a while something happens in the fashion world that really gets the office buzzing. G-chat arguments commence, staffers discuss in line on Bagel Friday, and our 

Twitter feeds get clogged. This time around, that something is Kim Kardashian's rumoredVogue cover. Now, to be fair, La Wintour herself hasn't actually confirmed that the reality star is getting the coveted spot, but it's hard to ignore that it's a major possibility and it seems that Grace C. has weighed in. 

Regardless of our collective feelings about Kardashian, we could all agree that her cover would mark a major departure for the fashion bible. Whether that change is positive or negative? Well, we couldn't quite decide. So, we're going to leave it up to you. Our editorial team weighed in to give their two cents on the matter, so let us know who you agree with. One thing's for sure, though: Kanye West gets the last laugh.

Seija Rankin, associate news editor: "It's no secret that I'm the resident Kim Kardashian lover at Refinery29. I won't bore everyone with my reasons why I get such a kick out of her, but I just do. But, for some reason or another, I really didn't react at all when I heard that she was getting a Vogue cover. 

I honestly didn't even think twice about it, and didn't even consider the controversy until my coworkers started debating it. But, I think that's the point — to me, there's not necessarily a hard-and-fast rule about who should get Vogue covers. Kim is pretty, stylish — especially now after her fierce post-baby, au naturel makeover — and successful, just like all of the mag's cover girls. 

Sure, she's a reality star, but it's time for Vogue to get down off its high horse anyway. Just because you got your start a certain way doesn't mean that your current life choices or fashion choices are any less meaningful. She's a fashionable woman about to be married to a very fascinating man who I'm sure has a lot of things to say about her perspective on life. I can't wait to read the final product." 

Lexi Nisita, news editor: "I don't really have very strong feelings about Kim Kardashian, and I don't subscribe to Vogue (though I certainly respect its importance in media). I am interested to see what Vogue will do with this controversial cover star, and how Anna Wintour will recognize her presence in real estate shared by Michelle Obama, but I am not viscerally angry nor do I think this is morally wrong. More than anything, my feeling is this: Who are we, the people, to complain?

We brought this upon ourselves. Yes, Kim Kardashian has done a lot to perpetuate her own fame, but so have a million other no-names who don't get Vogue covers or thousands of articles written about them on a weekly basis. Ultimately, readers — engaged, click-happy people on the Internet that a publication like Vogue is rightfully angling to go after, as any sensible magazine is bound to do these days — have proven time and time again that Kim Kardashian is a name that attracts major attention. People complain that she gets media attention, but the truth is, especially when it comes to mainstream celebrities, who gets covered and how much is heavily dependent on what readers want. 

In this case, actions speak louder than words. Comments may be brutal, but ultimately, the readership on a story about Kim Kardashian speaks volumes. Perhaps the issue, then, is that people expect "better" from Vogue. To that, I can only respond that Vogue no longer has that luxury when there are so many potential newsstand dollars to be gained. When it comes to a business that is meant to make money above all, we can only expect so much from our heroes, and when we constantly punish them for publishing the kind of cover stars we claim to want and reward competitors for publishing the stars we purport to loathe, well, this is the only logical outcome." 


Gabriel Bell, staff writer: "It may be interesting to talk about Kim Kardashian (as a cultural phenomenon). It may be interesting to look at Kim Kardashian. Kim Kardashian, however, is not an interesting person in and of herself. She has no discernible talent or skill and never says anything worth reporting or repeating. Moreover, she is, let's face it, a woman who first became famous thanks to a purposefully 'leaked' sex tape. That is to say, she will do anything for fame, except be worthy of it. She represents a crass and cynical mode of consumerism that is only one inch divided from pornography, Paris Hilton, and Bratz Dolls. The fact that her fiancé has toargue for her, has to convince people she belongs on the cover just underscores how much she doesn't." 


Connie Wang, style director: "As a person who cares so, so, so little about reality show stars, I have no negative or positive feelings whatsoever about Kim Kardashian appearing on Vogue.For whatever means or reasons she's become so famous, Kim Kardashian has a really compelling story to tell, as far as fashion is concerned. Her (bandage dress) rags to (Max Mara coat) riches fashion story is a fascinating one to have followed, and it's applicable to a lot of women who're looking to dress more sophisticated. But Vogue should be honest and just include Kanye on the cover, too. We all know that he's the one who picked out those Givenchy shark lock boots (and everything else that she's wearing these days)."