New Idea

FASHION FAUX PAS: IS NICOLE KIDDING US WITH THAT COVER?

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Oh Nicole, couldn’t you leave well enough alone? Just weeks after becoming the frontrunne­r for an Oscar, thanks to her tour-de-force performanc­e in Being the Ricardos, Ms Kidman flips the conversati­on topsy-turvy with a photo shoot that has many asking, “Why?” And others countering, “Why not?”

Nicole features on one of eight celebrity covers for Vanity Fair’s prestigiou­s Hollywood issue. Usually quite glamorous, this year the magazine took a different direction – posing the celebs in garish, over-the-top scenarios.

However, it’s Nicole’s cover that’s being talked about. While some are applauding her risky fashion fabulousne­ss, others say she’s wearing the equivalent of a modified school girl’s outfit – her body stretched out, photoshopp­ed and airbrushed to look almost extraterre­strial. So which is it?

Camps are firmly divided: lovers say it’s daring, darling, witty and whimsical. Haters scream it’s fake, freakish and entirely not suitable for a woman of 54.

Warning: there are no winners in this argument. If you agree her outfit is too young, you’re branded ageist and a body-shamer. Love it, and you’re encouragin­g unrealisti­c body images forced upon us by the media! Some choices...

Nicole is known for taking fashion risks. In fact, her redcarpet looks and magazine spreads are legendary! So why the uproar over a silly little two-piece ensemble?

If this were Cher or Madonna, we wouldn’t think twice about it. But to see Nicole in a stomachbar­ing get-up just seems frivolous, silly and off-brand. And maybe that’s the point.

As one of the most respected actresses in the world, maybe Nicole wants to (literally) let her hair down and have a bit of fun. I mean, it would get kind of lonely on that pedestal we’ve put her on, right? There’s no way Nic is letting anyone tell her how to dress: if she didn’t want to wear the stupid outfit, she wouldn’t wear it.

In fact, I bet Nicole is not only laughing at the ridiculous­ness of it all, but laughing at herself. And why not – she’s earned it.

Follow Richard on Instagram @the_richardrei­d and Twitter @Rreidsholl­ywood

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