
Something is fishy when no less than three perfectly heterosexual men send me links to the recent W cover featuring an uber-golden, black-browed, cream-lipped Gwyneth Paltrow.
Firstly, Gwynnie isn't a particularly known entity in the heterosexual world. I'm not hearing her name being thrown around when anyone announces their celebrity-fuck-list.
For example, here's a sentence you won't hear:
GodDAMN, I'd love to tap me some of that Paltrow ass!
It just doesn't happen.
Well, I guess it's happened at least twice with Coldplay frontman, Chris Martin. But frankly even HE looks kind of bored now. I think he's done with the yoga and the macrobiotic eating and the cupping and the sprout toast every morning.
The point is, she's just not a name that comes up when discussing general beauty and attractiveness. Frankly her jaw line is almost a right angle, she has a gigantic hook nose, and, let's be honest, all these years of
faking various british accents has morphed her own speaking voice into this mealy-mouthed, nasal affair which makes listening to her deliver even the simplest of lines an ear-splitting chore. She's not even one of those 'beauties" men reference when they rhapsodize about classic, swoon-worthy actresses--your Sophia Lorens, your Grace Kellys, even your Catherine Zeta Jones's.
So, even though she's a statuesque blond with .8 percent body fat, no one really cares about her.
She's just not sexy.
Oh.
And normally, she has poor eyebrows.
But what's this?!
A parting of the storm clouds?
Can you even prepare yourself for it?
Well DO, because it's happening:
I. Freaking. Love. This. Cover.
I love that Merle Ginsberg and the whole art department at W had some big
goddess viewpoint and went all
GOLDFINGER on G. Pal's bony ass.
That silvery hair against the matte, bronzed skin--masterful!
Those fiercely deep brows contrasting the palest of lips--prodigious!
The blindingly white teeth emerging from her dark, cave like mouth--a revelation!
Because the world is never ready for change, I'm seeing mixed reviews, and the oftentimes right-on-the-money
FUG GIRLS have thrown their opinion into the mix with the ever-nuanced statement:
"She looks like a dude."
And while, sweet Jessica and Heather, I understand that a strong brow can be somewhat masculine, how pedestrian and boring to make the leap to "dude" when it's clear that what we have here is an exercise in juxtaposing light and dark! Pale and rich! White and black!
Any fool off the street can see that.
And they did. In the form of straight guys.
Oh, and Gwyn-trow? Don't listen to the haters. Naming your one and only daughter after a piece of fruit is totally awesome.