We hate to say it. But we were kind of happy when Victoria's Secret said in February that Kate Upton would never be in one of its fashion shows.
She's covered Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue. She's dated Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez. And she's constantly falling out of too-tight, too-low-cut tops. This 20-year-old is everywhere, and we're not sure we're happy about it.
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Vogue and GQ disagree. The two mags have gotten on the blonde bandwagon putting the vixen in their July issues and on the cover. But can a girl associated with T&A really be accepted by the fashion community?
Donatella Versace has long courted curvy models and actresses, but most high-end designers opt for thinner, edgier girls not associated with bikinis or boudoir. Even top Victoria's Secret models Marisa Miller and Hilary Rhoda (who, by the way, also dated Sanchez) haven't snagged the equivalent of Chanel and Prada campaigns.
"I think we have a new generation of designers who don't understand why a Sports Illustrated model can't be in the mix," Michael Kors told Vogue. "I do think the old rules are tumbling."
Hmmm. Could Kate be on Kors' runway soon?
We'll know soon enough. There's no question that Kors has been more accepting of curvier figures than his European counterparts who prefer angular frames and faces. American designers like Michael Kors and Ralph Lauren often gravitate towards all-American, Cali types who would look perfect on a surfboard in L.A.
With her hair pulled back, makeup muted and curves covered in a $4,000 fur-trimmed coat by Michael Kors, Kate looks runway-ready in the Vogue spread. Though her blue suit is Altuzarra, it reminds us of a Ralph Lauren campaign from the '90s. Chic and conservative.
Kate's clearly trying to be taken seriously. But how seriously can she be taken when she's falling out of her bathing suit on the cover of GQ this month?
Ever since her sexy YouTube video went viral in April 2011, men have adored the Michigan-born model. Will women follow suit?
Kate hopes so. "I enjoy fashion so much," she told Vogue. "But I don't think people realize it because I'm always in a bikini."
