Almost every time I open social media for my daily dose of screen time I come across a new
magazine issue on some actor, pop-star, or vaguely famous figure. More recently I’ve realized how adventurous the images and outfits seem to be getting. This reads like a re-description, or a humanization of a characterised figure, a revealing of celebrities as multifaceted beings. The magazine thus seems to be a natural breeding ground for re-invention. Its glossy pages enticing us with a new view of what we have already seen many times before.
A few days ago I came across an issue for Glamour USA titled “The real Sadie Sink”. All of a
sudden the tomboy girl from “Stranger Things” seemed like a completely different person, she had come into her own. The issue is ironically about how she likes to keep her life private and off line, but even without the autobiographical gossip we are accustomed to, the photos and their production allow for the actress’s personality to shine through in a very raw and fun way.
The clothing itself looks very mature, the motif of fur, silk and metallic fabrics running
naturally through the sequence of pictures. Furthermore, being emphasized with the silhouettes of the clothing which play with the exposure and concealment of the skin. Small silhouettes are covered by big fur coats, and clean cuts opposed with textured tights and reflective fabrics. Sadie’s dichotomies shine through, like the variety in textures. The actress can be seen in several different positions and in very different shots which vary between more serious and composed, to free and fun. Her skin and hair are kept clean and slick, like the background, which is plain and involves minimal props.
This makes sense for the actress as she expresses how it is very important for her to “leave
high school for a bit”. It seems the shoot is quite intentionally trying to get Sadie out of this more youthful and naive light and into the more mature, diverse and playful space of her 20s, and the characters she wants to embody.
The irony of looking to media, which is by definition produced, to reflect authentic portrayals doesn’t escape me. However, the magazine and its history of publication and printing seems to make it more tangible, and thus unable to get away with the fast paced vacuous content of short form communication. The magazine hence becomes a recognized, but not overly serious space, where creation and communication can happen freely and with room for experimentation. Where the aesthetics of short form content and the substance of journalism collide, opening endless potential.
Other magazine issues I would recommend are: Olivia Dean’s issue with Nylon Magazine,
Rosalia for ELLE, and Nell Mescal for ZERO.NINE.
https://www.glamour.com/story/sadie-sink-2025-cover