Elson, Murphy and Pivovarova Cover Vogue Netherlands December 2023 by Agata Serge

Vogue Netherlands [IG] December 2023 reveals the winning covers for its holiday issue, a trio of top models Amanda Murphy, 36; Karen Elson, 44; and Sasha Pivovarova, 38.

What a fabulous issue, with this trio styled by Sarah Gore Reeves! And one with purpose, whether articulated or not. Smaller print editions can have major influence in a digital world.

American and British Vogues today maintain a celebrity focus on its shared covers, causing an endless stream of grievances from old-school model lovers. These always-wailing voices don’t have any sense of business balance sheets and consumer appetites in a 21st century world.

New Roots of Opportunity

Within loss, there is always opportunity, and Vogue Netherlands shows us how it’s done with these terrific top model covers shot by Agata Serge, a self-taught photographer who launched her career in Amsterdam in 2012.

Agata Serge’s IG sums up her global reach, anchoring her in NY/ LA/ EU. Creatives are by definition more inclined to be global citizens in 2023; and Serge is a perfect example.

Our digital world allows smaller titles like Vogue Netherlands to feed our hungry-for-model-news appetites. It also allows smaller, prestige titles — riding on the mothership — to help establish younger talents like Agata Serge.

In her own words, the photographer writes:

🥹 Crying now ✨🥹 Having 3 major supermodels @sasha_pivovarova @amandajeanmurphy & @misskarenelson in @ysl on one cover of Vogue NL @nlvogue, plus 3 individual covers for the Dec issue is the perfect end of 2023. I'm incredibly emotional about this project for so many reasons -not only have I lived in Amsterdam for nearly 5 years, forming a deep bond with Holland, but this project also signifies the new direction I’m taking — exploring photo manipulation, forced perspective, and the art of illusion✨👁️The idea behind the cover was inspired by the challenge of creating a cohesive trio cover with models shot separately at the same location. A heartfelt thank you to Vogue NL for this opportunity, especially to the wonderful @lindagumusgerritsen @marienanetteschaepman & @leahzonneveld and my angels @sarahgorereeves, @jean_cabacunganjarvis, & @sheri.chiu! Your support has been invaluable 🤍 Also, a massive shoutout to all three amazing beauty teams; working with you has been nothing short of enjoyable and professional!

Our Global Citizens Content World

No matter where you live on planet Earth — as long as Instagram is not banned in your country — you can access these images of Murphy, Elson and Pivovarova on Serge’s IG, on Vogue Netherlands IG and on the models’ IGs, all linked by the photographer above.

And unlike the transitional nature of IG — with the next creative director or top editor wiping the slate clean as if the past never happened — Anne of Carversville has invested in documentation and storytelling since 2007.

Not only do we have archives for these three top models: Amanda Murphy, Karen Elson and Sasha Pivovarova.

Since October, 2022, we’ve refreshed one post a day pre-2020. Each week, several of those posts are pre-2016, requiring major reworking to adapt old fashion posts and campaigns to today’s superior technologies.

Posts written in 2023 are a work in progress at Anne of Carversville. We will use this post to offer new updates on each of these three winning women, whose lives have broadened with each passing year.

For now, savor these covers, which are pure, unadulterated beauties in a world sorely in need of new dreams.