V Magazine Solves a Problem Nobody Admitted Having

The concept is almost insultingly simple: photograph Kate Upton for the spring cover of V Magazine, then laminate the whole thing in a transparent plastic sleeve. Lift the cover sheet and her clothes come off. Replace it and they go back on. Repeat as needed. That’s the innovation.

I’ve flipped through a lot of magazines. I’ve never felt this invested in the physical object. Whoever pitched this in a meeting deserves a raise and possibly some kind of design award, because the gap between "this is ridiculous" and "this is genuinely fun" is about three seconds wide and the V cover clears it without breaking a sweat.

Upton looks good in both states, clothed and not, which is either the point or the prerequisite. Probably both. Spring 2014, and the most interesting thing happening in print media is a glorified transparency filter. I’m completely fine with that.