Michael Phelps’ girly look
By Nadine Kam
Michael Phelps’ Olympic accomplishment was phenomenal and the press follow-ups begin, but this S.I. poster makes me wonder, what were they thinking?
At first glance, the arrangement of the gold medals looks like a belly dancer’s halter top. I mean, I’m all for men being in touch with their feminine side, but this seems disrespectful to me because any visual designer would have known what the impact would be.
August 26th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
looks fine to me.
August 26th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Word to the first commenter. In fact, I like how neatly his medals are arranged.
August 27th, 2008 at 5:33 am
The kid worked hard toward winning more gold medals than any other athlete and all you can say is that the arrangement of his medals look “girly”? It amazes me how often some people like to focus on the negative. Again, reflect on how much he has accomplished, for the sport, for the United States, and just how much he’s inspiring the younger generation.
Either you’re a very nit picky, critical, cynical person or you had nothing else to write about and your editors were breathing down your neck for some content, crap or otherwise.
August 29th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Congrats to Phelps.
Focusing on Phelps’ amazing accomplishments at the Beijing olympics would be more suitable for a sports blog.
This, after all, is a fashion blog. Thus, Nadine looked at the SI cover through fashionista’s lenses and gave her honest opinion.
The way I see it, Nadine’s comments had nothing to do with Phelps or his accomplishments anyway. It was about the mere styling of the medals for SI’s cover.
Looking at the cover, I have to agree with Nadine.
You’re taking the discussion down the wrong path.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
I’d have to disagree with the people above me. We’re visual people and can be a very judgemental society. We make assumptions based on looks and pick things apart (look at how we judge the presidential candidates by their appearance and clothing choices). This cover of Michael Phelps really disappointed me, there’s just something about it that doesn’t give that WOW factor that he all gave us when he was swimming towards eight gold medals in the Olympics. I get that it’s a homage to the Mark Spitz cover, but did they really have to do it exactly like it? I wished they jazzed it up and made it modern and something that shows more of his lovable personality. Anyways, I get what you’re saying!!
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:16 pm
I gotta agree that this poster of Phelps looks odd on first glance. I thought the same thing she did to. On second glance, it still looks odd to me.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:36 pm
This is definitely an attention grabbing photo! Artisitically, it does not work for me either. That has nothing to do with his accomplishment, Too much red, it looks like jewelry not like awards, I suppose it does conger up a greek god of some sort…and then the nudity eluded to and a big flat full frontal grin. Oh well, I don’t have any better ideas, but it does seem not up to the level of his medals!
September 4th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Good point. As an homage they didn’t go far enough.