Caitlyn Jenner introduced herself to the world on Monday as a confident and gorgeous woman comfortable in her own skin on Vanity Fair’s July cover.
The words “Call Me Caitlyn” boldly graced the front spread where Jenner is pictured in a satin white corset with blown-out hair and clean makeup that was simple yet impactful.
Behind the scenes, Jessica Diehl, Vanity Fair’s fashion and style director, worked side-by-side with Jenner to style looks for the editorial shoot that embraced Jenner’s newfound femininity.
“I went to her [Jenner’s] house and stayed there for a couple of hours maybe, and just spent the time talking through things and bringing up lots of pictures and inspiration images, from Lauren Bacall to The Thomas Crown Affair to people who I think look amazing on the red carpet,” Diehl said in an interview on vanityfair.com. “And just vintage photographs of Old Hollywood stars. A couple of Jackie Kennedys are never wrong. And then for the photo shoot, we talked more about how one would see oneself in an ideal world in Vanity Fair.”
Describing Jenner’s style as classy, elegant and “all-American,” Diehl was only one of three people on staff who knew about the exclusive 22-page cover story.
After a three- or four-hour fitting, Diehl explained how the corset stole the cover spot with simple, pared-down styling that emphasized Jenner’s emotional strength:
“…But there was a stripped-down idea there that sort of felt like underneath all of this excitement and newsworthiness is the soul of a woman,” she said. “And that didn’t need a lot of covering up. It was not meant to be risqué in any way. It was really meant to sort of show with all honesty and purity, ‘This is what is going on. Here I am.’ ”
Of course there was room for glamour, but even the gorgeous off-the-shoulder Zac Posen dress Jenner wore within the editorial was meant to mirror her genuine vulnerability.
“…all she really wanted to do was be open and honest. That is how that look felt,” Diehl said.
See more photos from the Vanity Fair Caitlyn Jenner cover story here.
