Christiane Amanpour's Sexy Harper's Bazaar Makeover: A Sneak Peek (PHOTOS)

The allure of Christiane Amanpour has always been intertwined with no-frills attire in sync with the mostly dour and dangerous locales from which she reports.

Now comes Amanpour, CNN doyenne of haute couture.

(Photo credit: Martin Schoeller)

August Harper's Bazaar includes "Christiane Amanpour's Headline Style" by Rita Wilson (yes, the actress), a brief foray into high fashion by a reporter whose introduction to most viewers, during the first Gulf War, is probably associated with light trousers and simple shirts with upturned collars. When she later reported in the colder climes of Bosnia, she opted for a green parka with a hood and fake-fur trim. Safari jackets, not Karl Lagerfeld, have been the austere norm.

But safari jackets are not to be found here as she wears a $2,995 Donna Karan gown; De Beers earrings, diamond bracelets and ring (prices unmentioned) and $795 Christian Louboutin pumps. Elsewhere, she's decidedly less pricy, in a $160 Ann Taylor dress. But it's all a far cry from the usual professional uniform.

(Photo credit: Martin Schoeller)

"I would love to be elegant," she tells Wilson. "We all want to look like Audrey Hepburn or Jackie Onassis." When it comes to Michelle Obama, she opines, "It's good that the first lady is going out there looking sharp and talking smart and straight to young people today. People in the world are going to be looking at her and emulating her. Not just in her fashion sense but in her accomplishments, professional life, and how she raises her children. And if I had arms like hers, I would certainly be baring them."

But Amanpour is adamant about the limits to her professional modus operandi, though the magazine assures that "underneath Amanpour's safari jacket is a killer body," while she indicates that, as a youth, she was called "Jagger Lips" due to a large mouth. Her priority, she says, has always been practicality, not style. "Women using their looks to get an interview or to get ahead, I don't like it. I think it's silly."

Thus, CNN viewers must rest assured that they'll never see Amanpour cleavage on a live shot from Rwanda, Jerusalem, Afghanistan or the relative calm of a New York studio.

But what about Wolf Blitzer in Hugo Boss, or reporting from "The Giorgio Armani Situation Room"? Given the media's near-desperate search for revenue, I could live with the latter.

And perhaps we should send Donna Karan, Heidi Klum and a SWAT team of fashionistas into the nation's newspaper newsrooms. We ink-stained wretches do need help.

Comments

[Whitley2009]

A very classy lady.

[Balzac]

Christiane Amanpour is looking sweet.

[cycodad]

Christiane Amanpour is a very beautiful lady. She is my favorite news lady. When she is in the field on an assignment she still looks beautiful and lovely. She doesn't need to be all dressed up like the pictures to be beautiful. She is just a DARLING lady.

[cdchicago]

I fell for her before I knew what she looked like. That voice! Sexy. brillient. Insightful. Informative. Almost too much.

I was too busy working on a project to look at the TV so I never quite saw her (Every time I looked up, Wolf Blitzer asking another question...).

Two days later. Pow. There she was. Gorgeous. Splendid. I am grateful she choose journalism as her outlet. She could easily have chosen theater or cinema.

Amazing in an evening gown, No?

[csepwede]

I agree with the poster... I want to be Christiane Amanpour when I grow up. I envy her lifestyle, her career, and on top of it she's an attractive woman!

[andrea7565]

I think Christiane has purposely played down her looks for years because she wanted to be taken seriously as a journalist. How smart. She knew that the public wouldn't take her seriously otherwise. Why is it that our society has a difficult time associating intelligence with beauty, femininity, glamour, etc. I don't think this is as much a problem in Europe. Europeans have a much healthier attitude towards the difference between the sexes--they celebrate it instead of trying to sublimate it.

[Armenian]

I love Christiane also, but one of the problems with journalism is that journalists have become the celebrities. Have you noticed how often they become the focus of a story? They are supposed to be serving a public good, informing the citizenry, exposing abuses of power, but they also love to talk about themselves. This is another example of that. Why should a magazine do a story about the messenger? What is gained by posing for pictures in expensive clothes? Only self promotion. It is not in line with the purpose of her responsibility as a journalist. No matter how good we think she looks, this is a distraction. I can't believe she agreed to do this. Male journalists don't do this.

[corwin]

I always knew Armenians were smart. And,as someone who has done a fair amount of cosmetic derm, I will go on record as saying; Bo-tox aroung the eyes, collagen or juvederm in the lips and naso labial lines and either a laser resurfacing ar a level 2 peel. and, i'd like to recommend more people get them.

[gakabani]

She us not only inteligent but also classy. When I watch CNN she has my ears, she us better than the rest moronic demagogues.

[Zen0469]

First rate mind and ethical journalist. But I had not noticed other aspects of this charming person.

[DMM1029]

I LOVE this woman. Not only is she beautiful, she is one of the best reporters in the world today.

[Peaceisnecessary]

Christiane Amanpour is one of the best journalist out there and the only one on CNN. She was so brave to confront Ahmedinejah after the election. Her husband is intelligent, politically savvy and very attractive as well.

[Marimeko]

More journalists should emulate her--she is pure class and brains. I am so tired of the TV journalists showing cleavage--has anyone else noticed? I'm not a prude, but, come on--how do they get away with it? Bring on more Christianes!!!!

[MalloMel]

What's wrong with cleavage?

[NoSillyName]

Its a distraction.

[StillAmused]

The woman -- in addition to being one of the few truly competent field journalists -- is (heaven help me for the pun) a FOX.

[Alethia]

Yes, Christanne Amanpour looks elegant in the Harpers Bazaar makeover. But she looks good in almost anything she wears including the "no frills" attire when she's on assignment.

Let's face it, Christianne Amanpour is a splendid, intelligent, strong, sensitive and appealing woman.

There can be no two ways about it...

[JumpyJack]

Wow! I always thought Christiane was like a journalist "nerd", but this is hot!! Way to go, Christiane!