‘The Invite’ Star Penélope Cruz’s Vogue Spain Cover Sparks Debate: “They Went Too Far”
Penélope Cruz has become something of a September issue staple for Vogue Spain over the years, having graced the magazine’s cover more times than nearly any other Spanish celebrity in its history. That long-standing relationship gives each new appearance a certain weight, with fans and critics alike quick to compare her latest cover against the many that came before it.
That comparison has been especially active this week, following the reveal of Cruz’s newest Vogue Spain cover for the September 2026 issue. Shot in crisp black and white by photographic duo Sean + Seng, the image marks Cruz’s 16th appearance on the magazine’s cover, returning two years after her last, under the editorial direction of Inés Lorenzo.
For the shoot, Cruz wears a beaded, sequined, and rhinestone-embellished dress from Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel Fall 2026 collection, paired with a voluminous hairdo and winged eyeliner that critics have described as channeling old-school movie star glamour. That polished, retro aesthetic has divided reactions online, with some praising the shot’s cinematic quality while others found it underwhelming for a September cover, which typically carries extra weight in the fashion calendar.
Reaction on theFashionSpot’s discussion forums captured that split clearly. One commenter, vogue28, raved about the image, writing, “This is how you do September! Penélope Cruz on the cover of Vogue Spain just feels so right, especially for September. The cover shot itself is stunning; I love the black and white, the strong sense of old-school movie star glamour, and the 90s/Meisel/Vogue Italia vibe that I’m getting. Yeah, obsessed with this!”
Not everyone shared that enthusiasm, though. Other forum members described the cover as “boring,” criticizing what they called a lack of contrast and scattered styling choices, with one commenter going as far as calling the accompanying editorial shoot “lazy,” alleging it appeared to have been shot in just 28 minutes. That harsher critique reflects a broader sentiment among some fans who felt this particular cover didn’t live up to the more striking, statement-making shoots Vogue Spain has produced with other cover stars in recent seasons.
Some of the frustration also stemmed from a sense of repetition, with certain commenters noting how frequently the same handful of Spanish celebrities, including Cruz, Rosalía, and Úrsula Corberó, rotate through the magazine’s covers every couple of years. That criticism ties into a larger conversation about whether Vogue Spain is leaning too heavily on familiar faces rather than using its biggest issue of the year to make a bolder statement.
Despite the mixed reception, plenty of longtime fans still ranked this cover among Cruz’s stronger outings for the magazine, with one commenter calling it their favorite Penélope cover in years. The black-and-white photography and Chanel styling clearly resonated with a segment of the audience even as others pushed back on the execution.
Cruz’s relationship with Chanel adds another layer to the shoot’s significance, given her status as a longtime brand ambassador for the fashion house. Pairing her with Blazy’s newest collection for such a high-profile cover placement reflects the kind of strategic alignment fashion houses and magazines regularly pursue during September issue season, when visibility and cultural conversation both peak.
With opinions still actively splitting across fashion forums and social media, Cruz’s latest Vogue Spain cover has proven divisive enough to keep the conversation going well past its initial release. Whether that debate ultimately favors the shoot’s admirers or its critics, the cover has clearly succeeded in getting people talking, for better or worse.
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