The ubiquitous and precocious Elle and Dakota Fanning got all kinds of glammed up for W Magazine.

Fashion magazines are having a “sisters” moment, because there’s an abundance of fabulous ladies hitting the streets with their equally well-dressed sisters lately. And no, I am most certainly NOT talking about the Kardashians. I like to think of the Fannings as the anti-Kardashians: blonde, talented, hard-working, stylish girls with bright acting careers ahead of them, who are worthy role models for their fans. So, basically, everything the Kardashians aren’t. But I’ll stop complaining about the easiest family in the world to make fun of, and start loving on the beautiful fashion worn by the fabulous Fannings.

On Elle (left): jacket, skirt and hat by Chanel; bodysuit by Eres; gloves by Helen Uffner
On Dakota (right): tunic, skirt and hat by Chanel, gloves by Shaneen Huxham

Oh, it’s good to be an itsy bitsy little fashion editor’s dream come true, isn’t it? Lanky and lean, pale and blonde, with overly expressive eyes and adorable pouts, these girls were just born for this sort of photo shoot. The clothes are amazing, but the lace gloves and hats are really what make this shot excellent.

On Dakota (left): top by Christian Dior
On Elle (right): jacket by Christian Dior

I love this. It’s like watching two angels dress each other up as drag queens. And I mean that in the best possible way. It’s strange that they have the younger sister doing her older sister’s makeup – those of us with sisters knows that’s just now the way this goes – but it’s a beautiful photo of the two of them. Love Dakota’s cocktail ring.

On Elle: dress by Rodarte, gloves by Helen Uffner

Ethereal doesn’t even begin to describe this. I think my favorite thing about this shoot is that in spite of the extraordinary garments they’re wearing, they don’t look like little girls pretending to be grown-up sex symbols. Elle just looks like an innocent girl who just happened upon a couture gown and some truly delicious lace gloves and decide to look intense and play with her hair for awhile. But seriously, that gown? Those gloves? Incredible pieces. Absolutely stunning.

On Dakota (left): dress by Giambattista Valli
On Elle (right): dress by Giambattista Valli

Not my favorite shot, if only because it’s a little expected and you don’t get to see a lot of fashion. Though what you can see of the dresses is beautiful, it just leaves you wishing you could see the whole gown. But if the team for this shoot sacrificed a visual of the clothing for a close-up on Elle’s earrings, I can’t blame them, because those earrings are phenomenal.

On Dakota: gown by Givenchy

It’s a little too naked, and I don’t like how her body just sort of disappears into the white background. I guess that’s an occupational hazard of this ethereal aesthetic they have going on, but it doesn’t work wonders for me. I think I’m bothered by the fact that I know she’s wearing a gown, but it looks like she’s naked and holding some tulle and lace in front of her. And that’s a little much on a 17-year-old, even if the effect wasn’t intentional.

On Dakota (left): gown by Valentino
On Elle (right): gown by Valentino

The blue eyes on these girls are INSANE. That blue is one of the first things I saw when I glanced at this cover, which is an amazing thing, considering the girls’ eyes are the only blue things in this photo. However, the pose is giving me some issues. Dakota’s arm that’s reaching up into the air disappears completely somewhere after the elbow; Elle’s hand there makes it look like Dakota has a weird baby arm. But the hair, makeup, and gold Chantilly lace gowns are just beautiful on the blonde, blue-eyed beauties. Overall, a beautiful and age-appropriate shoot for two fabulous sisters.

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© Democracy Diva, 2011.
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