Why Does Winona Ryder Look Like She’s About to Cry on the September Covers of British ELLE?

The biggest event on the print calendar is upon us. The release of the major September issues is imminent, and the suspense for what our fave fashion glossies have in store for us is surmounting. Hot off the press first is British ELLE. To say that the British fashion title has underwhelmed us over recent months would be an understatement. After all, not even names like Emily Ratajkowski, Dakota Johnson, Emma Corrin, Lady Gaga, and Cynthia Erivo have been successful in winning us over as cover stars. Up next on the cover of British ELLE is Winona Ryder. The celebrated American actress makes a comeback as an ELLE cover girl, sixteen years after her last cover appearance. For September 2025, Ryder poses before the lens of Olivia Malone and dials up the gothic glamour across two dark and moody covers, wearing looks from Christian Dior and Acne Studios.

“I don’t like the bangs,” voiced oaklee91 upon first look.

“She looks miserable,” noted forum member kokobombon.

“Apparently, she is surprised to be there,” Lola701 chimed in.

Tigerrouge wasn’t buying it either. “For me, the first cover is an example of how UK ELLE‘s covers can be very indistinct, where the foreground and background exist on the same wavelength, and there’s not much that stands out in the image itself. Also, I’m not fond of an ‘I’ve fallen and can’t get up’ pose on any cover,” she shared.

“Winona looks like she’s about to cry on the second cover. Not great,” declared Lucien112.

“How did they manage to make such a beautiful woman look like Corey Feldman?” asked VanillaCrush.

MModa added: “I am not sold with either cover. They are not cover-worthy photographs. Very lackluster for ‘The Great Fashion Issue’!”

See more of Winona Ryder from the British ELLE September 2025 cover shoot and join the conversation, here.