Off The Rack: Love Magazine!

Welcome to a new series we're calling "Off The Rack." There are a ton of magazines out there and you'd be surprised how many mention, praise, feature or put the Muppets on their covers.

To kick off this new periodic series (see what I did there), today we take a look at UK fashion magazine LOVE. The magazine features many fashions that you probably won't find on the rack (again, see what I did there) at your local mall. 

A few weeks ago we reported that the new issue of LOVE magazine with the Muppets had hit newsstands (what, did you think I was gonna say magazine rack?). 

Anyway, at the time we didn't know where you could find a copy of the magazine, what exactly to look for, or if if was even worth it, since so many images appeared online.

First off, Barnes and Noble carries the magazine, but not in every store. This means you might have to call around and do some hunting. You're looking for issue 18, with Nicole Kidman, her nipples (more on that later), and no mention of the Muppets, on the cover.

Next, before you pick it up or decide to walk a few miles with it, I hope you've been hitting gym, because it's massive and heavy - it must weight close to 5lbs. Seriously, it' s massive. 

Yes, that sticker is really over one of the models.
Yes, she should call her agent.
Yes, the sticker should probably call theirs too.  

Once you flip past all the ads and non-Muppet related filler, there's a sizable section dedicated to The Muppets.

The section features not just just the images we've seen, like these:

But many more, including some with Blake Lively:

 

The issue also features Labyrith's Jennifer Connelly, though sadly it's sans Muppets which seems like a missed opportunity to recreate this classic cover: 

Hmmm indeed. 

Prudish types beware (you thought I forgot about the nipples didn't you), this being a UK magazine, there are naked women inside. Not overly sexualized or in Playboy/ Hustler territory, but naked they be.

This isn't the first time the Muppet have appeared with naked/ topless women in a magazine, (I think think that would be 2011's Loaded) but's it's still a bit shocking for American audiences.

A give the editors bonus points for saying the Muppets' photo shoot was done "where there air is sweet" in the table of contents, though it's shame they couldn't come up with a better pun that was actually related to The Muppet Show characters as the shoot was not done on Sesame Street nor features any Sesame characters (save for Kermit). 

Lastly, let's talk price. You hunted it down, you did your workout for the week lifting and carrying it, now you get to the counter and the clerk says that'll be $17.99!

$17.99 for a magazine? Wowza. You'll have to decide once you see it for yourself if it's worth it, but I think it's definitely an interesting addition to the Muppets magazine appearances. 

Love magazine #18 is on magazine racks now at select Barnes and Noble locations and even more crazily priced on Amazon.