Christina Hendricks: Unwitting Poster Girl for New Brand of Beauty

Feb. 17, 2010 — -- Christina Hendricks has captured something.

The Tennessee-born "Mad Men" actress glows on the cover of New York Magazine's Spring Fashion issue, clad in a white lace bustier and matching panties. Her auburn hair twists down and around her body, reminiscent of Botticelli and a goddess-brand of beauty.

Of course, it's not unusual to see a photo of an actress semi-nude on a newsstand. Throwing an arm or a strategically-placed accessory over one's breasts has become standard operating procedure for pretty girls posing for glossies (see: Jen Aniston, GQ, Jan. '09; Rihanna, GQ, Jan. '10).

But in an age where images of same-sex models making out (hello, Armani) and oiled up actresses slithering in the sand (Eva Mendes for Calvin Klein) seem almost mundane, Hendricks' portrait stands out.

There's skin. There's fat. There are curves. There is a woman, a real, gorgeous woman, fronting a fashion magazine. How long has it been since that happened?