Staring straight at you, smack in the eyes, is Blake Lively. Dressed in a bold red Balmain jacket. Hips thrust forward. Daring you not to buy her. And this, the new cover of US Marie Claire, July 2012 issue, is the essence of her mystique.

While she is utterly beautiful and glowing with health, confidence and talent and friends with Kaiser Karl and Florence Welch (about as cool a combo as EXISTS), she is also completely self possessed and clear on who she is what she wants you to know about her. The Blake that she is determined for us to buy is the one that does her own styling, has a few close friends, has only dated four boys and is happy to try all sorts of daring things in her acting roles only.

She has said these same few things over and over again. And she says them again to Nina Garcia in the interview that accompanies this cover story. This is a war of attrition. Each time she presents the same information we hope for a tiny slip up that will reveal the real her. And this time we get lucky. She admits that she has an assistant that calls in all the garments that she 'styles' herself. Ah, so not a real stylist then.

If you watched Zana Roberts Rassi on Fashion Police, you will also know that she insisted on a closed set for this shoot. Just her and the photographers. She also made all the selections from the rail on what she would wear. And yet she chose to go hyper sexy in the shoot. With that much control, one can only assume it was her choice. Interesting, right? And so we remain intrigued. Grasping for a tiny morsel of realness each time we encounter her.

I really hope she is actually as interesting as she is making herself seem. Otherwise it is all going to be a gargantuan disappointment. By the way, that dress is Jenny Packham. The bodysuit is Dolce & Gabbana and the beaded dress is Marios Schwab.