Vogue magazine flew Annie Leibovitz, Angelina Jolie, and a fashion photo crew of 50 into the dry, tawny desert (somewhere between Los Angeles and Las Vegas), but sparks flew when stylists showed Jolie all the sleek, fancy, clothes they’d pulled for the photo shoot. She is, afterall, a compassionate, humanitarian engaged in aid for refugees, people for whom clothes and shelter are big issues.

It seems admirable not to want to strut in the sand in a $4,000, gold lame evening dress when you’re due in the camps next week.

Just as admirably, writer Jonathan Van Meter quotes Jolie in the text of the accompanying Vogue article.

“I’m not modeling,” Jolie says. “It’s me. I’m a person. And yet I’m selling clothes while trying to promote a movie. It’s very odd. And yes, in our world today, it’s been a very successful formula. It works. We play dress up. But it’s not really us. We’ve lost all sense of portraiture, and that’s too bad.”

Of course, the credits in small print still read: Ralph Lauren Collection white linen suit, Gucci sunglasses, Carolina Herrera caviar wool dress and belt, etc.