To ward off the eternal creeping dread of middle-aged frumpiness, I need refreshment and inspiration. These magazines inspire me:
- Town & Country's website is useless, but the magazine itself is gorgeous. The layout is flawless. The photography makes me want to lick the page. And they edit down the fashion journalism blather to terms the average woman can understand. For example, when they tell us about the trends for spring, they devote a page each to: black and white; florals; feminine flourishes. Simple and clear. And it doesn't matter that I can't afford what they show me. I'm looking for inspiration.
- Harper's Bazaar isn't quite what it used to be under Liz Tilberis. (And the editorial pages can be that fashion magazine-specific brand of crazy--out of focus sepia-toned photographs of an homage to Bonnie & Clyde are lovely, but I'd like to see the clothes, please.) Still, I'd say it's America's best all-around fashion monthly. The website is good, too. (P.S. Do yourself a favor, and don't copy Kate's eye makeup.)
More is the one magazine where you know you won't see 14 year olds dressed and made up to look 35. That alone is worth the price of admission. Like most magazines, they expect you to be rich, but at least they don't expect you to be young. The website is good, but if I see Sandra Bullock at the Oscar's one more time, I'm going to shut down my laptop.
- I pick up People's StyleWatch all the time. It's too celebrity-focused, but it's a fast read, and it makes the trends crystal clear. Unlike Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, and Town & Country, it also focuses primarily on the things you'll actually find in stores. The website bears too much resemblance to the regular People web site. I give it a meh.
- Allure is the one magazine devoted to cosmetics and skin care. I read it to keep up with new products. And the annual cosmetics "Best-Of-Beauty" awards are a must-read. The website is informative but extremely cluttered. Someone needs to give it a makeover. Hee!
- Lucky, which I secretly call Sucky, except not out loud, because that would be vulgar, and God knows I don't need my daughter becoming a pottymouth like some people we know.
- Vogue because ... I don't know ... is it the print size? The annoyingly long columns? The inflated sense of self-importance on the part of people like Andre Leon Talley? You tell me.
- You'd think I'd be all over InStyle, but honestly, I get better fashion reporting from the other glossies. InStyle magazine is what would happen if People magazine married Town and Country and they had a baby.
But... but... those Best of Beauty Awards are total bullshit. Ever notice how they pretty much never pick a product from a company that isn't an advertiser? That is not an accident, yo.
ReplyDeleteI share your hate of Lucky, however. Lucky is VILE. Lucky LIES to us about what looks good. Lucky is, indeed, Sucky.
But that's pretty much the case with any editorial coverage of products, right? They don't tend to talk all that much about anything that isn't advertised.
ReplyDeleteHere's my take on Allure's Best of Beauty Awards: they're a place to start. Chances are anything that wins is going to be at least better than average.
(Except for Maybelline Great Lash mascara. How that smudge-a-rama crap makes every list is totally beyond me. I figure that it's a product that works magically well on a photo shoot, and that's all that makeup artists care about.)
My approach is to check out the reviews on Makeup Alley, paying particular attention to the age and skin type of the reviewer. I also check Paula Begoun, although she reminds me of Mikey in the Life cereal ad: she hates everything.
Re: Lucky--I miss Shop, Etc., SO MUCH.
Saw you over at Motherlode!
ReplyDeleteI think you're the one who originally told me about Shop, Etc. and OMG, I miss it too! And they didn't even go to web-only, they just disappeared! SO UNFAIR.
ReplyDeleteI use to like W or WWD... it has been a long time since I ripped through pages with excitement. I'll take your advise and seek out the good ones next time I'm out.
ReplyDeleteI like (and I know you do too) to pick up a foreign fashion magazine when I'm traveling - and not necessarily the Euro Vogues...other ones.
ReplyDeleteI also love Kun-El, a Japanese glossy.
Poppy-
ReplyDeleteIn my books "Forever Cool" and "Steal This Style" I included a "Get Inspired" section that included my favorite magazines (we share a love for "Town and Country"),books, and movies.Check them out?
Best,
Sherrie
www.sherriemathieson.com
I love MORE. It's the one subscription that I plan to keep after we move - but you need to add the exercise part - Health.
ReplyDeletehahahahahahhaahahhahaha. Had you going there, didn't I??? Exercise.
Snort.
hi- found your blog through Privilege - i also hava a hard time with the crap that's out there from the magazine perspective since 1) I function in the real world 2)wear flats more often that heels. Anyhooty, i like More, like T&C for the pictures and sometimes like Elle and, dare I say it, Marie Claire. I do find that sometimes Self and Shape are better bets for their fashion spreads than the "fashion" magazines.
ReplyDeleteI love British versions of woman's magazines. They have a fabulous since of style that fits me and our different enough to be interesting. And why is it that European woman seem to have such interesting lives compared to me?
ReplyDelete