Marie Claire

Advantages: Informative. Educative. Fun!
Disadvantages: I like it, so non for me!

...In many respects, Marie Claire is very much a global magazine. Published monthly (cover price £2.90, published by Southbank (IPC Media) and available everywhere (yeah, all good newsagents)!), it was established as early as 1937 (when it was then issued as a weekly) and currently there are 24 international editions published around the planet. Its core target market reader, reflected through any close inspection of its editorial and advertising content, ...
...The ‘stand-out’ feature of Marie Claire as a lifestyle as well as fashion magazine is a constant inclusion of quality journalism from issue to issue. This publication is certainly not shy in tackling areas generally considered taboo in some other female presses and (as a contrast to its luxury fashion and lifestyle drive) has covered topics such as third world poverty (hunger and starvation), homelessness, anorexia, female genital mutilation, ... Read review

Advantages: Its readily available
Disadvantages: Too many adverts, not enough for Mrs Average on the high street, bit over priced.

...I glanced up and saw Marie Claire on the middle shelf at the Sainsbury’s garage. I never purchase this magazine but as the price “ £2.15” was so pronounced on the cover page, I just had to buy it. It’s sixteen years since this has been launched, where has the time gone? It’s also received 27 awards, but would I be buying it again? After reading it (quite thoroughly), here’s my verdict on this glamour mag. My first impressions were not good as I flicked ...
...the other. I suppose Marie Clair is trying to cater for all tastes, except the clothes stakes. I like the section “There and Now”. There is page devoted to the leopard print and they used an old photograph of Diana, princess of Wales in her swimming costume. That made me realise that it is drawing close to her 7th anniversary at the end of August. I hope she receives more of a tribute than a 3-inch photo nearer the time. Anyway, before I get reminiscent ... Read review

Advantages: Great read!
Disadvantages: Bulky size

...i always end up buying marie claire every month aswell. Its a great magazine for the modern woman and i hope you'll find this review very helpful!! Marie claire has been around for 15 years and in its time has won 27 awards, including best designed consumer magazine of the year award in 2003, editor of the year 2003, best beauty pages in 1991 and best international magazine brand in 1994. The magazine is roughly A4 size, so the standard size for ...
...table seat. At the moment marie claire is priced at £2.50 but thats subject to change about once a year or so, most magazines go up in price about ten pence every now and again. Its the same size as magazines like FHM and Vogie which cost upwards of £3 an issue, so its good value. Every few months you will find a free gift with the magazine, most recently these have been a set of different sized makeup bags and a tote bag which i have found extremely ... Read review

Advantages: HIGHLIGHTS ISSUES ABOUT WOMEN IN OTHER CULTURES
Disadvantages: FULL OF ADS, PATRONISING!!

MARIE - CLAIRE I used to buy this magazine in my twenties, but then stopped. I now only read it at the hairdressers. This is why: ***WHAT DOES IT OFFER?*** Marie-Claire is a fashion magazine with special interest articles aimed at women. It's motto is "Fashion With Heart" and it is priced at £3.30. This month's issue (Jan) has 244 pages, plus a 32 page special about hair at the back (confusingly upside down). It has an expensive glossy feel to ...
...me that over 50% of it's content is ads!!. In fact, I leaf through 8 pages of ads before I even get to the editorial. Many of the ads are for high end designer companies such as Prada, Gucci and Armani. The magazine aims to publish stories about inspirational women and takes an ethical stance (also having a 'green' section. As well as one off features, it has regular slots reviewing books, films and tv, as well as a home and travel section. I note ... Read review

Advantages: None
Disadvantages: Shallow, patronising

...saw that it was, disturbingly, marie claire! marie claire was the mag of my earlier years (I'm a whole 28 now!), preferable to Cosmopolitan cos it was a bit more low brow, articles on sexual matters, dealing with men, women and careers, looking at issues that concern women such as sexual harrassment, rape, over drinking and personal success stories. So whats happened? Well the magazine more expensive than it used to be seems to be a tad thinner as ...
...exciting eh?, when you read marie claire, however, rather than feel refreshed and stronger, you begin to feel a tad guiltier and insecure. Here you are paying £2.80 a month for a bunch of advertisments when in fact you could be helping some of these women in India. The amount of adverts for cosmetc surgery are huge, approx 10 pages, yet they have done articles on accepting your body image and over coming issues such as anorexia and bulimia. When ... Read review

Advantages: caters for its own market
Disadvantages: high on the yeuk factor

...I don't think my fellow reviewers are reading the same Elle that I've seen recently. The Elle that I've seen assumes its readers are obsessed about whether their bathroom is exactly the right shade of blue, their brats are going to the right school and their stretch marks will send hubby in search of a younger model. In other words it's not fun, it's not glam and it's very definitely not clever. I'm not denying that there's a market for this - there clearly is, that's why they're in business. But its articles can't compare to Red for intelligence; Marie Claire for investigative work; Vogue for fashion or Cosmo for all things fun and frivolous. For the record, not everyone over 25 is interested in producing sprogs, can afford holidays at exotic spas, or think Bridget Jones is the epitomy of a challenging read... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Not snobby, some good articles.
Disadvantages: Could read it very quickly.

...GRAZIA MAGAZINE For the purposes of this review I have read the issue dated 9th March. ***What's it like?*** This magazine is aimed at women and consists of 115 pages, with lots of adverts thrown in. Although there are lots of ads, instead of just Prasda there are some that are in reach of the ordinary consumer, such as TK Max and Aptamil etc. It doesn't appear overly snobby. It has a glossy front cover (this one is graced with Jennifer Aniston), but doesn't have the thick spine of it's dearer counterparts (Elle, Marie-Claire ect). Having said this it is around half the price. It is mostly concerned with what the celebs are doing or more importantly what they are wearing! This edition contains coverage of London's Fashion week and an Oscars frock special!! It is very concerned who celebs are currently going out with and has... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: some good articles
Disadvantages: overall - it's a mess

...What is this magazine trying to be? One thing's for sure - its absolutely nothing like it was in the 60s! All magazines have a target market - More! aims at teenagers, for example, while Harpers is after affluent 30somethings. But Nova? The free t-shirt last month was clearly designed for a midget - or a very slender young thing at that - suggesting the more/minx audience. Then there are actually some quite good, well-written articles; so, the Marie Claire/Glamour audience perhaps? Then hugely, enormously, stupidly expensive stuff for the house. That'll be the Tatler market then. Some arty photos - perhaps they want to pinch some readers from Vogue? You get the idea. Overall this was a complete mish-mash and they need to sort it out - otherwise this will be another of those magazines that very rapidly get consigned back to the annals... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful