We finally took your picture down off the wall, ah Jesse how do you always seem to know just when to...
We finally took your picture down off the wall, ah Jesse how do you always seem to know just when to call
Member since:18.10.2005
Reviews:48
Members who trust:18
It's Sunday morning, I've made myself a latte and have my toast buttered. I have the apartment to myself for once, I make my way over to the sofa with my coffee and toast and there waiting on the coffee table is a the newest issue of Vogue in pristine condition just waiting for my undivided attention for at least the next hour.
Vogue is among the elite of fashion magazines, since it first went on sale in September 1916, for the princely sum of one shilling, models have aspired to be featured in it and fashion and lifestlye victims and flocked to the shops to purchase it. Unfortunatley it currently retails at more than a shilling, £3.50. This is more expensive than a lot of other magazines, cosmopolitan is £2.90 in comparison. I do personally feel that the extra expense is justified by both the quality and the quantity of contents.
It is a combination of both the almost affordable and the downright too expensive, which succeeds in allowing the common folk such as myself to aspire to something realistic whilst still holding the privileged above the rest of us, at this point people who are against a class system will be raging against me but unfair as it is
this is the way of the world at the moment and we all need something to aspire to! For me the fantastic thing about this magazine is I can flick through and just forget the mounting credit card bills, and the fact that no matter how much I adore them I just cannot justify spending £500 on a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes...
Vogue is what I would consider first and foremost a fashion magazine and secondly a lifestlye magazine. In a typical issue you would expect to find:
Fashion Photoshoot Spreads: These vary between artistic and simple, some in the form of glossy surreal photoshoots more about the art than the clothes and others as layouts usually set out by a certain style or colour depending on the trends of the month. Vogue is very much inspired by the catwalk so expect to see some outfits and trends that to us simpletons would appear ludicrous but somehow these glamourous models still manage to look good in them...thank God I have enough sense to realise that I wouldn't!
Features and Articles: There are always a variety of well written articles to read, there are real life stories of tradgedy and triumph, I found a recent article by a former cocaine addict very enlightening having known people who have used this drug, it was also positive to the extent she detailed the lowest point of her life, which was beyond something most of us could ever comprehend and still rose to become a fully functioning member of society. There are also interviews with film stars, models, singers etc. There column style articles a la Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City on topics such as does dressing differently affect our personalities? There are also a host of other articles. With the magazine being about an inch thick there is plenty of space for articles as well as the fashion shoots.
Hair and Beauty: There is an extensive section on hair and beauty featuring products, and helpful tips to acheive the catwalk looks. Again the products featured do tend to me expensive but Christmas is coming up! They also tend to feature some more unusual products that you would not neccessarily see in day to day life. A recent spread showed japenese beauty products and included a mask to hold against your eyebrows while plucking and another to hold against your cheeks to ensure you only apply blusher where it's needed.
Lifestyle: Vogue also showcases home accesories, again in the same way as the fashion layouts some of these seem ridculous and I couldn't imagine them in any home however these are intermingled with affordable and classy peices so this section is defnitly worth a perusal. The magazine also has a property section which I would warn the non-millionaires among you to approach with caution. It is very easy to fall in love with the beautiful properties shown as they are usually high class apartments in Chelsea, Kensington and the Docklands and are priced accordingly. There is also a travel section which can be invaluable to people looking to go away. Usually one place is featured and many details are given from shops to visit, resturants to eat in and bars to frequent. The latest issue featured New York and having been there I found the report very accurate and wish I had read it before I visited.
Regular Features: Like every magazine Vogue has it's regular features such as the Fashion Diary, detailing fashion events (mainly in London in th UK edition and I would imagine New York in the US edition) over the coming months. Horoscopes, Readers letters and reviews on films and books.
Adverts: This is probably my only criticism of the magazine is the sheer volume of adverts, these range from the glossy designer spreads, which almost appear more fashion layout than advertisement, to the classifieds at the back. There are also the usual cosmetic surgery etc adverts found at the back of most women's magazines. To give you an example of the volume of adverts there is usually at least three or four two page spreads before you even reach the contents page. Having said this the more artistic ads can be enjoyable to view and often show off the latest designer bags, watches etc, and since I am going to be rich one day I need to know what I want to buy!
Verdict: I always enjoy my hour alone with Vogue, as I have mentioned I find the articles interesting to read and enjoy planning how I'm going to spend the millions I am one day going to have....well a girl can dream!
My advice (assuming you are not a millionaire with money to burn) is to approach this magazine as if you are reading a book, you can emphasise with the people in it, you can even imagine you are there but at the end of the day most of it is pure fantasy! Many a time I have failed to take my own advice and my flatmate has ordered me to put the magazine down as I gaze longingly at a pair of shoes and start to decide what I can sacrifice in order to buy them.....I mean how important is food anyway :0)
Maria
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Advantages: Prize givaways seen OK (However I've had no personal experience) Disadvantages: Endless adverts, Presenters, Music, Uninteresting/Unimportant News
Nov 23rd, 2005
very helpful by (100%):
