Can You Judge A Magazine By It's Cover?

As I'm sitting in my room finally being able to relax comfortably with all my mid terms taken and done with, an idea popped into my head while watching Real Housewives of Orange County on T.V. I saw on my floor the Lucky February issue, (which I am currently in the process of finishing,) and I looked at their cover girl, Amanda Seyfried, you know the girl who had ESPN from Mean Girls, but is now recognized for her role in Mama Mia and HBO's hit show Big Love. She looks absolutley stunning on the cover; her hair blown out with playful curls, a nude makeup look emphasized with a pink lip, she truly looks beautiful and I realized...the cover girl for the magazine is the most strategical way to get people to buy the magazine. Lets be honest, if your standing in line somewhere paying for a a purchased item and you notice the rows and rows of magazines displayed at the counter, your first instinct isn't to rip open the magazine and find articles that interest you, but more so its the image you first see, which is the model. If its an A lister celebrity or someone who hasn't gotten attention in the media lately, you're going to want to buy the magazine. I believe that the model on the cover is just as important as the stories inside. Aside from the person on the cover is their look. If Angelina Jolie was on the cover of Vogue wearing pajamas without make up, I'm sure the sales for that month would go down a substantial amount. The image on the cover is supposed to inspire women, and the clothes and accessories celebrate fashion. The cover of a magazine can be art to some, and the photographer is the painter, and the wardrobe stylist has that artful eye inspired by innovative vision. 

February issue of Elle

With the beautiful Kate Hudson on the cover along with her compelling and honest interview, the February issue of Elle had interesting spreads filled with beauty reports, new trends, designer interviews. Here are my favorite parts of the issue....

From Project Runway, to her way...Leanne Marshall Season Five Winner of Project Runway

For those who follow Heidi Klum and Tim Gun's hit show, you should know the name Leanne Marshall, the most recent alum to the Project Runway winners. The wedding dress she designed was so inspiring and elegant I wanted to go find  husband just so i could wear it, but unfortunately someone else will have the privilege of walking down the aisle in her champagne silk taffeta gown. Also, the aqua blue silk organza gown will make any ordinary girl feel like a princess. I loved how down to earth Marshal was in the interview and is currently a resident in New York City using all of the money won from the show to her fashion line. Here is a link to her website

Juicy Couture; now a resident of the Upper East Side

For the past couple of years the ever so popular Juicy Couture brand which started the phenomena of stamping JUICY on the back side of sweatpants, has shifted from track suits into a more sophisticated  style. From the west coast of LA to the east coast of NYC, Juicy Couture has the honor of having a Fifth Avenue address along side the most well known and popular fashion contenders in the business, ( Bergdorf Goodmans, Barneys, Channel, Prada, and so many more...) What's even better than the clothes in the store, is the doll house gone rock n roll styled environment. It gives off the appeal of an Alice in Wonderland reality instead of a dream. Celebrities such as Blake Lively, Penn Badgley, Lisa Loeb, and Jason Lewis attended the opening. 

The rebellious rock n roll trend

After devouring the new trends that Elle has dictated to its readers, ( Bright Colors, Western, and pale romantic textures, ) The look I fell in love with was the rock n roll spread. A Balmain white tutu mini dress with a La Perla bustier makes this look edgy yet elegant. Now this isn't a look that one can wear to the supermarket, but for more of a fancier affair. Doused in silver jewelry  and paired with an Alexander Wang leather jacket, this look is inspiring. 

This issue is definitely a page turner, but heres the online website in case you want to access it in a quicker way

Cosmopolitan February Issue

Well the Feb. issue of Cosmopolitan has not disappointed, filled with sex tips, sexy lingerie for Valentines Day, and a racy new study about why women cheat more then men; but since this is a fashion blog I found different a fun article relating to fashion....

For those who do not know who Patricia Field is, she is one of the more ground breaking and well known stylists based in New York City. She was the costume designer for the HBO hit phenomenon Sex and the City, and now devotes her time to to attacking the latest trends. What makes her different from other stylists is her unique and wild spin to the latest trends. If you are like me and followed Carrie Bradshaw's weekly outfits, Patricia Field is the women responsible for her 5 inch Christian Louboutin heels and bold accessories. The new hit movie Confessions of a Shopaholic has added FIeld on board to the stylist team and will accessory leading lady Isla Fisher. For Cosmopolitan's Feb. issue she has provided women of today smart shopping secrets.

1. BARGAIN STORES!!!

Fields notes that bargain stores actually have more fashion clothes for much less than higher scale boutiques, (even during their sales...) If you have the patience to look through all the clothing you could be surprised in what you find. Fields suggests an inexpensive jewelry line called Noir, which she designed a couple of pieces for and can be found  here 

2. Bold Colors....don't be intimidated

Fields suggests that going into spring you should try to shift toward the brighter colors rather than keeping in simple with earth tones. Also, incorporating bright colors into your outfits is a great way of expressing your personality, and helps you make a style of your own. 

3. Be Your Own Stylist

Fields admits that when she is styling a character for a movie she pulls from different fashion icons for inspirations. Some fashion icons today include Nicole Richie, Mary Kate Olsen, and Rachel Zoe, (those are some of my favorites.) Fields encourages everyone to find their own inspiration.

4. Shape Hugging Clothing

Fashion is drifting away from the oversized peasant tops, and is now moving forward to more tighter body hugging clothing. Bandage dresses and tighter pencil skirts are now being shown, so Fields has suggested maybe a slim down for spring might be a good idea if one feels the need to.

5. Breaking The Mold

Fields is very big on not always wearing expensive labels. Just because it says Prada or Roberto Cavalli doesn't mean that it is always the best choice. Due to our economy crisis today, splurging on something that is a trend for just spring is not worth it. Fields and a stylist that I idolize myself, Rachel Zoe, suggests that if you are going to splurge you should do it on a classic piece that will last throughout time, and not just something in season. Fields suggests mixing lower end fashion with maybe a bold more expensive jewelry piece to keep that fashionista look. 

6. Shiny 

Fields says that if you have trouble spotting more inexpensive clothing and don't have the patience, or the stomach, to look at sale prices, shiny clothing is a hint as to something inexpensive. Ok, were not talking disco ball shiny, but a metallic shoe for example is a great eye catching technique for identify less expensive trends.

I hope these points from Patricia Fields can help everyone with their spring shopping!!! 

Just for fun =)

Still waiting for the Elle and Vogue February issues, but for now I have distracted myself in the offered quizzes magazines have offered on their online sights....

Cosmopolitan has at least 4 sex quizzes in their issues, and once and awhile Elle or Vogue will have some, here is Cosmopolitan's quiz, (which is racy, but enjoy )

Are you a great date quiz


If anyones wondering I scored to be a "Desirable Date"...I was surprised by the results thinking I would be a terrible date, but this is according to Cosmopolitan standards

If I had to pick just one..........

Out of all the fashion magazines out on stands today, I would have to say Elle is my all time favorite. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy reading all of the fashion magazines, but every issue of Elle is interesting, fresh, and new. Vogue's issue's can get repetitive sometimes, and I'm not crazy about some of their writers. A word I would also use to describe Vogue is over rated. I feel over the years, (maybe this is because of Anne Wintour's fierce reputation,) that people think they are the main fashion magazine, but I find that sometimes their writting isn't as good. Harpers Bazaar is pretty good as well, but I found they aren't as "fashiony." I believe Elle is very up and coming and they alway shave a nice mixture of fashion, current events, celebrity interviews, and general studies.

Early Preview to February Issues

Since it is 2009, and compared to a couple of years ago, technology has really broken ground. Today I found online that Elle and Vogue both had an online website, I guess I was old fashioned and only would accept the magazine in a more tangible form. Looking at both of their online sites I was surprised. They were organized nicely, and provided pictures and articles. Since the magazines have not come out yet,  and I am getting anxious, I've decided to cheat a little and look at the online site's February editions. 

Elle's Online Site

I first examined Elle's site, and the most interesting feature on the page was how to still be stylish during our country's economy crisis. Some may be thinking good bye Barneys hello Salvation Army, (i happen to like the vintage t's at the salvation army for 25 cents,) but this article shows that just because you cant shop at the more upscale boutiques, doesn't mean you have to resort to your pajamas. The article advises that wearing a simple white t-shirt can easily  be dressed up into a cute day time outfit. I liked how this article uses working  succesful women instead of those stick thin model as the example for "Recession Style Chic." This way, women can relate to the article better rather than having a high fashion model used as the example. In particular i loved loved loved the white t shirt accessory seen on Corie Rosenburg, since I live in Haynes white t-shirts. The article notes that during times like this you don't need to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe, but if u look at your closest carefully you can just recycle outfits and make them new. All in all I thought this was a clever article and can really appeal to women now

Vogues Online Site....

......I was less impressed with. Viewing the different topics I found that it wasn't as up to date as Elle's. One section even had the Fall fashion trends of 2008. I mean, were already passed winter, and the fashion magazines should be focusing on Cruise Wear. I was hoping to find in the Trends +Shopping section some new spring trends, but found last fall's floral patterns. belle sleeves, and country like clothing. For such a top of the line prestigious magazine, you would think someone would be on  top of an online site. But i cant complain about all of it thought. I did like their fashion show section, and to my surprise it was updated with Springs 2009 collection, even though New York City's spring fashion show week hasn't come around yet. I thought the article about one of fashions guru's ,Phillip Lim, was well written and gave a detailed note about what is to be expected  from the designers spring collection. 

It was nice to venture off into the world wide web and explore the fashion sites, but I still enjoy sitting down old fashion style, with a good 300 page magazine taking up most of my morning. 

* Also if anyone is interested in viewing these online sites here are the links * 

Elle

Vogue

Officially A "Blogger"

I used to think people that had blogs were like those nerds in high school who sit at home and study for Monday's test on a Friday night. I thought blogs were a cheap way of publishing ones opinions when their friends or family wouldn't listen to what they had to say, and come on, are people really going to be reading your thoughts and opinions??? But my journalism class prompted a change of heart about blogging. Even if I am the only one reading my own thoughts and opinions, that's fine, but here are my thoughts about my monthly obsession, fashion magazines.
Aside from the more costly ways of to relax, (massages, facials, ect...), I've found that sitting in my kitchen with a Dunkin Donut hot chocolate and a plate of scrambled eggs with cheese easily suffices as my meditation or relaxation. I recruited my mother as the middle man in my magazine zen. She goes to the various supermarkets or bookstores to pick up the magazines and by the time I woke up, I have fresh monthly magazines awaiting my arrival in the kitchen.
Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Elle, Teen Vogue, and Glamour are my main vices. My main passion and what intrigues me the most are the fashion contenders; Elle and Vogue. Out of the many competition magazines, ( Lucky, W, Harpers Bazaar,) I have found these two fashion magazines really come out with issues on what fashion truly is. The different seasonal shows, trends, designer interviews, and critiques on anything fashion grabbed me as a habitual reader. Aside from the fashion, celebrity interviews and model editorials are included. Health and political articles somehow sneak into their issues in a clever and interesting way.
After I read, (or more so examine carefully) each magazine I will then begin my blogging, so stay tuned......