H&M Christmas Magazine.

H&M produce season updates on all their latest looks in the form of a magazine (and it's FREE!) which are scattered about the store and strategically placed at the tills. So, as i self-profound magazine junkie of course I always pick them up and I am always pleasantly surprised.

As a free magazine you would expect a flimsey, few-paged booklet but no, it is an actual magazine filled with great editorial shoots, latest trend information and is basically a H&M bible as to what to wear to all occassions over the festive period (in this party season special, of course).

I found numerous looks that I can't wait to recreate over the party season and the beauty of this mag is that is makes the afforable and stylish H&M clothes look like they belong on the pages of Vogue or Elle (where the price tags usually give me a small heart attack!). 

This latest edition also has lots of information and beautiful pictures of H&M's newest collaboration with profound designer, Lanvin. Unfortunatley, this collection did not arrive in the likes of the Aberdeen stores (surprise, surprise!) but I loved looking through the gorgeous collection in the magazine. One of my favourites being a cute little red dress (perfect for any party - i will post an image below).

So go on! Pick up a copy!

I promise you wont be dissappointed. And who cares if you are...IT'S FREE!



Lanvin red dress. (I want one please!)




Lanvin red dress (again).

A shot from the magazine. I love a good jumpsuit!



Another shot from the magazine. A leapord print coat is on my wish list for Christmas!



'The September Issue'.

So for all you budding fashionistas out there, this is a must-see right? For those who are not aware of this film, this is the chance to see whats hidden behind Anna Wintour's trademark bob and sunglasses and scrutinize the inner workings of her magazine, Vogue. 'The September Issue' took viewers cleverly inside a world in which they only thought they knew.

Every year, people wait for the infamous 'September issue', which is usually considerably larger than the other issues. In 2007 the issue was the biggest ever and weighed over 4 lbs and impacted the global fashion industry more than any other single publication.

I think the film was a great insight into Anna Wintour herself and her team of outrageous and larger-than-life editors that help run the magazine, including Grace Coddington and Andre Leon Talley. The film was an intimate, funny and often surprising record of how a group of extremely different (recognised in the numerous occassions where opinions clashed) create the fashion bible that is Vogue.

Some key scenes include behind the scenes at Fashion Week, trips to Europe, shoots and more importantly re-shoots and also a seat at the table at closed-door staff meetings. I also found the footage of Anna with her daughter to be very interesting and was facinated by the way in which she has to balance her manic career with her family and personal life.

'The September Issue' is a must for anybody who is interested in fashion and for someone like me who only dreams of being the next Anna Wintour is a facinating snapshot of the exciting, grueling and emotionally demanding process which is involved in running a magazine.

December Cover.

Ok, so i absolutely love, love, love Elle's December cover. Anne Hathaway looks absolutely amazing and the sequined dress -wow. The sexy, plunging, sequined number was Balmain (there's sequined dresses and there's sequined dresses) and Anne also wears pieces from Stella McCartney, Donna Karan and of course, the good old faithful, Christian Louboutin (I wish) later in the magazine, in her very relatable and real interview.

The regular cover boasts a striking, face-on shot of Anne Hathaway and I think the shape of her body really compliments a cover shot, along with the fabulous shape of the dress she is wearing. I dug out last year's December issue of Elle from the ginormous pile of magazines that occupate my bedroom floor -merely for a matter of interest - and I feel that this year Elle have taken the Christmas party season a lot more seriously. I mean, the gold, sparkly theme against the simple, black background conveys that festive period atmosphere perfectly, compared to last year's strong and angular shot of Kate Hudson. However, the subscriber issue was a more seductive shot (although still supporting the gorgeous Balmain dress), Anne is facing away from the camera and her face conveys a subtle yet slightly provocative sense, her eyes are closed and her hands are placed delicately on her thighs. The cover states "Eyes wide shut. Anne Hathaway" which, taking in account the theme of that particular 1926 based film, adds to the sense of sensualism. Interestingly I did my mini analysis of the cover before I researched the film itself and I was pleased to confirm the story I got from the cover was the one which was intended. Well done Elle - a beautiful cover!

Elle, December 2010.

MC Magazine.

I stumbled across this when I was searching for something completely unrelated on the internet today (Again, being completely distracted from trying to complete coursework. Story of my life.) However, what a treasure I found. I subscribed straight away by simply entering my email address and now I am a member. I browsed through various of the issues in the archive section and found it to be a completely innovative and exciting side to the magazine industry. The magazine is only featured online and after flicking through all the copies found it to be mainly based on photography with some controversial images featured in some issues (Certainly not the kind of images seen in the likes of Vogue and Elle). The website does not give much away about the details of the magazine itself and the site itself basically features a large copy of a magazine where you can virtually flick through the pages.
I was interested in finding out more about the idea behind this online magazine as I have not seen many as good as this before (if any), so I jumped on Google and started researching. I was pleased to see that there is is 'MC Magazine' Facebook page and it was there I got an insight into the ideas and concepts behind this exciting, virtual publication. It stated that 'MC Magazine' was basically an online magazine with style, taste and content whilst creatively bringing together the fashion and technology. Furthermore, the e-mag (which I have oh so cleverly named it) consists of various sections such as 'beauty', 'street fashion' and very unusual and interesting editorial shots. After further research I found that MC Magazine has had many positive reactions within the fashion market itself. Designers, photographers, stylists and make-up artisits have all admired the online magazine.

I also found the cover images to be very impactful. Every issue has a very strong cover shot and is mainly a close-up headshot of the model. However, the styling and concepts of the covers are somewhat unusual and as a reader, was very captivated by the cover alone, without even turning the page. I feel this is extremely important as the reader's attention is successfully grabbed and the images are not simply a gorgeous celebrity wearing a pretty dress; it's more than that. There's almost a story behind the image and it certainly made me think. Each issue has a one-word title in which the theme is almost carried out throughout the magazine. For example, the 'Blood' issue stood out to me (mainly because I am a woose and can't stand the sight of blood), in which there were slightly disturbing images of a man holding a knife to his own throat, he face almost beautifully covered in blood. Very strange.

'MC Magazine' state their innovative approach to be filled with new fashion trends, fashion news, beauty and fashion tips and this online fashion magazine, in my eyes, is everything that you have been looking for on the internet in terms of an exciting new direction in the world of fashion magazines.

http://www.mcmag.co.uk/



MC Magazine, latest issue.



An example of some of the content.



Tavi to launch new magazine.

I was very excited when I recently heard that Tavi Gevinson (the famous 13 year-old, fashion blogger) is embarking on a new project in creating a new magazine, which will be released next year. The quirky teenager has been enlisted by 'Sassy' magazine founder, Jane Pratt who learned of Tavi's love of the now-defunct but iconic style bible of the 90's. Tavi claims that this new venture will not be a revival of Sassy but a new fashion avenue for "an audience of wallflowerly teenage girls." She also descibes the new project to be her own "feminist, creative, moody-teenage-girl creation", which I think will make for an extremely interesting and engaging read (If i can get my hands on it, as it will most likely only be published in America).

Another interesting aspect is that Tavi is very much focusing on a 'for the people, by the people' direction and is very keen for people to contribute their work to the new glossy (If you are interested you can email her at MagazineSubmissionsAreFun@g.mal.com ) . Suggested ideas include describing a bit about yourself, attatching writing samples, artwork or photos and the deadline is Novemeber 19th, for those who consider yourself to be a budding journalist. I think this will be an appealing concept for a new fashion magazine as it focuses on interaction with readers and will make them feel almost part of the magazine. This will also be extremely easy for Tavi as she obviously has no problem engaging with readers according to her blog views and popularity in the fashion world. I mean, there are no other 13 year-olds which influence fashion in such a significant way.

The magazine is yet to be given a title but I have no doubt that it will embrace and convey Tavi's eccentric and off-the-wall style, which she is notably famous for.

And lets face it, if anyone can be Anna Wintour..it's Tavi!



Tavi getting inspiration for the launch of her new magazine.



Fashion Weeklies.

So we all read Vogue and Elle right? Duh, we're fashion students! But what about the less prestigious mags that we all automatically fling into our shopping baskets when we go to fetch some milk or pick up without thinking when we're waiting in the que?

Fashion weeklies such as Look and Grazia are my favourite and Emap (a British media company) have been trying to turn Grazia into the weekly Vogue for some time now. Don't get me wrong, I'm guilty of having the odd flick through the, so called "trashy" mags, I mean sometimes there's nothing better to do than wasting precious hours flicking through endless pages of gossip and ridicoulsly insane stories instead of doing coursework or any other remotely productive task, but I really think that weekly fashion magazines have got a lot better. Take 'Look' for example, for a bargain of £1.70 you get loads of great ideas on outfits for the weekend or the new styles which have hit the highstreet that particular week, without the ridiculous price tags that come with Vogue's key looks (cause lets be honest, I can sometimes barely afford the socks).

So maybe stay clear of the trashy mags, unless you find your fashion inspiration in stories such as 'My man ran off with my Granny!' and pick up Look or Grazia - trust me - a lot more interesting.

Fashion and gossip, what more could a girl want.




£1.95, weekly.



£1.70, weekly.



Photo Shoot.

Ok, so yesterday was the day of the photoshoot for our coursework and I think it went very well (despite the fact of having to step in and model last minute). We did the shoot in one of the studios at Aberdeen college and I must say everything felt very professional (again, excluding my effort as a model) and really made me think that this might be an area which I would like to explore further. We were lucky enough to work with a two photography students and they were great in helping us think of poses and interesting ideas for the shots.

I feel that getting the chance to work in a professional studio gave me a great insight into what it would be like to be part of a magazine editorial or cover shoot and I certainly think it would be a field I would like to get into in the future. The creative part of the shoot, including the styling and creating concepts for the photos themselves really interests me and I throughly enjoyed the experience.

Move over Grace Coddington!



A wonderful 'Alice in Wonderland' inspired shoot directed by Grace. 



Grace Coddington, Creative Director, Vogue.


A few shots from our own shoot:

 

John Paul Thurlow.

I came across this artist in a copy of Elle a few months ago and thought his work was fantastic. Thurlow is a cover illustrator and mainly sketches magazines and records. His drawings are so realistic you would mistake them for the actual covers, the only giveaway is that he only uses black and white, his work is usually in pencil or biro pen.

In April 2010 he exhibited his work in his first solo exhibition at the debut Sketchbook Pop up Shop, which received rave reviews. The main body of his work was made up of 100 of Thurlow's favourite illustrations.
I recommend looking at his blog,

http://johnpaulthurlow.blogspot.com/

It's great and shows everything that he is up to along with his latest work and projects that he is working on.

He also has recently published a book called 'Covers' which I am definitely going to be purchasing (I think I'll add it to my Christmas list in fact). It certainly would be a great little book to have permanently proud of place on the coffee table and I can't wait to explore more of his work.


Kate Moss, Vogue.




A selection of Thurlow's cover illustrations.



Lilly Allen, Elle.



The beauty of Elle subscription covers.

So, two good things came from visiting home this weekend. Number one - a home-cooked meal. And number two - I picked up my latest copy of Elle, which annoyingly, still gets delivered to my home address. As I peel back the plastic covering, tipping out the endless amounts of leaflets and brochures that accompanies the 'oh so wonderful' magazine, there it is. My favourite part. The cover. As a subscriber of Elle, the limited edition covers are fantastic. Unusual, interesting and pieces of art in their own right. What makes these covers so special are that they are free from the 'coverlines' and advertisements that are usually splashed across regular cover fronts, with a much more cutting edge and artistic feel to them. Elle subscriber issues take risks that are simply not part of a mainstream fashion magazine’s vocabulary.

Some of my favourites include the April 2010 cover, which featured fashion icon, Chloe Sevigny perched on a stool with her own scrawls and doodles surrounding her. I liked how this cover conveyed the fun and carefree aspect of Chloe's personality and it gave me the idea that she didn't take herself and life too seriously. This was also supported with the styling choices as she wore a mixture of Miu Miu, Chanel and Marc Jacobs (to name a few) with a strong focus on fun injections of colour and extremely short shorts to accentuate her amazingly long legs. Her hair was kept soft and natural, which again emphasises the idea that she doesn't take herself too seriously and is very chilled out when it comes to fashion. I also really liked the controversial Kylie Minogue cover in June 2010, where Elle featured a extremely blurred and hazy image of Kylie herself with the headline; "Kylie: Come into my world" being the only clue as to what the image illustrated. However, I appreciate the uncertain and indistinct image concept as I thought it was a soft and stunning representation of Kylie Minogue and perhaps portrayed the idea and sense of mystery. I believe it successfully intrigued the reader into her so called "world". I feel this was a very memorable cover shoot and admire Elle for taking such a risk.

I would strongly advise any regular Elle reader to subscribe to the magazine if you havn't already done so, if not only for the bargain price but also to collect these fabulous and imaginative covers, which I can certainly say I look forward to the nice post man delivering each month...

Kylie Minogue cover, June 2010. 
http://www.designscene.net/2010/04/kylie-minogue-by-david-slijper-for-elle.html 

Chloe Sevigny cover, April 2010. (A comparison of the normal and the subscription cover)
betseyj.com/.../2010/03/FotoFlexer_Photo4.jpg

Is it all just a fantasy?

I am a self-confessed fashion magazine addict. There, I said it. I've confessed. I feel a sense of relief from sharing that with you all. I may be making a joke about my addiction but it is becoming a serious problem. My bedroom floor is slowly disappearing in a sea of various publications, along with my decreasing funds which, unfortunately means my 'cornflake diet' is becoming more and more of a habit. Ok, so I might be exaggerating a little but the world of fashion magazines is huge. Names like Vogue, Elle and Harper's Bazaar grace the tops of coffee tables all over the world. However, my interests lie in the reasoning behind people choosing to read them? Inspiration? Creativity? Fantasy? Or do they simply want a slice of the lifestyle that the particular magazine is trying to convey?

Why do I think people read fashion magazines? Aspiration towards an ideal life. Why else would I want to look at a tall, skinny girl wearing Prada's latest collection? There, I said it. What you all were thinking. Just because you don't live that lifestyle (which the majority of us don't) and the reality is you indulge in way too many pizzas and shop in Topshop, doesn't mean you wouldn't like to hop onto one of those of glossy pages, even if it was just for a day (or two)...

Prada 2010 advertising campaign. 
Now lets face it, who wouldn't want to be one these beautiful human beings?
www.yourstyletrend.com