German Fashion Magazine Goes Model-Less

Flipping through a favorite fashion magazine has long been a beloved pastime of fashion mavens around the world, and cozying up with the latest collections of clothes, celebrities, shopping leads, and fashion-related editorials will likely be a hobby for scores of people for many years to come. But the way in which fashion and beauty are presented in magazines may be in for quite a change. Recently, the lofty world in which such publications reside has been turned on its side somewhat by accusations that an overabundance of images of unhealthily thin, airbrushed, and otherwise altered women is having a negative effect on the mental health and well-being of the population at large, and among young women and girls in particular. The short version? Too many picture-perfect models are making readers feel bad about themselves.
With the advancement and diversification of media, especially in the fashion world, critics wonder whether the adherence to unrealistic looks has gone beyond the artistic and entered into the realm of the insane. As a result, several seemingly shocking suggestions and initiatives have been announced, all in an attempt to take the therapy bill out of an afternoon fashion mag read.
The popular magazine Elle has made a valiant effort in this direction by recently publishing an issue without makeup or digital alterations, a bold move for a mag with a large and diverse readership. While the issue was highly praised among advocates of natural beauty and many readers chimed in on their support, the prompt return to the status-quo of airbrushing and whisper-thin waists makes the issue look like more of a concession than a cause for feeling good.
In what has been characterized as a somewhat more radical move, a piece of French legislation has recently been produced that, if made into a law, would require warning text to be included with altered images to inform readers about the “surreality” of the pictures, akin to the EU's proliferation of warning labels on packages of cigarettes. Taking a bit of extra initiative, a successful German fashion magazine has recently announced plans to stop publishing pictures of models altogether; while purchased advertisements may still feature idealized figures and the forgiving nuances of Photoshop, its covers and features will include friends, family members, and those working as its employees, a decision which has drawn ample amounts of praise and incredulity alike.
Whether the German mag Brigitte manages to change the way that women think about fashion magazines, it is clear that the industry will experience a push towards better representation of the female figure as found in nature. Of course, these initiatives may also simply give rise to a divide between two very different types of fashion magazines; one which is progressive, and the other, stuck in the past. Or would it be a divide between the amateur, pop culture fashion crowd and the “real,” original camp? We're content to stick to highlighting the beauty of our costume jewellery on its own merits, knowing the pieces will complement anyone on which they're worn.

Lula Magazine Brings Feminine Fashion Dreams to Paper

Pick up a fashion magazine from your favorite stand these days, and you're likely to find page after page of advertisement, a few features on a given designer or event, and a handful of pages depicting new collections or assorted accessories. While sitting back with a favorite drink and a perusal through a fashion magazine has been a time-honored tradition among women young and old for countless years, many readers have doubtless grown tired of the need to bypass ads and “filler” content to get to the gist of the attraction –the visual and editorial dream of beautiful clothes and great design. Recently, a fashion magazine was created by two professionals who might seem unlikely magazine launchers. A photographer and a stylist, both with ample experience in the fashion industry, have sought to bring a magazine of a different nature to fashion fans, and the international scene has responded with a resounding welcome.
Lula, as the new magazine has been christened, is an adventure in looks and words, keeping advertising minimal in an effort to bring the fantasy of couture clothing closer to the reading experience. Filled with dreamy gowns and outfits, inventive hair and makeup, and settings that highlight the pieces without being boring, the pages are thick and glossy and full of life, a dream come true for those who tend to find themselves dawdling over the photographs of other, more traditional, mags. But it's not just the pictures that have set Lula apart from its competition –if competition can really be considered present for this pioneering publication. It's the context in which the pictures are placed that has drawn an international readership.
The editorial angle, which is frequently uplifted with guest editors such as easy-to-idolize Kirsten Dunst and Keira Knightley, is all about creating contextual stories for the clothing, helping to weave the dream that so many girls and women experience when thinking about fashion. Inviting readers to settle in and truly explore the frontiers of the fashion world, the stories are enhanced by the occasional interview, which is far more personal and full of depth than what might be expected from other pieces of press.
The initial success of Lula has been well-documented, with scores of fans around the world showing through their continuous readership and glowing reviews that they're ready for fashion magazines that aren't completely focused on making sales or pushing brands. The magazine's creators have recently hinted at expanding the publication to Japan, though they note that present economic difficulties may prove a big part of decisions to bring Lula to a wider audience.
Of course, it may still be quite fun to spend a languid Saturday afternoon rummaging through the pages of a classic fashion magazine, eying over the collections of famous designers and sniffing the occasional perfume sample, but for those who have been lusting after something with a bit more soul, Lula may prove to be just the thing.

All Hail the September Fashion Mag Issues

To the truly committed, each edition of a favorite fashion magazine has its special allure, calling forth from the newsstands, beckoning buyers to browse through the glossy pages and dream up new directions in their own personal design. But for most of the world, the season that really matters is fall, and the issue that exemplifies autumn is the one produced, published, and proffered in September. In fact, the special edition has enjoyed enough generation to be the star of an upcoming documentary of the same name, which follows Anna Wintour and her team through the production of Vogue. What's so special about the September issue? The elements are practically endless.
One of the most oft-cited reasons why September issues of fashion magazines carry so much weight is that readers are typically instilled with a desire to buy their items for the year as the leaves begin to turn. Possibly stemming from the days when the coming fall meant a return to school and the need for a new, well-fitting wardrobe, this basic instinct drives scores of fashion lovers to the stores come Autumn, and designers are intent on putting perfectly prepared visions in their heads before they break out the bucks.
The sheer differences between the summer and fall fashion wardrobes may also be at least partially responsible for the gravity of the September issue. While browsing for a swimsuit while already in a swimsuit, or preparing to move from a tank dress to an all-out sun dress may be a bit anti-climatic, imagining the look and feel of a thick sweater or heavy coat while at the beach can be especially enticing. Rather than simply fading into a slightly different design or structure, the shift from summer to fall presents ample opportunities for the imagination to wander –and to be captivated by well-presented ideas.
Those who've already begun to dig into this year's crop of fall fashion bibles may have noticed that the load is a little lighter than is normally to be expected. As a growing number of advertisers spend less funds on major campaigns, either ruling out the coveted ad spots in September editions or seriously paring down on their extent, most fashion magazines to hit the stands this fall will be a little easier to carry home.
But while the thickness of these fall mainstays may diminish a little as the economic crisis grips the fashion world, there's no sign that they'll be going away altogether any time soon. With scores of fashion-forward men and women pouncing on the shelves to get a glimpse of the season's best offerings, the charm and attraction of the September issue is still formidably strong. If you haven't thumbed your way through a fashion magazine of choice this month, pull up a chair –or a beach towel-- and feast your eyes on what's new for fall this year. We'll gladly take your reports on all the costume jewellery goodies you can find!