2. Vogue
Circulation: 1,267,754
Readers-per-Copy: 9,4 (estimated)
Readership: 11,909,000 – March 2016
Origin: USA
Vogue ranks 2nd in our list of the most popular fashion magazines in the world. Created in 1892, it was originally a weekly publishing aimed at New York’s high society and usually featured socialite Gibson Girls on the cover. Even though it was mainly fashion-oriented, it was not its only subject, but by the beginning of the twentieth century, that would change.
In 1905 the publication was bought by Condé Nast and began to focus almost completely on women’s fashion. Even though WWI took a toll on the magazine’s sales, it soon became an international publication. Very well received in the UK and France, it switched to semi-monthly issues instead of weekly. Renowned authors were featured, and famous artists were hired to design the covers; however, by the ’30s color photography was introduced. The magazine became rapidly successful, and advertising came pouring in.
When the ’60s arrived, “the magazine began to appeal to the youth of the sexual revolution by focusing more on contemporary fashion and editorial features that openly discussed sexuality”. Although it was interesting to see a publication going in a different direction, this began to hyper-sexualize the idea of what a woman should look like. By the ’70s it became a monthly publication due to the changes in lifestyle and routine.
In 1988 Anna Wintour -or as Mugatu calls her in Zoolander 2, “The White Witch of Narnia”- took over, and remains head of the magazine to this day. Wintour took it upon herself to widen the audience by “making it younger and more approachable,” and turned an eye towards a more accessible aspect of fashion, while still maintaining its status elegance-wise. Anna’s approach had the desired effect, and Vogue’s popularity went through the roof. Who knows, maybe she IS a witch.
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