Loving fashion and loving Vogue don’t necessarily go hand in hand. It’s silly to think that fashion-lovers have to automatically be programmed to love Vogue or even think that it is THE fashion bible when the fashion magazine landscape is so vast, varied and far more rich and complex. However, I must say that I’ve been prisoner to buying British Vogue every month since…. 2002(?)… not because I think it’s the best, not even because I think it’s even in the top ten… just because. This irks me seeing as I’m not really practising what I preach and it irks my boyfriend because I guff and huff when I read it and he says ‘Why buy it then?’
In recent months, it has dawned on me that British Vogue has gotten particularly dull and actually, its rival Elle has been packing quite a punch. I am only speaking British versions here so it may not be applicable to your country though I hear US Elle is also getting quite awesome in recent months too. It’s an unspoken thing that the V is supposed to be better than the E but figures don’t lie as I believe E sells more copies than V. Oh well, I’m with the masses because in one supposedly-flimsy August issue of Elle, things caught the eye more, juiced up the inspiration and got me looking forward to next season. It’s a simple selfish matter of things being more to my taste and just being a bit ‘edgier’…
Gareth Pugh’s A/W08 shoes courtesy of Nicholas Kirkwood – The term ‘price on request’ sounds a little scary but I’m still gonna give Mr Kirkwood a call… // Christopher Kane wool and metal gloves/armwarmers – I didn’t notice these in the show as the pailettes diverted my attention…
Basia Zarzycka lace mask – Black lace on the face as opposed to the black lace dresses which we will be inundated with…me like…
Then some offbeat legwear such as these silk and elastic trousers by Osman Yousefzada. Didn’t even realise he did legging-like garments…
…and these Clare Tough loopy zip-embellished wool leggings. Never got to see Clare Tough’s AW08 collection so I’m going to be harrassing the PR now on Monday.
It’s not a ‘Oh, Elle’s the best’ gush but just a nod from me that yes, Elle has been changing and the direction seems to be good. I also loved this ‘Shaping the Future’ editorial shot by Nagi Sakai and styled by Sasa Thomann. A useful shape/texture guide to next season, all of which I’m loving.
Hi Susie
Hope all is good. I must admit i only buy vogue because i love lucinda chambers styling, but the rest of the magazine never really interests me that much. It is starting to look very dated i feel. Seems like Elle is really pushing the edge with the editorials and selecting some really strong, less obvious pieces. All great to see!
guy @ fashion156.com
Vogue does seem to be mainly about the ads these days, unfortunately.
That picture of the mask is freaking me out slightly.
Susie…I absolutely couldn’t agree with you more. I posted last month about Vogue, and i believe the title was “wasn’t Vogue really dull” or something along those lines…I really totally agree. Elle is so much better than Vogue nowadays…and yet iv still bought Vogue religiously, like you, for YEARS! Why is this? Are we afraid we’re going to miss something??
Unfortunately true, Vogue is a magazine I buy every month and then swear I’ll never buy again because it just annoys me every single time.
I think the editor thinks that every woman is like her and really just wants a Sensible tie front cardigan from M&S an a nice skirt and comfortable shoes and can’t be bothered with this fashion malarkey at all really.
Imagine as an editor running an article on your own wardrobe and not even noticing the utter dullness of it all before sending it off to print…not to mention her talk of her own beauty in the same article..
It is a pity really, especially when you pick up any International Vogue and see how even they support British designers, that so little space and coverage is given to the wide range of talent in this country by British Vogue.
In the 70’s and 80’s under Beatrix Miller, Anna Wintour and Liz Tilberis it was a magazine that had something to really say to Women, not just about Dresses but also about living life with Brains and with their own Style, now unfortunately it seems to be more about utter trivia and the odd pretty frock..
That article by Alexandra Schulman was truly shocking! I’m glad someone else said so.
I try to find British Elle every month, so I’d better find August, OR ELSE.
Ah I totally agree with you too!
I’ve always preferred Elle, because its so much more accessible than Vogue is. But I feel like I have to buy it just incase its the month I might miss out on something really good, usually I havent missed out on much at all though.
I can’t remember the last time I bought Vogue. It’s rammed so far up it’s own arse it’s forgotten that fashion is also meant to be fun.
I’ve always preferred Elle since I feel it offers a more balanced view of fashion and the people who buy it. I’m not a label whore – at full price, half price or sample sale price – and for me Elle offers up fashion for those who like touting labels, as well as those who are confident enough to wear ‘obvious’ high street.
anyone who brings me gothic fabulousness merits an IN to my heart. thank you for posting these!!!
Elle has always seemed more avant garde than Vogue, at least the UK versions.
looks very yummy. i look forward to fall.
d: Oh my lord that was so dull…. jeez…. what was going on there….
Oh, and don’t get me started on the constant high-flying/aristocratic features they keep running…this month, they ran a feature on a Square Mile finance whizz woman… *snore*…
I haven’t a clue what it is that keeps me buying it…as FlatBroke said, do we think we’re gonna miss something???
Guy has pointed one plus point…. Lucinda Chambers’ styling is pretty fantastic…not to mention they also run a lot of Tim Walker eds….
Maybe it’s my Elle/Vogue magazine spin bookshelf pattern which I’ve built up for years which I’m not wanting to break up…
DJM: Yes, that’s another thing…Elle is far more high-street savvy too…. picking the best of what it has to offer….when Vogue does to high street, for some reason, it seems a little ‘off’….
Gah….why do I bloody buy it?!?
I agree with you on V losing it’s worth, when I first started reading it, it was worth the ¬£4 or plus I had to save to spend on it, full of beautifully shot fashion stories, educated articles.
Sadly like you, I gave up buying it when they started doing un-accessible fashion stories of things I wouldn’t wear EVER month in and month out. Also the articles became careful repeats of last months articles. I have even stopped buying it for the catwalk report specials.
For a while I was reading Harpers or Marie Claire ( for the cute 100 little fashion idea snap shot thing ) ….but perhaps I’ll give Elle a shot !
I love Elle UK! It’s the only magazine I always buy. It has become really, really good in the last year or so.
I’ve read Elle for years, and I always heard people harping on about how Vogue is the ‘fashion bible’ but I’ve always found Elle much more vivid and inspirational, and only buy the occasional copy of Vogue. The photoshoots are far more inventive, the writing less pretentious, and the editting in general just seems to have more life behind it.
Oh don’t get me started about Vogue. It’s getting so predictable. I wish they would do someting completely different for a change, something progeressive or radical. The British Elle looks great, I might have to pay more attention to it. Oh, if only they would only upgrade the Dutch Elle too, then I’ll be satisfied.
at least you dont have to not eat for a week to afford british elle or vogue!
when im overseas i always get us and uk elle (im australian) but i cant afford the habit when im at home because the imports are so expensive… oh poor students life.
Yes!! Elle is so much better thank Vogue. i think Vogue is more safe and slightly Americanized but Elle seems more adventurous and therefore much more British and accessible. And its got even better recently.
I was out yesterday getting some mags and I picked up Elle, I then went to pick up Vogue but I stopped and remembered that I never read it.
It feels very liberating I don’t feel like I’m missing out as Elle was such a pleasure to read.
I agree wholeheartedly. I am trying to wean myself off Vogue but I still buy it and I still tut, huff and sign my way through it. Every now and again there is a little gem in there but most of the time- no. Elle (both British and US) has come on in leaps and bounds and actually excites me. Its like walking into a candy store and seeing jars and jars of your favourite sweets.Elle isn’t the BEST fash mag out there but among the mainstream titles it certainly is shining brightly.
love the wool leggings and the photoshoot with the lace over the eyes very dramatic!
I like Vogue the best. Have you ever tried Spanish Vogue? I can only read a little Spanish but I like both the styles and the topics covered in the articles.
It’s great that Elle has stepped up its game since this issue: http://rosiepop.typepad.com/rosiepop/2008/04/elle-bor-ing.html
I hope they keep it up.
I’ve only actually bought Vogue once. It consisted of a pile of adverts, a few articles talking up their own arses, and some fairly uninspired photo shoots. There was some useful stuff in their, but not ¬£4 worth.
Same goes for the US!! Looking at US Vogue editorials isn’t as fun as it used to be, they present the looks styled straight from the runway against a plain background of white, brown, or gray, with the usual models jumping and doing weird poses. I’ve not always been an avid reader of US Elle, but I do enjoy reading it now, it’s improving. Their editorials are getting edgier and overall content/design looks better. Have you seen the Kate Lanphear editorial from the most recent Elle US (with Mary Kate on the cover)? I was pretty impressed with that!!
i never realised the british vogue was that bad. but then again, i’ve never really flipped through it…
just wanted to say that i agree with you on he term ‘price on request’. i always imagine an item might just be worth a gajillion dollars!
I agree. I always by Elle and spend ages flicking through it. I rarely buy Vogue any more
I’m in the Elle camp too. I’m in the US and I haven’t purchased Vogue regularly in over 3 years. If the editorial is intriguing then I buy it. But being in the US, it’s rare.
I once posted that I like Elle better than Vogue on fashionspot.com and people jeered!
i love aussie vogue even though they do the occasional dud of an issue. we don’t even have elle! vogue is pretty much the only BIG glossies…
I am glad it isn’t just me that thinks Vogue is getting a little dull lately, I used to read it all the time, but now when I buy it I just flick through and don’t really go back to it. I think it has lost that certain something it used to have. I have been reading Elle for about 2 years now and I must say it is far superior and edgier, and much more interesting to read. I think a lot people dismiss Elle just because it isn’t Vogue but I would rather read and buy Elle anyday.
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