Vogue

A worldwide fashion and lifestyle magazine

Summary

For a hundred and eighteen years Vogue has been America’s cultural barometer, putting fashion in the context of the larger world- how we dress, live and socialise; what we eat, listen to and watch. From its beginnings till the present date, three central principles have set Vogue apart: a commitment to visual genius, investment in storytelling that puts women at the center of the culture and a selective, optimistic editorial eye.

History

The first issue of Vogue saw the light in 1892 when it was launched by Arthur Baldwin Turnure as a weekly newspaper based in New York City. The first issue was published with a cover price of 10 cents. Since its inception the magazine intended to cover New York’s social set, their etiquette.. their leisure activities.. their social gatherings.. the places they frequented.. the clothing they wore … and everyone who wanted to look like them and enter their exclusive circle. It also reviewed books, plays, and music.

Vogue’s first editor was Josephine Redding, who served from 1892 until 1900 and is credited with naming the publication. Condé Montrose Nast- the founder of Condé Nast Publications- bought Vogue in 1909. The board changed it to a women’s magazine and started Vogue editions overseas in the 1910s. Its price was also raised. The magazine’s number of publications and profit increased under Conde Nast’s management. In 1916, when the First World War made Vogue deliveries to the Old World impossible, printing started in England. This decision proved to be successful and 1920 witnessed the first issue of French Vogue.

In 1932 American Vogue placed a colour photograph on its cover. Since that time the world’s leading photographers – Irwin Penn, Guy Burden, Richard Avedon, Norman Parkinson, Helmut Newton and Peter Lindberg – became Vogue contributors. The magazine’s number of subscriptions surged during the Great Depression, and again during World War II. In July 1932, American Vogue placed its first color photograph on the cover of the magazine. In the Fifties, the decade known as the magazine’s powerful years and Jessica Daves became editor-in-chief. While fashion coverage remained a priority, Daves also elevated the written content of American Vogue, particularly championing the arts and literature.

That era of Vogue came to an end in 1962 when Diana Vreeland joined the magazine first as associate editor, and then, following Daves’s departure in December 1962, as editor-in-chief. The magazine began to appeal to the youth by focusing on contemporary fashion and editorials. Vogue also continued making household names out of models- a practice that continued with Suzy Parker, Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton, Lauren Hutton, Veruschka, Marisa Berenson, Penelope Tree and several others.

In 1973 Vogue became a monthly publication. Under editor-in-chief Grace Mirabella, the magazine underwent extensive editorial and stylistic changes in response to changes of its target audience. She was reportedly selected to make the magazine appeal to the working, liberated woman of the Seventies and the magazine changed in terms of interviews, arts coverage and editorials.

In the Sixties American Vogue under the leadership of Diana Vriland had become the symbol of a new era – more creative, emancipated and sexy. Another important period in American Vogue history began in 1988 when Anna Wintourbecame its Chief Editor. Her talent, will and efficiency reflected in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ movie had finally turned Vogue did not just reflect fashion trends but effectively shaped them.

As of today, there are more than 22 editions of Vogue: American, Australian, Brazilian, British, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Taiwanese, Chinese, and Korean, among them. Teen Vogue was launched in 2003.

Vision

Vogue envisions narrating the the story of women vis-a-vis fashion, beauty and culture. The publication defines style on multiple platforms- in print and digital editions and through its award-winning website, video content, social media channels and events. The arbitrator of new trends, Vogue also features the top fashion and beauty advertisers.

Mission Statement

The mission of vogue is not just to report fashion trends but to effectively shape them.

Awards and recognition

Key People

Anna Wintour (Chief Content Officer and Global Editorial Director of Vogue)
Susan Plagemann (Chief Business Officer, Condé Nast’s The Style Division)
Edward Enninful (European Editorial Director)
Hamish Bowles (Editor-in-Chief and Global Editor-at-Large)
Tiffany Godoy (Head of Editorial Content – Japan)
Margaret Zhang (Editor-in-Chief – China)
Kerstin Weng (Head of Editorial Content – Germany)
Eugenie Trochu (Head of Editorial Content – France)
Leslie Sun (APAC Editorial Director – Taiwan, India, Japan)
Francesca Ragazzi (Head of editorial content – Italy)
Rochelle Pinto (Head of editorial content)

References