Monday, May 19, 2008

Random Thoughts - Always in Vogue

Over the span of three years or so, I’ve collected tons of magazines and, like many people, Vogue is one of my absolute favourites.

The editorial spreads are always stunning and creative and the articles are compelling. However, if there's one thing you can never miss on a Vogue, it's the cover.

Even before the issues hit the newsstands, people are often anxious to see who the next cover star is going to be, whether it be a celebrity or a supermodel.

For the month of June, Sarah Jessica Parker and Agyness Deyn grace the covers of the US Vogue and the British Vogue, respectively.



photos courtesy http://whenyourebored.wordpress.com and vogue.co.uk


While photographs of beautiful people on the cover is what we've become accustomed to, it hasn't always been this way.

Vogue magazine was founded in 1892 by Arthur Baldwin Turnure and began its days as a weekly social journal for the high society crowd; fashion was not the original focus.

It was not until 1909 when Conde Nast bought the magazine that things began to change. Within a few years, he transformed Vogue into a high-end women's fashion magazine. He hired some of the best illustrators to create beautiful, captivating covers for the magazine to suit the times.


Here are some of the early Vogue covers that I found stunning.








photos courtesy www.tylerlee.net


Which do you prefer, the photographs or the illustrations? I appreciate them both as they bring completely different aesthetics to the cover but while the illustrations are gorgeous, I think the photographs are more suited to our time.



To see more vintage Vogue covers, click here.

To read an article on the June US Vogue photo shoot and also see behind-the-scenes footage, click here.

To get a sneak peek at the contents of the June British Vogue, click here.


20 comments:

Ashley said...

I love your spread of vintage Vogue covers as I am such a fan myself. Funny thing, I actually picked up the SJP Vogue today! Keep up the great blogging!!

Hunters Glory said...

love the vogue collection!

Ariel said...

The illustrations! They're so beautiful. Actually, I just wish Vogue and other magazines focused on one great image for the cover and then on the inside (the first page you see, all the contents, etc.

Sharon S said...

I agree photography is a sign of the times, but illustration is just as stunning-it would be nice to see the odd modern cover done this way!

aizat.cinta.goddess said...

love the photogrph..agyness is super goddess!!she is perfect!!

Imelda Matt - The Despotic Queen of Shoes said...

I'm a huge fan of the Illustrations

Fashion Addict said...

great post about the history of Vogue and it's covers!!! I didn't know that the covers were illustrations before, nor did I know that Vogue was that old!

BTW, I wanted to thank you for tagging me the other day, but I have to apologize because I don't do tag posts on my blog. Please forgive me!

Cate said...

i love the vogue covers too, but i think vogue is really too big, i mean, it has more pages than some books and half of them are ads, even though the ads are stunning sometimes too! i only buy vogue when there is one of my favourite celebrities on the cover, otherwise my favourite magazine is glamour.

Times of Glory said...

Hello, I came across your site and find many lovely posts. For me, the editorial of Vogue is always stunning. Compared to some magazines, they are the perfect mixture of the art and people. Thank you for such a comprehensive post on Vogue covers!

thesil said...

I prefer the photos but once in a while they could catch us with some marvelous illustrations

geri hirsch said...

i definitely appreciate them both and agree that photographs are more suite for our time.

Daiana said...

hey, nice post! Sure I've added your blog in my blogroll. Feel free to do the same with mine. Thanks!

Lil Midget said...

Amazing. I don't know which to choose...I think using models posing in scenes like those in the older covers. That'll be awesome :)

Danz said...

Thanks for all your comments :) I'm glad you all love the illustrations as much as I do.

I agree that it would be interesting to do a few of modern covers with illustrations once in a while.

Actually I think a recreation of these vintage covers using photography would make a fantastic editorial spread.

fashionaddict - that's alright :) It's your blog so your choice!

cate - the fact that Vogue is so big is one of the reasons I love it so much. I always dread when I've finished reading a magazine and Vogue always lasts a little longer ;)

Couture Carrie said...

The archival cover photos are fanTAStic! Thanks :)

http://couturecarrie.blogspot.com/

Elizabeth said...

I love those old illustrations. Condé Nast sells reprints of them online.

The Fancier said...

I love these vintage Vogue covers that you posted!

mommytherobot.blogspot.com said...

i love the old vogue covers!!! i want them! where did you find them?????

Eyeliah said...

Lovely covers!

J.M. Powell said...

awww, aggie's got those givenchy's that i'm in love with!