Vogue has established its name as the “fashion bible,” as coined by The New York Times. Therefore, by this term, logically, all members of the public should resort to Vogue for outfit inspiration and fashion knowledge. So, why is no one seemingly picking up fashion magazines anymore?
There is a clear desire and deep yearning for fashion magazines. For example, the popularity of The Devil Wears Prada 2 showed that members of the public love fashion-based media, yet this demand is not demonstrated by fashion magazine sales. Can the public still relate to the iconic “I would buy Vogue because I felt it fed me more” line by Carrie Bradshaw? Does Vogue still feed to the same extent?
Perhaps, the increasing price for magazines has dismayed people from purchasing a copy, making Vogue more inaccessible. Yet, the rising demand for fashion trends has meant that the fashion magazine industry has expanded, compelling the desire for Vogue. A contradictory need for those who can’t access it, this has caused Vogue to become yet another byproduct of capitalist consumerism. It is now another way for large corporations to gain more affluence based on the insecurities of the working-class.
Fashion magazines pose as an easily understandable medium, but this may just be an adjusted form of capitalism rather than genuine advice. There has been a shift towards digital integration and personalised content by use of social media, and this adjustment has influenced the content of the magazines. Furthermore, subscriptions to access fashion magazines online have limited those who can view and engage with the media. Perhaps, this is why Vogue appears more densely populated by celebrities, despite covering celebrities since its founding in 1892.
The more exclusive target audience perpetuated by the high-end established name of Vogue calls to the expensive celebrity clientele, as exemplified by the iconic front cover of 40 different women including Oprah, Victoria Beckham, and Dua Lipa. But, why does Vogue appear to cover more celebrities? The coverage of celebrities means that Vogue is exposed as more educated, and popularises the notion of it as a “fashion bible,” increasing the credibility. Fashion magazines are still prominent and continue to be a staple of society; for example, check out Edinburgh’s First Student-Led magazine Lùth. I believe that Vogue still continues to feed the fashion industry as an integral part of inspiration and awareness, yet the exclusive clientele has adjusted over the years; why don’t you go pick up a fashion magazine?
