There are too many stories about socialites — or, at any rate, too few such stories that sufficiently demonstrate why we should care about these creatures. What once felt like a jolly skip through Bergdorf now feels like an intravenous feed. To read Vogue in recent years is to wonder about the peculiar fascination for the “villa in Tuscany” story. Ditto staff-member accounts of spa treatments and haircuts. - From Cathy Horyn’s “What’s Wrong with Vogue,” in the New York Times.
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posted by astralgirl02
Jan 01, 2009 5:09PM
A-men, Cathy... thank you for speaking the truth. Vogue is as stale as supermarket bagels... by positioning the magazine as a shopping guide for bored socialites, they've taken all of the fun out of fashion.
No wonder that the Russian, French, and *gasp* the British counterparts to Vogue are much more fresh, and considered to be the TRUE arbiters of contemporary fashion/style.
Oh well, hopefully Anna will be dusting off her resume soon...
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posted by disneyrollergirl
Jan 01, 2009 6:08PM
I think it would be nice to see some newer, more innovative photographers. I'm also SO bored of those jumpy studio (David Sims?) shoots they do EVERY month. Yawn! I actually like their features - the health articles are usually great and all the smaller fashion features are always informative. Even the elaborate country house features are fabulous although I agree, once you've seen one you've seen 'em all. Really not interested in socialites at all.
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posted by guest
Jan 02, 2009 1:46AM
Swan photo: http://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/models/nadja_auermann/showphoto/21579
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posted by guest
Jan 02, 2009 5:31AM
british vogue isn't all that wonderful either...or elle...theres a few articles on interesting designers/culture that make you willing to read and the editorials are generally good. However there are FAR too many articles on girls who only seem to party and wear the same clothes as all other girls their age. How can these people have anything interesting to say? And the articles are so fawning, it gets quite sickening. The articles on "self improvement" (eg diets, non surgical procedures, surgery) manage to be disturbing and dull. Decembers Fantasy issue with photography by Tim Walker kept me buying UK Vogue, but every month it gets more like reading a weekly.
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posted by guest
Jan 02, 2009 9:39AM
I think the Newton/Auermann 'swan' photo was fairly 'subversive' for its time and about as subversive as American Vogue ever got (unless someone has any evidence to the contrary).
American Vogue has always seemed to take the 'safer' approach to fashion.To me, fashion isn't about safety. That's why I find Paris Vogue,FQ and V more interesting to read. But then again, I don't know that the other publications have the same responsibility to advertisers that American Vogue seems to have.
I agree with Cathy that the endless stream of socialites and celebs make one issue of Vogue fade into the next. I also find that feature articles are tired rehash from other publications or their own archives.
I did buy the January issue (couldn't bring myself to do December with Jennifer Aniston)and thought it was OK but safe....again.
I can't say that when I'm looking for inspiring fashion, that I think American Vogue.
If Anna Wintour is smart, she'll take Cathy Horyn's article seriously. It boldly states what many Vogue readers are really thinking.
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posted by fashionfix
Jan 02, 2009 4:11PM
vogue has become boring. while there have been some amazing and relevant features (michelle obama, etc.) i'm so OVER the whole socialite fixation.
who cares?!
enough with tinsley, samantha boardman and that lauren chick who married that south american billionaire. it's sad enough that i even know who these people are and i put the blame squarely on american vogue. it's insulting to think that this is what us readers care about. please stop. unless one of these socialites wins a nobel or pulitzer or something.
oh, and another thing. please stop putting the same people/actresses on the cover over and over again. keira knightly needs to be ban from vogue entirely.
i'm glad i fluent in french, so i can read Paris Vogue.
/end rant.
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posted by guccigirl77
Jan 03, 2009 4:02PM
i used to be obbsessed with vogue..but they r so going down hill and i totally agree
posted by hannah
Jan 01, 2009 4:39PM
Good for her for bringing it up--it's true, Vogue needs some renovations and the removal of those BORING socialite articles. Something about it just seems so stale....