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Fashion History

May 29, 2009 @ 10:23am

history of magazine publishing.jpgI'm doing a research paper on the history of publishing.

Specifically, I want to delve into the world of magazine publishing, if possible even as narrow as fashion magazines, but I'm having trouble finding enough information.

Is it a weird topic?

Does anyone know of any websites or books specifically dedicated to the subject or what might be the best way for me to go about my research?

Thanks so much for your help!

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writer syalston
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posted by guest

Jun 01, 2009 3:24PM

If this is a high school paper, I have no idea, but if you are doing a college paper you should do primary source research. The magazines themselves! You might also check out the news from Publisher's Weekly for the period you are interested in, although that will be book publishing focused.

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posted by guest

Jun 05, 2009 4:06PM

Agreed on reaching out to the magazines. Vogue and Harper's Bazaar might be an interesting focus; both have a lot of archival stuff kept by CN and Hearst. You can also research these titles through the biographies of their most legendary editors, like Diana Vreeland.

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posted by guest

Jun 05, 2009 8:37PM

You've bitten off quite a lot, more than
you will be able to chew. You must narrow the topic. I would ask your teacher or professor just how narrow to go.

Here are some wonderful publications that you may want to look for and explore:

Godey’s Lady’s Book (started 1830)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godey's_Lady's_Book


The Delineator (started 1873)
http://www.victorian-ebooks.com/delineator/index.php


Ladies’ Home Journal (started 1883)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladies'_Home_Journal


Vogue (started 1892)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vogue_(magazine)

Gazette du Bon Ton (started 1912)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Gazette_du_Bon_Ton

You may also wish to contact one or two professors at the Parsons School of Design, or at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York; you could also call the Costume Institute curators at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and see if they might help you narrow your focus and help you get some excellent, little-known sources.

Whatever it is,love your topic and you're sure to succeed.

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posted by guest

Jun 11, 2009 5:17PM

One aspect, if you're focusing on women's fashion magazines, is the art department. Look up Alexey Brodovitch, Lillian Bassman, Bea Feitler, Ruth Ansel, and Cipe Pineles. They are all amazing contributors to the industry. There are some beautiful books published on their work and include a lot of history on that time in publishing, which would provide peripheral info on the editorial departments.

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posted by guest

Jun 15, 2009 11:46AM

Hi, I wrote my Bachelor honors thesis on German Vopgue and did some chapters on the history of women's/fashion magazine. I could give you a bunch of titles, though most of them would be in German. But if you need specific infos, I couldf look them up for you (like when the first mags were founded in Europe, what they dealt with etc.). If that would help, write me an email talea_d@hotmail.com

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