The Brief History of Vogue

Called “high fashion’s bible”. Well-known for its impact on fashion, art and pop culture. Still craved in the printed version. Vogue is undoubtedly a legend and a brand itself, known by both the members of the fashion industry and people who are not keen on the latest trends. The magazine has a history which included constant breakthroughs, changes and iconic moments.

The first issue of Vogue was published by Arthur Baldwin Turnure in 1892 for a specific audience – New York’s elite. It concerned the situation on social affairs, leisure activities, traditions, books, music and fashion. The magazine changed in 1909 as it was bought by Condé Nast Publications. It became a magazine specifically for women, concerning beauty and fashion only. The first international edition, the British one, was published in 1916, while the second one was published in 1920 in France.

During the first decades of existence, fashion illustrations were placed on Vogue’s cover. The breakthrough happened in 1932 as the June issue had a colour photography on its cover. It depicted a woman in a swimsuit and a cap, holding a beach ball. During the 1930s, the number of front pages with the illustrations was gradually reduced and substituted for photo covers.

Between 1952 and 1962, Jessica Daves was editor-in-chief. She transformed the magazine by introducing articles concerning art and literature. Her main goal was to educate the readers and improve their taste concerning fashion. Her successor was Diana Vreeland who wanted society to treat fashion more seriously. It is said that she brought extravagance and luxury to the magazine. Moreover, she made Vogue more appealing to youth. In 1971, Grace Mirabella became the new editor-in-chief. She changed the magazine to monthly in 1973 as it had been published 20 times a year for the previous 25 years. Her target audience were young, working women of success as the 1970s were connected with liberation of women. She introduced interviews and health articles to Vogue and published first cover with an African American model.

The present era of Vogue is defined by Anna Wintour who has been editor-in-chief since 1988. Her first November cover was an enormous surprise for the fashion industry as a model on the cover wore both a high fashion Christian Lacroix jacket with gemstone cross and jeans. This outfit was the beginning of Wintour’s revolution in Vogue. She wanted fashion to be available to a wide audience. She was the first one to regularly place Hollywood actresses on the cover which later became popular in international editions of the magazine. Wintour also published Teen Vogue which has been present since 2003 and Men’s Vogue (between 2005 and 2008).

The magazine has nearly 30 international editions and recently underwent a huge revolution. The digital version has become popular which is connected with the presence of social media. The magazine constantly changes and it is probably a matter of time until a new breakthrough will occur.

Bibliography:

• https://glamobserver.com/the-history-of-vogue/
• https://www.britannica.com/topic/Vogue-American-magazine

Last September at Hudson’s Bay – episode 2

My breath freezes in the middle of a lonely exhale. I hesitate for a minute before directing my reluctant steps to the front door. In moments like this I curse profoundly not having installed a peephole nor a chain lock. It’s all my husband’s fault, it’s all his fault. My husband. Am I even allowed to refer to him like this anymore? He doesn’t feel mine – neither in terms of belonging nor in terms of connection. He feels so distant, so minuscule, as if he and all the world around me sucked itself into a dark hole in the bold act of defying existence. I take the uncalculated risk and open the door. A car’s headlights strike my vision, making the images around me buzz and blurr. The first thing that enters my consciousness after this distracting interlude is a serene face in front of me. A man. Middle aged, tired, slept for five hours the night before at best. He looks at me with sheer concern and a hint of something resembling despair. I open my wary eyes the widest I can, giving him a signal to speak. He opens his mouth and from the movement of his lips I read:

“Mrs. Willow Hale?”

Then it hits me all at once. The car with blinding headlights facing my front porch. The concern on his face. The navy blue of his uniform. The deafening wail of sirens. Good news never comes with shrill sounds and silent expressions. 

“It’s me. What happened?” 

My voice comes out way too emotionless and calm then I would like it to be. All the walls that broke down inside the house arose again, as if poison ivy embracing my identity. 

“Are you the wife of Mr Adam Hale?”

“I am. Could you tell me what happened?”

I’m impatient despite knowing too well what his next words will be. I just want them to be said, completed in the form of an unarguable declaration. Life is too predictable to be veiled in understatements.

“Your husband’s car was found by the riverbank a couple of hours ago, crushed and rolled over. Most likely due to going into a skid and losing track. He was transported to hospital as soon as possible. His condition is serious but stable. Sorry for the delay in getting through to you, but he didn’t have an emergency contact, so it took us a while.”

I gather all the pieces of information reaching me from the outside, organising them in my conscience. Accident. Rolling over. River. Lost track. Hospital. Serious. Stable. Delay. No emergency contact.

It doesn’t make any sense. 

It happens to thousands, maybe even millions of people everywhere in the world. It happens on the news. Arguments happen, divorces happen, accidents happen. Why do I shatter so much when faced with such a predictable scenario? Why doesn’t it phase me at all? Why do I feel so much yet feel so little?  I stare at the policeman’s face, fake concern and surprise spoiling my expression. I feel millions of daggers sinking into my chest and splitting it open with blunt, calming pain. Everywhere in the world seems so far from me now.