the life and death of the fashion magazine

PODCAST
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PRODUCTION
written by Mina Le & Sophie Carter
Edited by Charlee Reiff
SOURCES
Benhamou, Reed. “Fashion in the ‘Mercure’: From Human Foible to Female Failing.” Eighteenth-Century Studies 31, no. 1 (1997): 27-43. www.jstor.org/stable/30053643.
Breward, Christopher. “Femininity and Consumption: The Problem of the Late Nineteenth-Century Fashion Journal.” Journal of Design History 7, no. 2 (1994): 71-89. www.jstor.org/stable/1316078.
SCHULMAN, VANESSA MEIKLE. “‘Making the Magazine’: Visuality, Managerial Capitalism, and the Mass Production of Periodicals, 1865-1890.” American Periodicals 22, no. 1 (2012): 1-28. www.jstor.org/stable/23461237.
abrahamson.medill.northwester...
wwd.com/business-news/media/w...
www.census.gov/library/storie...
slate.com/human-interest/2018...
money.yahoo.com/monthly-fashi...
textiles.ncsu.edu/news/2019/0...
cmmodels.com/fashion-magazine...
daily.jstor.org/birth-fashion...
www.bustletextiles.com/post/g...
tirocchi.stg.brown.edu/514/sto...
www.magazines.com/history-of-...
www.nytimes.com/2022/05/10/bo...
www.thenation.com/article/cul...
www.nytimes.com/2022/05/10/bo...
www.dissentmagazine.org/artic...
www.theguardian.com/fashion/2...
www.theguardian.com/fashion/2...
www.washingtonpost.com/lifest...
www.axios.com/2023/02/07/prin...
www.cbsnews.com/news/the-deat...
coveteur.com/print-renaissance
0:00 - intro
4:00 - rise of the fashion magazine
13:10 - the magazine's heyday
20:50 - the magazine's demise
31:46 - conclusion

[@pralerquandobateraquelasaudade]

did you see that tiktok video too? the girl saying her childhood dream was to become a writer for a fashion magazine, like in 13 going to 30, and when she was old enough to be one, physical fashion magazines didn't exist anymore

[@CrisOnTheInternet]

That's sad, any 90's kid can relate, we had magazines, CD's and many things that were replaced digitally.

[@kokolol122]

That's actually so so sad, I used to read a lot of magazines and yes, internet is cool and is immediate, ok, but- magazines still hold a dear place in my heart and i miss them so much

[@paulinevo9784]

In contrast to the other two comments I don’t find it sad at all. The meaning and possibilities of what a fashion writer does has become so much more fluid and diverse. Modern times have new challenges for sure, but i strongly believe that the purpose is much more important than the medium that conveys it.

[@Iquey]

​@@paulinevo9784 I sort of agree. I love the no electricity requirement of magazine and print media, but at least now we can become fashion VR animators???

[@sophiesong8937]

When I was a child, I dreamed of living in a townhouse near the city, with deck chairs and a white fence. Pots of cactus on the balcony. By the time I became an adult, I was priced out of the housing market entirely.

[@maurinet2291]

I have a 17 & 19 yo, and the old fashion magazine editor aspiration seems to have morphed into streamers, influencers...or KZbinrs. Yes, Mina, you are now an aspiration!

[@healingfinally]

True!

[@cypriennezed5640]

YEP my 13 yo begins and ends at "KZbinr, probably with an RV"

[@megthemoonchild9305]

as a 17 year old, yeah this is very true lol. I am not personally into it but I have a LOT of friends who are.

[@beautyonabarnbudget]

There is a line tho-i have a 24yo,22yo & 18yo. My 24 and 22yo daughter were old enough to watch DWP and want that. My 18yo wasn't old enough and fell into the yt'er/influencer dream job

[@Qtopian]

Honestly a way better take than to aspire to work for a corporation for a low salary and little say in making a difference in the company

[@merry_christmas]

As a teenager, I ate fashion magazines for breakfast. My wallpaper was basically torn-out pages. My friends and I collected the most beautiful editorials, with intriguing interviews and glimpses into another world. It was an art form. An inspiring fantasy. We bought the magazines for the dream, the stories. Their attempts to become "relatable" is strangely what caused us to lose interest. Vogue & Glamour have turned into overprized advertorials for H&M, Zara and glamping. It no longer feeds a fantasy. It was always meant to promote consumerism, but the subtlety has gone. And no-one is going to pay for paper advertorials.

[@AnastasiaR]

Me too! My walls in high school were covered in the most avant-garde editorial spreads I could find, as well as art prints and posters. Some of the images were pretty disturbing to my mom and for good reason tbh

[@miola2083]

Agree. I loved the fantasy and aspiration, if I want realness I can look out the window.

[@aylla.]

this is so sad, I’m a teenager and I wished I lived for seeing this magazines and having this experience

[@FifthAveAtFive]

I agree. I bought high fashion magazines for the fantasy and art of it and I bought other magazines for being relatable. They were two different genres that met my different wants.

[@paulinevo9784]

That makes so much sense! I just wonder if their toxicity and their attractiveness to us was correlated or causal. It’s probably not black and white but it certainly showed me a million ways of how I am not okay the way I am and why I will never look like these fantasies. You describe the nostalgic feeling very well. But Today Looking back they just feel really problematic to me, and a little sad.

[@rat8829]

Vogue Philippines, despite having previous issues before, had its physical magazines sold out on shelves and on demand at local bookstores when they featured 100-year-old traditional tattoo artist Apo Whang Od (the oldest to be featured on a Vogue cover!). Just goes to show that print publication really need to focus beyond mainstream trends and create something timeless yet relevant - in this case, giving a cultural icon and her community a spotlight. Another informative video Mina! Hope you’re having a wonderful day.

[@diddles3383]

I saw that article, it was incredible!

[@Louise-wk5yf]

Vogue Philippines' potential problem in the future is, it becoming like National Geographic. Because there's no other kinds of magazines in the country rn, fashion magazines are carrying the burden to feature culture, music, sports etc. Yes, they have always been in the magazine, but other Vogues have created and supported local models and designers first that eventually became known in their country. I don't see that happening in PH Vogue if the bestselling issues are the ones that weren't talking about fashion.

[@Marie-jz1qw]

I'm that girl who was obsessed with fashion magazines, cutting out my favourite outfits and doing collages, cutting out my favourite campaign photos to put them on my wall,... I definitely had no idea how the industry really is, and turns out I grew up to be a teacher, but I'm still so fascinated and interested in fashion, it has just become a smaller part of my life now

[@Thekawaiiasian101vid]

I'm kind of in a similar situation as you. I'm in college right now studying to be a teacher and as much as I want to be studying fashion, I just didn't think it would be..feasible? I don't know what the future for the fashion industry will look like by the time I start working but I don't want to completely rule out the idea of someday being a part of it.

[@Marie-jz1qw]

@@Thekawaiiasian101vid Yes!

[@LovelyLittleLillies]

@@Thekawaiiasian101vid There no longer is a need for tailor, most tailors lost their jobs once manufacturing moved to China and only a small fraction are still employed today. But if you're lucky you can find a school that offers textiles classes. I had one in my school and we had a lovely teacher that was first teaching basic sewing and then she implemented a fashion design course. So it was a blast. We were the only school that had this course to the point that there was a girl from a completely different school who somehow managed to enroll in my school's fashion design class. It was revolutionary and the class was a blast. I've never seen a male in my textile class but for fashion design a few came.

[@LovelyLittleLillies]

@@Thekawaiiasian101vid It wasn't a regular home ec class where you only learned to see a pillow or pajamas and then the rest of semester was cooking exclusively, like in this school from a different town I was about to go to. It was legit full blown sewing class and I think there was like 3 levels maybe idr,but kids from all grades would come. And apart from assigned projects (small pillowcase, pajamas, a sock monkey for charity) you could sew whatever you wanted to your heart's content. And if you were actually good at sewing you could even sew your own prom dress like 1 or 2 girls in our class did. The best part was that the teacher was so nice, pleasant, and laid-back

[@alyssapinon9670]

Ah a fellow fashion design enthusiast turned teacher. I remember at my old track meets I'd bring fashion magazines to read in between events and would also do those cutout wall collages

[@anaju1501]

i loved fashion magazines, magazines as a whole actually, idk what is but its was so cool to hold a magazine and read things when i was a kid, the smell, the texture of the paper... the internet is amazing ngl but everything going 100% digital makes me sad

[@cherrryncoke]

MTE. The glossy texture of the cover and the perfume sample smell was a heavenly combo. If I could smell like a fashion magazine, I would, lol.

[@MiniJenJen]

​@@cherrryncoke oh man. This made my eyes water. I was one of those girls who bought Vogue, Glamour, Elle, Harper's Bazaar (....and cosmo and nylon and as a teen, Teen Elle and Teen Vogue too). The smell. The touch. The pages being so slick you had to be careful you didn't skip a page because they might stick together. Ripping out pages to tack to the wall to read again and again. Oh god it was the biggest hit of dopamine for the low, low cost of $7 CAD per magazine. I

[@anaju1501]

@@cherrryncoke exactlyyyy, i loved the smell, everything abt it, idk it was a whole thing!! i feel nostalgic T^T

[@LovelyLittleLillies]

​@@MiniJenJen I used to buy and indulge in magazines bc I couldn't afford all the cute clothes at the mall that's funny bc if you total the amount you paid for all of them (I only not very few at a time bc of a low budget) I'd be able to afford more outfits. But frfr the feeling of fanasing through a magazine.... Mine were cheaper than 7 but maybe I'm just older than you lol. For me my faves were Elle, Fashion, and Teen vogue. Along with Seventeen those were the ones I bought. Teen vogue>> adult vogue imo. far better editorials. I never got around to buying Nylon though I converted them once I discovered Nylon bc Nylon always had the coolest hipster fashion

[@LovelyLittleLillies]

Yooo but anyone was also into fashion blogging at that time? There were a few websites popping at my time there was chictopia, another one that was more popular idr if it was called Lookbook or something else, and then there was a blog that was really big where a photographer would post OODs of fashion models called off duty fashion.

[@Layelowe12]

In Rupauls Drag Race Season 7, Rupaul tells Violet Chachki „You seem like you spend a lot of time alone looking at fashion magazines.“ To which Violet goes „Well, Ru, the internet has happened…“ and I think about that a lot when I see magazines literally anywhere.

[@natcosmicgirl]

I'm a writer for Metal Magazine and asides from the obvious of the majority of the people not caring about magazines anymore, there's such a strong community of press from all around the world that works on keeping this alive, it's like you don't need millions of people's interest, you need the passion of few

[@lina5699]

The passion will end up inspiring more.

[@cupofgreentea]

man I looooove magazines, instead of scrolling through the phone when waiting for a bus, pulling one of them out of my bag to use my time - I miss it so much. The magazines left to buy are just filled with ads or bad typography, so I do not buy anything anymore :(

[@norseporcelain]

Hi there!!! French fashion historian here, I thought I could share my two cents about the earlier part of the video. The Mercure Galant was not a fashion magazine per se, or at least not in the way we understand it. Fashion at the time did not mean only clothes, but rather a package of fashionable activities, mannerisms and topics - and then clothes. That’s also because the Mercure was originally a magazine for enlightened men, and was not really directed towards women only. It included them as a readership because of a growing consciousness of « class », especially among bourgeois women and there was money to be made. The first magazine targeted towards women (in France at least, but there are parallels in Italy, Germany and England around the same time) is the Journal des Dames. Funnily enough, it was highly subversive, especially when directed by women and even censored at some point. It resumed publication in 1797 and became the biggest fashion magazine of Europe until the 1830s and its decline, under the name of Journal des Dames et des Modes. It was literally copied everywhere! There are a few scholarly publications about it out there, like Annemarie Kleinert’s or Nina Rattner Gelbart’s. (Or my master’s thesis, though I’m not sure about sharing my name on the internet ahah) I would also recommend Woodruff Smith’s work on consumption culture and Daniel Roche’s Appearance Culture. Very interesting as always!!

[@marigab72]

Hey I'm a fashion photography researcher, would love to read your master's thesis and connect! I'm French and doing a PhD in the UK. @cbfresearch :)

[@flutterkitty53]

kind of reminds me of modern aesthetics! pinterest boards and such

[@yencigomez9038]

I’d love to read this thesis omg it sounds so dope

[@claudiazg9932]

Mina with new brows? Start of a new era

[@hannahborges682]

i was wondering why she looked a little different!

[@ktqt8544]

It really makes her face shape look different!

[@uniquehandle1029]

i am scared of change

[@h3art_3y3s]

@@uniquehandle1029 lol

[@nkechi4635]

​@@uniquehandle1029 Aren't we all.

[@Melanie220]

I worked in a drugstore in the 70s and 80s (why yes, I am old. Very old. LOL), and every Tuesday I waited anxiously for the magazine guy to come in and restock the racks with new ones. Glamour, Mademoiselle (remember that one? I LOVED that one!), Self, all the women's mags like Ladies' Home Journal and Redbook because they had fashion pages and loads of advertising as well, and even 'Teen and Seventeen although I'd aged out of those by the late 70s. Partly, in my case, because working in a drugstore you needed to know about all the new products to keep up with things in the cosmetics and personal care departments. But mostly, to be honest, because I just loved sitting at the soda fountain on my lunch break, avidly flipping through the glossy pages in search of that perfect outfit or hairstyle or makeup product that would change my life forever. Of course, that never happened, but I do miss that little thrill of hope that this shampoo, that perfect pair of jeans, would make it all happen for me. I continued reading a few of the fashion magazines well into the 90s, Glamour and Mademoiselle mostly (until Mademoiselle ceased publication), despite marriage and children, because it was fun to keep up with things and also to have something else to think about besides diapers and laundry! LOL. And then I drifted away from them and discovered a few years ago that they've all disappeared from the newsstands. Broke my heart. No more 'back to school' issues of Seventeen, no more 'Top 10 Women' issues of Glamour, no more December issues of EVERY magazine full of 'Great Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List!' I love the internet... but it's just not the same as sitting down with a stack of mags and a cup of tea, ready to learn how to give myself a makeover for the umpteenth time!😥

[@sabrina.natalie]

Melanie, this is such a fascinating comment. I enjoyed reading it. I appreciate that you were so detailed - beautifully articulated! I was born in 1994, so by the time I was a teenager, Seventeen was more my speed. In addition to the glossy pages, the SMELL of a new, freshly printed magazine was so alluring. I get the same warm tingly feeling of happiness when I’m reading a new book and flipping through the pages, highlighting my favorite passages, analyzing each word. I enjoy reading / listening to books through audio too, but nothing beats cozying up on the couch with a new book. Gosh… such simpler times! (:

[@QuirkyGirl10]

“…it’s very important to make the print publication even more luxurious and even more special…” If she’s talking about Vogue, I’m not seeing it. Today’s Vogue is a far cry from Vogue in its heyday!

[@wateasa]

I’m 23 and a hard news journalist. I’ve always loved fashion and lifestyle mags and just got a subscription to Elle. I’m a firm believer print won’t die as we see physical media becoming overwhelming trendy (records, Polaroids, etc) but I do think an up trend needs to start faster

[@simplify2751]

Fashion magazines are responsible for so many early insecurities in girls and long-term insecurities in women that despite offering inspiration to fashion and style lovers, I think generally we're better off without them. At the very least, specialized style mags that don't include dieting tips would be a step in the right direction.

[@elena_1776]

I agree. I loved fashion magazines as a teenager but they eventually got too unhealthy for me. Part of my recovery from an ED was giving them up.

[@bluemoon4944]

Bad thing is they were replaced by social media, and compared to the dangers of magazines, social media is like 1000% worst, the point is, women and young women are never safe from these unachievable beauty standards and that is so sad...

[@miola2083]

Social media is worse. Much much worse.

[@webuiltthepyramids3446]

All the negative topics in the magazines are all over social media now.

[@aylla.]

totally agree, but social media is just the same unfortunately

[@lydiawalker0714]

The Bratz tv show made me want to write for a magazine. One of the Lil Bratz activity books I had in the fifth grade was very writing heavy, so I wrote an article about Demi Lovato's acting career inside it. (I used IMDB as a resource.) About a year later, I made my own magazine on the family computer. I even printed it out as a gift for my sister when she graduated from college. I started collecting copies of Seventeen and even got a digital subscription in the eighth grade.

[@saturninedroid3920]

omg it sounds so interesting!!

[@sabrina.natalie]

🥰❤️ Creativity award goes to you, Lydia! Because I would’ve never had the imagination to do something like that. That’s awesome.

[@jakesmith8710]

Mina's struggles with random French terms has become one of her signatures I'm obsessed

[@caminandoyflotando]

I was obsessed with Nylon magazine and Nylon guys which was the male counterpart. The articles were sharp and funny and their spreads were so eclectic. When I was a teen I would rip out the pages and plaster them all over my bedroom like wallpaper. They went to digital long after I had outgrown them but I’m still nostalgic for that time in the mid 2000s early 2010s when I wasn’t a stressed 30 something with a mortgage and student loans 💀

[@AnastasiaR]

Nylon was the best. It felt like such a treasure because we didn't have instant-access to every form of inspiration the way we do now. There was fashion on the internet then, of course, but it was more mainstream. Now we have too much access to everything, where it becomes more about your own taste at the end of the day now because we've all seen it all

[@roxycocksey]

Omg I would do anything to be able to hold a new fresh copy of Nylon magazine in my hands right now 😥 I miss it so much.

[@FifthAveAtFive]

I still have a Nylon shirt I got for free or cheap with my magazine subscription. It was my favorite to read and their curated playlists were the best. They introduced me to some of my favorite songs and artists I wouldn’t have heard otherwise

[@morganbaranczak4703]

Nylon!! I remember thinking they were the coolest magazine when I was in high school. They had so many up and coming bands and interesting photoshoots. I remember when I stopped seeing them in stores and it killed me a bit inside 😔

[@LovelyLittleLillies]

When I discovered Nylon I coveted them but never got a single issue due to a low budget at that time. But Nylon had the coolest and best hipster fashion that I could never afford. If I had all the money in the world I would've dressed like in Nylon and bought the mag too lol

[@kelseyro8580]

What a coincidence. Last night I was googling body-positive fashion magazines for my tween stepdaughter. She’s really into fashion, and I remember loving those fashion magazines at her age, but I also remember how damaging they were to my body image.

[@simplify2751]

It's worth mentioning the heavy advertising within these magazines that always targets and creates insecurities more than desires in women and girls. Maybe it's different today. I wouldn't know, I haven't bought one in a decade, but the ads I did see as a teen had a lasting impact.

[@pumpkincat3291]

still happens but in a different way. you get tiktoks saying "products to buy for your underye circles" or people showing off their new cosmetic procedures. advertising is more insidious these days imo

[@invisible3972]

We stopped getting a suscription of one of these kind of magazines ("Mujer" and as far as I know, available only in my country) after my grandpa's death because he liked reading those lol but something that I still remember 10+ years later is how these were always filled with tips and tricks to lose weight i.e your arms which is something that still makes me feel very insecure.

[@tangerinetangerine4400]

That's equivalent of filters and beauty procedures on social media where everyone ends up looking exactly the same. Plastic surgery in the 90 used to be reserved for rich celebrities. Now every influencer has the same lips, eyes and behind. Average teenager is supposed to be terrified of aging and use preventive anti aging skincare. I remember being in my 20s and even 30s and never worrying about wrinkles. I think young people today have more to worry about while seemingly western culture seems more inclusive.

[@babydrane]

You hit the nail on the head - there is no longer anything revolutionary about them. They used to set trends and give exclusive insight into the fashion industry that you couldn't get by just watching the news or turning to social media. Those days are just so far behind us.

[@Enjemnsnens]

Fashion magazines were genuinely such a big part of my life as a teen and it’s so sad that they’re just gone.

[@taylorjohnson6412]

This lip colour on Mina is absolutely *e v e r y t h i n g*

[@JP-ve7or]

The new eyebrow shape, too. She looks great!

[@acutee2]

I 100% agreed with everything you said here. I worked as a fashion writer in the Middle East in the 2010s and it's a toxic advertorial industry. I switched to hard news and politics and then to local news in the US (mainly crime) at various digital outlets. Fact checking is a serious issue across the board. I noticed this problem when I was working in Cairo and an international outlet stole my work verbatum (I sourced stories from eyewitnesses and court records I exclusively obtained, so it was impossible for that outlet to have the same information). The editor later admitted to taking my work and laughed about it with my then boss at a public gathering, and then he had the gaul to encourage me to apply to his company. On the application it said the outlet "does not have fact checkers or translators on staff"...while hunting around for other opportunities, I soon learned that most news outlets (FP, FA, Economist, Reuters, and many, many more) do zero fact-checking whether publicly noted or otherwise claimed. Now (mostly) happily covering local news, I dig for court documents, witness statements, and speak to the lawyers and authorities involved on my own because I want my readers to have the quality they deserve-- but I often experience a back lash because traditional TV news websites consistantly are twisting up stories to match the angle of the owners of the station-- then redditors (and sometimes it feels like all of the social media) are convinced I must have it wrong because my information is different and more detailed (which for some reason people think that means you are lying (seriously why would I make up a DUI on a stranger I've never met)). I am the one who did the work ,while ABC/NBC/CBS just stood in front of a house and spoke with a neighbor that had no factual information and then they act surprised when the field reporter shares the charges without the key details (I worked in broadcast for a few years too and walked away from an opportunity at CNN during the height of the pandemic due to some of this BS). The lack of fact-checking and real reporting has unfortunately trained the majority of the public to shoot the messanger, not ask the important questions, and blindly trust major outlets. I love writing and searching for fascinating stories but these issues aren't going away and AI is only complicating things.

[@nabihahasan240]

where can we read more abt ur work?

[@Me-vn3gz]

^^

[@3bellam]

bro can we please bring back fashion magazines. Like I know realistically they have no place in the market anymore, but nothing on the internet compares to the little collages of outfits, surprise free posters, fun little activities, styling advice, and cute graphics. Even as an early 2000s kid I remember begging my mom for those campy, brightly colored teen fashion mags and ripping out every page I liked to tape up on my wall. It's such a cathartic experience.

[@Qtopian]

I think kids nowadays switched from wanting to work for a fashion company or a model to being a fashion influencer or creating their own brand online. Honestly a way better aspiration than working for a corporate company

[@layditms2]

with a lot of imitation

[@davidpachecogarcia]

Idk if that’s necessarily a good thing because you’re more at risk as an sole proprietor. You may also find yourself in the position that everything you do is work and don’t have a separation for your personal hobbies and goals. Tho you did have more to freedom in the work you do.

[@Qtopian]

@@davidpachecogarcia at least you are not told what to do by people who take advantage of you.

[@CrisOnTheInternet]

Fashion wasn't interesting to me till some Mina Le came up with a channel that includes history of fashion 💜

[@writethepath8354]

Fact

[@eh7tes]

honestly her videos are amazing

[@Icecreamycake]

I'm so glad you brought up the Refinery29 "Money Diary" articles. When someone in my city did theirs, I was very annoyed because I could tell there was more to the story regarding her budget. And I got a lot of hate in the comments for expressing my concerns. I said her life doesn't reflect on the average persons life in my city. The original subject later admitted to me in the comments that yes her parents paid for her condo and her lifestyle and that the article did not fully reflect her budget. That's when I was done reading them. If you're not going to be truthful, why continue to dupe people into believing they could have a similar experience in whatever city the subject is in? No hate to anyone whose parents help them. I just wanted it to be stated in the article and it wasn't. Just like that one Nina featured.

[@cherishoneal9108]

What gets me is their house tours with an expensive price. They’ll present it with no problem.

[@xThePinkApple]

as a kid i saw "Almost Famous" on TV and it made me interested in becoming a music magazine writer for the longest time, but just like fashion magazines, they're dying out because of the internet, too :/ niche, specialised music magazines seem to still be able to survive in print form thus far, though, which is very interesting, but i always assume it's because the target audience for those is an older generation that doesn't spend that much time online. plus they can offer specialised knowledge that's harder to come by online if you don't want to do long searches. it's so sad that print is dying in this way though, even just for archival purposes: online articles and their accompanying photos can disappear so quickly, never to be found again, whereas a print magazine might still be lying around in some library or your grandma's house many, many years later. a print magazine issue can be such a valuable time capsule of the zeitgeist of its period. but that's starting to get lost in the ocean of the internet

[@taylorkozak9730]

I work for one of those niche music magazines, Musicworks, now in our 45th year of publishing. And while we do have a strong base of legacy subscribers, you'd be surprised how many younger people are still interested in having something tangible (our magazine even comes with a CD). We specialize in featuring artists in the realms of new and experimental music or sound art who may not otherwise be covered by professional journalists, and our advertisers are community partners (e.g., record labels, concert presenters, educators) so the magazine is part of a whole ecosystem. We are a Canadian publication, though, so we also have access to vital grant funding that subsidizes us as a nonprofit record of heritage and organization supporting artistic practice.

[@bru1sed_v1oletSunny]

I think the modern fashion magazine job for me morphed mores into wanting to have my own self published magazine. Magazines in the west have alienated their market by continuing to pump out bad content that's kind of general. I feel like if magazines got as niche as the market for them is now, then they'd be more enjoyable. For example how in Japan there are punk magazines, and magazines dedicated to larme kei, etc etc.

[@VeeLondon1449]

♥️ I love this subject as a former obsessed magazine purchaser. As everything’s online/digital now. We can now buy and view fashion etc, instantly on our devices. Magazines just seem overpriced even the glossy magazines like Vogue haven’t interested me in years, (literally 85% advertisements and very little “original fashion content”) they feel dated and passé to me now. I can’t remember when I last bought a fashion magazine! I used to be so obsessed with them and spent so much money on them monthly/weekly. Even buying international issues! I don’t even glance at the magazine aisle/section anymore.

[@AfroCitrus]

Me too!! I'm 27 and I used to spend all my pocket money to buy 3 magazines weekly and the Cosmo / Glamour every month too. I used to look forward ever so much to Vogue's seasonal trend magazines. I tried buying digital copies when they first transitioned but it just wasn't the same as holding those thick, glossy pages inbetweem your fingers and smelling the signature magazine scent. I bought a magazine last year and it felt so good to hold but the content simply wasn't the same. I miss those days!

[@VeeLondon1449]

@@AfroCitrus ♥️

[@Chachixo]

Yes Vogue got egregious with the number of ads a few years back and I had to cancel. There was nothing in the book but ads.

[@VeeLondon1449]

@@Chachixo ♥️

[@zoelopez1426]

This makes me so sad 😢 My mum and I always read fashion magazines together. It’s a whole experience. Every time we go on a flight, we buy a fashion magazine to read. I hate the death of this tradition

[@manicpixiecoffeelovr]

bring it back, (as i read a vanity fair magazine rn 😂)

[@francinefu2680]

The only "fashion" magazines I buy these days are knitting magazines, and it's as you said - some of these magazines really understand the importance of making the whole experience feel luxurious. The fancy yarns, the chic knitwear designers, the classy serif typeface, the beautiful matte paper stock... I have no intention of knitting every single pattern included in these publications, but I just like buying them and looking at the pretty pictures.

[@ritaevergreen7234]

This was me growing up with fashion magazines. I was always drawn to them for the design aspect. I would collage a lot of the items because I knew I would never buy them but at least seeing them made me feel good.

[@baldbicth123]

I love the idea of a magazine in a classical sense, featuring real articles, essays, opinions and just generally more substantial work rather than just ads, quizzes and celebrity interviews.

[@andrea.santacru2]

I think the concept has now gone into fashion vlogs. For instance, IMO, your content is the now version of what fashion magazines were in that late 90s early 2000s era. Also, love your style in this video!! Hair, make up, dress. All on point! 💝

[@rosec.2478]

When I was a kid the first job I ever wanted was to be a wedding dress designer. This was because my mom liked watching say yes to the dress a lot.

[@Mondscheinstaub]

I work as a writer for an advertising agency and specialize in editorial, print and online. It‘s interesting how fashion magazines have declined in quality, yet every printed magazine I write for a customer has increased the visual quality as well as the fact checking. Print always seems much more serious than digital magazines, since you can’t correct anything after publishing. Sure, I also dreamed about a Carrie-Bradshaw-life when I was a teen. When I entered journalism I quickly became disenchanted. Most publications are relatively cheap nowadays, especially here in Germany. Big brands take footage of their American campaigns and will have texts and claims translated. It‘s a pity.

[@adios-bitchachos]

The only fashion mag I ever really bought into was Seventeen in the early 2000s. The editor's name was Atoosa and I could tell she made efforts to really make it more than just a fashion mag. There would be in depth articles from teen girls about their experiences with issues like sexual assault, bullying etc. Then she left and those articles went away. It became so boring cause every page was just a clothes/makeup ad.

[@prenda2086]

Ugly Betty made me want to be a fashion assistant and have an egomaniac boss sooo bad lmao

[@beautifullEternal]

Girl screw that, I wanted to be Wilhelmina

[@prenda2086]

@@beautifullEternal ok facts

[@thisisnancybot]

What a relatable video topic. I’m actually a librarian and my supervisor and I have been fascinated by the death of the magazine over the past few years. Especially magazines geared toward women that cover things like fashion and lifestyle topics. We often talk about the possible causes, including, as you mentioned, the fact that a lot of that information is online now. Not only that but the experience of casually flipping through a magazine and reading an article here and there is similar to scrolling. So not only are you getting the information you’re looking for, but it’s also fulfilling another need. Both of us used to be big magazine readers and don’t really touch them anymore.

[@julialiutova761]

I also like magazines, especially because you can clearly see how much effort it takes to create it. I adore all these printed fashion shootings, creative styling and storytelling. And it’s much more inspiring than just scrolling your feed.

[@belen3188]

i agree with the final thoughts, it would be so cool to have a magazine to help us ponder, be provoked by ideas and something that’s also fun and beautiful to look at. slow reading because that’s something that doesn’t happen as often anymore

[@alexandrah.5915]

i'm a 16 year old and i want to become a graphic designer, so i definetely wouldn't be against working for a fashion magazine... At some point i thought it was the dream job (and i still kind of do) as i not only love fashion and the arts as a whole, but i also love 2000s movies like the devil wears prada and 13 going on 30. These movies definetely made me more fond of the idea of having such a job. I can't imagine anything better than working in an environment full of creative ppl

[@colette352]

i’ve always wanted to go into magazines whether that’s editing or writing for them but i think it has been sold to me as something unattainable which dampened my desire to work in the industry

[@alejandroreyes2433]

I'm a straight cis man, and my fiance turned me on to your videos. Never thought I'd find things like this interesting, but I'm really starting to really like learning about fashion and all the topics you cover in your videos! Thanks for all your hard work! Can't wait for the next vid

[@TownieSimBuilds]

So fascinating to see the industry grow (and kind of die) with the changing times. On another note, I love Mina's transparency with how the 'trending topic' culture has impacted how she approaches her own content. It's a real struggle that content creators, writers, editors, and even producers/directors face when battling what is popular versus what they really want to create or discuss.

[@lina5699]

Well said as an aspirant writer im quite conflicted with trends too

[@maryeckel9682]

In high school, I would grab the latest issue of Vogue or Bazaar at the library and sit on the aisle floor just devouring everything. This was the mid to late 70s, so there was a lot going on. One time, Vogue ran an issue about different body types (larger sizes not included, sadly) and basic principles of dressing well that has stuck with me all these years. I'm old enough and confident enough to break a lot of their rules now, but the concepts were good; most KZbin style gurus echo them. These magazines also instilled a love of certain colors, textures, and fabrics that still influences what I wear.

[@hailie3609]

I'm 17 and I've always wanted to work for a fashion magazine or anything in fashion! Mostly because of Devil Wears Prada and 13 Going On 30💗

[@ripwednesdayadams]

omg, finally someone else acknowledges how amazing the costumes and aesthetic was in “down with love”! i love that movie and i’m always surprised that it doesn’t get more love. it was always my dream to work for a fashion magazine.

[@laurenriggleman6841]

I used to have a subscription to seventeen and teen vogue (early-mid 2010s). I looked forward to getting those and catalogs all the time! Something about having something tangible to read is just so different than just online shopping.

[@absolutelynotellen]

I used to grow up with fashion and teen magazinesーincluding women lifestyle magazines until it's stop producing it around early 2013 in my country. Maybe it's because i'm getting too old but, personally, i feel less awkward reading magazines in a traditional form ( book style one with pages ) rather than online magazines. Every pages make me flips some more, while magazine by scrolling makes me bored quick.

[@meloymelos]

AGHHH I was waiting for someone to talk about this forever. Early 2000’s had the craziest magazines and I feel like to this day it’s one of the many reasons that attributed to my eating disorders in middle school. I’m glad they died

[@duchessedeberne3909]

Same

[@karynstudiosloane-ceramics436]

this just makes me want to buy a magazine from the drugstore and lay on my bed with new nail polish while I pretend to read the articles, I miss the collection I used to have

[@gabrielleduplessis7388]

Related to why I used to love fashion magazines. The ads. Each ad was creative and stylish and I loved ripping them up and making scrapbooks of them. I did not mind the ads because I wanted the pictures anyways. Now, the smaller magazines with fewer ads don’t attract me anymore. Ironic, huh?

[@danielletan3912]

As someone born in 1992, magazines were a huge part of my life growing up. It started when my aunts brought back American Girl magazines from the US. I then loved Candy magazine (a Philippine teen mag from before), Seventeen (both US and PH versions), Vogue, Teen Vogue, Instyle, and even Lucky! Sad to see how much has changed from before. :(

[@juliac6256]

oh my god i was so obsessed with teen vogue as a young teen…one time the editor in chief at the time amy astley commented on some of my ig pics of my art and said they were beautiful and i literally almost fainted. then when i got into food and cooking, my dream was to be a restaurant editor for bon appetit magazine. the death of the magazine really broke my teenage dreams 😥

[@alexateachey9680]

as a alumni of the NC State Wilson College of Textiles, I started to tear up when you mentioned a quote from them... such an amazing textile school that deserves sooo much more recognition in the fashion atmosphere :')

[@LunaWitcherArt]

I was so taken aback by the eyebrows, I'm so used to seeing them high and thin that I nearly didn't recognize you

[@tamaranaomi3]

Sameeee

[@jenniferpercy2806]

Let’s not forget about LC from The Hills when she interned at Teen Vogue. “You’ll always be known as the girl who didn’t go to Paris.”

[@lauren9994]

sometimes i feel like the only person who’s ever seen down with love. thank you for talking about such a cute and underrated film!💕

[@homersoto]

Cutting out magazines to make my own collaged magazine was a favorite pastime

[@elizabethwright7951]

I worked for a major fashion monthly magazine in the late 80s, early 90s. The salary they paid barely covered rent, but as I needed to stay a size 0, not being able to afford food was the Ozempic of the era! I left because I realised that creativity was not exactly being encouraged but stifled to enable the hyper massification of fashion design They were late to the party of internet marketing anyway

[@TheOneWithWen]

Freeform used to do a series called "The Bold Type" (2017), about 3 girls who work in a fashion magazine, and I think it really is a modernized version of the idea of the fashion editor. They do talk about their roll in bigger issues, and how the internet changes the industry. Highly recommend.

[@Mariamox]

Ooo, yes that was a fun show

[@rdpcl]

I didn't know that Seventeen magazine stopped being published on paper. I collected both the US and my country's local edition for a few years in my twenties, and loved the editorial fashion sprees with diverse girls.

[@arcie3716]

I personally like seeing the public gaining more power in terms of advertising and products but it’s still sad seeing something so traditional slowly die off

[@estherc7125]

thoughtfully structured and incredibly informative as always 🫶🏼 absolutely beautiful episode

[@dumbdumbdani]

this is such an interesting topic bcs i always forget about how much print magazines use to have an impact on my life when i was a kid. when i was like 10 and younger i couldn't wait to get my american girl doll magazine or my hi-5 magazine which had fun puzzles and quizzes. i also remember being in the grocery store and looking at the tabloids on the shelf. tbh i think the only in print magazine i'd be willing to buy now these days is Time bcs I feel like they actually put in the work to make a good print issue! Wonderful video as always!

[@probably_not_jim]

I had a Teen Vogue subscription in high school, and I remember most of the advertising being stuff that I could never dream of being able to afford. The clothes were hundreds of dollars, and my little 15 year old self had a monthly allowance of $100, and I had to make sure I had enough money for stuff like shampoo and school supplies before spending the rest of it all willy-nilly. I get most of my fashion content from more niche communities on KZbin and Instagram today, and it's so much easier to curate a feed based on my personal style rather than pages of expensive stuff I kinda liked.

[@pheobepeach]

Me reading this being 15 with a monthly allowance of £100:

[@eleonore59830]

one thing i enjoy about old magazines (early 20th century) is the ask section where women could voice concerns and get answers from other readers or the journalist

[@charlottecochrane8356]

I love how thorough your videos are! Learning all the little details is so interesting, and I love learning the history behind everything! Thanks Mina

[@WeRunique]

Mina I am binge watching your videos and they just bring me such peace. I keep them on while doing things. Your analysis is insightful without being overly dramatic or hyped up, and your voice is soothing to hear. Thank you for your vids and the work you put into them!

[@ingridbmangubat]

As always, Mina, you deliver! My major in College was in Media because I wanted to work in advertising or radio. This is all fascinating to me. Growing up in the 90s, print media / entertainment will always have a special place in my heart.

[@noralubitsch7556]

My aunt worked for Vanity Fair during the 80s. She was diagnosed with breast cancer while working there. They moved her desk out to the hall and sent around a memo saying it was rude for her to come to work looking so terrible. As far as I’m concerned I’d be happy for them to fail.

[@kapu2249]

love the video as always! also I’m french and wanted to say that your prononciation of french is so cute! it’s extremely pleasing to see the effort you put in these words and expressions!

[@realmaxxine]

I’m almost 29, a millennial, and I remember wanting to be an editor at a magazine when I was younger 🥰

[@lianeversleeps]

omgg a video from you is the best bday gift

[@CamiKaytor]

Mina! This is such a great analysis! You go into so many factors and don't simply rely on "internet bad". I loved it!

[@eli-meli-mouse]

havent finished the video yet but im so glad ur tackling this!! also ur hair looks amazing

[@solarmoth4628]

Social media occupies so much of the space that magazines used to. I used to love opening up a teen vougue or nylon magazine but with the rise of fast changing aesthetics amplified by social media it seems that fashion magazines are no longer as useful. You can curate your own fashion experience through the internet and instantly know what’s trending. magazines were already not very useful when I was in highschool years ago so i’m not surprised to see them further declining.

[@Helvetica09]

I remember when my mom got a job as a kiosk and she would always bring us teen and fashion magazines every week my sister and I loved them so mcuh

[@Marina-vd]

Omg this sounds perfect I would be thrilled as a teen

[@hansbraga_]

So excited for your podcast! Tbh I’m not rly a fashion girlie but I love listening to you and your takes. like idc what the topic is, I’m sat. Happy to see you exploring stuff outside KZbin

[@katiegiannini7879]

Love these historical videos so much! Also OBSESSED with you makeup!!

[@yskz_staaa]

I wonder about magazines that feature kpop idols on the cover. A lot of fans buy the magazines to collect if they have their favorites featured.

[@mayankshaw6814]

I'm 17 and i love your videos... Major inspiration.. and yes i want to become a fashion editor and fashion journalist

[@aldannuviadominguez7281]

I think you did an amazing job with this topic! You do thorough research and I originally started watching for you film costume analysis videos but I love the breakdown of these different topics and your conciseness in presenting both fact and your personal take. Very well done Mina

[@luc1jana]

your videos bring so much joy into my life thank you!!!

[@kainverse]

oh my god, yes!! i wanted to become a fashion editor ever since i saw 13 going on 30 when i was 15 😿 this was on point!!

[@reflectsonlife]

I LOVE Down with Love! I love the early 60's fashion sense! And the actors totally fit their roles!

[@p.b.4464]

Love that you brought up down with love!! The costumes, early Sarah Paulson, Niles, the levity. It's such an easy watch.

[@sam.av.444]

how perfect that i was just thinking abt watching one of ur videos and i open youtube to see you’ve posted one and it showed up on my fyp

[@hil7983]

i’m early gen z and i definitely thought being something along the lines of fashion editor was super cool when i was younger. i still think magazines are cool (i currently work for one as a designer but it’s art and culture as opposed to fashion). i’ve talked to some younger gen z and kids and i swear the most common career goal i hear is “youtuber” “influencer” and “gamer” 😭

[@Androgynary]

Rian Phin (also on YT) tweeted: “young people buy digital cameras, record players etc. go analog, and there’s a rising interest in fashion culture / fashion history. definitely indicates to me that there should be a matching rise in print magazine sales.” Curious what you think of this! I know zines have become more popular in recent years.

[@ciitadel2518]

the video was great as always I loved learning about the history of fashion magazines, but also was very randomly thrilled to hear you mention down with love. no one EVER talks about that movie and it's so much fun!! I'm always surprised at how few people know about it

[@dwymmermorc]

this new look is so gorgeous on you! and great content as always but i just had to say the new eyebrows are just angelic

[@heidi-so2ds]

magazine editor was my dream job as a kid! i loved the art and would cut out clippings to use as poster or keep them in my journal and even now i prefer the tactility of it to digital magazines. i'm currently a college sophomore studying communication and definitely have to pivot to focus more on digital content (learning html, ui/ux) or even other mediums like podcasts since that where the industry is at now

[@calliestansell8686]

Mina I LOVE your makeup so much today it looks SOOO good🤎

[@jocelynf139]

I agree with your perspective on the Devil Wears Prada! It annoys me SO much when people who have never worked as an assistant make that claim.

[@hfreyschildren1265]

I very much appreciate the nuance you're bringing to this discussion I can remember as a young person thumbing through fashion magazines, and it was a safe way to explore my personal style, so thank you for for talking about this. It's unfortunate that they won't change with their audience

[@joannarudzka8515]

never been so earlyy! slayed as always Mina!!!

[@elsielinstrom]

I'm a teenager therapist, and the interest has certainly moved to being a KZbinr or influencer instead of magazine editor or fashion journalist.

[@johnperry6985]

omfg i love ur vids so much!! they r the best for a study break but also so educational. u serve every time.

[@music4life813]

Literally can’t wait to listen to the podcast episode that goes with this!