Fashion world’s favourite magazine is now 125 years old!
An American 'dude' named Arthur Baldwin Turnure started Vogue in 1892 as a unisex magazine for the 'belle' and the 'men of affairs'.
Turnure’s intention was to create a journal that would celebrate the “ceremonial side of life” and attract “the sage as well as debutante”.
In an age of fashion minus photoshop, Vogue captured the life and times of the American ‘leisure class’.
Between then and now, Vogue has changed many colours and covers.
Throughout the ages, Vogue has remained on top of the trends. It spotted the bob cuts of the ‘roaring 20s’, dressed the ‘femme fatale’ of the 30s, and brought ‘haute couture’ to the 50s among other things.
While keeping up with the trends, Vogue did not shy away from taking a stand. It criticised the corset, stood up for diversity, and put older women on its covers.
India got ‘Vogue-ed’ in 2007. Today, you know an actor or actress has arrived in the B-town scene when they are on the cover of Vogue.
Newbies Alia Bhatt, Kriti Sanon, Shraddha Kapoor, Siddharth Malhotra, Arjun Kapoor and others have already said “I’m here!” with their Vogue covers.
Vogue India’s Anaita Shroff Adajania has dressed many cover women. But desi girl Deepika Padukone takes the crown for most cover appearances in the Indian Vogue.
Meryl Streep elegantly ‘covers’ the 125th anniversary December special edition of the American Vogue. The anniversary edition is aptly titled ‘Then & Now’.
The 125th anniversary issue “takes a look back at the great minds and brilliant artists who’ve made impactful changes in culture, beauty, politics and fashion.”
An alternate special subscribers’ issue highlights the ‘now’ aspect of the magazine and has multihyphenate Pharrell Williams and model Imaan Hammam on its cover.
‘Vogue’ is no longer just a word; it’s an attitude.
So, go out and vogue!
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