Do you remember the first 'grown-up' magazine you ever bought?
I'm not talking about Bunty, Smash Hits, Honey, Mizz or the like here; I'm talking thick, glossy, full of advertising and offering a glimpse into a world that I was in no way part of but which I thought - one day - I might be. I was probably a late starter in the area of fashion-porn, because it wasn't until I was nearly 18 and 'Elle' was launched in the UK that I was at all tempted to spend my hard-won Saturday job cash (keeping the men's pants fixture in M&S on Boscombe High Street tidy - oh, the glamour!) on a glossy.
I can remember it now; Yasmin Lebon (then Parvenah - can you believe I even remember her name?) glowed on the front cover, looking young, gorgeous and oh-so-sophisticated. And even more amazingly to me, living as I was in blonde-surfer-babe obsessed Bournemouth, she was a brunette. Well, that was it. My commitment was assured, and for the next couple of years or so I always found the cash for my monthly fix.
Now, though? Well, I'm a bit lost when it comes to glossy magazines. But I'm afraid I'm going to ask you to click here to check out my latest piece on Powder Room Graffiti if you would like to find out why...
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ReplyDeleteThe first grown up magazine I was addicted to was 'Clothes Show Magazine' I loved it. Never missed an issue and had a huge collection under my bed.
ReplyDeleteAfter that came Cosmo and Marie Claire, Select (music mag) and many more!
I was notorious at uni for my magazine addiction. Looking back I could've spent the money on something better I guess!
These days I'm trying to curb my habit. I try and only buy one a month, usually Good Food, Marie Claire or Red.
:)
'More' magazine- it used to get passed around at school and whispered about mid-lesson. How grown up we felt reading it.
ReplyDeleteI get Hello! every week, Good Housekeeping (more aspirational than useful) every month and am completely incapable of walking past a parenting magazine at the moment. It's the free things. I'm addicted to free things. However useless. I think I might need to get more of a life....
Cosmo was the first for me. It felt really grown up and daring, with all the articles about orgasms etc. I followed it religiously for about 5 years, and even ended up doing work experience there. These days, I never read it. The only mag I every buy (or bought, seeing as you can't get it in the US) is Grazia, which has good fashion and celebrity gossip but is not really a heavyweight glossy. I occasionally flick through others in the hairdresser, and am always disappointed. To be honest, I enjoy reading blogs much more than most of the articles in magazines -they are far more honest and real.
ReplyDeleteWell done for remembering Yasmin's maiden name. You should've run a competition as I'd never have remembered it in a million years.
ReplyDeleteOoooh Just Seventeen I remember..
ReplyDeleteBut sadly I have stopped buying Grazia because.. basically.. I am just too damn old now.
And the phrases 'fashion forward', 'on trend' and such like just set my teeth on edge..
It's House and Garden for me now..
BM x
I remember the first time I read Cosmo at a friends house. My Mom hit the ROOF when I told her later. LOL.
ReplyDeleteI've left you a comment on Powder Room Graffiti.... all I can say is.... Easy Living ... and this month's cover girl is Yasmin le Bon!
ReplyDeleteOh but Smash Hits was the BEST! I think Cosmo (my sister's!) was my first 'proper' magazine. Nowadays I'm lucky to get time to read the Lidl insert in the Sunday papers. Award for you at mine. Enjoy!
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