A Grown Up Sears Toy Catalog!

For almost twenty years, I have been purchasing the September issue of Vogue during the last week of August and saving it to read on Labor Day weekend.

Here in Boston, the weather usually cooperates for the final weekend of summer. This weekend, the sun has been shining, the temperatures cool and comfortable without any humidity. Perfect weather to grab a cold drink, the magazine, a beach chair and head out to the backyard and read the magazine.

Before I had the children, I could hang out all day. For many years, I would spend my time in the sun. Now, I find a shady spot and hope for an hour of so of uninterrupted time. This has become an annual event I look forward to.

The Magazine Vitals

Vogue is published by Conde Nast. The newsstand price is $3.95. I found six postcards slid inside the magazine with an introductory subscription rate of $12.00 for 12 issues plus $3.00 for postage and handling, bringing the total to $15.00 USD for an annual subscription. I have subscribed to this magazine in the past and can tell you that as a subscriber, I didn’t automatically get the magazine before the newsstands. Vogue intentionally holds back delivery of the September issue to create excitement. For the years I was a subscriber, I received my issue after I had seen it in stores for at least a week.

Subscriptions can be mailed, completed online at subscriptions@vogue.com or at the US toll free number 800-234-2347. The magazine can be shipped internationally for an additional postage rate.

Vogue is also published in other countries, copies of which can be obtained at international newsstands here in the states. In the Boston area, I’ve found British Vogue at the international newsstands in Harvard Square (above the T station) and in the Copley Place Mall in Boston. The international editions are different and can cost upwards of $10.00.

The Telephone Directory Issue

The September 2001 issue has 722 pages, 724 counting the cover. It weighs almost ten pounds, not something you want to carry around on errands.

The issue is the premiere issue for the fashion world. If a designer/house isn’t shown on the pages, either they were too cheap to pay the rates or too stupid to realize how large an audience this particular issue reaches. Inside this issue, I have seen fashions from TSE, Chanel, Versace, MaxMara, Vera Wang, Ellen Tracy, Burberry, Ralph Lauren.

The advertisers are keen on getting me to look at their fashions over and over again. They achieve this by using different stock of paper, so that if I’m quickly thumbing through the magazine I’ll end up on their section or they use a pull-out page. These pull-out pages are folded into the magazine, so when quickly looking up an article, the pages stop at these pull-out areas and I have to glance at the pages to see where I am. Very clever and can also be annoying.

This is not a beauty magazine, but it is interesting to see the makeup that is used on the models. The particular brand of makeup isn’t listed on the advertising page. The beauty section of the magazine is weak. For many years, Vogue embraced the Heroin Chic makeup trend. Unfortunately, this months’ issue instructs the reader about how to really pile on the eyeliner/eye shadow to achieve the ultra defined eye. Although Estee Lauder, Almay, Maybelline and Revlon have caught on to advertising in this magazine, the other large cosmetics companies haven’t realized the potential of show casing their fall lineup in this magazine. It is a real pity. I would love to see what new colors Stila, Hard Candy, BobbiBrown have come up with!

Vogue has some wonderful articles. They are tucked in the back of the magazine, though. I looked at over 200 pages of fashions before I was into the articles. I was pleasantly surprised with the articles this year. I learned about Queen Rania, the new queen of Jordan who is smart, friendly and beautiful; Katie Couric, whose friendly personality comes through the article loud and clear; and Linda Evangelista whose spoiled brat image is maintained even though she’s trying to change it. The articles are not overly long and shouldn’t be. This isn’t a literary magazine. For substantive articles, I turn to the New Yorker or Vanity Fair.

Vogue also has monthly updates on music, movies, books and food. I really enjoy the movie and book columns. Vogue was one of the first magazines to herald The Poisonwood Bible book, at least a year and a half before Oprah noticed it. I have used this column before purchasing a book often. Vogue finds books which are appealing to me. There is a monthly update on horoscopes, too.

Why Bother?

For one day a year, I enjoy the fantasy of reading this magazine and envisioning myself at a wonderful cocktail party in that beautiful Missoni dress, pretending that I own a gorgeous country home and will need something elegant to lounge around in from Ralph Lauren, or will need just the right suit for the high powered executive job I might someday have. I also like to smell the different perfumes. My mom likes to take the samples out of the magazine and leave them in her underwear drawer to gently fragrance it. I also like using the free makeup samples given, which usually don’t match my face! For half the price of a movie ticket, I can have a publication which gives me a lift. I usually pass on this magazine to a friend or my mom.

I do see fashions that would be appropriate for my lifestyle, although not for my pocketbook. I tear out these pages and bring them when I'm shopping, to find similar items without the cost.
If I want to save money, I can always go to my local library and read it for free, when the new issue comes out, I can check it out for two weeks (my library doesn’t lend current issues).

Go ahead, have some fun! See you later, I'm going back outside to enjoy this weather!