History of Vogue magazine and its influence on fashion

Vogue magazine is one of the most influential magazines in the fashion industry and advertising media. It is a reference in the arena of fashion. And its director, Anne Wintour, is one of the most influential people in the business.

 

Let´s know today the origin of this publication and the influence it has today in this medium.

 

Origin of fashion magazines

 

Before reaching the birth of Vogue, we will review the origin of fashion magazines as such. The first record of an exclusive fashion publication was made in France in 1672. It was called Mercure Galant during the reign of Louis XIV, and it showed the trends that people were following.

 

These publications were fashionable among the upper classes to learn about clothing among the aristocracy and members of royalty. For them, fashion was a matter of great relevance.

 

Many years later, Harper’s Bazaar magazine was born specifically in 1867. And Vogue a little later, its first publication launched on February 17, 1892.

 

A century after, Mercure Galant was published in Spain. The magazine La Pensadora Gaditana was born in 1763, specifically in Cádiz, with content about fashion, social life, and family politics.

 

History of Vogue Magazine

Vogue magazine was born in the United States in 1892, at the hands of the aristocrat Arthur Baldwin Turnure, in the format of a weekly gazette aimed at people from high society. However, its original and main content was not specifically about fashion but books, music, or sports.

 

After Turnure’s death, the magazine passed into the hands of a young lawyer, an expert in advertising called Condé Nast. And that is how in 1910, the magazine’s publication became bimonthly. The content changed to focus solely on fashion, being the target audience, the female.

 

Thanks to the collaboration of significant art figures such as Dalí and influential photographers of the medium at the time, the magazine quickly reached high ranks of popularity and glamour.

 

Decade of the 60/70

 

From the 1960s, until specifically the year 1971, the magazine’s productions were marked by the show business. They were very creative, expensive, fashion-oriented, and starting to be published monthly, focusing on lifestyle content and culture.

 

Present

 

Vogue magazine is considered and called by many the bible of fashion. For being up to date with fashion trends and having an excellent portfolio of clients for advertising. They are represented by the best brands in the fashion market and is a highly influential company in this fashion world.

 

Since 1988, the magazine has been directed by Anna Wintour. She has not only continued to take the helm with the style and class that characterizes the magazine, always oriented to the central theme, which is fashion.

 

Anna Wintour, Vogue and the influence in the world of fashion

 

Anna Wintour has been in this business for many years. She was in charge of making the corresponding transitions of the magazine over time, and it was always a success. Despite her age, she has not been left behind concerning technological advances, market needs, and the dominant trends.

 

Wintour is a powerful woman in the industry for her successes and a well-cared-for career. Thanks to her work at Vogue, the birth of designers, singers, and other entertainment personalities have been seen. It is an obligatory launching pad for fashion collections that want to have visibility in the rest of the world and be considered.

 

Of British origin, she is a woman characterized by her great commercial mindset. In addition to her close strategic relationships with designers and influential personalities within the fashion and outside it. And besides the fact that her presence at fashion events is an obligation. Her vision and work have made The New York Times itself identify her as an internal consultant for magazines experiencing problems or being left behind.

 

Wintour’s career

 

Her career began in fashion journalism at the age of 20 in the London magazine Harper’s & Queen, attracting New York’s attention.

 

In the 70s, she moved to the Big Apple to work in Harper’s Bazaar magazine. And it was not until 1983 that he had his first contact with Vogue magazine.

 

In 1985, when she became the editor-in-chief of British Vogue, she began to implement great changes. Showing a type of audacious woman with interests in work, business, and money and not in simple frivolous purchases.

 

In 1988, as we already mentioned, Wintour took the covers of Vogue magazine, changing the paradigms that had dominated the editorial line to date. The covers, after Anna, have been important and emblematic.

 

We have seen many personalities parade, including first ladies, such as Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama, the most influential stars in Hollywood, and influencers.

 

Successes have marked her career, and she has good friendships with people like Karl Lagerfeld, Giorgio Armani, Oscar de la Renta, and athletes such as Roger Federer.

 

Met Gala

 

In 1995, she took the reins of one of the biggest events (if not the main one) in the world of fashion: The MET Gala. This is a charity event for the Institute of Dress of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Always taking place on the first Monday of May each year.

 

The event brings together an extremely important list of celebrities and personalities. Not only from the world of fashion but in film, television, art, and design worldwide. And for which Anna Wintour is responsible for approving the list of attendees, despite what you have to pay for the entrance to the event. Another point to her influence in this medium.

 

Film Reference

 

It is said that the influence and power it has is so significant that a simple gesture can lead to glory or sink a designer’s career in one fell swoop. And their presence in fashion shows is limited to only the best.

 

We mention this reference since it is said that the movie The Devil Wears Prada, released in 2003 and whose main character is personified by the talented Meryl Streep, is inspired by Anna Wintour. The story is based on the novel by Lauren Weisberger, a former Wintour assistant, and that is based on those cooked by the author when she worked with the editor. This fact has never been confirmed, but neither has it been denied.

 

So, if you saw the movie, you can get an idea of ​​the type of person and power that Anna Wintour has.

 

To this day, influence and power in the fashion world remain intact. And its approval will continue to be coveted by designers, especially new emerging talents. Vogue and Anna continue to lead the world of fashion and set the tone for trends.