The story of Vogue Magazine

A brief history of the monthly fashion magazine, Vogue by Rebecca Wrenn!

In 1892, Vogue made its debut as a weekly publication. Arthur Baldwin Turnure founded the magazine and ran it until his death in 1909, when Conde Nast took over. Nast changed the magazine to a biweekly publication and also took Vogue globally, first in Britain and than making its way to the always fashionable France. Under Nast, the magazine flourished even during the difficult Great Depression.

In the 1960s, with the help of editor in chief Diana Vreeland, the magazine conformed to the times, promoting contemporary fashion and discussing openly the issues of the era. Vogue launched careers of top models like Twiggy and Penelope Tree and featured trends of the time, such as the mini dress. In 1973, decades after the magazine began, the publication went monthly.

Anna Wintour took over as editor-in-chief in 1988, and is also the current editor-in-chief at Vogue. She is considered responsible for having created an appeal for a wider audience for Vogue. She was the first to put a model wearing jeans on the cover, making denim a chic piece of clothing for women everywhere. Wintour is rumored to be extravagant and harsh, nevertheless she is a powerful force in the fashion world.

Vogue in the 2000s: Controversy and Conquest

Vogue has recently been at the center of controversy. In 2007, the anti-smoking group “Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids” criticized the magazine for placing an advertisement for tobacco in the magazine. The group had protested the magazine by sending more than 8,000 responses to the advertisement. Conde Nast responded to that by releasing a statement assuring that Vogue does not promote or advertise tobacco.

About a year later, Vogue drew more criticism with their annual shape issue which featured basketball celebrity Lebron James and supermodel Gisele Bundchen on the cover. Shot by Annie Leibovitz, critics say that the photo showed the athlete stereotypically posed, a few even citing a resemblance to King Kong with Bundchen as a damsel in distress.

Even with the controversies, the magazine today continues to govern the fashion industry all over the world. Today’s top designers such as Michael Kors, Karl Lagerfeld and Marc Jacobs are complemented with remarkable and genuine stories which reflect today’s world. Recently in March of 2009, First Lady Michelle Obama appeared on the cover of the magazine, which shows that the magazine is a celebration of women, culture and style of the ever-changing world.